WASHINGTON (AP) - Washington Wizards coach Eddie Jordan was concerned that his team would play down to the level of the woeful New York Knicks .
No worries there. Knicks coach Larry Brown said he's reached the point where he's ''begging guys to play,'' and Steve Francis was on the verge of tears.
A game against the worst team in the East turned out to be the ideal homecoming for the Wizards, who got 13 points and a season-high 13 assists from Gilbert Arenas in a 105-90 rout Tuesday night.
''New York is a team that is not playing well, and we didn't play down to their level,'' Jordan said. ''I thought we played very well, especially Gilbert, with how he got his teammates involved early. We played the right way.''
Arenas also matched his season high with six steals, and Washington had a season-high 16 steals. Antawn Jamison and Caron Butler scored 18 points apiece to lead six Wizards players in double figures.
The Knicks lost their ninth straight, matched a season high with 28 turnovers, and are looking more and more comfortable in the role of a team that simply can't wait for the season to end. They trailed by 11 after the first quarter and by 22 at halftime. The deficit reached 31 in the fourth quarter, and Jordan was able to sit all of his starters for the final 7:14 of the game.
''They came in with so much more energy, it was like the varsity against the JV,'' Brown said. ''You've got to keep trying. Somehow you've got to find five guys who care enough to compete. I hate to say that because you take away from (the Wizards players) and what they did, but you've got to hope you have enough pride to compete. I never in my life thought I'd be in a position where you're begging guys to play.''
Brown juggled his lineup again, starting a league-high 42nd different unit this season. Francis opened at point guard, with Nate Robinson coming off the bench. Stephon Marbury , Jalen Rose and Jerome James sat out with injuries or illness.
Brown said he's never been through a stretch this difficult as a coach, and Francis went even further.
''Besides my mom passing away when I was 18, this is top three, definitely, just because this is my livelihood,'' Francis said. ''Basketball is what I do. To be able to come out here and not being able to help this Knicks organization win is tough. I think a lot of the players don't realize that you only have one basketball career and it doesn't last as long as you think. The money might be there, but actually being out there on the court, that (stuff) doesn't last. And until people realize that and realize that you have to help each other and not be so selfish and worry about how many points you score, we're going to be stuck in the same position, same place.''
''It's like a funeral, man,'' Francis said, his eyes welling up. ''That's what it feels like.''
The Wizards dressed as the Baltimore Bullets and finally won a game in their throwbacks. They had been 0-5 wearing the 1970s-era blue-and-orange this season. ... The Wizards went 3-1 against the Knicks, taking the season series for the first time since 2001-02. ... Marbury missed his second straight game with a strained knee tendon, while Jalen Rose sat out his second straight with plantar fasciitis in his left foot and a sore right knee. James was the new entry on the injured list: He was out with an upper respiratory infection. ... Two Knicks received technical fouls for jawing with the refs, Maurice Taylor in the second quarter and Crawford in the fourth.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/bas...445_recap.html
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Well I think the Brown strategy this year to loose many games and have a good pick in the draft. the knicks also can trade for it.
But why isn't it the first time Brown have some chemisty problem , problem with players?
Francis needs to chill and not take basketball that seriously. I understand it's a sport and athletes are compe ive, but playing on a losing team one season and putting that on par with your MOTHER dying is a little extreme.
Knicks need to fire Isiah right now. Trade some of their 5 shooting guards for some defensive Centers and PF's. Not sure if this is all part of Brown's master plan or what...
Isiah's doing a good job, or didn't you hear?
"We played the right way."
ouch! Eddie tweaking Larry's nose!!
Sad thing is that even though he is a starter these days, poor ol' Malik isn't even getting 20 minutes a night for the Knicks. Last night he suffered a team-high six turnovers in 19 minutes to go with four fouls and eight points.
Uhhhhh....failing miserably at your dream job would rank right up there with the death of my father as well. The only difference being that I get to try again.
Knicks need to fire Isiah right now. Trade some of their 5 shooting guards for some defensive Centers and PF's. Not sure if this is all part of Brown's master plan or what...
You obviously dont take work seriously enough.
Just to further my point, the career I have right now is ULTRA important to me. If I were to fail....my God, I would be devastated.
Absolutely crushed. , I dont even want to think about it. Im out this thread.
I do take my work seriously, however, there is a line. You work to live, you don't live to work. Failing at your "Dream job" is nowhere near the death of someone you love. That's permanent. Work is work; it's in your control and you can go back out there and try again as you mentioned.
You obviously take work a little too seriously.
Yawn. The Knicks are bad. Blah, blah, blah. I didn't see Denver get this kind of pub in 2003.
Larry's true colors show when hes faced with adversity
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