While trying to get around a pick during Friday’s practice, Jamal Crawford, the Knicks’ leading scorer, at 19.2 ppg, bumped his shooting [right] hand on a teammate’s knee.  X-rays were taken -while Isiah Thomas spoke with the media during Sunday’s pre-game conference.

The NY Daily News reported the following conversation took place shortly after the injury:

“When asked if the injury was a bruise, Crawford turned to a Knicks official and said, “That’s what we’re calling it, a bruise? Yeah, it’s a bruise,” Crawford said.

Last season, Crawford was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his right ankle on February 26 and missed the rest of regular season, less 31 seconds he played against the Nets during the final week.

“I’m not worried at all,” he said on Friday.  ”I didn’t hear nothing pop - not that I did last year - but it’s not that serious, I hope.”

Crawford was expected to meet with the media after Thomas’ conference.  He didn’t show.  That, in itself, could be construed as unusual behavior, as he is one of the few players to chat with the press before a game. 

A team spokesman said X-rays were negative, and that he is listed as day-to-day.

On the front page of today’s Game Notes [vs. the Bulls], he was listed as ‘probable.’   

It was 2005, and Isiah Thomas had a decision to make at the NBA Draft.  At No. 8, both [F/C] Channing Frye and [C] Andrew Bynum were both available.  

What to do?

“[That night], they were 1A and 1B on the board.  We didn’t take Bynum because of his age, because of New York, and our crowd -and everything else,” Isiah said, “and I thought the two years that he would have to develop here would be too tough on a 17 year-old.”

Sounds considerate enough, but Thomas had to have known that Bynum was from across the Hudson -in Jersey City, NJ-  and not from parts unknown.  Bynum already knew as much about New York as Frye, who was born in White Plains, but spent his formidable years in Arizona.

“We went with the college senior and the four years of experience, as opposed to the two-year wait period because, after the beatdown here in New York, I didn’t know if he would have enough to come back out of it.”

Four months later, Thomas traded for a center [Eddy Curry], in part by using valuable draft picks.

Over the summer, Frye became a pawn in the Zach Randolph trade.  Meanwhile, the 20 year-old Bynum has become a center of attraction in Los Angeles. 

Stephon Marbury, who is scheduled to make $17 million this season, has missed eight of the last 11 games since his father passed away on December 2. Isiah Thomas has remained sympathetic toward Marbury’s situation, and did not even suggest that his point guard might be taking advantage of the prolonged absence. Marbury has already appealed the $195,000 fine for skipping the November 13 contest in Phoenix.

___

While the sudden death of Donald Marbury, Sr. was unfortunate, I have to wonder if Steph is using this reason as an escape from the team. 

It hasn’t been a good year for the two-time All-Star.  The off-season was a nightmare.  The trial was a disaster.  The Knicks have played poorly, with or without him.  And, within a month, three very important people in his life had died. 

Is it really too far-fetched to believe he needed time away from the organization, and that his father’s death offered the most convenient way out?

When the Chicago Bulls last visited MSG, they were 2-8.  I asked Skiles if he ever felt that his job was in jeopardy.  Skiles [who still owns the league record for 30 assists in one game -1990] maintained that he had a ‘good relationship with management’ and there was no indication he would be fired.

http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/7601752?MSNHPHMA

Something to think about as Isiah Thomas, having celebrated his fourth anniversary on the job, enjoys his holiday season. 

Stephon Marbury has missed the majority of the Knicks’ games since his father passed away on Dec. 2, and the organization has been very supportive of their star-crossed ’star.’

Even with the controversy surrounding the flight out west andf subsequent game in Phoenix on Nov. 13, Isiah Thomas and James Dolan stood behind Marbury. Perhaps they will feel differently now that he has filed a grievance with the Players Association over the fine that he received for missing the game. Marbury claimed that he had permission to leave the team.

This is just another chapter in the horror story that has been Marbury and the Knicks.

obe Bryant actually gave Knick fans a rise a day before he is playing at Madison Square Garden. The Lakers star addressed a few questions from reporters in Philadelphia and acknowledged that the Knicks were one of the four teams on his list to management that he would accept a trade to, and that all four (Knicks, Bulls, Mavericks and Suns) are still on it.

A longshot at best, the Lakers would have to accept contracts in order for Bryant to even fit into their salary cap. And those players are not exactly going to give back anything close to equal value.

Let’s forget for one moment the 7-17 record that includes last night’s 119-92 loss to the Indiana Pacers at MSG. We’ll even make believe the ‘Fire Isiah’ chants didn’t rein down from the half-empty rafters to the floor seats. While we’re at it, the head coach didn’t even call his team out in the post-game press conference.

The one thing that I took away from that game was the quote from Eddy Curry and his reaction upon being informed that Isiah Thomas stated that they played with no pride or heart.

“I think we do,” he said to the reporters gathered around his locker. “Sometimes the effort’s not there during moments of the game, but we definitely have pride and heart.”

Let me repeat part of that in case you blew by it - “SOMETIMES THE EFFORT’S NOT THERE DURING MOMENTS OF THE GAME.” This is the most ridiculous thing that I have ever heard an underachieving, overpaid center say. One that has been a part of a losing organization since he was drafted out of high school by the Chicago Bulls, and then traded to New York. It is not a coincidence that his former team became a playoff contender the minute he was shipped out of town.

Any time an athlete admits that he has lost his effort even for a fleeting moment, it is over. Perhaps members of the Boston Celtics were THINKING that in the final moments of the 45-point blowout win against these same hapless Knicks back on Nov. 29, which may be excused when you don’t want to rub salt in your dead opponent’s wounds. You may let up a bit for sportsmanship, and you still do not admit that.

From bad to worst.

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What: New York Knicks guard Jamal Crawford will host his annual ‘Giving Tree’ at The Westchester Mall in White Plains, NY benefiting Family Services of Westchester.

With the purchase of a holiday gift from the “Giving Tree”, fans will receive an autographed picture of Crawford as well as New York Knicks game tickets for those who purchase three or more gifts (while supplies last).

The Westchester Mall will staff a table set-up for those looking to purchase gift cards for the charity. Crawford has set the goal of collecting 400 holiday gifts and raising more than $2,500 worth of Mall gift cards for Family Services of Westchester.

Family Services of Westchester was founded in 1954 as a private, not-for-profit agency with a mission to provide a broad range of mental health and social services to strengthen and support families, children and individuals at every stage of the life cycle. Today, with seven offices located throughout Westchester County, four residential homes, a senior employment agency, adult day care, enriched housing and many satellite programs, Family Services of Westchester serves more than 24,000 children, families and individuals each year, strengthening and supporting families and the communities in which they live, worship, go to school and work.

When: Sunday, December 16, 2-4p.m.

Where: The Westchester

125 Westchester Avenue, White Plains, NY

Contact # - 914-421-1333

Visuals: Jamal Crawford signing autographs for shoppers that purchase items for children from the Family Services of Westchester.

Jamal Crawford purchasing holiday gifts in the mall for children from Family Services programs.

MISSION STATEMENT OF THE JAMAL CRAWFORD FOUNDATION

“The mission of the Jamal Crawford Foundation is to provide inner-city children with experiences and activities to strengthen both their minds and bodies leading to well-rounded and complete adults.”

What: New York Knicks guard Jamal Crawford will host his annual ‘Giving Tree’ at The Westchester Mall in White Plains, NY benefiting Family Services of Westchester.

With the purchase of a holiday gift from the “Giving Tree”, fans will receive an autographed picture of Crawford as well as New York Knicks game tickets for those who purchase three or more gifts (while supplies last).

The Westchester Mall will staff a table set-up for those looking to purchase gift cards for the charity. Crawford has set the goal of collecting 400 holiday gifts and raising more than $2,500 worth of Mall gift cards for Family Services of Westchester.

Family Services of Westchester was founded in 1954 as a private, not-for-profit agency with a mission to provide a broad range of mental health and social services to strengthen and support families, children and individuals at every stage of the life cycle. Today, with seven offices located throughout Westchester County, four residential homes, a senior employment agency, adult day care, enriched housing and many satellite programs, Family Services of Westchester serves more than 24,000 children, families and individuals each year, strengthening and supporting families and the communities in which they live, worship, go to school and work.

When: Sunday, December 16, 2-4p.m.

Where: The Westchester

125 Westchester Avenue, White Plains, NY

Contact # - 914-421-1333

Visuals: Jamal Crawford signing autographs for shoppers that purchase items for children from the Family Services of Westchester.

Jamal Crawford purchasing holiday gifts in the mall for children from Family Services programs.

MISSION STATEMENT OF THE JAMAL CRAWFORD FOUNDATION

“The mission of the Jamal Crawford Foundation is to provide inner-city children with experiences and activities to strengthen both their minds and bodies leading to well-rounded and complete adults.”