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<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">GREENBURGH, N.Y., Feb. 19 ? The bruise along David Lee?s right cheek bone is fading, replaced by bags under both eyes. Lee, the Knicks? tireless rebounder, returned from a busy weekend in Las Vegas feeling, well, tired.
It was not the 14 shots he took (and made) in Friday?s sophomore-rookie game during the N.B.A.?s All-Star weekend. And it was not from hauling around the most valuable player trophy.
It was the whirlwind of promotional appearances and corporate commitments that followed.
?I really didn?t have any time to enjoy myself out there,? Lee, looking weary, said Monday after practice. ?I was a busy guy the rest of the weekend.?
The grind of All-Star weekend is known to drain players. This is rarely an issue for the Knicks, who have not had a true All-Star in six years. But Lee, a 6-foot-9 forward with a blue-collar work ethic in the lane, made a bold impression in the N.B.A.?s version of the junior varsity game, scoring 30 points and grabbing 11 rebounds.
Now the heavy lifting begins. The Knicks are 23-30 as they resume the season. Three and a half games out of a playoff berth in the Eastern Conference, they have only 29 games left to prove themselves playoff worthy. They need every ounce of hustle that Lee has left. If Eddy Curry is still snarling over his All-Star Game snub, all the better.
?He was a little winded today,? Coach Isiah Thomas said of Lee. ?But once he feels the adrenaline in the Garden and the fans cheer for him and everything else, 7:35 tomorrow, I?m sure he?ll be his same, energetic self.?
The playoff push begins Tuesday night against the Orlando Magic at Madison Square Garden. Orlando (27-26) is among the teams the Knicks are chasing at the bottom of the playoff field, so this is as good a place as any to start.
Thomas said he spent the weekend recharging, watching film and studying upcoming opponents. Although the Knicks headed into the All-Star Game break on a sour note ? a 1-2 trip that ended with a blowout loss against Golden State ? Thomas remains stubbornly sunny about his team. He also remains stubbornly attached to his starting lineup, which at the moment includes Jerome James at power forward.
Lee may represent the best about the Knicks? future, but he remains a reserve in the present. Thomas repeated that curious stance Monday. Lee?s role has become such a curiosity that it was discussed during the broadcast of the sophomore-rookie game. Lee was also asked about it at least a few times by other players.
?But like I said after the game and at halftime when they interviewed me about it, we got a great group of all-around players here, and it?s up to Coach Thomas,? said Lee, who is averaging 11.2 points and 10.6 rebounds a game. ?And the guys that are starting have been doing a good job.?</div>
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It was not the 14 shots he took (and made) in Friday?s sophomore-rookie game during the N.B.A.?s All-Star weekend. And it was not from hauling around the most valuable player trophy.
It was the whirlwind of promotional appearances and corporate commitments that followed.
?I really didn?t have any time to enjoy myself out there,? Lee, looking weary, said Monday after practice. ?I was a busy guy the rest of the weekend.?
The grind of All-Star weekend is known to drain players. This is rarely an issue for the Knicks, who have not had a true All-Star in six years. But Lee, a 6-foot-9 forward with a blue-collar work ethic in the lane, made a bold impression in the N.B.A.?s version of the junior varsity game, scoring 30 points and grabbing 11 rebounds.
Now the heavy lifting begins. The Knicks are 23-30 as they resume the season. Three and a half games out of a playoff berth in the Eastern Conference, they have only 29 games left to prove themselves playoff worthy. They need every ounce of hustle that Lee has left. If Eddy Curry is still snarling over his All-Star Game snub, all the better.
?He was a little winded today,? Coach Isiah Thomas said of Lee. ?But once he feels the adrenaline in the Garden and the fans cheer for him and everything else, 7:35 tomorrow, I?m sure he?ll be his same, energetic self.?
The playoff push begins Tuesday night against the Orlando Magic at Madison Square Garden. Orlando (27-26) is among the teams the Knicks are chasing at the bottom of the playoff field, so this is as good a place as any to start.
Thomas said he spent the weekend recharging, watching film and studying upcoming opponents. Although the Knicks headed into the All-Star Game break on a sour note ? a 1-2 trip that ended with a blowout loss against Golden State ? Thomas remains stubbornly sunny about his team. He also remains stubbornly attached to his starting lineup, which at the moment includes Jerome James at power forward.
Lee may represent the best about the Knicks? future, but he remains a reserve in the present. Thomas repeated that curious stance Monday. Lee?s role has become such a curiosity that it was discussed during the broadcast of the sophomore-rookie game. Lee was also asked about it at least a few times by other players.
?But like I said after the game and at halftime when they interviewed me about it, we got a great group of all-around players here, and it?s up to Coach Thomas,? said Lee, who is averaging 11.2 points and 10.6 rebounds a game. ?And the guys that are starting have been doing a good job.?</div>
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