[Basketball News]

As nine losses in the last ten games against their cross-river rivals would indicate, the Knicks don’t match up well against the New Jersey Nets even under the best of circumstances.

But what about these circumstances? When center Eddy Curry left the game with 5:41 left in the second quarter with a strained right hamstring, the Knicks were missing their five top scorers (plus prime energizer Renaldo Balkman) from the lineup.

That the Nets won the game 104-95 was more than understandable. Equally characteristic, however, was how the depleted but gutty young Knicks stayed in the game, fighting their hearts out till the very end. “I can’t complain at all about our effort and the intensity we play with,” Coach Isiah Thomas said. “We may not always shoot the ball well, we may not always be as intelligent out on the floor as we need to be at times. But in terms of their effort and what they have given me, I can’t complain about that at all.”'

Knicks Swept By Nets

[Lefty Noob]

All this positive spin I keep hearing out of Thomas is making me physically ill.

[simple simon]

did they tank it ?

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by simple simon

did they tank it ?

Part of me hopes so. I mean, if they were really trying... heh, I guess Knicks fans would be the only basketball fans who would be happy to know their team was throwing games. "Whew! They're not really THAT bad!" I kid the Knicks fans!

[MJHMarc]

With the playoffs out of their grasp, there is no motivation to succeed.

[simple simon]

Originally Posted by MJHMarc

there is no motivation to succeed.

personal pride ?

the fact that youre collecting a huge paycheck to play your hardest ?

all the fans in the stands and watching on TV and listening on the radio ?