The Knicks Fix

Nothing like eight know-it-alls asking you for details about an injury you know will only heal with rest. David Lee is generally adept at handling the media, but even his patience seemed to be tested after today's practice. You know the conversation is coming to an end when the phrase, "I'm not a doctor," is uttered.

Clearly the high-ankle sprain is still bothering him enough to make Saturday's game a concern. Will it be the seventh straight game he will miss because of the injury?

Lee isn't used to sitting out this much. He says it is the first time he's missed a game since his sophomore year in high school, when the lefty broke his left arm. He came back that year and played righty.

He can't do that with this injury. Lee's game is all about his legs. Both of them. His quick-leap ability is one of the main reasons why he is such a good rebounder and why, at 6-9, he converts so many dunks and layups down low. Without them, he's an undersized power forward who can't shoot. Kind of like me.

"If you can't jump, what can you do?" Lee said, referring to his game (and, perhaps, mine). "As much as I'd like to think I can sit out there and stroke threes, that's not my game."

He then paused and added, "Yet."

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* The Knicks had their team photo taken yesterday. Jamal Crawford was there and the boot over his surgically-repaired right ankle will likely be touched up to look more like one of his ugly Reeboks. I can say that because I know Jamal hated his sneakers as much as I did. Some might say he did drop 52 in em. But I say he suffered a season-ending ankle fracture in em.

* Thomas was asked what part of Jared Jeffries' game, besides the foul line, needs to improve: "[Shoot]," Thomas replied, "The foul line!"

* 14-year-old Knicks fan Drew Meyers came up with a new nickname idea for Nate Robinson: "The Dunkin' Munchkin." His father, Jon, emailed it to me and I have to say I like it better than what I came up with last week, when N8 the Gr8 was battling that stomach virus: "The Hurling Derbish." (I know, I know.)