nypost:-- Larry Brown spent some time chatting with team president Isiah Thomas during the end of practice yesterday, and he didn't appear to be begging the embattled executive for any new players.
After spending much of the early season bashing the makeup of the roster Thomas created, Brown chose yesterday to instead focus on whom he does have to work with — even as injuries take an increasing toll on the team.
And with the Knicks set to visit Toronto tonight, it would seem apparent the long-rumored deal that would bring Jalen Rose to the Knicks might be on Brown's mind.
He insisted it wasn't.
"We've got to fix things here," Brown said. "Focus on our next practice."
But with Stephon Marbury saying yesterday he won't play tonight and Eddy Curry and Jerome James once again battling injury, Brown has less than ever to work with, and he hasn't had any success with a healthy roster.
"This is what I've got," Brown said of the team. "I've got to challenge the guys and make them understand what they need to do."
Brown added Jamal Crawford is one of the players whom he still expects more from. The guard has hardly been a factor in the last three games, scoring only 16 points.
"We need him to be more aggressive," Brown said. "He can do that."
