Crawford Lead Knicks Over Miami

The New York Knicks have won three of their last four games, and Jamal Crawford has lead them throughout this streak.

Yesterday, the Knicks defeated the Miami Heat 88-84; they weren't pretty, but head coach Isiah Thomas enjoyed the victory. "It wasn't pretty," Thomas said. "But we were able to grind, able to hang."

Crawford lead with 22 points, 7 assist, and 5 rebounds. He played over 40 minutes throughout this month, and Crawford said it's hard playing four games in five nights.

"To play four in five nights is tough for any team," Crawford said. "The good teams take that step of winning four in five nights. We're not necessarily there yet, but we're building to get there."

Nate Robinson added with 19 points, 7 assist, and 6 rebounds. He played 33 minutes, shot 8-19 from the field and 1-6 from three point range.

David Lee had 15 points, and 8 rebounds. "That just goes to show the resiliency of our team," Lee said. "We've been able to battle back."

Zach Randolph had 16 points, and 14 rebounds. He shot 7-17 from three point range, and played 37 minutes. Randolph wasn't happy with his minutes recently, but has regain them back. "Any player would get upset because they want to play," Randolph said. "I want to play. I love playing. I want to be out there."

Thomas understood Randolph's frustration, but has spoken to other teams about trading him. Interest levels weren't good, and that caused Randolph to remain with the Knicks. "I'm sure he's frustrated, just like we all are frustrated, and the one thing I know about him is that he wants to play," Thomas said of Randolph. "Every player wants to play. No one likes to be taken out of the game. And so we'll just move on."

The Knicks are 13-27, and currently in last place in the Atlantic Division. Against the Heat, the Knicks shot 3-12 and .250 percent from three point range. The Knicks are second worst in the Eastern Conference, and they'll be facing the Boston Celtics on Monday whom have the best record in the Eastern Conference. The Knicks lost 104-59 (worst lost in Knicks history) against the Celtics on November 29 this season.

"Of course I am embarrassed. We lost by nearly 50 points," Knicks guard Stephon Marbury said. "I'm angry. I'm always angry when I lose, but that was just flat-out embarrassing. To lose that bad was just ridiculous." Marbury is out indefinitely, and he'll undergo ankle surgery.

The Heat are last in the Eastern Conference, and facing an 8-31 record. They've lost 13 consecutive games, and are 1-7 in the Southeast Division. Heat head coach Pat Riley is rumored its his last season coaching, but hasn't made anything official. Riley said he'll need something positive to motivate this team. "Maybe we should hang some more pictures of that trophy somewhere, so we can remember what it felt like to be in that moment," Riley said. "We have to change the energy, somehow."

Dwyane Wade lead with 22 points, and 9 assist. He struggled shooting 7-23 from field goals, and 1-3 from three point range; Wade played 40 minutes. "Just our luck, man," Wade said. "The ball bounced. That's been our season, been our luck."

Wade was productive, but he couldn't get anyone to help. "That was the best third quarter we've played in probably two years around here," said Dwyane Wade. "We thought that was the turning point, but it wasn't."

Shaquille O'Neal and Mark Blount had 10 points each, but O'Neal struggled leading the Heat with five turnovers. "I'm glad to see the big fellow back, and us working the ball down to him," Wade said. "Hopefully we can get him even more involved, because he's looking pretty good."

Many people aren't happy with O'Neal's performance, and scouts believes he isn't worth the money. ''He still demands a double-team, so he's still an asset, but not worth what they're paying him [$20 million each season]. His lift was the biggest difference. He doesn't finish or elevate like he used to.'' Scout said, "Shaq is not playing intelligently, with some of his fouls. You can't have a guy constantly in foul trouble. He's a step-and-a-half slower.''