LIMPING TO FINISH
Knicks blasted by Rockets, near team record for losses
HOUSTON — Lance Thomas is the longest tenured member of the Knicks and therefore the most experienced at losing. He has seen it all – the worst season in franchise history, the dysfunction under Phil Jackson and Derek Fisher, the triangle, the Carmelo Anthony era that transitioned to the short-lived Kristaps Porzingis era, and now the painful march to the summer of Kevin Durant.
In the five seasons Thomas played in New York, the team went 124-283. Now the Knicks are on a path to break the franchise record for most losses in a season – the one set when Thomas first arrived in 2015.
“Yeah, losing definitely sucks,” Thomas said. “Nobody in any competitive setting likes to lose. But it takes a tough-minded individual to keep focus and to make sure things are done the right way to change things around. Myself, I’ve just been constantly working and pushing the guys to have the mindset I have.”
Thomas is always positive and never causes a fuss over his role. A solid teammate. It’s part of the reason he was named unofficial captain last season, and why he’s still part of the rotation – even starting in Friday’s 120-96 loss to the Rockets.
It was the latest embarrassment, a blowout forged basically from tipoff. The Knicks trailed by 16 after the first quarter, then 29 at the break. If the Knicks (15-64) don’t win two of their final three games, they’ll set the mark for worst in team history.
A loss Sunday against the Wizards will ensure they’ll at least be tied for the dubious mark.
“This team works harder. This team has fought the whole year,” said Thomas. “The results may not show exactly how hard we’ve been working but we’ve been working.”
The Knicks only had nine active players because several sat with injuries (including minor ones) and DeAndre Jordan was shut down because the season is lost. As a result, Mario Hezonja started at point guard against Chris Paul and James Harden. Hezonja is a 6-foot-8 power forward under normal circumstances, so, on the surface, it sounded absurd.
But apparently he played the position growing up and sometimes as a rookie with the Orlando Magic. He didn’t like the suggestion from a reporter that it’s not his natural position.
“How do you know?” Hezonja said. “Do you watch basketball?”
Confidence is Hezonja’s calling card, and he recorded a triple-double Friday with 16 points, 16 rebounds and 11 assists. Not that it helped the Knicks on the scoreboard or stopped Harden from dropping his 26 points.
So once again, the Knicks lost. And as Lance Thomas has experienced more than anybody else on this roster, they mostly lose. Unfortunately for the pending free agent, Thomas might not be around next season if this all leads to Durant.