Newsday: Just a little defense makes a difference

[whottt]

http://www.newsday.com/sports/basket...orts-headlines

Knicks 90, Pacers 79
Just a little defense makes a difference
Rose plays only nine minutes, but he helps spark good showing



BY ANTHONY RIEBER
STAFF WRITER

February 26, 2005, 11:23 PM EST


NEW YORK -- Malik Rose won two NBA les as a member of the San Antonio Spurs before being traded to the Knicks on Thursday. An undersized power forward at 6-7, he brought rebounding and defense and toughness last night to Madison Square Garden.

In fact, he brought everything except underarm deodorant, which he had to ask someone to find for him after the Knicks-Pacers game.

No problem, though. The Knicks all came out smelling like a rose after their 90-79 victory over Indiana.

Rose played only nine minutes -- all in the first half -- in his Knicks debut, but he sparked a defensive effort that led the Knicks to one of their best wins of the season. He grabbed eight rebounds and provided solid play against 7-footer Jermaine O'Neal and left a good first impression on his new teammates.

"He brings that championship at ude to the team," Stephon Marbury said.

The Knicks have won two in a row and three of four and improved to 6-11 under coach Herb Williams. It's their first winning streak since they won three straight under Lenny Wilkens from Dec. 26-29. That streak ended with the Knicks at 16-13 and in first place in the Atlantic Division. Things have not been going swimmingly since, as you may have heard.

It was the third time the Knicks have held an opponent under 80 points, the first time under Williams. Since the first two were New Orleans and the Nets, this one counts more.

Indiana had won five straight and seemed to be getting itself together after the self-inflicted blows of the Nov. 19 brawl with the Pistons. O'Neal led the Pacers with 24 points but was kneed in the stomach/groin area by a driving Marbury with 1:06 left in the game and walked off the court with assistance. To make matters worse, O'Neal was called for a foul on the play.

Retiring Reggie Miller scored 14 and shot 6-for-12 in his next-to-last appearance at the Garden. Unless the teams meet in the playoffs, Miller will have one last chance to torment Knicks fans on April 5.

The Knicks were led by Marbury's 21 points. Jamal Crawford had 17, Kurt Thomas 16 and Tim Thomas 11. Whether Thursday's trading-deadline deals eventually will earn Knicks president Isiah Thomas a dunce cap -- as one tabloid back page suggested -- one of them worked out great last night. Rose, acquired from San Antonio for Nazr Mohammed and Jamison Brewer, made his Knicks debut with 8:45 left in the first half.

Wearing Mohammed's No. 13, the two-time NBA champion grabbed a defensive rebound on his first possession and didn't stop there. By the time the half was over, Rose had eight rebounds -- four on the offensive glass -- and with Kurt Thomas' five rebounds and Jerome Williams' four, the undersized Knicks had a 21-15 rebounding advantage and a 47-37 lead on the scoreboard.

Williams has been a non-person at times under Herb Williams, but he was the first forward off the bench when starter Michael Sweetney picked up two fouls seven minutes into the game.

Williams has eight forwards to choose from after Thomas' deals, which brings to mind then-Rangers coach Colin Campbell's comment that the Devils were an "interchangeable flock of forwards." Thomas will presumably sort out the roster logjam during the summer, but until then, Williams can think of redundancy as a positive.

Kurt Thomas stayed hot in the third quarter; his jumper with 9:50 left made him 5-for-6 for the game (and 15-for-17 in the last two) and made the score 53-40. Indiana went on an 11-2 run to get the lead down to 55-51, but the Knicks stretched it back to 13 (71-58) when Marbury converted a three-point play just before the end of the third quarter.

Notes & quotes: Miller nemesis e Lee was not in attendance ... Maurice Taylor, whom the Knicks acquired from Houston for Vin Baker and Moochie Norris, had two points in five minutes. He hadn't played since Jan. 17 because of the flu and a bad foot.

[whottt]

An undersized power forward at 6-7, he brought rebounding and defense and toughness

rebounding and defense and toughness
rebounding and defense and toughness
rebounding and defense and toughness


Um...isn't this what Mohammed is supposed to be bringing to our team?

Why is Isiah saying he wasn't getting it...why is the author of this article acting like like those things are Jessica Simpson and he just finished serving a 15 year prison sentence?

I mean...those of us that are truly honest are going to say Malik gave us defense, rebounding, and toughness....why wouldn't the Knicks be being honest when the say they weren't getting it?

[TheWriter]

That's a New York paper. That team hasn't seen anything remotely to what Malik brings... so of course they'll have a wet dream over it.

However, we needed size, we're not in east.

[whottt]

That's a New York paper. That team hasn't seen anything remotely to what Malik brings... so of course they'll have a wet dream over it.

However, we needed size, we're not in east.

Yeah cuz...we have tons of rebounding and defense and toughness in our front court.

Can you hook me up with some of what you are smoking?

[whottt]

That's a New York paper. That team hasn't seen anything remotely to what Malik brings... so of course they'll have a wet dream over it.

However, we needed size, we're not in east.

They've seen what Mohammed brings...they seem to like what Malik brings better...

And don't tell me they are trying to make Isiah look good...they are eviscerating him in the NY Press.

[boutons]

OK, Whott, you've made your point.

Let's see how Malik helps the Knicks, and see how Nazr helps the Spurs.

The proof is in the pudding.

[TheWriter]

Whottt.... go lick your Coyote poster.

Let the big boys bring real topics to this board.

[whottt]

I hate to tell you this bouty...but our team has never been this good at this point of the season.

What exactly are you guys expecting to happen?

Ever hear the expression "if it aint broke don't fix it?"...there's a reason someone came up with that expression.

[whottt]

Whottt.... go lick your Coyote poster.

Let the big boys bring real topics to this board.

LMAO.

Big boys being you right?

Go right ahead...I'll kick back and watch.

But personally I think my silent farts contain more basketball knowledge then you will ever possess.

And I still want some of what you are smoking.

And thank you for using the third T...

[timvp]

Malik Rose is going to tear it up in the East, especially since he's on a team that actually wants him. If he averages anything less than 15 and 8 in starter type minutes, I'd be surprised.

The problem with Spurs fans is they are spoiled. They knew David Robinson and they know Tim Duncan. Of course Malik Rose isn't close to as good as those two players, but Spurs fans held him up to those standards. Now that he's free from a coach who was trying to hold him back and free from having to try to fit around a Tim Duncan, I expect Rose to play very well.

In time, this will look like a very bad trade ... unless Nazr Mohammed shows up and contributes on a nightly basis.

[Louae]

Malik Rose is going to tear it up in the East, especially since he's on a team that actually wants him. If he averages anything less than 15 and 8 in starter type minutes, I'd be surprised.

The problem with Spurs fans is they are spoiled. They knew David Robinson and they know Tim Duncan. Of course Malik Rose isn't close to as good as those two players, but Spurs fans held him up to those standards. Now that he's free from a coach who was trying to hold him back and free from having to try to fit around a Tim Duncan, I expect Rose to play very well.

In time, this will look like a very bad trade ... unless Nazr Mohammed shows up and contributes on a nightly basis.

my god, that was beautiful. TRUER WORDS WERE NEVER SPOKEN.

[whottt]

Ditto...well said TimVP.

[Mr. Body]

Not necessarily a bad trade, though it might look like it. Truth be told, Malik really needed to find a greener pasture, where he could play unchecked and hustle like a madman without a firm leash. He'll get that, presumably, in New York, where they might really use him well.

That said, Mohammed might be a great fit in San Antonio, as well. I wouldn't be surprised hearing people crow for his re-signing after a year and a half, when his contract comes up. Patience, people.

[Louae]

Not necessarily a bad trade, though it might look like it. Truth be told, Malik really needed to find a greener pasture, where he could play unchecked and hustle like a madman without a firm leash. He'll get that, presumably, in New York, where they might really use him well.

That said, Mohammed might be a great fit in San Antonio, as well. I wouldn't be surprised hearing people crow for his re-signing after a year and a half, when his contract comes up. Patience, people.

Well, I'm hoping for the best. But I'm not holding my breath. I've been reading the knicks boards about Mohammed and i'm not impressed with what's being said about him. This trade is more about clearing future cap space to avoid the luxuary tax than making this team better for the playoffs, in my opinion. Right now, I'm hoping for Horry to get healthy and get healthy quick. B/c Mohammed is a huge wildcard to make a solid contribution this season. Right now, I'm hoping he can provide us with something next year. Like replacing Rasho in the starting lineup. If he could pull that off by playoff time, that would be the icing on the cake. It might also be asking for way too much, but definately something we'd need to make this trade a steal like the national media is portraying.

So far, I've read that he's much more slow footed than malik rose, can't play as well on defense as Malik Rose, isn't really as good a shot blocker has his stats might indicate, has no jumper, can't put the ball on the floor, and is inconsistent in terms of giving effort. Although, they were giving him some slack in that department due to his groin injury. Basically, they're not heart-broken about his departure. They're just pissed about adding another long-term contract for an overpaid and under-sized forward, of which they are already loaded with.

But they did say that he was a good rebounder and a good guy.

[Rick Von Braun]

This excercise is futil.

Could we at least wait for the remaining of the season to issue a judgement about the trade?

Nazr hasn't even played yet!

[Russ]

In time, this will look like a very bad trade

Yep. Hubris can't leave well enough alone. Just ask Shaq, Jimmy Johnson or Malik.

[texasqb2]

yeah playing malik in short stretches-he can be good that way, but I am not paying 7-8 million for a NINE minute player, i hate the exaggeration....I cant wait to see Nazr get comfortable.

[Russ]

I cant wait to see Nazr get comfortable.

I think you will. Nazr seems like the kind of guy that can get very comfortable.