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.
Comments (17)
I LIKE ZACH BUT HE NEEDS TO SHUT UP....
"MAKE TEAMS MATCH UP TO US."
WHO DOES HE THINK HE IS WILT CHAMBERLAIN?
WHAT ARE WE THE '69 KNICKS?
I THINK NOT!
first he plays absolutely no defense and he is slow footed so any power forward with quick feet can just blow right past him.
THIS IS THE REASON WHY YOU DON'T BRING IN PLAYERS FROM A LOOSING CULTURE.
HE DOES NOT CARE IF HE GIVES UP 30 POINTS JUST AS LONG AS HE GETS HIS 20 and 10....
the fact that the knicks have no true super star is exposed in games like this.when the pressure got hot everyone looked confused.
4th quarter is killing time for assasins...and kobe is killer #1
THE KNICKS PLAYED SUCH A GOOD GAME FOR 3 AND A HALF QUARTERS...BUT LIKE DE JA VU WE EXPERIENCE SAME THE OUTCOME=A MELTDOWN!
with a few tweaks the knicks could be a much better team
but this roster as is
is just a glorified 2nd unit...
WE NEED A STAR...EVEN SAN ANTONIO HAS TIM DUNCAN!
STARBURY WAS SUPPOSE TO BE OUR STAR BUT LOOK HOW THAT TURNED OUT...
Marbury was clearly nevergoing ton a star and I guess flee proved tall wrong what with 21 and 12 and all
... "Marbury was clearly nevergoing ton a star and I guess flee proved tall wrong what with 21 and 12 and all"
------------------------
... lol ... what ?! ...
Eddy and Zach were outplayed by Ronny and Kwame.
What does that tell us NYK fans?
Ronny was blocking Zach's shot inside and we have no one like him to intimidate and be aggressive inside.
CurZak is not working together, as they are too alike: ball hogs, unathletic, slow, can't jump or block shots, don't defend, don't pass well, don't help on defense.
Curry should probably be traded for a defensive center to go w Zach.
We also don't hace a small forward to compete with the great 3's in the NBA: Kobe, Lebron, Melo, Pierce, TMac, RJ etc
Alan - didn't watch the game last night (had to turn in early) so thanks for the update.
Looking at the box score - is that 20 for Vujacic yet another career night for someone against the Knicks?
Phil E. - it could have been worse if Bynum were playing. He scores in the post, attacks the boards and protects the rim, and the Lakers are a different team this year with him in the line-up.
IQ... Know your opponent. Kobe is a killer. The Knicks need to find a way to win not a new ways to lose. Strategy is their missing ingredient. Teams are finding ways to beat them because of lazy defense and open perimeter defense. They need to adjust to different teams strengths and weaknesses.
Derron Williams will come inside and shoot the three. Most teams know the Knicks are lazy on the defense and will give them opportunities to get in games by perimeter shooting and weak interior defense. Bad coaching and even worse execution.
Think Different to win!!! Go Knicks!!!
If Thomas is really thinking of trading for Kidd he's dumber than I thought. The Knicks would be better off losing every game for the rest of the year than trading for a 35 year old period. How soon can we get this guy fire before he makes things even worse than they are. Perhaps Thomas doesn't realize that the Cavs went to the finals last year because they were in the lottery and got Lebron, the Heat two years ago because they got Wade, the Spurs because they got Duncan and the list goes on and on. The Lottery is not a sure thing, but no one currently on the Knicks is the answer. By the way I'm glad as Kenny Smith mention the other night that Curry is finally rounding into shape 43 games into the season. Rounding is the key word here, where is Stanley Roberts when you need him.
Alan, thanks for calling out Isiah on putting Eddy back in the game with roughly four minutes to go in the fourth. Didn't seem like any of the other beat reporters mentioned that in the game stories.
I don't even know what to say about that decision. Odom easily blew by him, the Knick's offense was stagnant when they fed him in the post. The effect was obvious.
Alan, can you please shed some light on some of Isiah's substitution patterns and coaching decisions? We all know that no one has held him responsible for his decisions as GM, but his coaching decisions are equally incomprehensible. Any idea what's going through his head? Does he have anyone on the bench who could impart some sage wisdom? Or are Aquire and Herb just yes men?
I just don't get putting Eddy back into that game. I've seen better substitutions in a Biddy League game.
In the words of Charlie Brown...ugh!
alan- who looks more confused to be on a basketball court, mardy collins or jared jeffries?
last night was tough. those vujacic 3's were killer and almost too similar to sjack the other night. though i think the idea of crawford/randolph as the prime options with nate off the bench isn't too bad. if only knicks had a defensive center...o well..GO GMEN
Alan – please tell us the Kidd rumor is a hoax? Even Isiah isn’t that cynical and self-serving . . . is he? I’ve written before about the obvious conflict of interest between Isiah – trying desperately to save his job – at the expense of developing the young talent he’s brought to the team. No matter how good Kidd is . . . would the Knicks even consider givng up two players under 25 for one over 35? By the way, how long does Kidd’s contract run? Is that a factor?
nice job, al....especially since Jessica Simpson did NOT attend the game.
Taking Tony Romo over you, what was Ms. Jessica thinking?
One of the most frustrating things about the Isiah's "coaching" is how he insists on mindlessly making the same stupid mistakes over and over that everyone here even can see don't work. Let's see, tight game, chance to steal a win on the road, let's take out the energetic guy with the 21-12 line and get the fat, ineffective guy in there for the last few minutes. How many damn times this season has Curry come back into a game, only to have the team immediately give up a run? I didn't see the game last night, but I think if I had, the last five minutes would have made me break something.
Acquiring Kidd would be moronic. The only way I see it happening is if Isiah really believes in the playoff potential of this team. Just because he is full of crap, it doesn't mean he lies all thee time, and he has stated his playoff intentions on a number of occasions. Making the playoffs, even limping in as a 4 and out 8th seed would justify, in his mind and Dolan's, that progress is being made. It isn't, but I could see a desperation trade being made for that purpose.
Interesting.
The LA Daily News is reporting that Jessica Simpson and Tony Romo sat courtside during last night's Knicks-Lakers game.
Funny that Al failed to mention Ms. Simpson's appearance with her man.
Alan,
I know you have to work with Isiah, but it's apparent to any casual ball fan that his coaching decisions make little sense. I'd love to see you break this down on the blog or elsewhere. My guess is the Hollinger types at ESPN think Isiah's coaching is so unspeakably bad that it's not worth dissecting.
Thanks.
-RM
YEAH PUTTING CURRY BACK IN THE GAME WAS A BONEHEAD MOVE...
a brain scientist isiah is not.
he is not very good at reading the flow of the game...
Great move taking D. Lee out in crunch time.