This is one of the worst losses I can remember. As a Knicks fan, I am embarrassed by the lack of effort, the sloppy play, the just overall horrible.
They had this game, up 12 7 minutes left. And then Tyreke Evans looked like he was running layup drills all over the place.
The hate for Jefferies, though, I believe is misplaced. Say what you want about him, but I feel like the guy does give effort. He's not the best player in the world, but on the defensive end, when he isn't hurt, he plays smart. He doesn't really make stupid plays, and he came in hurt tonight.
The loss falls on Mike D. Nate and Duhon weren't getting the job done, the team was just playing sloppy. Then you throw an injured Jefferies on a guy that has been burning everyone on the floor. Guess what? You have a defensive PG on the team, he wears #23 and his name is Toney Douglas. Nate couldn't stop Evans. Duhon couldn't stop Evans. Jefferies (who you normally get to do this sort of work) was hurt. Put in Douglas. I understand he was cold, but then that's all the more reason to get this guy minutes.
Look, Duhon is not playing well right now. I don't know what that play call was at the end, but Duhon has to make a better play there (and someone has to make a cut, in fairness). Nate is not a true PG, no matter how much some people here want to go down that route. GIVE TONEY DOUGLAS A TRY FOR CHRISTS SAKE! He can't be worse than Duhon's recent play.
As for Gallo, Paul I hear your complaints. He has been embarrassing lately. I think he might be hurt, or it might be the wear of an 82 game season getting to him. Remember, this guy didn't play really at all last year. I don't know what the season is like in Europe, but I bet the NBA is more demanding. It's something that will come with time, his body needs to adjust still. I have faith in Gallo.
Also, people are jumping to conclusions that we will sign Duhon. I really don't think this is the case, and Donnie certainly won't forego signing a max player to get Duhon back. I understand what you guys are saying, that they see him as a franchise player. I don't think that they do. My only explanation is this team (as in those on the roster) might think they have a better chance to win when Duhon runs the point.
I know guys, it's hard to be a fan right now. It seems like Walsh is doing nothing...But we have suffered through worse (Isiah). Isiah made trades just to make trades, we tried that way. If Walsh can't make a move that makes sense, then for goodness sake don't make it. I know, it's a hard pill to swallow, but sometimes things just don't work out the way you want them to. Sometimes the best move is to make no move. If we miss out on LeBron and other big free agents, yes that will be shitty. Yes, it will be another year of suffering. But it will also be a year closer to hopefully rebuilding this team through the draft (if that's what needs to be done).
Sometimes things need to get really bad (or seem really bad) before it gets better. And when they are bad, it seems like it will never end. But we can do it. Look at the Thunder, a team that was in dire straights only a few years ago that made the right picks and now has a team on the rise. It can be done. It will be done. If you are here, on this board, you have an insane dedication that band-wagon jumpers just won't understand. Call me crazy, say I'm drinking the Kool-Aid, but at the end of the day, believe. I know this team can pull out of it, one of these days.