<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Not only did Isiah Thomas bench David Lee in last night's blowout win over Atlanta for Jared Jeffries, but the Knicks president/coach sounded as if Channing Frye will also be demoted when he returns, possibly next week. It's a stunning development, as Jeffries was signed to fill the small forward position, but last night he made his first Knick start at power forward, alongside Eddy Curry, and made a strong case to remain with 15 points on 7 of 8 shooting, with 7 boards and 3 steals in 24 minutes. Lee, surprised last week when Thomas said he would eventually return to the bench when they get healthy, was back with the second unit, playing just 21 minutes, with 7 points and eight boards. The Knicks' grittiest player did not gripe after Thomas explained his decision that Lee's absence devastated the second unit. Thomas said without Lee, the second unit had "no punch." "It probably caught him by surprise," Thomas said. "I spoke to David again to remind them it's a young core we've got to build and develop and want to keep them around together. They have a special chemistry. Channing, David, Nate (Robinson), (rookie) Renaldo (Balkman) some." "Whatever Coach decides to do with the lineup, who comes off the bench, who plays well together, he's smarter on this stuff than I am," Lee said.</div> Source
