Knicks Top Wizards

Winning two consecutive games against the Detroit Pistons 89-65 on Sunday, and being able to defeat the Washington Wizards yesterday 105-93 was quite a triumph for the New York Knicks.

Success hasn't found the Knicks, and winning two sequential games against successful teams this season wasn't expected.

Jamal Crawford lead with 29 points, but suffered from four turnovers. Crawford doesn't want to take anything for granted, but believes the Knicks are heading the right directions.

"It's a step in the right direction. We haven't won two in a row since November. So don't want to take it for granted, you want to keep it in perspective and try to get better," said Crawford. "The season's not over. The East is so wide open if you can put together a stretch where you win six or seven in a row, you're right back in the thick of things."

Eddy Curry and Fred Jones whom replaced Stephon Marbury because an ankle injury, scored 10 points each.

"If the doctor says I have bone spurs in my ankle and he says I need surgery, I'm going to get it," Marbury said. "I'm going to get it taken care of. I'm not going to wait or hesitate because that's my career."

Recently Marbury has been frustrated about his contributions to the Knicks. Marbury believes his role isn't helpful, and wants to become a scoring guard. "I didn't get paid the money I got paid to do what I'm doing now," said Marbury, whom is paid $20.1 million which is the fourth highest in the NBA. "I got paid to be a scoring guard. ... Now I'm playing more of a passive role."

Marbury understands its business, and won't be surprised if he's traded. "I love playing basketball in New York, but I'm not no fool," Marbury mentioned. "This is a business, period. That's all it is and that's all it's ever going to be . . . If I get traded, I get traded."

Nate Robinson and Zach Randolph whom is rumored likely to be traded scored 14 points each, but Randolph added with 11 rebounds. Quentin Richardson had 13 points, and scored the Knicks first five points to begin the game. "We are a great team," Randolph reported to teams official site " We just have to come out night after night and play hard and stay focused."

Knicks source said there were conversations about trading Randolph to the Milwaukee Bucks. Isiah Thomas denied the reports, but team sources say otherwise. Some players aren't happy being coached by Thomas, and many are hopping to be traded according to sources. Owner James Dolan has recognized this issue, but isn't ready to fire Thomas. Dolan has a great relationship with Thomas, and he'll need to continue paying Thomas if he's fired.

"My belief and what I see and where I believe we can go as a team and an organization, I believe one day that we will win a championship here and I believe a couple of these guys will be a part of that," Thomas said.

The Knicks getting two consecutive victories helps Thomas remain this season. Thomas said they'll need to continue working hard, and grinding towards success. "It really gives me hope and belief there is a good team in here somewhere," Thomas said. "We've just got to keep working at it and keep grinding and keep persevering. As long as we keep fighting and don't give up, there is a good team in here somewhere. We've just got to find it."

The Washington Wizards surprised many, because they weren't able to defeat the second worst team (Miami Heat are first) in the Eastern Conference. Eddie Jordan believes their bench performance wasn't great, and that caused their lost against the Knicks. "I was disappointed in our bench," Jordan said. "We needed to get something from our bench. And again we don't come off with energy, with concentration, execution. So there's no excuse."

Antawn Jamison finished with 21 points and 8 rebounds "We always seem to come back strong when our backs are against the wall. We did it Saturday night and we did it tonight in a tough road game," Jamison said. "To beat these guys in back-to-back games considering how they've been playing is something special."

Caron Butler lead with 24 points, 6 assist, and had 8 rebounds. Roger Mason had 20 points, but couldn't produce rebounds and assist.

Jamison isn't happy with their lost, and said the Wizards needed energy in the beginning. "It's one thing to say you beat the best team in the league back-to-back and all of a sudden you come back, lose to a team that's won what, 11 games before tonight?" Jamison said. "You've still got to lace them up. You've still got to be focused enough and you've still got to bring the energy early in the game. And for us those were the things that pretty much lost the game for us."