<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> NEW YORK -- Even though training camp doesn't officially begin until Tuesday, the Knicks have already started work at their Westchester practice facility, and have been hard at it for several days. And a good thing, too. Considering they won only 23 games last year, they need all the practice they can get. Guard Nate Robinson, who is about to enter his second year, has been up there for almost two weeks, and said there is a "fresh" atmosphere under new head coach Isiah Thomas. Without Larry Brown constantly hounding them, and with all the turmoil of last year supposedly behind them, it's as if the 2005-06 season were just a bad dream. "It's a relief," Robinson said yesterday at the NBA Store in Manhattan, where he was helping promote a new video game. "It's a new season and all that stuff is behind us, and we can start off fresh. Last season didn't even happen. New year, new coach. It's exciting." Robinson went down the roster of players who have joined him for the "informal" workouts under the watchful eye of Thomas. Robinson said newcomer Jared Jeffries, along with Jerome James, Jamal Crawford, Malik Rose, Quentin Richardson, Channing Frye, David Lee, and rookies Renaldo Balkman and Mardy Collins, have all been there, and Stephon Marbury is expected today. "Isiah told us to get up there early and get to work before training camp," Robinson said. "There's been a lot of guys up there -- a lot of guys -- and they're taking it serious." Marbury, coming off his worst season as a pro, has been on a whirlwind nationwide tour promoting his $15 Starbury basketball shoes. Mo Taylor is also expected to join the crew today, although he is trying to negotiate a buyout of the final year of his contract because he is unlikely to get any minutes this year. </div> Source
