Before the Knicks faced the Jazz last night, a slumping, frustrated, turnover-prone Zach Randolph said his teammates are still getting used to how he plays.
But a lot of Randolph’s frustration was wiped away following the Knicks’ 113-109 victory.
For all of Stephon Marbury’s leadership, the Knicks might not have won if not for Randolph’s gigantic offensive rebound with 8.9 seconds left with the Knicks ahead by two points. That play capped his statistically outstanding night: 25 points, 11 of 15 from the floor, 14 rebounds.
Randolph committed two turnovers down the stretch that nearly ruined everything – until the big rebound.
“With Zach, you look at the stat sheet, 25 and 14, I still didn’t think he was having that great a game,” Isiah Thomas said. “With the exception of the first quarter, he seems to find a way to get in the books and get on the boards.”
Randolph raised his shooting percentage from 41.4 percent to 44.5, but his turnover average is still a plump 3.9.
When asked if his teammates have figured him out, Randolph said, “Some of them have,” but some aren’t sure of his tendencies.
“[They aren’t sure] where to give me the ball, on duck-ins. I like ducking in,” he said. “Just as the season goes along, we’ll get it. I’m still trying to figure those guys out.”
Randolph is averaging 18.6 points, taking the team lead from Eddy Curry. But he hadn’t been the same since his grandmother died Nov. 9 until last night.
“I’m not worried on the offensive end at all because there are bad nights he’s getting 20 points,” Thomas said. “You think he’s not having a good game and you look up and he has 20 points.”
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Former Knicks GM Scott Layden, a Utah assistant coach, would not comment on how it felt to have “Fi-re Lay-den” chants aimed at him during two drafts.
“If you’re looking for a Knick comment, I’m not going to make one,” Layden said. “When I left, I told Jim Dolan I wouldn’t say anything on or off the record.”
Layden said coming back to the Garden is always a thrill.
“When I was an assistant coach [and scout] with my father [former Jazz head coach Frank Layden], he always made me be on the bench to be with the team when we played in New York,” Layden said. “He said it was something special and I want you here for that. So coming back now, it’s special.”
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The Knicks’ sellout streak of six was snapped as they drew 18,816. . . . David Lee‘s minutes and effectiveness are down as he continues to struggle around the basket. He had eight points in 20 minutes with four boards and two turnovers.