<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The first half of the season is nearly over and to that the Knicks say, good riddance. The optimism created by the arrival of Larry Brown and a trio of promising rookies was dimmed by a miserable start, a procession of injuries and the reality that there is a long way to go. Still, the Knicks ready for the second half still hopeful that the growing pains will lead to a push that could earn the team a spot in the post-season ? which would be a huge step forward from the start. Just like the preseason, the Knicks still have hope for the future thanks to the changes of the summer. They are just happy to put the first few months behind them ? and we will force them to remember one more time. FIRST HALF MVP Perhaps the best case Stephon Marbury made for this claim is to sit out the last handful of games. The Knicks may have spent much of the season a subject of debate of whether they might be better without Marbury, but the answer came in his absence that if they lose him they?d better get something good. The team simply looked lost without Marbury to relieve the pressure. BIGGEST OBSTACLE HURDLED The start. The Knicks started the season and the Larry Brown era with an 0-5 start in a brutal schedule. The ignominious beginning threatened to tear the team apart with questions arising ? like would Marbury and Brown fit together? The record may not be nearly where the Knicks want, but at least a semblance of a future has begun to emerge. BIGGEST OBSTACLE AHEAD The first half of the season showed the Knicks to be dependent on the performance of a trio of rookies and they have responded ? sometimes. Now, at the time that they should be hitting the rookie wall, the Knicks need them to not only push through that, but shake off the growing pains and inconsistencies. Channing Frye is the best of the trio, but needs to become what his potential promises if the Knicks are going to become a playoff team. MY PICK TO STEP UP Quentin Richardson ? He?s simply a better player than he has shown. He?s endured more than any player should ? from the trade that brought him here to the family tragedy and a nagging series of injuries. Just surviving that should turn into better production in the second half. MOST LIKELY TO STEP OUT Antonio Davis ? His most notable move this season was his walk into the stands at the United Center, but the veteran frontcourt man has more value elsewhere ? particularly as a salary cap space-eater. There are teams interested ? and remember, Davis considered walking away from the game when he was dealt from Chicago, so the turmoil around him could cause him to revisit those thoughts. HIGHEST MOMENT The Knicks may not be in the playoff picture right now, but it sure felt like that way when they beat the Phoenix Suns, 140-133, in triple-overtime at the Garden. The win not only was a sweat-soaked relief for the Knicks, it also started off a five-game winning streak. LOWEST MOMENT When the winning streak came to an end, it did so in crushing fashion with a humiliating 129-103 loss at Toronto, a game that began a new streak ? a losing streak that was at five games entering Wednesday?s game against Sacramento. BIGGEST SURPRISE David Lee provided an example of what patience and persistence can do. After sitting out much of the season, he stepped into the starting lineup and injected the Knicks with energy ? grabbing nearly every rebound in sight. He?s averaging 5.5 rebounds per game ? just 1 board behind the team leader, Eddy Curry ? and he?s doing it in only 18.3 minutes per game. BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT Can you give an incomplete to a player who has played 21 games? If so, Jerome James would have earned it because his performance has certainly been incomplete. His role was diminished with the arrival of Curry, but really, he?s given the team nothing this season. Nice guy. Bad performance. Trevor Ariza and Penny Hardaway join James as the most likely to be the subject of trade talk at the deadline.</div> MSG Network
