Section 423: Is There a Light at the End of the Tunnel?

(Note: A piece by A.F.O.M.G. will be available later this afternoon, so keep checking in for that.)

Unless David Lee (whose rebounding average just goes up and up and up), and Marty Collins (if the folks at MSG had any soul, there should be a drink named 'The Marty Collins' at the Garden -- Hennessey and Pineapple) clone themselves, then the Knicks are in for another abysmal journey to the depths of the NBA.

After spending close to $450 bucks on 4 decent seats for Saturday night's game vs. Los Torros, and another 50 clams on some watered down jack and cokes and a rubbery hot dog (someone has to pay for Shandon Anderson's buyout, right?), I got to witness one of the least inspired, laziest, and down right depressing Knicks showings in years.

Coming off the Boston win, I assumed the guys would be on some type of high. The wheels may still be on the track? Well the train crashed like an Amtrak Saturday night, and to be honest folks, even for an eternal optimist like me, I don't think this train is making it to the station.

The Knicks are flawed on every level. Coaching. Injuries. Attitude. And worst of all, skill level. They're a lot like the 2003 Mets in that way, except instead of Art Howe, a broken Mr. Glass, and Tony Tarasco, it's Isiah, Jeffries, and Steph (or fill in the names as you so choose).

But back to the Knicks -- when you play home and homes with a team, usually you're able to split. You learn something in the first game, make an adjustment, and win the second, even if it is on the road.

However, the only adjustment made, and this is to Coach Zeek's credit, was that he put Balkman (2 of the top 10 dunks of the year so far?) in the game in the first half Tuesday on the road in the house that Jordan built, instead of letting him twirl his dreads until the 2nd half like he did Saturday night.

Balkman has been a pleasant surprise. Yes, he dribbles like a 6th grader. Yes, he makes you hold your breath on every 18 footer from the corner. However, he is unique, athletic, and ultimately does something that very few NBA players are capable of, even the good ones: he tries.

Night in and night out, the guy brings the pain like Method Man (great song). If Isiah can do a better job of when he puts him in the game, he might actually make an impact in the Knicks' favor. You can't play him zero minutes 1st half, then 24 in the second.

I'm also ashamed to say it, but I think the time has come for Stephon to move on. The prodigal son has fallen. How the basketball gods have deceived us. It's been close to 15 years since Steph was carried off the Garden floor a PSAL champion for Lincoln High School.

Now, he is benched and booed every time he touches the ball. It really breaks my heart. You can see the sadness in his soul as his ten dollar shoes squeek and slide up the hardwood.

What's the answer to the Steph situation? Bench and embarass him more? You can't trade him or buy his 15 mil a year out. What to do?

Here is the solution. Isiah should NEVER have Steph, Crawford, and Francis on the court at the same time. Ever. This isn't a Don Nelson sleep away camp. Start Steph and Francis, and about 6 minutes into the first quarter, pull one of them for Crawford.

Then with about 7 mins to go in the 2nd, right after the TV time out, put one of them back in. This will also help Crawford take fewer crazy shots, which he seems to do every other time down the floor.

Nate has been great, the block on Yao going down in history as an 'NBA moment', but he needs to start taking things seriously. I'm glad he is having fun, but honestly, when your team is an abysmal 1-6 at home, stop talking to Brooke Shields and Boomer Esiason in the front row, and win a ball game.

Saturday night in the Garden, all the big names come out, and the Knicks make Luol Deng, Nocioni, and Malik Allen look like Jordan, Pippen, and Ho Grant. Just atrocious. They held Gordon to under ten points and cut a 20 point lead down to 5 with 2 minutes left. Too little, too late, and too much stuffing and gravy on Turkey Day.

You laugh, but I really think that's what happened. The guys looked sluggish until Balkman gave them a much needed lift, and possibly the dunk of the year as he soared baseline for a thunderous stuff. Wow. Now I'm sounding like Walt Clyde...

So getting back to Steph, what do you do? He didn't take a shot Saturday night, the first time that had happened in his entire career. He sat the whole second half, even with Q Rich injured.

So what to do? The way this plays out will determine how long Isiah lasts. After all, that his golden boy. He is New York's golden boy. I don't question his desire, and while I know his skills have diminished, I just think he is lost right now. His role is not defined, and for the first time in his life, he is playing scared.

Nonetheless, at 5-11, the team somehow finds itself only 1 game out of first place in the Atlantic. At first I was excited about this, the mediocrity of the division proving false playoff hopes. Now I wish the struggling Nets and Sixers could get it together and pull away so a sense of panic and despair overwhelms the franchise and Isiah is fired and replaced with Kenny Smith, Greg Anthony, or even Mark Jackson.

From the booth to the sidelines. Those guys understand today's NBA player, while Isiah seems to be off in Neverland.

To end on a positive note, shout out to David Lee. Keep the double doubles coming, and keep yelling at the refs. New York hasn't seen this kind of fire since a young Bobby Valentine. They hear you young buck....

- Mase & Chris