| New York Knicks News: |
| GREENBURGH, N.Y., Oct. 30 -If the past week has shown the Knicks anything, it is that their humiliating off-season will not soon be forgotten.
Commissioner David Stern, in an interview broadcast Tuesday, delivered his harshest assessment yet of the Knicks, who lost a sexual-harassment case earlier this month. Asked what the case indicated about the state of the franchise, Stern told ESPN: "It demonstrates that they're not a model of intelligent management. There were many checkpoints along the way where more decisive action would have eliminated this issue." It was not clear whether Stern was referring to the Knicks' decision not to settle the lawsuit before trial, or to their handling of the harassment allegations when they first surfaced. Either way, it was clear that Stern was embarrassed by the spectacle. James L. Dolan, the Madison Square Garden chairman, has not spoken publicly about the case since a jury ordered his franchise to pay $11.6 million in damages to Anucha Browne Sanders, a former team executive. But Dolan took the step Tuesday of issuing a statement in response to Stern. "We have high regard for the commissioner,"Dolan said. "Right now, what we can all agree on is that the best thing for the Knicks is to get on the court and win some basketball games." It is an article of faith among the players and Coach Isiah Thomas that the new season will provide some sort of sanctuary, and that good basketball can trump a bad off-season. Yet they also concede that losing, as the Knicks have done for six straight years, will only exacerbate matters. |
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| A pair of clubs aiming to get back on the winning track face-off this evening in Atlanta, when the Hawks host the New York Knicks at Philips Arena.
Atlanta has dropped three straight, 16 of 17 and 23 of its last 26 games overall. The Hawks' recent woes continued on Wednesday night, as they fell 122-93 to the Washington Wizards at home. Tony Delk scored 16 points to lead the Hawks, while Josh Childress had 15 points. Atlanta has lost four straight against the Wizards dating back to last season. Royal Ivey and Donta Smith registered 11 points apiece, while Predrag Drobnjak chipped in 10 in the defeat. The Hawks struggled with their ball-handling in the loss, committing 20 turnovers which led to 27 Washington points. Atlanta shot 44 percent from the field, including 8-of-14 (.571) from three- point range. The Hawks drained 13-of-17 (.765) from the free throw line in the loss, while outrebounding the Wizards, 40-34. The Hawks have dropped five straight and six of their last seven home tilts to fall to 8-23 in their friendly confines. Atlanta will be closing out a four- game homestand this evening. New York has lost consecutive games, including a tough 98-96 defeat to the Miami Heat at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday. Dwyane Wade sealed the Knicks' fate with a 18-foot jumper as time expired. Stephon Marbury paced the Knicks with 24 points. Tim Thomas added 20 points and Kurt Thomas posted a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds for New York, which has dropped two straight after a brief two-game winning streak. Jamal Crawford chipped in eight points and tied a career-high with a game-high 12 assists in the setback. The Knicks fell to 5-9 in games decided in the final three seconds or less. Malik Rose tossed in 10 points in the defeat. New York shot 37-of-74 from the floor (50 percent), while the Heat went 38- of-66 (58 percent). The Knicks hit 7-of-16 (.438) from three-point range and 15-of-22 (.682) from the charity stripe. New York, which is starting a two-night, two-game road trip, is 7-22 in foreign buildings this season. The Knicks have dropped four straight and 13 of their last 14 road tilts. New York has won six straight, 12 of 14 and 14 of the last 18 meetings in this series. The Knicks have won three of four and four of their last six trips to Atlanta. |