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**USSKittyHawk** · 12-06-2006, 10:15 AM

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Isiah Thomas became ruffled yesterday regarding questions on whether Steve Francis or Stephon Marbury will be benched once 6-foot-11 forward Jared Jeffries returns in about a week.

However, the Knick coach had no problem revealing one prominent Knick will get demoted once Jeffries and Channing Frye return, and he's not named either Marbury or Steve Francis.

In a contentious interview session, Thomas said David Lee, who's been the Knicks' best player and by far the Garden's fan favorite, will return to the pine eventually, perhaps as soon as Jeffries' return.

Thomas hinted Jeffries, who underwent his first full-contact practice yesterday, could make his Knick debut as a power forward to allow Lee to return as a vital sixth man and delaying the agonizing decision of benching either Marbury or Francis.

Knick fans have clamored for Lee to move into the starting lineup, and he did one week ago after Frye sprained his ankle.

But even though Lee is their grittiest player, best rebounder and best complement to the emerging Eddy Curry, Thomas wants to sit him. It's a curious decision.

Lee notched 20 points and 11 boards in Monday's win over Memphis.
"David will go back to the bench," Thomas said. "That's for certain. Because I know my team. I know how I want him to play. The things we ask him to do in that second unit, he's very good at it."

Whether Lee is benched when Jeffries returns, or is so when Frye comes back, is a mystery.
Frye could be back in 10 days. However, it's no mystery that when both Jeffries and Frye make the Knicks whole, Thomas will keep Quentin Richardson as the starting shooting guard.
The odd man out will be either Francis or Marbury. Thomas admitted "an adjustment period" is in the offing.

"When it's time to make the decision on who starts, who plays, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it," Thomas said.

"We'll go through an adjustment period when Jeffries comes back and also when Frye comes back. Those are two guys that fit and play prominently in what we do. Our team will go through an adjustment. I just hope it's not a major one."

Thomas appears as afraid of controversial headlines as of losing games, and he seems terrified the benching of Marbury or Francis will cause a big controversy.

When this reporter asked about the scenario, Thomas said, "Stop." Twice.
When further pressed, Thomas finally said angrily, "We want to be a good basketball team. It will not be a challenge for anybody on this team to accept their roles. They are and we are committed to win."

Thomas was not done. "When Jared comes back there will be a bridge to cross and adjustments we have to make," Thomas said. "When that day comes, you'll be well aware of it. I'm not going to hide anything. I'm not playing three-card monty where you've got to find the pea."
Thomas, too, got testy when he explained his decision to ultimately bench Lee, who's averaging 10.6 points and 8.9 rebounds.

With Lee to the bench, he will again become a leading candidate for Sixth Man of the Year - something tangible he can show owner James Dolan. Problem is, the Knicks' rebounding could suffer. Thomas disputes that.

"Jeffries can rebound, Frye can rebound, Curry is rebounding, our guards are rebounding, Renaldo Balkman rebounds," Thomas said.

"We have a pretty good rebounding team. I don't think that's going to change. We'll continue to be a good rebounding team. I'm not interested in one guy leading the league in rebounds. I'm interested in team rebounding."
Frye is actually a poor rebounder for his size and Jeffries is too thin to be a true banger. But why let the facts get in the way?

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Well now we know Lee will be place right back on the bench.

**Truknicksfan** · 12-06-2006, 12:43 PM

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Well now we know Lee will be place right back on the bench.

Well we can forget about seeing anymore wire to wire wins like we had the other night.

urwhatueati8god · 12-07-2006, 10:31 PM

My fears of the Jeffries signing are already coming to fruition before he even plays a game. **** you, Isaih Thomas, **** you.

ChosenFEW · 12-08-2006, 01:30 PM

Lee was looking tired recently....he just didnt seem to have that energy....he made stupid mental mistakes turned the ball over a few times when all he had to do was pay attention to his surroundings.....

i think isiah knows this too.....lee for right now doesnt have the stamina to play 35-40 mins a night.....maybe in the future he'll get there but not right now....

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