nydailynews:Richardson remains an enigma in his first month with the Knicks, averaging just 6.5 points after being acquired on draft night with Nate Robinson for Kurt Thomas. He was all but absent from the Knicks' 105-102 overtime victory over the 76ers on Saturday, going scoreless in 19 minutes. Even when Brown went to a three-guard alignment late in the game, Richardson still wasn't on the floor. Stephon Marbury, Jamal Crawford and Robinson, who hit the game-winning three-pointer, were.
Richardson didn't gripe yesterday about playing time, though. "As long as we win, I'm content," said the 6-6 swingman, who did start the game. "I know I'll get it going eventually."
To date, though, Robinson actually has been the more productive player of the two, averaging 6.8 points per game and delivering the Knicks a needed win.
Fellow rookie Channing Frye has been brilliant in Kurt Thomas' old role. Frye had 21 points and 11 rebounds Saturday in his first start, feasting again on open jumpers and recording his fourth 20-point game in the last five. Marbury was comparing him to Tim Duncan afterward.
Brown wouldn't go that far, but he did say yesterday that Frye may remain a starter - perhaps even after Eddy Curry returns from his strained left calf. Although opponents surely will seek to take those open jumpers away from Frye eventually, Brown is hopeful he (and Curry) can provide a post presence.
Once that happens, the coach reasons, things should open up for Richardson, who averaged 15 points with the high-scoring Suns last season but has yet to score that many in a single game with the Knicks.
"I think it'll come," Brown said. "But I still think there are areas in his game that he can work on, because he's in a different environment and a different place."
In Phoenix, Richardson was in an ideal environment for a shooter: he had a pass-first point guard in Steve Nash and a low-post threat in Amare Stoudemire. He also played 36 minutes per game last season, compared 23 so far this season.
But Richardson is convinced the minutes will come. "I know that when I get to where I need to be, I'll be out there playing," he said.
