ORLANDO – Time is running out on the Isiah Thomas Era as the Knicks begin their post-Christmas schedule tonight in Orlando with risky starting-lineup changes that threaten to break the team’s collective psyche if they backfire.
As Thomas embarks on a new lineup tonight in Orlando for Team Titanic II, supposed franchise center Eddy Curry could be headed to the bench. Offseason acquisition Zach Randolph could land there, too. It’s Thomas’ last desperate attempt to right the sinking ship.
More bad news came when Stephon Marbury missed last night’s flight to Orlando after suffering through an emotional first Christmas without his father. Marbury, who has been on and off bereavement leave since his father died more than three weeks ago, will miss tonight’s game in an excused absence.
Veteran Malik Rose is concerned the lineup changes could cause some guys to become more disillusioned than they already are.
“Whatever changes he makes, it’s from a standpoint of winning,” Rose said. “It’s not going to be personal. I hope guys don’t take it that way. It could make players disgruntled, but I believe wholeheartedly it’s strictly from winning. It’s not like he doesn’t like that player he changes. If I thought that, I’d think he didn’t like me for benching me 30 games.”
Rose has sat on the bench for most of the season and stewed at the lack of competitive spirit the Knicks have shown. On Sunday, after helping lead the Knicks’ comeback in the Lakers’ loss when they whittled a 25-point lead down to one with his stout defense, he couldn’t keep it inside any longer and said his teammates have accepted their losing fate – a jarring admission.
“There’s got to be a point where you get tired of this happening,” Rose said. “No one in particular, but this locker room is content with getting beat. No one is getting to the point where it’ s like, ‘Screw this,’ or, ‘If it happens again, it’s not going to be on my watch.’ Until we get that attitude, that fire, that fight, we’re going to have one good game at a time.”
The Knicks (8-19), at a season- worst 11 games under .500, haven’t been this bad since Larry Brown ran the original Team Titanic into the ground with a 23-59 clip.
The Knicks’ situation appears beyond hopeless, but owner James Dolan allowed the Bulls to make a splash on Christmas Eve, firing their coach, Scott Skiles, after three straight playoff appearances while Thomas keeps floating along.
It is inconceivable to imagine – if the Knicks continue to lose at this pace – that Thomas doesn’t recommend he go upstairs and have someone like Herb Williams coach the club. Once the fans stop filling the Garden in mid- January, it would seem the only course of action.
At this morning’s shoot-around, Thomas will unveil a new starting lineup that is not expected to feature Curry and may not even include Randolph. David Lee appears a lock to go in, and, with Thomas bent on making the starting lineup more defense-oriented, it isn’t out of the question he promotes Rose to start in Orlando.
Just to make a point.
“I’d love to play,” Rose said. “I’ve been wondering when since I got traded here. Thank God I’ve been able to temper my emotions and stay ready. If it’s me, I’ll give everything I have on the court. I might not be as effective offensively as some guys in this locker room, but I’ll compete.”
The Knicks are 8-19 despite playing 16 games at home and 11 on the road. For all of Thomas’ beliefs the Garden is an impossible homecourt advantage, his team is a wreck on the road.
They have not won a legitimate road game this season. Their 1-10 road record includes as its lone win in the Meadowlands, where as many Knick fans as Net fans gather, and to which the team buses the day of the game. And during that victory, Jason Kidd called in sick.
Despite the host of changes, the Knicks didn’t conduct a Christmas practice for the second year in a row.
Curry, the franchise center expected to head to the pine, believes the time away was perfect.
“This day off is going to be good for everybody,” Curry said. “Coaches included, to kind of get away from it a little bit, be around your family just get a break. It’s just a day, but a day helps.”
Seven days ago, Thomas admitted in a “couple of weeks” it would be OK to question whether he deserves the boot if things aren’t better.
Things aren’t better. And the question of Thomas’ job security lingers.
“That’s a better question in a couple of weeks,” Thomas said. “Not today, but in a couple weeks, that would be a fair question.
“We’ll see if we can come out of this. If we can’t come out of this, then those are fair questions. There’s still a lot of basketball left in the season. There is time to turn it around.”
Time is running out.