Knicks really hurting
Rose likely out for year; Marbury's status is iffy
BY FRANK ISOLA
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
The losses continue to mount for the Knicks. And so do the defeats.
Stephon Marbury's season indeed may be over due to a knee injury, although Marbury and Larry Brown disagree - what else is new? - over when, and if, Marbury will play again. Marbury will sit out tonight's game in Philadelphia, and there is a possibility the Knicks may be down to nine healthy bodies.
Jalen Rose joined the growing list of casualties when the Knicks announced yesterday that the veteran forward is suffering from plantar fasciitis in his left foot to go with a sore right knee. Rose, who will have an MRI tomorrow, is expected to miss the last 11 games.
Channing Frye already is out for the year with a knee injury, while Quentin Richardson, suffering from a sprained left thumb, is not expected to play again, either. Steve Francis, who missed Friday's 117-112 loss to Philadelphia with a strained right toe, is listed as questionable.
Brown sounded encouraged yesterday that Marbury would be available when the team announced that an MRI had revealed he was suffering from a strained left patella tendon. But Marbury, who has been bothered by knee tendinitis for several years, doesn't share Brown's optimism.
"When I feel like I can go back on the court that's when I'll go back out on the court," he said.
Marbury's uncertain status raises questions about whether he will ever play another game for the Knicks. There is a strong possibility that the club will try to trade Marbury this summer. There also are serious questions now about Marbury's durability, which has been one of his strongest attributes.
His impressive streak of 280 consecutive games played ended in January when he suffered a sprained left shoulder. The injury sidelined him for a total of 11 games. Brown noted on Friday that Marbury, 29, "isn't getting any younger" and the veteran point guard has the sore knees to prove it. Marbury has complained of knee soreness as far back as the 2004 Olympics.
"Tough times don't last forever, tough people do," Marbury said. "This is something that won't break me. I had a freak (shoulder) injury and tendinitis is part of the game."
With Marbury out and Francis questionable, Nate Robinson and Jamal Crawford would be the starting backcourt. The Knicks have a roster spot available to sign a free agent to a 10-day contract if for no other reason than to give Brown enough players to run a full practice.
If they're looking for point guards, they could sign either John Lucas III, who spent time with the Rockets, or Will Conroy. Both players currently are in the D-League. In fact, Conroy was Robinson's backcourt mate at Washington and once lived with Crawford while growing up in Seattle.
At 19-52, the Knicks are on pace for the worst season in franchise history. And when you throw all the injuries into the mix, the Knicks are a serious threat to finish with 63 losses.
If nothing else, the injuries will allow Brown to give extra minutes to his younger players - Robinson, Crawford, David Lee, Qyntel Woods and Jackie Butler.
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