The Knicks Fix

You must love those all-caps emails. Who doesn't? They're so motivational, like a drill sergeant. Like this email I received this morning as I awoke amid the tranquil mountain ranges of Utah.

ALAN, FOR THE RECORD AND TO SET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT, BALKMAN'S ELBOW IN THE UTAH GAME WAS CALLED A FOUL BY THE OFFICIAL. THE LEAGUE INCREASED THE PENALTY AFTER
REVIEW OF THE GAME TAPE.

Pow!

Wake up Maggot! You are a disgrace to yourself, your momma and the corps!

I hate mistakes. Hate them. Hate them even more when I don't realize them until they're already in black-and-white, with no chance of erasing, deleting or grabbing every newspaper off every driveway on Long Island and burning them so no one gets to see my stupid mistake.

All I could do was run to the top of the Park City mountaintops and scream.

Drah-gohhhhh . . . .Drah-gohhhhhh!

(No, not that. Nevermind.)

As some of you might have read in my story about Renaldo Balkman's one-game suspension, I wrote: "Vujacic fell immediately to the floor, but no foul was called."

It should have read, "Vujacic fell immediately to the floor and a foul was called, but no flagrant foul was called."

Of course it didn't say that.

Idiot.

*

On the same night Isiah Thomas admitted he was starting to consider moving Nate Robinson into the starting unit, Thomas saw the exact reasons not to heap too much responsibility on him. I've been beating N8's drum for a while now, but I think I'm going to actually agree with Isiah on this one. It wasn't about Nate struggling to defend Deron Williams, but more about Nate not yet understanding that there are some nights he can be the shooter and some nights he has to settle with being a facilitator and, most importantly, a defender.

Last night's game, for Nate, should have been all about stopping Williams. Using quickness, tenacity and good video scouting that is provided for him. Nate doesn't buy the size issue that Isiah mentioned after the game, when we asked him why Mardy Collins was in down the stretch instead of Nate.

“He’s a good player, but size has nothing to do with it," Nate said as he slowly dressed after the loss to Utah. "Every guard is taller than me in the league.”

I think the mental approach had more to do with it. Nate started to unravel again in this game and I think Isiah was concerned. Late in the Lakers game, you could see Nate losing his composure and against the Jazz he was at it again, arguing with Thomas and his teammates. He gets fired up. I like to use this line about Nate, which Mike Milbury once said to me about one of his antagonistic (and annoying) wingers: "What makes him an a--hole is what makes him good."

But it's that line he walks that makes him so dangerous to a team that needs wins right now. There were some timeouts where Nate was paying attention, though he wasn't in the game. And there were others when he had a towel wrapped around his head and his arms folded and with a disgusted look on his face.

You want him fiery. You want him on the edge. But until he matures enough to understand how to channel these emotions, you don't want to have to rely on him. You can't afford to.

This is perhaps Nate's critical step into becoming a legit starting player in the NBA.

*

One thing I can tell you about the postgame locker room -- and probably evident if you stayed up to watch the second half -- is this is a tired group. To play in this altitude on the second night of a back-to-back, with heavy minutes for several players -- Jamal Crawford played 45:01 last night, Zach Randolph played 44:48 -- is exhausting. You feel a little extra soreness a little more worn down than usual. And that's not a good combination when there's a flu bug going through the team.

Fred Jones is playing through it after dealing with a few days of a 103-degree fever. now Eddy Curry and Quentin Richardson are sick. Jared Jeffries kept covering his mouth on the bench, just to be careful.

And probably to bust a few chops.

*

En route to Portland right now for an offday. Z-Bo says he isn't planning anything crazy for his return to the Rose City. He said he doesn't really have any friends there anymore (that infamous Hoop Family we heard about must have moved out) and said he would hook up with a few of his former TrailBlazer teammates.

*

Magic Johnson is going to get an earful from Charles Barkley the next time they're on together for a TNT broadcast. As most of you I'm sure read (it was buried at the bottom of my story...where it belonged), Magic predicted the Knicks will make the playoffs with the 7th or 8th seed.

Somebody throw Magic a life preserver. He's floating away.

Truth is, Magic Johnson knows he has some dirt on his hands. It was his advice to Madison Square Garden president Steve Mills that led to the hiring of Isiah Thomas as president of the Knicks. Four years later, Johnson said the foundering condition of the Knick franchise has taken it’s toll not only on his old friend Isiah.

“It’s taken its toll on me too,” Johnson said in Los Angeles before the Knicks crumbled again down the stretch in a loss to the Lakers.

He may own a minority share in the Lakers, but Magic says that he roots for the Knicks and “cringed” at the backlash Thomas received from the Garden crowd when he attended a game earlier this season. “I have friends over there,” Johnson said, mentioning assistant coaches Herb Williams and Mark Aguirre. “I root for Steve Mills. I root for Isiah.”

Though their relationship is not believed to be as tight as it was during their playing days, when the two would famously exchange kisses at center court before tip-off, Johnson spent some time with Thomas before Tuesday’s game. “I came in to give him a big hug,” Johnson said. “I wouldn’t want that on anybody. But I know this – he’s never going to quit. It’s not in his DNA.”

Tough back-to-back for the Knicks (and for me...woke up in sunny California, stepped off a plane in snow. So it goes).

Expect to see a lot more of that zone, especially with Knick-killer Kyle Korver (lotta Ks there) on the floor. Mardy Collins is still starting at the point, but Isiah Thomas hinted that Nate Robinson's play has given him reason to consider moving Lil Man N8 into the Fave Five.

Clearly Isiah reads the Knix Fix....

Anyway...No Jessica Simpson at Staples, despite erroneous reports. She ain't here in Salt Lake, either.

STARTING LINEUPS
KNICKS
Richardson
Randolph
Curry
Crawford
Collins

JAZZ
Kirilenko
Boozer
Okur
Brewer
Williams

* - Curry was a game-time decision because he's fighting off flu symptoms. David Lee has had a couple of unheralded solid performances on this trip. He should get minutes tonight.

Enjoy the game.

From the NBA...

NEW YORK’S RENALDO BALKMAN SUSPENDED

NEW YORK’, Jan. 30, 2008 – New York Knicks forward Renaldo Balkman has been
suspended for one game without pay and assessed a Flagrant Foul, Penalty
Two for elbowing the Los Angeles Laker's Sasha Vujacic in the jaw, it was
announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President Basketball
Operations.

The incident occurred with 7:07 remaining in the second period of New
York’s 120-109 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday, Jan. 29 at
Staples Center. Balkman will serve the suspension tonight when the Knicks
visit the Utah Jazz at EnergySolutions Arena.

By Alan Hahn

LOS ANGELES – Perhaps Isiah Thomas was getting a little ahead of himself when he talked about the prospect of the Knicks making a second-half push for a playoff spot and said “in January and February, we’re starting to be a good team.”

January isn’t over yet and with the way things unraveled for the Knicks down the stretch in Tuesday night’s 120-109 loss to the Lakers before a sellout crowd at the Staples Center, February's potential can’t be assumed. The Knicks (14-30) still have one game left in January – Wednesday against the Jazz in Utah – and are already 0-2 on this five-game Western swing.

"We kind of had a meltdown," Thomas said, "It was disappointing."

Kobe Bryant had 24 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds for the Lakers (28-15), who erased a nine-point deficit in the final 8:49 of the game by outscoring the Knicks 29-9 the rest of the way. The Knicks unraveled at both ends of the floor as an offense that put up 100 points in the first 39 minutes of the game suddenly stalled and the defense, as usual, could not get stops.

"We had a lot of dead possessions," said Nate Robinson, who had 22 points and nine assists for the Knicks but also was involved in an altercation with Lakers guard Sasha Vujacic that seemed to highlight the self-destruction by the Knicks down the stretch.

Robinson, who had been having a solid game, seemed to blow a gasket when he shoved Vujacic into the basket stanchion after he was fouled with 6:36 left in the game. Referee Eddie F. Rush whistled Robinson for a technical foul and Robinson vehemently argued and as he was restrained by teammates Quentin Richardson and Balkman, Robinson appeared to shove Balkman.

“I was running and he grabbed me and the ball and I didn’t want to come down on my face, so I kind of just grabbed him," Robinson said. "I then just kind of pushed off and he fell into the goalpost and they gave me a tech. It didn’t cost us the game, things happen I guess.”

Vujacic, who was also elbowed in the face by Balkman earlier in the game, said he didn't know why Robinson shoved him, "but the outcome was good." Vujacic hit the tech and Robinson hit his two free throws to make it a 104-100 Knick lead. Bryant then scored off the glass with 6:22 left and it sparked a 10-0 Laker run. Thomas tried to change up his defensive scheme by going with a zone -- it didn't work against the Warriors on Sunday, either -- and Bryant nailed a baseline jumper over Zach Randolph with 5:06 left to give the Lakers a 106-104 lead. Vujacic drilled a pull-up with 4:38 left and then Bryant stretched the zone to open the middle and found Lamar Odom for a dunk with 4:11 left to make it a 110-104 lead.

Bryant had 20 of his 24 points in the second half after Richardson did a solid job against him in the man-to-man.

“I wanted to light them up a little bit," Bryant said. "I think their defense was getting a little too lax and I wanted to make them pay . . . They made adjustments and I started to facilitate.”

Thomas made another coaching decision that backfired in the game. He left Eddy Curry in the early in the second quarter with three fouls. Curry picked up his fourth with 6:35 left in the half. Thomas then started Curry in the second half and 2:11 in Curry picked up his fifth foul, which sent him back to the bench. He finished with 10 points and three rebounds in 16 minutes.

Jamal Crawford had 22 points, Zach Randolph had 16 points and 14 rebounds and David Lee had a monster game with 21 points and 12 rebounds in 37:06 for the Knicks.

Odom had 22 points and 12 rebounds and Vujacic had 20 points for the Lakers, who lost another player to injury. Luke Walton left the game at halftime with a hip pointer. The Lakers are already without center Andrew Bynum, who is recovering from a major knee injury.

The Knicks were back to a more conventional rotation in last night’s game against the halfcourt-based Lakers, but earlier in the day Randolph said he doesn’t like how Thomas is so quick to yank him or Curry when teams go with smaller, quicker lineups against the Knicks.

“Nah, that ain’t the right way,” Randolph said. “The right way – how I know, coaches I had in the NBA and in college – they tell me we don’t care how we match up, they gotta match up to us. That’s what I learned playing in the NBA and college.”

Notes & Quotes: While it’s far-fetched to think the Nets would trade Jason Kidd to their rivals across the Hudson – or that Kidd would want to go there – that doesn’t stop Isiah Thomas from looking into the possibility now that Kidd has made his trade request official. “Our business is to find out,” Thomas said yesterday. “When players are on the market, you try to find out.” Thomas sidestepped direct questions about Kidd, but did answer is a question about what is best for the foundering Knicks franchise at this point: making the playoffs with the eighth seed (and a daunting first-round matchup with the Celtics) or getting a lottery pick. “It’s always better to get in the playoffs,” said Thomas, obviously aware that it would also help his job status. “The lottery is the lottery.” . . . Randolph and Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress are buds and also Michigan State alumns and, therefore Randolph says he’s pulling for the Giants in Sunday’s Super Bowl. “Yeah,” Randolph said, “that’s my man. You know us Spartans got to stay together.” . . . Fred Jones was back in the lineup after he missed the past two days with the flu . . . Spike Lee, who attended the morning shoot-around at UCLA, sported a Michael Strahan jersey and a Giants skullcap at a courtside seat. Other celebrities at the game included Denzel Washington, Andy Garcia, Freddie Prinze, Jr., George Lopez and, of course, Jack Nicholson.

Gametime approaching here in Hollywood. Lots going on back home -- Mets and Santana, Super Bowl media day, J-Lo at North Shore Hospital! -- so there's not much room for Knicks-Lakers. But we're here . . .

I'll spare you the star-gazing that I did last year. That blog took a beating. Spike Lee is here courtside and wearing a Michael Strahan jersey and decked out in Giants garb.

Quick hits:

@Across the Hudson: Most players are surprisingly open to talking about the game, their game, etc. It's not like I sit there and spew sage advice. It's funny you post that because during the pregame warmup I was staring off into space and Jamal Crawford comes over and says, "What's going on in that mind of yours? You're always thinking of something."

If you've never seen a game here at Staples, gotta tell you, their pregame is by far the best in the NBA. A huge curtain drops from the scoreboard and while they play the Rolling Stones' "Sympathy for the Devil" they show huge highlights on the curtain. Just awesome.

STARTING LINEUPS

LAKERS
Walton
Odom
Brown
Bryant
Fisher

KNICKS
Richardson
Randolph
Curry
Crawford
Collins

Enjoy the game. Look here later for the postgame story with quotes.

I err, therefore I am.

First of all, Larry's right. I posted that previous blog from the airport before I left Frisco and weather.com said rain all day. SoCal has been drenched over the past few days, but when I landed at LAX, nothing but blue skies. It's on the chilly side -- relatively speaking -- but beautiful. No complaints here. And still no pickup at windy Venice Beach. So it goes.

You guys are correct, I goofed the shooters in the game story. Bad notes or poor reading of my own note-taking while pounding keys on deadline. Fallibility is sexy, at least that's what they say in this town.

@ Zippy and regarding the point about Crawford: no doubt his inability to defend was a glaring problem last night. Monta Ellis blew by him several times early in the game. It got to a point where Isiah had to go to a zone just to protect the middle. I don't think I have a bias for Jamal; in fact, I'm often quite critical of him. His shot selection can be frustrating and his defense is maddening (sometimes I want to hand him a red cape and tell him to sing, "Ole!"). I wouldn't say his offense lost the game.

As for David Lee....I've often suggested to him privately that he needs to be more aggressive with his moves to the basket. David knows he's not a top three option when he's on the court. He's an active rebounder, that's his main role. I think he's developed just fine. He had 13 boards last night. When he gets minutes, he gets rebounds. Sometimes with players you see them reach a certain point and that's when you have to decide: is this what they are? Can they be better? I think David can be a double-double guy, but more of a 10 and 10, like last season, or, at best, a 15 and 10. I don't know if he'll ever be a 20-10. Not his game. But there's a reason why a lot of GMs out there ask for him, first, whenever there is a discussion regarding personnel.

You guys see J-Kidd confirm that he wants out of Jersey? Watch LeBron start campaigning for him immediately. What does Cleveland have that Jersey may want? No bigs. Might need a third team there.

This one will buzz for a while.

Have a good night. My body clock is all kinds of screwed up right now.

If the West Coast is laid back, my man Renaldo Balkman is more California than board shorts.

"Sup Rey," I said as I walked in the Knicks locker room at Oracle Arena before Sunday's game against the Warriors.

"Whassup baby," Balkman replied.

You knew this was the type of game the hustling second-year forward might get some burn in. He's been in and out of the lineup, the doghouse and the minds of Knick fans throughout this season. Isiah Thomas would only offer a cryptic "good to have him back" a few weeks ago when Balkman re-emerged after a few weeks, as Thomas put it, "MIA."

We never quite got an explanation for it. Thomas said to ask Balkman and Balkman said he had no idea what Thomas was talking about. There's probably something about practice work habits and night-activity discipline involved here. Rey was put in timeout for a while, just like Nate was earlier in the year.

The disappointing thing about Balkman's second season is he hasn't quite shown signs of improvement or development. He enters games without much to offer on the offensive end -- he says he works on his shot, but it's more than just shooting the ball that develops you as an offensive player -- and he has yet to show enough on the defensive end to make him an effective player. In fact, you could argue that he was more effective last season.

Don't figure to see him in the Rookie-Sophomore game in New Orleans. The Knicks won't have anyone there at All-Star weekend this year. At least in the past few years they had someone in the Dunk contest and the Rookie game.

Balkman is still a very raw player, but he fancies himself a stopper. Perhaps he'll get a chance to show a little D Tuesday against Kobe. Before you laugh, ask yourself who the heck else the Knicks can put out there against Kobe? Jamal Crawford struggled so noticably to keep Monta Ellis in front of him that Isiah had to go with a zone defense for most of the game against the Warriors. It worked until Stephen Jackson got hot from downtown. Once he found the seam in the zone -- and kept going to the side where the big was forced to come out -- the zone was useless for the Knicks.

Balkman had a few J's tossed over his head in the game as well, but for a guy whose minutes have come and gone and come again, he played a good game, with 11 points and two steals and matched a career-best three blocked shots. Those were three of five blocks for the Knicks, who are the worst shot-blocking team in the NBA.

Can you guess who had the other two for the Knicks?

(Answer below)

*

The Knicks will practice today at UCLA -- but not at Pauley Pavillion, at a student athletic center. The song may say it never rains in Southern California, but it is while the Knicks are in town. No Venice Beach pickup games for me.

*

@Jeff: I know of LeBron's friendship with Jay-Z. But as long as that team is playing in the swamplands -- who really thinks that Brooklyn thing is going to happen? -- LeBron isn't going there. Whether it happens or not with the Knicks, you still have to set yourself up to be a player. It makes no sense to eliminate yourself from contention before you even know if you're a contender.

By the way, the Cavs, who beat the Lakers on Sunday, have remained in town a few days as part of their road trip.

If I see LBJ around town, I'll ask him.

*

The answer to the blocked shot question: Crawford. A guard.

Aw man, crazy.

Eddy Curry admitted the other day that this game against the run-and-gun Warriors could see him on the bench a lot. Isiah Thomas didn't seem to want to surrender as easily.

"It could either be our problem or their problem," Isiah said at the morning shoot-around. "Depends on who gets the better of whom. They have two small offensive players playing against our two big good offensive players. It just depends on who gets the better of who. Some nights the small guys win, some nights the big guys win."

Don Nelson talked a lot about Chris Webber. Sounds like the Warriors are pretty close to bringing him in.

Enjoy the game.

STARTING LINEUPS
KNICKS
Richardson
Randolph
Curry
Crawford
Collins

WARRIORS
Jackson
Harrington
Biedrins
Ellis
Davis

* - Fred Jones is out again with a flu

Testing...testing...1..2..3..

The blog blackout lasted a little longer than expected, sorry for the downtime. Looks like we're up and running again.

Sitting in my hotel room in San Francisco -- rain, rain, rain -- watching the NBA on ABC doubleheader. Great ending to the Orlando-Boston game. The Kobe-LeBron matchup has been fun to watch and Mark Heisler's column in the LA Times today is worth a read. Heisler suggests that there are enough hints surrounding LeBron James to think he could be thinking about New York in 2010, when his contract option comes. Heisler says that Nike is already marketing LeBron as if he's in New York (perhaps some of you have seen the 30-story ad on 7th and 34th in Manhattan) and the lure to play in the big town could be there for LeBron when decision-time comes.

Heisler also points out that Isiah Thomas has gone out of his way to please LeBron's agents on other personnel moves.

See why you have to stand pat here? You have to get under the cap for possibilities such as this, which will be available to the Knicks in the next two to three years.

Most people don't see LeBron leaving his home state, but if you're the Knicks you have to set yourself up to at least be in the game if he does consider it. While you're at it, you can also be legitimately in the running for other upcoming free agents, such as Kobe, D-Wade, Nowitzki and Chris Bosh.

And speaking of the future....from a different point of view:

The most interesting Knick-related discussion during the ABC broadcast was when Jeff Van Gundy went out of his way to promote Mark Jackson as a future NBA coach and said if he was an owner he would give Jackson the keys to his franchise.

Any interest?

I like Jackson, but his lack of coaching experience (he hasn't even been an assistant) is an issue. What if Van Gundy came back with Jackson on his bench (and, of course, Patrick Ewing)? Would you accept that?

If you're discussing candidates, you also have to consider Greg Anthony among names to run the franchise. I've mentioned this before. If I'm James Dolan, Anthony gets an interview.

But we're getting ahead of ourselves, aren't we? Right now the Knicks start this five-game Western roadie tonight against the Golden State Warriors. (The game is at 9 p.m. Eastern, FYI). A telling trip, no doubt. What do you think the Knicks need on this trip?

I'll check in with the pregame report for Oakland in a few hours.

Fred Jones is out with flu-like symptoms, so you would have to guess Nate Robinson would get the start at PG.

You would guess wrong.

Mardy Collins, who has played all of 3:38 seconds in the past five games -- two of which were DNP-CDs, jumps into the starting lineup. Nate stays in his spot off the bench, where Isiah Thomas wants to keep him. The theory is that Isiah doesn't want to disrupt the rotation, something he's used before.

Steph and Randolph Morris are the other scratches.

STARTING LINEUPS
KNICKS
Randolph
Richardson
Curry
Collins
Crawford

SIXERS
Evans
Iguodala
Dalembert
Green
Miller

- Keep and eye on the Curry-Dalembert matchup. Let's see how Curry responds after Dalembert and Reggie Evans had a lot to say during the home-and-home sweep back in December.

- Programming note: Fixers, from midnight to 6 a.m. the blog will be shut down for some kind of internal upgrade. I'm off to the West Coast tomorrow, so I'll catch up with you there.

Enjoy the game.

Optimism. Be it hopeless or defiant, I still have to respect it.

Can't agree with it, but I respect it.

I respect Peaceman for hanging in there until the mathematic possibility of making the playoffs is eliminated. Of course I still don't see the value of rooting for an eighth seed, which sets you up with a first-round matchup against the Boston Celtics, and achieves nothing in actual benefit for this franchise's future. That four-game sweep to the Nets a couple of years ago really accomplished a lot, didn't it?

I'd never promote the idea of tanking games (didn't quite work out for Boston that year, did it). Besides, no matter what the Knicks do, Miami and Minnesota are probably going to have the best chances at the top pick in the draft. But if the Knicks can at least wind up with a top five pick, they will have at least a shot at getting a quality player...a point guard of the future...perhaps that kid Derrick Rose from Memphis.

(Of course if Isiah Thomas is still in charge, you might instead find immobile 7-7 center Kenny George out of UNC-Ashville pulling on the orange and blue on draft night. Why? Check his hometown....then check some highlights....and then shudder.)

How can you see the list of players potentially available in 2009 -- LeBron, D-Wade, Chris Bosh, Dirk Nowitzki, etc. -- and not feel motivated to plan for the future? Get a lottery pick, make a few minor moves and get your butt under the damn cap. Reset the franchise and look to make the big splash in another year.

But that's just one man's opinion.

Jamal Crawford is trying his best to fill a leadership role in the Knick locker room right now. Jamal leads by example because he is a gentleman with the media, a professional in his game-prep and a competitor on the court. I would like to see him become more of a competitor among his teammates -- someone needs to address the accountability issue instead of being more concerned with maintaining friendships -- but Jamal is making an effort to spread a little sunshine among the dark clouds.

At practice today, Jamal addressed the team. Reminded them about being only 5 games back of Indiana in the eighth spot.

“We have a chance,” Crawford said. “If we were in the West, it wouldn’t look good. But the East is pretty open.”

I pointed out on a previous blog that, yes, it's only 5 games right now. But you also have to catapult over five teams to get there. Basically you have to bank on five teams going in the tank during the second half of the season.

It calls to mind a scene from the movie Dumb & Dumber

Lloyd: What are the chances of a guy like you and a girl like me... ending up together?

Mary: Well, that's pretty difficult to say.

Lloyd: Hit me with it! I've come a long way to see you, Mary. The least you can do is level with me. What are my chances?

Mary: Not good.

Lloyd: You mean, not good like one out of a hundred?

Mary: I'd say more like one out of a million.

[pause]

Lloyd: So you're telling me there's a chance.....Yeah!

*

Charles Oakley and Charles Smith were at MSG on Wednesday morning taking on a few amateurs in a promotional event for Spike TV's "Pros Vs. Joes" upcoming season. A reporter from Metro Sports caught up with Oakley, who rarely has anything good to say about the current Knicks, and laid a few more logs on the fire.

“I don’t think they have a lot of talent,” Oakley told Sean Quinn of Metro. “They have a lot of guys making money. That doesn’t mean you have talent.”

Oakley also says Eddy Curry hasn't been in shape in two years and was disgusted with the soft kind of effort the Knicks give on a nightly basis.

"They lose the same way, by 20, 30 points," he said. "If you’re going to lose, lose going out – bodies on the floor, making an effort on defense. If you lose 30-something games by the All-Star break, it’s a disgrace."

*

During Friday's game against the Sixers, the Knicks will honor 10-year-old Raymond Mohler, Jr. of Lynbrook with their monthly “City Spirit Award.”

Mohler, who was featured in Newsday in 2006, founded The Little St. Nick Foundation in 2005 to help bring cheer to hospitalized children. Since the foundation began, Mohler has raised over $250,000 and donated thousands of toys.

The Clippers invented the concept of being a laughingstock franchise. But when they use the Knicks as an example of a dysfunctional franchise, you know things are a mess here in New York.

A day after Clips owner Donald Sterling called out Dunleavy for his job performance and promoted the idea that the 12-25 Clippers still can rally to make the playoffs -- Cue Jim Mora...Playoffs? -- Dunleavy fired back at his owner:

"Are we getting Kobe, Dwyane Wade or LeBron James? I would agree with that, but even with those guys right now, we'd have to go [something like] 34-10 to make the playoffs," Dunleavy says in the LA Times. "I would only make deals to help our future -- anything else is suicide..."

Dunleavy then adds this:

"...Anything else and you become the New York Knicks...."

"Now if you want to do that and take on big contracts and long-term deals to potentially hit a home run or get some kind of turnaround," Dunleavy says, "that's not the direction I would go as a businessman or if I owned the team."

Wonder if Jimmy D is going to try to recoup some of that settlement money now that Larry Brown breached the gag order agreement in an upcoming issue of Philadelphia Magazine? I'm sure that will get more attention from the Garden suits than the overzealous security guards who got a little pushy with some reporters during Monday's game.

But by now most of you have read the reports regarding LB's comments about his one season in hell with the Knicks.

"They had security people standing close to me at press conferences," Brown tells the magazine, "and spies throughout the arena."

Brown may sound like a paranoid man, but that would only be the case if no one else had experienced the Gestapo-like information control that exists within the Garden. As you all know, that point has been made several times before.

*

I was unable to find any reports that confirm whether or not Eddy Curry's contract is insured, but an interesting article on Curry's battle with the Bulls before his trade -- "Knickel and dime issues: an unexplored loophole in New York's genetic discrimination statute and the viability of genetic testing in the sports employment context"; Albany Law Review, March. 22, 2007 -- suggested that when Curry agreed to undergoing tests of his heart condition and passed these tests, the contract was insurable.

The Knicks don't just give out this kind of information, but there were reports back in October 2006, when the Knicks acquired Curry, that suggested the Knicks were close to getting the contract insured. Generally, 80 percent of NBA contracts are insured to protect from career-ending injuries, but there are some that come with footnotes. The contract with Quentin Richardson, for example, is not insured if he has a career-ending back injury.

*

The Nets are a mess, aren't they? After their sixth striaght loss last night against the Kings, our Fixer friend Al Iannazzone of the Bergen Record is reporting the Nets have interest in Chicago's Andreas Nocioni. Rod Thorn is clearly trying desperately to do something to shake up this underperforming team. But the problems there might be more than just what they lack in personnel. It's the complacency that has developed within their leadership (read: Jason Kidd).

*

Speaking of the Kings...seems like now that they're healthy (their Big Three of Mike Bibby, Ron Artest and Kevin Martin were all in the lineup last night against the Nets), there is a belief they may be able to make a run at a playoff spot in the West. That might be enough to keep Geoff Petrie from making a move, though the more success they have, the more value his assets (Bibby, Artest) will gain.

*
Knicks assistant coach Dave Hanners approached me on Monday and asked if I had a favorite Dr. King quote. I was caught off guard and embarrassed that I couldn't come up with one aside from the trademark stuff; me being someone who loves to quote movies and songs.

Hanners, who came up through the Tarheel pipeline, said he knew many of the more famous quotes because Dean Smith used to always post inspiring and thought-provoking quotes for his players to read. One MLK quote that stood out to Hanners was, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."

The conversation motivated me to get some education on some of the sayings and teachings of Dr. King. Why have a holiday for someone and not understand the depth of his character? So I read...and found several comments that stood out to me. One in particular I thought to share:

A nation or civilization that continues to produce soft-minded men purchases its own spiritual death on the installment plan.

*

Anyone see the story about OJ Mayo possibly getting in trouble with the NCAA because he attended a Lakers-Nuggets game compliments of Carmelo Anthony's personal tickets? The NCAA bylaws prohibit a student-athlete from accepting discounted or complimentary tickets to a professional event unless they were also available to the general student body. I can understand that this is a way to keep college athletes from supposedly gaining perks for their fame as a player, but let's be honest: a friend giving another friend two tickets is one thing. What about all that gear these dudes get? Free clothes and shoes isn't a perk?

Lost in the Los Angeles Times story was the conversation Mayo had with 'Melo when he attended a party the Nuggets star threw on Sunday night in LA.

"Man, you're out pretty late," Mayo said to Anthony. "You've got a game tomorrow against Kobe."

"Nah," Carmelo replied, "it will be all right."

Kobe's Lakers beat 'Melo's Nuggets, 116-99. Carmelo left the game in the second quarter with an ankle sprain. He had 13 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist and 3 turnovers in 14:25.

But it probably was a great party.

Monday's loss to Boston was Game 41. At 14 games under .500, the Knicks are 5.5 games behind Indiana and the Nets for the eighth spot in the East. A bit early for tragic-number time, but it's not too early to start accepting reality.

But, Fixers, I'm not all about immediately serving up tablespoons of give-it-up with a shot of pitchers-and-catchers reminders. So I'll give you this: The Pacers might be without Jermaine O'Neal for the rest of the season. The Nets, as we know, are garbage and, whispers say, are on the verge of a possible blow-up. J-Kidd, Vince Carter and Richard Jefferson...pick a name. One of them is on the move before the trade deadline.

So let's suggest those teams are expected to drop a little deeper. That takes us to Chicago, Milwaukee and Charlotte. We know the Bulls are a fragile situation and very beatable. The Knicks have two more meetings left with the Buckaroos. Charlotte is the wild card here, but do you really see them as a playoff team?

That leaves Philadelphia. We have three days to remind Eddy Curry and Co. about how Sam Dalembert and Reggie Evans were mocking the Knicks during that blowout at MSG in December after a home-and-home sweep. The Knicks host the Sixers on Friday.

Troy: You're a pathological optimist.
Lelaina: You're pathological.

That's from the '90s slacker movie "Reality Bites." If you hate overbearing, undersexed, pseudo-intellectual white people, you'll hate this movie even more. But Winona Rider is a hottie (and this was before she turned into a shoplifting hottie), so it's worth a view if you're strong enough to ignore the urge to put your fist through Ethan Hawke's face every time it comes on the screen.

Michael: What is your glitch?
Troy:My...glitch?

Speaking of reality and how it bites....(and saving you from any more inane quotage from this movie)....

It's not the distance in games back from the eighth seed at this point, we can all agree that 5.5 games is not insurmountable. But climbing over six teams to get to that eighth spot? That's nearly impossible. For the Knicks to achieve this, all six teams would have to completely drop off the table. The Knicks are 2.5 games behind the Sixers, who sit one rung above them in the Eastern Conference standings.

This is a public service message. Enjoy the wins when they come, but don't put too much stock into anything, including winning streaks. The rest of this season needs to be about what to do going forward, the players you want to keep and the players you may be willing to deal. This is about scouting opponents for players who may become available, or possibly are already available.

This is about not being so desperate to clinch the eighth seed, this is about developing players in actual game-time situations and setting yourself up for a high lottery pick and planning for a day when you're under the salary cap, so you can bring in the kind of player who will set the proper standard and lay the real foundation for a championship team.

*

My stance has been against making any roster moves until the offseason when, if matters go as I expect they will, a new person will be in change of the organization. However there are more and more names starting to surface on the trade market, so it's at least worth discussing.

AdamL just can't resist the ESPN trade machine (put down the pipe Adam!). While the trade he worked out makes sense financially, I still am against Mike Bibby. I don't think he makes you that much better. The Pau Gasol situation is more intriguing, however, but I think you have the wrong players involved.

If you're the Knicks, you bring in Gasol to play with Zach Randolph, not Eddy Curry. Gasol is a center, but is a good passer, great perimeter shooter and, yes, can block shots. Randolph has had success playing with perimeter-based bigs before -- Sabonis and Wallace in Portland -- so it might be a better fit in that case. I also think Randolph is far more valuable to the Knicks because he is 10 times more of a competitor than Curry. It is just not in Curry's nature to be the "force" that you might expect out of a man that is 6-11, 290 pounds. Randolph, however, would tear your arm off for a rebound, when properly motivated.

We can debate this now, because it will be a matter of discussion soon enough..whom do you keep, Zach or Eddy? I believe Z-Bo was playing the "right way" when he first got here. Once he saw how things were -- selfish play prevailed, no defense, fingers pointing -- Zach started going for self. It took him a while, but I think he's back to playing a lot more team-oriented. He'll never be a great defender, but he competes. Opponents respect him.

Curry's level of play is just too mercurial. The Boston game was a perfect microcosm. The first half he seemed indifferent as Kendrick Perkins had him for brunch. Once he was embarrassed enough, Curry started imposing his physical will and dominated. But that lasted only a few minutes until conditioning caught up with him. Once Eddy got tired, he was ineffective again.

This is not a matter of having patience with a developing young player. Curry, at 25, has been in the league long enough now (this is his seventh season) and has all the tools. What he's lacking is something you can't teach or develop. You either have it or you don't. Curry lacks not only the desire to dominate, but the motivation to become a dominant player. Remember when he told us in training camp that he lost 20 pounds during the offseason? Seems like somewhere along the way he found them.

Curry's contract will be easier to move and, perhaps, someone with team toughness already built in might take a chance on him because he's relatively affordable for a starting center. Next year Curry will make $9.7 million and has a player option for $10.5 mil in 2009-10 and another for $11.2 mil in 10-11. If Curry's performance continues at this pace, he'd be ill-advised to decline the option and go into free agency, because I just don't see an NBA team out there willing to pay him over $10 million to be Joe Barry Carroll.

*
As we said last week, N8 didn't get a Slam Dunk contest invite. Defending champ Gerald Green will be back and Dwight Howard, whom everyone said should have won it last year, will also be back. Rudy Gay will be there, too, and the guy to watch is Toronto's Jamario Moon. That kid not only has elevation, he has the ability to levitate.

So someone decided to ask Isiah Thomas if he got any inspiration from the Giants run to the Super Bowl and what Tom Coughlin has endured.

"His first two years here, he was having a lot of trouble," said Thomas. "Last year they were having some trouble in the locker room, but they hung together and fought hard and stayed together and persevered and now they're playing for the Super Bowl. Sports is particularly rough in this town, but if you persevere, hold onto your wits you can kind of see your way through the storm."

We should point out here that the "storm" Coughlin endured included three straight postseason appearances and no losing records. Different standards, for sure.

Of course you could draw one comparison. The Giants seemed to have thrived after Tiki Barber's presence was eliminated from the locker room. Are the Knicks a different team without Stephon Marbury?

Speaking of the Giants, Brandon Jacobs and Plaxico Burress are expected to be at the Garden today.

The Knicks are 16-5 on MLK Day, including nine straight wins from 1987-95. This is the third time they'll play the Celtics, with wins in '87 and '98.

STARTING LINEUPS

KNICKS
Randolph
Richardson
Curry
Crawford
Jones

CELTICS
Garnett
Pierce
Perkins
Allen
Rondo

* - Boston is without James Posey (lacerated hand).

Don't forget: The game can be seen on NBC-4 HD.

Enjoy.

This is just ridiculous! Little Nate. Big Hops.

Of course we've seen this before...

Crazy.

Knicks are off today before tomorrow's MLK matinee against the Celtics at MSG. Enjoy the Giants game.

BTW: @Starburyfan: glad to have you back old friend. Same to you, Peaceman.

Many times you hear people in the NBA say that you look at the Knicks roster and wonder how they can be so bad. Look at the Miami Heat roster and you can say the same thing. Normally a Saturday night game between these two old rivals down in Miami would be a hot ticket.

But these days they are the two worst teams in the East, if not the entire NBA (save for the Minnesota Timberwolves).

Quite frankly there are much better things to be doing in South Beach, Coconut Grove and Boca Raton, when it's 80 degrees in January. There's got to be better things to do on a Saturday night in New York, no matter what the temperature.

In the tale of these two downtrodden franchises, you have to admit the Heat have a little more rope here. They have two legit stars in D-Wade and Shaq and they are less than two years removed from a championship. The Knicks have been bad for a long time.

Coincidentally, both teams have one man in the dual role as president and coach.

Fixers I must apologize for the lack of a Pregame post, as promised, last night. Apparently Windows Vista has issues with the wireless service at the Verizon Center. The Wizards people tried throughout the game to get me online, but we couldn't make it happen. I filed my stories for the paper via the computer of a public relations staffer. The pregame post will return for Monday's MLK matinee against the Celtics.

By the way, Anthony Rieber will be your host tonight in Miami.

As you could tell by the tone of some of the stories in today's newspapers, a few of us among the beat writers were stunned by Isiah Thomas' timid response to the loss. I thought this was a game the Knicks should have won and most certainly could have won. They were right there, down only four early in the fourth quarter. But the Knick perimeter defense -- still the greatest weakness of this team -- was awful. Yes, the Wizards shot the ball extremely well (56.8 percent from the floor), but that was aided by the fact that the Knicks either were late or passive on the shooters.

The killer was, at 96-90, Roger Mason drained a wide-open three from the top with 7:57 left. Mason was left open because Nate Robinson dropped off him to "show" a soft double-down on rookie Nick Young, who had the ball on a post-up against Fred Jones.

Let's be honest, Jones certainly can handle Young one-on-one. Robinson should not leave a shooter like Mason, whom the Knicks know can hit the three with consistency. But this is what the Knicks do - constant double-downs - and when I asked some players about it after the game, I was told this is what Isiah Thomas demands.

Why not stay home on shooters and make someone beat you one-on-one? Force your players to defend. Quentin Richardson partially agreed with me, but then reminded me that this is the NBA and you can't just let someone work one-on-one against you all game long. "Guys are good," he said.

True, but guys are a lot better when they don't have a hand in their face.

*

Caron Butler is that good kind of nasty. He's not afraid to engage his opponent (he mimicked Q's fists-to-the-forehead routine after hitting a three and during the home-and-home sweep of the Celtics had some verbal warfare with Paul Pierce) and he's become not just a tough offensive player but a determined defender, as well. He and Antawn Jamison are a formidable 1-2 punch in the frontcourt.

The debate in Washington is if the Wiz might be better off without Gilbert Arenas, who takes a lot of shots and dominates the ball.

Mr. Grunfeld, there's a Mr. Grunwald for you on Line 1 . . .

*

Being that I was in our nation's capitol -- and not that I want to get into politics on this blog and quite frankly I have yet to decide who gets my vote for president -- but did anyone read the S.L. Price story in Sports Illustrated
about a one-on-one he had with Democratic candidate Barack Obama?

It's a good read with a few funny lines that show off a little personality from Obama, who fancies himself as a baller. The best line came when Price suggests he may resort to a little Hack-a-Barack and Obama quips, "You can get shot for doing that."

Obama has received a few sports celebrity endorsements, including the Knicks' very own Stephon Marbury, who made a max donation to the Obama campaign last June. But Magic Johnson is a Hillary Clinton supporter and said Obama was "a rookie."

Obama's reply was to point out that as a rookie, Magic won the NBA title and was named MVP of the Finals.

As the theory goes, Stephon Marbury's unceremonious departure from the Knicks, his quiet fade into oblivion with this bone spur injury that will keep him out indefinitely, according to the team, means the dark clouds are clearing.

I don't think it's fair to lay all of the Knick problems on Marbury. While he's certainly a main character in what has gone wrong here, he certainly had accomplices. Actually, that's worded wrong. Marbury was merely an accomplice. Isiah Thomas is the main character here.

The unpredictable Marbury presence may be cleared from the locker room, but until the Knicks find a suitable replacement at the point -- and by suitable I'm not suggesting Mike Bibby, Jamaal Tinsley or Damon Stoudamire -- they will remain a flawed team. The impending end of the Marbury Era should only be the beginning of the real rebuild of this franchise. There are more weeds to pull in the Garden. More seeds to plant.

I know fans are desperate to grab hold of anything positive these days and I don't blame you. But don't let a three-game winning streak overshadow the 12-26 record. Remember, in 2005-06, Larry Brown's Knicks ran off six straight wins. Then they lost 22 of the next 24. Gotta keep the perspective, Fixers. Don't be seduced by the potential to achieve mediocrity.

I see Ernie Grunfeld here in Washington and it amazes me that he now is the standard of successful mangement in recent Knicks history. Now consider the fact that his awful draft record is still felt to this day.

At this morning's shoot-around here in DC, Isiah was coy about Stephon's decision to have surgery. But the team made it pretty clear with their terminology in the medical update released last night that the decision to have surgery wasn't determined by the organization. It said Marbury "has chosen" to have surgery to repair the bone spurs in his left ankle.

How quickly this has unraveled for Marbury, who once seemed so untouchable in this organiation (as evidenced by the information revealed in the Anucha Browne Sanders trial). Aside from the controversy of his crazy summer, the embarrassing trial and his public feud with Isiah, Marbury had to endure the sudden loss of his father. At a time when he should have been able to find comfort within the team, he realized that kind of relationship didn't exist.

Isiah was asked if he wished Stephon had not bolted from the team in November and instead accepted the demotion to the bench during that flight to Phoenix.

“I think we’ve said all that we need to say about that issue," Isiah said. "It’s safe to say we’re all past it.”

It's safe to say Isiah survived even him.

Marbury may have played his final game as a Knick, but then again, maybe not. There are all types of scenarios, but a trade is the most unlikely because of the size of his contract that the Knicks unwillingness to take on big contracts. If he does get bought out, Marbury will have plenty of suitors offering veteran's minimum to, possibly, a mid-level exception. One potential destination: back with KG in Boston.

Until then, one more time, for old times sake...

After the Knicks practice today up here in Greenburgh, Isiah Thomas' media address meandered through talk about Jamal Crawford's ascension as the latest top dog and Stephon Marbury's unceremonious withdrawl as the face of the franchise. When suddenly the voice of Andrew Marchand, an ESPN radio reporter -- and fellow Fixer, as you all know -- spoke up.

Isiah, how close have you guys come to bringing Patrick back to work with your big men? Patrick Ewing?

Isiah froze a second, totally blindsided by a question he had already faced twice before earlier in the season. But Marchand's sneak attack, he says, was motivated by the discussion on his station earlier that day, when hosts and callers wondered aloud why Patrick Ewing wasn't around to work with the likes of Eddy Curry, Zach Randolph and Randolph Morris.

"Ummm," Isiah responded, "Close."

(Oh really?)

Knicks PR man Jonathan Supranowitz tried to end the scrum -- the Knicks were heading to the airport for their charter to DC -- but after a quick question about Marbury's MRI status (we'll know more later in the day), Marchand got in followup on his topic.

What's been the SNAFU when you were close with Patrick? What's happened that it hasn't happened?

Isiah replied, "It just hasn't happened."

Neither has Curry's development, but as much as you want to have Big Pat back in the organization (and as much as he wants it, too) you have to wonder if working with Patrick would make that much of a difference. You can't teach what Patrick had in him as a player and what his two pupils, Yao Ming and Dwight Howard also possess: desire.

Just how miserable is Stephon Marbury as a Knick? As he headed out the door of the hallway outside the visitors locker room at the IZOD Center, he flashed a big smile when he saw a few familiar faces and sang, "Three straight!"

It's a nice break from the norm around here, that's for sure. We can analyze what it means (it means they added three wins to the left column), if this could be a turning point of the season (are you serious?) and why all of a sudden the Knicks seem to be doing all of the things you might have expected of them in November (Jamal Crawford is shooting lights out right now, Zach Randolph is making quicker decisions with the ball and their opponents aren't shooting well). I'm sure there are varying theories all throughout Fixer land. Lemme hear them.

I think it begins and ends with Crawford, who has supplanted Stephon as The Man in the Knick offense. He's always been a streaky shooter and lately his dribble-drive pull-ups have been money. Jamal's game continues to evolve on the offensive end to where he's not just a chuck-and-duck kind of player, but he's finding people when he gets into the paint. He also is moving quickly from strong side to weak side and running his man off picks. Jason Kidd looked exhausted by the end of the game from chasing JC around.

Here's an old trick that Jamal uses quite a bit: when he gets into the lane and a big converges, he'll yell "Ohh!" as if he just got mugged. Some referees just can't resist the Pavlovian response.

*

Lots of Knick-related rumors coming out of Sacramento lately. Is Geoff Petrie trying to put public pressure on Isiah Thomas, who, apparently, refuses to give up David Lee? The latest suggests the Knicks could be close to getting Mike Bibby, but Isiah won't give up David Lee. There was also a suggestion that Crawford has been shopped around, as well.

Isiah keeps insisting he's not looking to sell the farm because he sees that there are plenty of vultures out there poised to strip the carcass.

But there is something to be said about playing hard to get.

Still, do you make a trade right now at 12-26? Is it worth it to give up a young blue chipper such as D-Lee in a deal that brings you Mike Bibby? Is the short-term gain worth it?

I think you're better off staying in the holding pattern. Don't be easily seduced by the idea of the quick fix (just be seduced by the Knix Fix).

*

I'm sure you guys saw the print edition stories that addressed the ESPN report that said Zach Randolph, in front of his teammates, told Isiah to trade him after the loss to Toronto last week. Isiah said he didn't hear it and Randolph said it wasn't true.

Actually, Z-Bo said, "Nah, nah, nah, hell nah."

I asked a few Knicks people about it and no one could (or would) recall Randolph making that kind of demand. But we all know things are muttered and murmured (and Zach definitely does a lot of muttering and murmuring) in the heat of the moment.

*

David Lee has two claw marks on his upper back. Looks like he was attacked by a mountain lion. He said it was from the Wizards game. Hope he got the number.

*

Quick programming note: I've heard from a few of you in Fixer Nation about the condition of the blog lately. I stopped doing the PreGame routine because I thought it didn't have much of a shelf-life. However I didn't realize it provided a place for "live-blogging" to take place and comments to be made throughout the game. So it'll be back on Friday against the Wizards and will remain the rest of the season.

So much for thinking the Bulls had a grip on things despite their bad season. After Ben Wallace led a veteran movement to have rookie Joakim Noah benched for getting into a shouting match with an assistant coach, it seems Wallace had the giggles on the bench during the Bulls blowout loss to Orlando.

I take it all back, except for the part about the Knicks lacking accountability.

*

Knicks tonight go for 3-0 against the Nets this season and are actually looking to sweep both games at the IZOD Center (we're told we have to write it in all caps, as if we're shouting it to you from on high.."Come! See this glorious place in the midst of swamplands and freeways! The Crowned Jewel of East Rutherford...the IZOD Center!").

The Knicks are awful, but the Nets, with the talent they put on the floor, are a downright disgrace under .500. A few weeks ago a reporter was doing a poll for Sports Illustrated and went through the Knicks locker room asking players (their answers would be kept anonymous) what player in the NBA does the least with the most talent. After hearing a few na