Believe It or Not, the Final 19 Knicks Games Really Do Mean Something ...

Both New York Knicks teams were on display in last night's 121-117 double-OT victory over the Atlanta Hawks at Madison Square Garden. For the first three quarters, it was the high-priced "stars" who have been mailing it in for weeks: Jalen Rose, Stephon Marbury, Steve Francis, Eddy Curry, Jerome James and Malik Rose. In fairness to Malik Rose, he's not mailing it in ... he's just not good.

Scary thought for New York fans: Once this season ends, the Knicks are still contractually obligated to those six players for another 19 years and $222,250,283! Throw the inactive Quentin Richardson and Maurice Taylor onto the deadweight/unmoveable pile and the obligation becomes $266,655,283 for 24 years of unwanted service -- over $11.1 per season! After three quarters of sleep-walking, "those" Knicks were trailing the 20-41 Hawks by a score of 73-65.

To start the fourth quarter, Larry Brown inserted the "other" five Knicks ... the ones who still seem to care enough to play some defense and scramble for loose balls: Nate Robinson, David Lee, Jamal Crawford, Qyntel Woods and Jackie Butler. That group of players outscored the Hawks 56-44 over the final quarter and two overtime periods to get the win. They also woke up the Garden crowd by simply putting forth effort. Sure, they made mistakes (they are Knicks, after all) ... but they were able to compensate with hustle and determination.

Larry Brown has talked all season about "playing the right way". Well, last night he finally stumbled across five guys who were willing to "play the right way". Brown has done an awful job this season ... by far, the worst coaching - both on and off the court - of his career. However, he still has 19 games in which to attempt to get his message across and lay the groundwork for the future.

If Brown's "play the right way" mantra means anything at all then the starting five tomorrow night against Detroit will be the five players that were on the court at the end of the Atlanta game. This switch would accomplish two things: reward the players who are trying to "play the right way" and motivate/punish the players who are unwilling (or, again in Malik Rose's case, unable) to "play the right way".

Will the benched players take the message the right way and adjust their attitudes? The answer will almost certainly be a resounding NO. However, Larry Brown shouldn't care. There are 19 games remaining on the schedule. The Knicks can't make the playoffs and - thanks to the crafty wheeling and dealing of Isiah Thomas - don't even own there first round pick in the next draft. In other words, it really doesn't matter whether the Knicks go 19-0 or 0-19 the rest of the way. What does matter is that they play with some heart.

If Larry Brown starts Robinson, Lee, Crawford, Woods and Butler tomorrow night (and gives them significant minutes the rest of the way), he will be sending a clear signal that he still cares and is still committed to turning this franchise around.

If, on the other hand, Larry Brown reverts to a starting lineup of Marbury, Francis, Rose, Rose and Curry, then that's a clear signal that he has surrendered ... not only on this season but on the future of the Knicks as well.