Here's a YouTube video replay of the water fight Nate Robinson and Zach Randolph had on the bench late in Tuesday's overtime win over the Wizards. After the game, Isiah Thomas seemed to enjoy the altercation and alluded to a "fiestiness" and "nastiness" that is developing with his team. He embraces the chaos, which we discuss on the previous post (scroll down for more chaos!).
Here's the replay, from MSG Network (via YouTube):
This isn't the first bench incident this season. We've seen Randolph have words with Isiah after he was taken out of a game. We've seen Stephon Marbury droop a towel over his head. We also saw Isiah get up to confront Quentin Richardson when the two exchanged words as Q was pulled from a game. Herb Williams had to set a pick on Isiah, or we might have had another YouTube moment to share.
After Tuesday's game, both players downplayed the latest altercation, but keep in mind that it was well after the game. The locker room wasn't opened to the media for over 20 minutes after the game ended, which is a violation of the NBA media policy. Zach said it was just heat of the moment. Nate said what matters is the team won.
Is this showing signs of life (with 29 games to go)? Or is this a frustrated team feeling the pressure of another failed season and the looming trade deadline and just simply about to burst at the seams?
Comments (12)
I`d be more impressed with this win if Caron Butler and Arenas werent in street clothes. Knicks almost got taken down by the likes of Brandon Haywood, Nick Young and Roger Mason Jr.
Jon - that's how the Knicks win. Other than the Jazz win at the start of the season, I can think of another win over a good team at full strength.
Alan - I also can't think of any contender over the last 20 years where altercations were welcomed by a smirking member of the coaching staff. Tensions boil over (think Jordan vs. Kerr in practice) but I don't remember Jackson playing it up as a positive.
One more thing about Zach - remember - this is the guy who literally broke his teammate Ruben Patterson's face with a sucker punch at practice. So Isiah might want to consider that feistiness can escalate.
LOL
way to go EBS!
do you miss the isles beat?
We need to bring squirt or super soaker's guns to MSG and spray the team if we want then to play better. Thats the secret. The Fire Isiah chants didn't do it.
you are all looking in the wrong direction... most teams rely on the big shots and point to come from the SF or SG. We have 30-40% streak shooter in Crawford and can't tell what offense we will get from SF Q-Rich on any given night. When they are both on the team looks like a playoff team that could go far, when the are not, which is most nights, you get a team with 15 wins in February... whatevfer Q supplies in defense does balance given up a 20 point differential at the SF position every night. Expecting the PF (Zach) and Center (curry) to make up those points not coming from the SF and SG isn't a winning strategy either...
Personally I don't like Nate Robinson starting and as you can see as of last night neither did his teammates because he becomes to selfish at time and thinks about his stats to much I seen him rip to rebounds and a steal away from his own teammates last night. Nate started and lead off both the 1st and 3rd quarters and you could see quickly that the chemistry and his play as a PG where not there and when Zeke replaced him with Fred Jones this team played way better and came back from there defecate both times But when Nate came back in during the forth he showed what he is best suited for and thats being instant offenses off of the bench and a spark plug. Fred Jones plays better with Jamaal Crawford because hes not going to jack up a lot of shots and doesn't take this team out of its function plus I also notice when Nate is in we often have to help Nate on defenses and double up his players always leaving someone open to score on us but when Fred is in he will defend the hardest player between the SG and PG so Crawford can save his energy for Offense........Even though Fred Jones isnt a PG he reminds me a lot of Eric Snow a guy who can defend really well and who wont take shots away from the main scorers but who can score if you ask him to.....Nate is just a natural scorer and is a SG in a PG's body and I don't think you cant train that out of him....Nate took 18 shots last night and had 5 assist.....5 of those shots he was fouled on so you don't see them as official shots taken Fred Jones took 6 shots 2 of those he was fouled on and he had 3 assist.....Who to you seems more like the PG and who seems more like the spark plug or SG also considering Nate played 12 more minutes then Fred and only had 2 more assist but took 12 more shots should say enough.......
I think Zach was mad at Nate because he wasn't playing like a PG and getting his teammates involved like he should instead Nate was trying to be the hero and playing like he was the main option on offense and Zach probably felt that he was open or had a miss match and Nate passed up to notice that because he was to busy trying to find his own shot
I keep checking realgm.com . . . desperately afraid to see the word “Knicks” in a headline.
We have 25 hours to sweat this out. I wonder if there’s any way to steal Isiah’s cell phone – jam the land-lines into MSG . . . whatever it takes so he can’t do anymore damage to this team.
What’s wonderful about a trade for Vince Carter is that it would be the perfect storm: stupid for every conceivable reason. A past-his-prime, stats-oriented shooting guard is not how you build a franchise, and look to the future. It’s all about NOW, and it’s all about saving Isiah’s job for one more year. I’ll say it again:
Isiah Thomas has a fundamental conflict of interest with what’s best for the team. He’ll throw the entire team under a bus to save his job. The young talent is languishing. We shouldn’t give up ANY assets for Vince Carter. Isiah Thomas can’t be allowed to make the decision on any trades. It’s difficult to image that he could make more of a mess of this team. But apparently he can. The problem is: If he can, he probably will . . .
"After the game, Isiah Thomas seemed to enjoy the altercation and alluded to a "fiestiness" and "nastiness" that is developing with his team."
fiestiness (sic)
Hahn,
You belong at Home Depot.
Newsday, bring in Aldridge, pedal Berger, and cut this embarrassment to fourth-grade spelling, Hahn.
Eddy Curry is worthless. Only Isiah is dumb enough to sign him long term.
Rod Thorn and Riles are professionals. Isiah attacks women and is an idiot.
i heard isola on w/ stephen A. saying zach told the team he doesn't want to be here..any truth to that al-boogie?
if so i say ship his butt off this team along w/ fatso. i am SICK of curry. i wanted to keep everyone til draft night then make moves but i cant take another min of watching EC.
get rid of both ...we need length up front anyway...
p.s - draft jarvis vanardo - C, miss st.