KNICK NOTES
It’s Nets vs. Knicks tonight or, rather, Latrell Sprewell vs. Byron Scott.
Sprewell said Scott’s derogatory remarks last week came off as “immature.”
“He doesn’t know me,” Sprewell said. “He hasn’t coached me. He doesn’t know anything about the way I play or practice. I think the comments make him look bad because I’ve never said anything negative about him and for him to come out and try to rip me, I think it was a little bit immature to make statements like that.
“It’s not something I’d expect from a guy like him whose been through a lot in the NBA.”
Sprewell’s remarks came after he helped the Knicks to a 102-95 win over Houston with five points in the last two minutes and a strip of Yao.
Sprewell said he may approach Scott and ask him if he really said them.
Before the trading deadline, the Nets coach was asked if he would have traded Keith Van Horn for Sprewell.
“No, I don’t like guys who are on their own time,” he said. “Spree comes to practice when he wants to, comes to games when he wants to. He sets a bad example for other guys.”
For the first time, Sprewell yesterday confided that reports about the Lakers’ interest in him perked up his ears.
While saying he was “relieved” to be playing another game last night at the Garden, Sprewell said playing for the Lakers would have been tempting.
“I probably had that thought in my head, because the only thing you want to play for in this game is the chance to win a championship,” Sprewell said. “But my heart is here in New York, and I’m happy that I get a chance to keep playing ball here.”
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As Knicks GM Scott Layden combed the NBA rosters for a young big man, he gave a call before the trading deadline to the Rockets. No, not for Yao Ming but for their starting power forward Eddie Griffin, according to sources.
The 6-10 former Seton Hall standout is one of the league’s emerging young shotblockers, though he has not been a standout in his two seasons.
Although the Knicks offered Othella Harrington, a former Rocket whom GM Carroll Dawson likes, in a package, Houston wasn’t biting. The Rockets turned down multiple offers for Griffin at the deadline.