Isiah Thomas didn’t back off yesterday from the scathing critique of his Knicks’ play in Wednesday’s 104-84 loss to the Sixers, but he clarified it somewhat. The coach/president said he wasn’t mad at guard Steve Francis, he was mad at the entire bench. The reserves’ sorry play sent the team’s performance “down the tubes” and led to that humbling loss at Philadelphia.
“The way they came in the game, and what didn’t happen and the position it put us in . . . I was upset with that whole second unit and the way they responded to that situation,” Thomas said.
Power forward David Lee missed his first game of the season with flu-like symptoms, and the Knicks were sorely lacking his spark in the second unit. They saw their bench outscored 58-23 by the Sixers’ reserves. It simply underscored Thomas’ contention of just how valuable Lee – listed as doubtful tonight against Milwaukee – is off the bench.
“[We went] down the tubes. On that second unit he has a big impact on the game, a huge impact,” Thomas said. “I didn’t make this up. When I came into the league [Marc] Ivaroni was starting before Bobby Jones. Cedric Maxwell was starting before Kevin McHale. Some other teams have had success with it, and we’re trying to do it here.”
Lee wasn’t at practice, recovering from his flu-like ailment, and Francis – who played three minutes and 50 seconds Wednesday – was in the training room with similar symptoms. But Thomas won’t use instant-offense Jamal Crawford off the bench, saying he’ll have to get a spark from forwards Renaldo Balkman and Jared Jeffries. Balkman had a pair of 13-point, seven-rebound games (Feb 14 at Golden State and Wednesday) sandwiched around Tuesday’s DNP in Orlando.
“I’ve got to find a way . . . to get their energy into the game,” Thomas said of Balkman and Jeffries. “On our 17-0 runs, 20-0 runs, those two guys – whether it be [against] Golden State or Philly – they’re out on the floor. They make a difference defensively.”
The bench could be further weakened by Quentin Richardson’s bruised left shoulder. The small forward is listed as probable but said he will play.