<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">February 8, 2006 -- Larry Brown still feels Jerome James can make an impact in the middle if he gets in better shape. Of course, Brown also has to play the 7-1, 280-pound center. Since James played just six minutes in last night's 85-82 loss to the Clippers ? even after Eddy Curry picked up two fouls in the first 1:07 ? it's clear that Brown has little faith in him. James returned Sunday vs. Houston after missing five games with a neck injury, and hauled in eight boards in 14 minutes. Brown has stepped up his talk about the need for a shot-blocker, but if the Knicks were to obtain Theo Ratliff, team president Isiah Thomas would be making a clear admission that he made a mistake by giving James a $30 million contract. The Blazers are interested in any expiring contracts, but were said to be hotter for the departed Antonio Davis than they are for Penny Hardaway. A Portland source said the Blazers aren't as anxious about dealing Ratliff now that they've won 7-of-11 games. "We talked about it since training camp," Brown said of the need for shot-blocking. "I hope Jerome can do that. He got eight rebounds [Sunday], but he was exhausted. You hope he'll get himself in better shape." Said James: "I don't think I've been given the chance to show what I can do because of injuries and because coach, I don't think he knows what I can do." </div> Source
