The Knicks Fix

So much for the showdown (and any other interesting angle to this game). Mike Dunleavy is not at the Garden. He stayed at the team hotel with the flu. A very well-timed flu.

Clippers people say Dunleavy really is sick and didn't even get out of bed for the morning shoot-around. The flu is going through the Clippers much like it has the Knicks over the past few weeks.

Plus, Dunleavy has already apologized to Isiah Thomas for using the Knicks as his example of bad management. Dunleavy told Thomas he was referring to the Patrick Ewing trade, which means he was offending Dave Checketts, instead.

Well done, Mike.

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I spoke with Jamal Crawford before the game about the Seattle Times blog that said he told the blog host, basketball writer Percy Allen, that he'd welcome a trade. Jamal says he never said that and has no interest in jumping this sinking ship.

"I want to be part of the reason things turn around," Jamal said. "I could say I want to go to another team that makes the playoffs, but that’s the easy way out.”

Jamal also said he thought it was "interesting" that the story was posted on Percy Allen's blog and not anywhere in the Seattle Times actual newspaper.

“It’s interesting it was in a blog," he said, "it wasn’t in a real article.”

Bloggers everywhere are now offended. But you can understand his point.

I spoke with Percy Allen this afternoon. He said he spoke with Crawford after the game in Seattle on Saturday night, when Crawford was around his friends and family. Percy says he always asks Jamal about one day playing for his hometown team in Seattle. He sort of backtracked off his blog story, which said Crawford "wouldn't mind being traded." They were talking more about the hypothetical of being traded to the Sonics.

“It was more accurate to say he would like to be here before his family and friends,” Allen said.

*

No Nate Robinson tonight. The bruised thigh is smarting, though N8 fought it to the end, getting as much treatment as possible and trying to stretch it out. Eddy Curry is back from his bout with the flu. Rejoice.

STARTING LINEUPS

KNICKS
Jones
Crawford
Curry
Richardson
Randolph

CLIPPERS
Cassell
Mobley
Powell
Ross
Thomas

Enjoy the game.