The Missing Ingredient After ushering in the New Year with a shocking loss to a depleted Sacramento Kings squad at Madison Square Garden, the Knicks find themselves just ahead of the Miami Heat for the dubious distinction of being the worst team in the Eastern Conference. Isiah Thomas' pre-game ramblings about championship aspirations & building a legacy led many to believe that the he was either inebriated or delusional.

With four months left in the regular season, the Knicks seem intent on setting a franchise record for fewest wins in a regular season. The NBA record (9-73) was set by the 1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers. It's safe to assume the Knicks will find a way to win 2 more games this season to avoid setting a new league record, but the team appears to have mastered the art of losing. Despite all the blowouts losses at home, road failures, negative press & fan protests, Jim Dolan & Thomas continue to march to the beat of their own drum. The Chicago Bulls & 76ers have already fired their head coach & GM respectively, yet Thomas remains happily employed by the World's Most Famous Arena. Based on Dolan's track record, Thomas may even be rewarded with a second multi-year extension at season's end.

To the avid Knick fan, there is one weakness on the roster that is glaring. The lack of a floor general hurts the team most. With or without Stephon Marbury in the lineup, the Knicks find creative ways to lose nightly. Although talented enough to run the point, Marbury has always been a shoot-first guard who seemed more concerned about personal statistics than winning. His claim to fame for years revolved around being the only person other than Oscar Robertson to average 20 ppg & 8 apg for his entire career. Once Larry Brown arrived, Marbury's stats declined and so did the comparisons to the Big O.

With little depth behind Marbury, Thomas has been forced to play shooting guards Jamal Crawford & Nate Robinson at the point. Both are great ball handlers, but lack good court vision. Mardy Collins' 6-6 frame & willingness to defend are a plus, but his poor offensive skills and lack of speed limit his overall effectiveness.

Despite all the Knicks flaws, they are one player away from becoming relevant again. In today's NBA, the arrival of a big time point guard can change the course of a franchise. Veteran point guards like Steve Nash, Jason Kidd & Chauncey Billups are the faces of their respective organizations. They establish tempo, orchestrate the offense and communicate defensive strategy on the floor. The new wave of young playmakers including Tony Parker, Deron Williams, Chris Paul & Brandon Roy are lighting up the league with dynamic play and leading their teams to victories.

If the Knicks are lucky enough to draft Derrick Rose from the University of Memphis, then the pain of this season may be well worth it.

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Former Knicks summer league point guard, Jared Jordan has joined BC Lietuvos Rytas, a pro basketball team in Lithuania. After leading the NCAA in assists for Marist College for two consecutive seasons, Jordan was unable to find a home in the NBA.

After being cut by the Cleveland Cavaliers, Demetris Nichols was signed by the Chicago Bulls and then reassigned to the NBDL. The Knicks have yet to send a player to the D-League.

-Greg Hutchins