The New York Knicks Are Trying to Lose!

By Uzo Ometu.

Far be it from me to question anybody’s character, but that is exactly what I am going to do. In a world where nothing is fair and little is left to the imagination, I can be assured of just one thing: The New York Knicks are trying to lose.

Afterall, how else could you explain this team being so unbelievably? On January 2, 2008, a 100% healthy Knicks’ roster went up against a Sacramento Kings team that was devoid of its three unquestionably best players. Those players were Ron Artest, Mike Bibby, and Kevin Martin.

So what was the final result? Naturally, the Kings won by 10 points, in a game where they were up by as much as 23.

How can any team in the NBA be this bad? And I know there have been worse teams. The Knicks are currently on pace to win 22 games, and there have been teams that have not gotten out of the teens, but the way in which the Knicks continue to be astonishingly horrible makes them seem even worse than their 8-22 record. Even John Hollinger of ESPN has the Knicks ranked last in the league in his power rankings, below the 4-27 Minnesota Timberwolves and the 8-24 Miami Heat.

So the only reason to explain near 50-point losses, and blowout defeats from teams that aren’t even NBA caliber due to injuries, is that the players just aren’t trying. That’s right. I’m convinced that the team has had it with Isiah Thomas, and that the players, in some sort of silent revolt, are mutinying against the Coach who has done nothing but help make them all rich men. That includes Eddy Curry, Zach Randolph, Jamal Crawford, Quentin Richardson, and Stephon Marbury! They all continue to collect paychecks from MSG and yet I honestly believe they aren’t trying.

I could point out various plays throughout the Knicks’ season where one would really be on the fence as to whether or not a player actually was that bad or was just not trying to play winning basketball. With some of those guards who have come cutting down the lane, you have to be a fool to believe that Curry and Randolph couldn’t attempt to foul these players. Even Richardson’s defense has looked questionable over the past 2 dozen games. And if Jamal Crawford’s shot integrity were any worse, he’d be playing in the NBDL.

Those players are clearly trying to send a message to management that they are tired of Isiah Thomas. Maybe it was Isiah’s allowing Marbury play after he bolted on a West-Coast road trip that did Isiah in with the players. Nevertheless, it is disgusting to see these guys play with so little intensity, care, or effort. So, should it continue, they will get what they want, and Isiah Thomas will be fired. However, with efforts like these, I’m not too sure they won’t be out the door with him.

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