Chương 154: Proud Knicks Management
The Knicks rotated in their bench lineup, consisting of Tony Douglas, Larry Hughes, Danilo Gallinari, Jared Jeffries, and Paul Millsap.
Jeffries was reintroduced to the court by Coach D'Antoni, not necessarily due to his performance, but because Knicks management was keen on trading away the bad contract left behind by former GM Isiah Thomas.
Jeffries had a close personal relationship with Thomas, as both hailed from Indiana University and had long aspired to work together. So, when the Wizards offered Jeffries a six-year, $33 million contract, he declined, hoping to join Thomas with the Knicks. Even when the Pacers extended a five-year, $30 million offer, Jeffries still chose to leave Washington. The Wizards eventually let him go, and the Knicks signed him for $30 million over five years, despite exceeding the luxury tax threshold at the time. This led to the Knicks effectively paying double, spending $60 million on Jeffries due to the tax penalties.
Injuries and lack of production limited Jeffries' minutes, and with established players like Marbury, Francis, Crawford, and Quentin Richardson already on the roster, his role became minimal. The addition of Zach Randolph further complicated Jeffries' place in the lineup. By that point, the team chemistry in the locker room was rocky, and Jeffries' lack of development over the years showed—his best season with the Knicks saw him average only 5 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 assist per game.
Now, with two years and $12 million remaining on his contract, the Knicks were looking to move him to clear cap space for the 2010 free agency. That was why D'Antoni began playing him more frequently in December, hoping he could pad his stats and make him a more attractive trade asset. With a salary of $6.9 million in the 2010-2011 season, his contract directly affected the Knicks' pursuit of marquee free agents in 2010.
One could question the logic of signing him to such a hefty contract back in 2006, especially considering that Jeffries had only scored 20 points in just two of his 490 career games at that time. But the answer to that, like many questionable Knicks moves during the era, was simple: Isiah Thomas.
Another infamous contract left by Thomas belonged to Eddie Curry, a player whose laziness overshadowed his talent. Curry avoided anything that required effort and relied on showing just enough focus during contract years to convince Thomas to reward him with a lucrative deal. When Thomas coached Curry in 2006, Curry's undeniable offensive talent shone in a handful of games, putting up impressive stats. But after Thomas traded for the equally offense-first Zach Randolph, the two battled for touches, and Curry eventually gave up. Perhaps he was too lazy to fight for the offensive spotlight.
Randolph soon dominated the offense, and Curry, now lacking motivation, faded into irrelevance. His laziness, combined with the $10 million-plus annual contract Thomas had given him, caused Curry to let his physical condition spiral. Now weighing 350 pounds—40 to 50 pounds heavier than Shaquille O'Neal—Curry's career was effectively over. His size made even basic movement difficult, and no team in the league was willing to take on his burdensome contract. At this point, Curry had become more of a mascot than a player, with zero trade value.
Despite these contract albatrosses, the Knicks' bench, led by Millsap, managed to maintain their offensive momentum. Millsap's versatility and energy ensured that the Knicks didn't miss a beat, even with their bench squad on the floor.
In the second quarter, the Knicks applied significant pressure on the Suns' bench lineup, making a key push to extend their lead. Danilo Gallinari was especially effective, draining several three-pointers and attacking the rim, which led to a foul on Lou Amundson. By the 7:31 mark, Suns coach Alvin Gentry was forced to put Steve Nash back into the game to stabilize their offense, replacing Goran Dragić. Grant Hill also subbed in for Jason Richardson, who had already logged 18 minutes.
Nash's presence quickly made an impact, as he orchestrated the Suns' offense with precision, assisting Grant Hill for back-to-back buckets. The Suns closed the gap with a four-point run, bringing the score to 51-44 and reducing the Knicks' lead to single digits.
In response, Coach D'Antoni called for substitutions. Lian Dao replaced Larry Hughes, and Darko Milicic came in for Paul Millsap. Lian Dao immediately made his presence felt, hitting a three-pointer from the 45° angle beyond the arc. Shortly after, he intercepted a pass from Nash intended for Grant Hill and assisted Jared Jeffries for an easy layup.
D'Antoni had emphasized to Lian Dao the importance of getting Jeffries involved offensively to increase his trade value. Lian Dao took the instruction to heart, setting up Jeffries with scoring opportunities and helping him capitalize.
As the second quarter progressed, Lian Dao's leadership helped the Knicks rebuild their lead. By halftime, they had pulled ahead by 17 points, with the scoreboard reading 75-58.
In the third quarter, the Knicks' starting lineup returned to the court and wasted no time getting into an offensive groove. Lian Dao, Wilson Chandler, and Paul Millsap formed a deadly trio from beyond the arc, continuing to sink three-pointers with ease. The team attempted 19 threes in the quarter, hitting 12 of them, a shooting display that left the Suns scrambling. Despite Gentry calling two timeouts to try and halt the Knicks' momentum, Phoenix couldn't slow them down.
The Knicks, in a red-hot shooting rhythm, seemed unstoppable, draining shots from all over the court. By the end of the third quarter, they had ballooned their lead to 34 points, entering the final quarter with a commanding 110-76 advantage over the Suns.
In the fourth quarter, Alvin Gentry looked at the Knicks' dominant performance and sighed in resignation. Acknowledging defeat, he substituted his starters with the bench, signaling his surrender. The Knicks followed suit, sending in their own reserves.
As Gentry watched Lian Dao cheer from the bench, he couldn't help but feel envious. During his time coaching the Suns, he had been fortunate to work with Steve Nash and Amar'e Stoudemire, and he had hoped that eventually, he'd get a chance to coach a talent like Lian Dao in New York. However, the Knicks had lucked out, drafting a player who the media hailed as a one-of-a-kind talent with no clear comparison. The Knicks had surged this season, and although they were still a young and rebuilding team, Gentry knew that with just a few key additions, they would be a serious contender next season—possibly even championship favorites.
It wasn't just Gentry who felt this way. Around the league, coaches quietly cursed the Knicks' fortune in landing such a generational player. Popovich of the Spurs, in particular, regretted not tanking the previous season for a chance at a player like Lian Dao. With Tim Duncan aging, Popovich was in desperate need of a new star to carry the team.
Meanwhile, Donnie Walsh, the Knicks' general manager, and owner James Dolan were the two most satisfied people in the league. Walsh's phone had been ringing non-stop with trade offers for Lian Dao, but he made it clear to all suitors that Lian Dao wasn't for sale. One offer from the Memphis Grizzlies—Rudy Gay and Marc Gasol—was immediately turned down.
James Dolan, once the constant target of Knicks fans' frustration and anger, was suddenly being praised. Dolan, cigar in hand, scrolled through online comments, reveling in the rare admiration from fans. "Eight years," he thought to himself, "I've endured eight years of being criticized every day. Now, I'm finally hearing praise. It's not easy!"
Dolan, thrilled with the team's turnaround, momentarily considered bringing his friend Isiah Thomas back into the fold as an honorary manager, but quickly dismissed the thought. He realized that the approval of Knicks fans was far more valuable than any personal relationships. For the first time since taking over the team, Dolan felt truly fulfilled, and he credited himself for the decision to draft Lian Dao.
With Lian Dao's value skyrocketing, Dolan instructed Donnie Walsh to build the team around him and seek Lian Dao's input for future roster reinforcements. This directive made Walsh sweat, thankful he had turned down the trade offers. He knew that if he had accepted any of them, his job might have been on the line. Lian Dao's importance to the Knicks had never been clearer.
Unaware of the significance of these behind-the-scenes moves, Lian Dao was on the bench, energetically waving a towel and celebrating with his teammates. Though he wasn't playing during garbage time, his enthusiasm was infectious, showing just how invested he was in the team's success.
When the final buzzer sounded, the Knicks had triumphed 126-99 over the Phoenix Suns, the team with the best record in the Western Conference. The victory snapped the Suns' five-game winning streak and ended the Knicks' own five-game losing streak, marking a pivotal moment in the season.
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