Top > Sport > 2005 > December > 2005-12-15

Not Too Late for NY

Ever since Larry Brown assumed coaching duties for the Knicks, the concensus was that this team is going to get better and that it?s simply a matter of time. Even though the team boasts a 6-13 record, it?s not too late for them to make a push for the playoffs. In fact, this is the perfect timing for New York to turn around their season. Why now? The Knicks play six of their next seven games in the friendly confines of MSG. Four of those seven teams have sub-.500 records.

If the Knicks are serious about making a run at the eminently winnable Atlantic Division title, they need to make up some ground this month. The Knicks nine remaining games in December should allow the organization and the fans to gauge whether this team is playoff caliber. Up to this point, the Knicks have been up and down, showing tremendous potential one night only to follow up those performances with an inconsistent effort. The Knicks face an uphill battle. A few glaring issues need to be resolved. For one, Larry Brown has yet to establish a set rotation. Players have yet to develop chemistry or cohesion on the court.

So far, it is safe to say that inconsistent playing time is one of the main reasons for the inconsistent play. At some point Coach Brown will have to choose a solid rotation and stick with it, for better or worse. The Knicks also need better guard play. Stephon Marbury, as expected, has had a tough time adjusting to Larry Brown`s system. It seems he is still unsure when to be aggressive and attack the basket as opposed to setting up others. To his credit, Marbury has defended better this year, as evidenced by the solid job he did on Ray Allen in Seattle.