KNICK NOTES
Larry Brown yesterday made a plea for Knicks owner James Dolan not to mess with embattled Isiah Thomas’ job.
Brown, asked directly if he’s worried about Thomas’ future with the team following the sexual-harassment lawsuit brought against him, said, “I just know how much Mr. Dolan cares about him and how loyal he is, so hopefully this thing will just play itself out. I’m confident he’s been truthful and things will work out.”
Retired Allan Houston, a Dolan favorite, made an appearance at practice yesterday to work with the players. Houston has made only periodic visits since training camp, and Brown had an animated chat with him about coming more often.
When Houston retired, he said becoming a team president was something that interested him. As a golfing buddy of Dolan’s, Houston has a future in the organization in some capacity.
“I want him to [come more often],” Brown said. “I tell him every day. He’s getting antsy. I’m hopeful he can do that.”
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Brown said referees don’t give the Knicks the usual home-court advantage at the Garden because members of the NBA office often are in attendance, scouting the refs’ judgment.
“It’s hard to coach here because every time a referee comes here it’s like an auditioning,” Brown said. “I think those guys have a difficult time refereeing at our place. It has a negative effect on us more than anybody.”
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The Knicks’ six-game losing streak came right after a six-game winning streak.
“We’re two different people, a split personality,” Stephon Marbury said. “We were communicating and talking and helping each other and playing defensively. When we started losing, we started getting down in games when things were getting tough. We didn’t have the same sense of urgency as a team.”
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Retired Jerome Williams, who worked in marketing, has joined the Raptors’ community relations department but still will contribute to the Knicks, as well . . . Marbury confirmed one of his cousins was fired by former marketing director Anucha Browne-Sanders, involved in the lawsuit against Thomas. “It’s true. I’m not at liberty to discuss it,” Marbury said.
Jerome James, who played three minutes in Wednesday’s 106-102 loss to the Kings, strained his neck and is questionable for tonight’s game against the Magic . . . Brown said rookies David Lee, Channing Frye and Nate Robinson were hitting the wall, and the coach said he is hopeful they get “the second wind.” “These guys are struggling confidence-wise and the physical part of it,” Brown said. “They’ve already played more than the college season.”