TORONTO – Eddy Curry’s frustration level reached a boiling point yesterday as he claimed he’s “not going to change who I am” – and questioning whether his style still “fits in” with the Knicks.
Curry also said he disagreed with coach Isiah Thomas’ “small man’s game” excuse and would like to see Thomas use him more as a tandem with Zach Randolph.
Team Titanic II sank further into the abyss as the Raptors showcased their young promising big man, notably Andrea Bargnani, while Curry and Randolph stunk out Canada.
Curry and Randolph, unfortunately still Knicks after the trade deadline, combined for 19 points on 6-of-24 shooting in an awful 115-92 loss at Air Canada Centre.
Bargnani all by himself outscored the Knicks’ big-man tandem, hitting for 25 points on five 3-pointers, most of them over an unresponsive Curry.
It’s only going to get uglier for the Knicks, who fell to 17-39 with 26 games left after losing their seventh straight in this arena.
Quentin Richardson could be seen screaming at his teammates on the bench during a timeout late in the fourth quarter, needing to be pulled away to the end of the bench.
And Randolph and Nate Robinson had another argument on the bench, this time sans water.
“The losing is killing me,” Curry said.
Curry played 26 minutes – which now amounts to major playing time for the Knicks’ former franchise center. Like the American dollar in Canada, Curry isn’t worth a fraction of what he once was.
He finished with 12 points, four coming in the final minutes of garbage time, with five boards, making 4 of 11 shots. Randolph was a disaster, going 2 of 13 for seven points.
“I’m not going to change who I am,” Curry said. “I really hope I fit in here. I hope they see I do, because I feel I do. I got to work on my jump hook. Last year I made more than I made right now.”
Curry’s point is he still is a low-post, back-to-the-basket player who needs more touches to be effective. He’ll never be a Bargnani, the Italian sharpshooter who stands 7 feet and lives on the perimeter.
Thomas, as he chains Curry to the bench, has stated for nearly two weeks now the NBA is changing to a “small man’s game.”
But Toronto had 7-footer Rasho Nesterovic (eight points) and newcomer, 7-1 Primoz Brezec, making his Toronto debut (11 points, 5 of 5) on the court plenty.
“That’s my opinion, I don’t believe it is,” Curry said. “Maybe that’s why I’m playing and not coaching, because I don’t know as much as [Thomas] knows. [But] I just don’t believe that.”
Thomas’ lack of faith in Curry has chipped at his confidence. In the first quarter, Curry missed a gimme dunk because he timidly tried to throw it down.
Curry also has tried to avoid the media at all costs the past 10 days because he doesn’t want to deal with controversial questions.
When asked if he’s noticed Thomas rarely keeps him and Randolph on the court together, Curry said, “You can’t help but notice who you’re out on the court with, but it’s not our team. It’s coach’s team. When he sees fit to play together, we’ll play together.”
Curry knows it could be a long summer as either Thomas or his successor mulls major changes.
“It’s not my fight,” Curry said. “I’m going to continue to be a Knick as long as they want me to wear this uniform. If they feel my time is up, have to roll with the punches.”
Raptors 115 Knicks 92