Lab results pending
Offseason experiments yet to pay off for many teams
5. New York Knicks hire Larry Brown
Well, hiring the peripatetic genius doesn't exactly qualify as an experiment; it's just what you do if you have the chance. The master chemist here is actually general manager Isiah Thomas, who in less than two years at the helm has made eight major trades and done some other roster tweaking. The changes have come so fast and furious that no one is quite sure what the Knicks have, including Brown, who will need time to sort it out.
At this point, it appears that New York does have surprising talent and depth in the frontcourt, where rookie center Channing Frye has already shown he belongs. But after New York lost 97-92 to the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night, a comment made by Brown's point guard, Stephon Marbury, who had only four points, was telling. "I have changed a lot of my game," he said, "Forty-five points is so far away right now." He was referring to the fact that he had scored 45 against the Lakers last season.
Will Marbury and Brown ever get on the same page, which -- make no mistake about it -- will have to be Brown's page?
Prognosis: Experiment will not blow up, but Brown will need more time than usual to build a winner.
