Nate Set to Provide Spark at Garden vs. Pacers
Jan 2 2010 6:04PM
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Nate Robinson looks to make a big impact off the bench.
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Following one of the best games of his career on New Year's Day in Atlanta, Nate Robinson thanked the Knicks fans for supporting him through the entire month he was benched during a long speech reminiscent of Rod Tidwell's in the movie Jerry Maguire. The die-hard fans certainly deserved the shout out.
But there will be no more "We Want Nate" chants from the Garden crowd when the Knicks return home Sunday to take on the Indiana Pacers for an evening matchup. Instead, Robinson will likely check into the game to rousing cheers as he provides the offensive spark Knicks fans have been used to seeing from the 5-foot-9 sparkplug guard over the past four years.
Robinson hadn't played in the previous 14 games after Mike D'Antoni decided to remove him from the rotation. But the coach never once said the move was permanent and it was just a matter of time before Robinson was back in the lineup. That moment finally came two nights after the Knicks lacked offense in a disappointing loss in New Jersey to close out 2009 losers of three of their last four games.
"We need a little bit of offense and he can do that," D'Antoni said while hinting that Robinson would play shortly before taking the court against the Hawks on Friday. "But we don't want to lose what we have."
Robinson made his coach look like a smart man as he matched his own franchise record with 41 points off the bench and almost single-handedly guided the Knicks to a thrilling 112-108 overtime win over the Hawks. The Knicks, who went 9-6 in December, carried their winning ways into January and are now 13-20 overall, moving back within a half-game of the No. 8 spot in the Eastern Conference standings.
"I don't know what would have happened if I didn't (sit Robinson last month)," D'Antoni said. "When I did it, we were struggling and then we had the best month we've had here in eight years. Would we have had a better month? I don't know that. We're going forward. We're not looking back now."
It'd be difficult to demote Robinson to a cheerleader role after his breakout performance in the ATL.
With Larry Hughes still looking for his rhythm after returning from an ankle injury, Jonathan Bender sidelined with a sore left leg and Al Harrington having an off night, Robinson was the key reserve for the Knicks against Atlanta. After checking into a game for the first time since Dec. 1 against Phoenix with 3:01 left in the first quarter, Robinson did not hesitate to shoot and finished the night going 18-for-24 from the field. He scored 21 of the Knicks' final 25 points and individually outscored Atlanta 11-9 in overtime.
"It's been a humbling experience," Robinson said. "I'm here to stay. I want to play, I want to help this team win and everything is in the past. It's 2010 and it's a fresh start."
The last time Knicks fans saw a similar offensive outburst from Robinson was on Nov. 29 against the Orlando Magic in a 114-102 loss at MSG. Robinson exploded for 22 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter as the Knicks attempted a late rally, but that would be the last time he would play significant minutes in 2009. The next game he played garbage time in his first and only action in December against the Suns.
The reason for Robinson's demotion was not personal or because he's not a great basketball player. D'Antoni simply wanted Robinson to play more of a controlled game and focus more on defense. The Knicks went on an 11-game stretch of holding opponents under 100 points with Robinson sidelined, but D'Antoni now knows he will have to adjust the game plan if he wants Robinson's offense in the game.
"His athleticism we need and his shot-making ability," D'Antoni said. "We came back with the zone, which maybe we'll have to go to a little bit more often. We'll figure it out.
"We will score more points and maybe the other team will start scoring more points too. But right now it's all about winning and we won this one and let's go into the next one. Sunday's a big game for us and let's see if we can do it."
But there will be no more "We Want Nate" chants from the Garden crowd when the Knicks return home Sunday to take on the Indiana Pacers for an evening matchup. Instead, Robinson will likely check into the game to rousing cheers as he provides the offensive spark Knicks fans have been used to seeing from the 5-foot-9 sparkplug guard over the past four years.
Robinson hadn't played in the previous 14 games after Mike D'Antoni decided to remove him from the rotation. But the coach never once said the move was permanent and it was just a matter of time before Robinson was back in the lineup. That moment finally came two nights after the Knicks lacked offense in a disappointing loss in New Jersey to close out 2009 losers of three of their last four games.
"We need a little bit of offense and he can do that," D'Antoni said while hinting that Robinson would play shortly before taking the court against the Hawks on Friday. "But we don't want to lose what we have."
Robinson made his coach look like a smart man as he matched his own franchise record with 41 points off the bench and almost single-handedly guided the Knicks to a thrilling 112-108 overtime win over the Hawks. The Knicks, who went 9-6 in December, carried their winning ways into January and are now 13-20 overall, moving back within a half-game of the No. 8 spot in the Eastern Conference standings.
"I don't know what would have happened if I didn't (sit Robinson last month)," D'Antoni said. "When I did it, we were struggling and then we had the best month we've had here in eight years. Would we have had a better month? I don't know that. We're going forward. We're not looking back now."
It'd be difficult to demote Robinson to a cheerleader role after his breakout performance in the ATL.
With Larry Hughes still looking for his rhythm after returning from an ankle injury, Jonathan Bender sidelined with a sore left leg and Al Harrington having an off night, Robinson was the key reserve for the Knicks against Atlanta. After checking into a game for the first time since Dec. 1 against Phoenix with 3:01 left in the first quarter, Robinson did not hesitate to shoot and finished the night going 18-for-24 from the field. He scored 21 of the Knicks' final 25 points and individually outscored Atlanta 11-9 in overtime.
"It's been a humbling experience," Robinson said. "I'm here to stay. I want to play, I want to help this team win and everything is in the past. It's 2010 and it's a fresh start."
The last time Knicks fans saw a similar offensive outburst from Robinson was on Nov. 29 against the Orlando Magic in a 114-102 loss at MSG. Robinson exploded for 22 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter as the Knicks attempted a late rally, but that would be the last time he would play significant minutes in 2009. The next game he played garbage time in his first and only action in December against the Suns.
The reason for Robinson's demotion was not personal or because he's not a great basketball player. D'Antoni simply wanted Robinson to play more of a controlled game and focus more on defense. The Knicks went on an 11-game stretch of holding opponents under 100 points with Robinson sidelined, but D'Antoni now knows he will have to adjust the game plan if he wants Robinson's offense in the game.
"His athleticism we need and his shot-making ability," D'Antoni said. "We came back with the zone, which maybe we'll have to go to a little bit more often. We'll figure it out.
"We will score more points and maybe the other team will start scoring more points too. But right now it's all about winning and we won this one and let's go into the next one. Sunday's a big game for us and let's see if we can do it."
