Amazing What A Little Help Can Do

Link: Thomas, who routinely takes Curry out for end-game defensive situations, wanted the Knicks smaller and quicker against the Nets, no endorsement of the big man as an ultimate difference maker. Curry needs help, which last night arrived down the stretch from Marbury. If it came more often, in any quarter, from anybody, the Knicks would not be six games under .500.

Frustration with Curry’s inability to single-handedly carry a team deep into the playoffs inevitably will start to come down on him unless the Knicks get an extraordinary wing/perimeter player. But how? For the kind of cap room that made O’Neal a Laker, the Knicks’ ship sailed a long time ago and isn’t docking again for a while. Allowing the talent to run down to try and get lucky in a lottery is never the Garden’s style anyway, even if Patrick Ewing proved such a plan can work.

The avenue remaining is the sign-and-trade, but does Thomas have enough to deal for the star he needs? That “due diligence” Thomas performed before the trade deadline, exploring what it would take to get Carter, Rashard Lewis or Kevin Garnett, reminded him that at this time, the answer is no.