COMMUNITY
 Letters to Editor
Send a letter
BACKSTAGE
 The Magazine
ESPN Radio


 ALSO SEE
Lawrence: Checking in with the Lakers

Lawrence: Elliott is a true champ



 ESPN.com
NFL

NBA

BASEBALL

NHL

M COLLEGE BB

W COLLEGE BB

GOLF ONLINE

COLLEGE FB

SOCCER

EXTREME SPORTS


Mitch Lawrence
Wednesday, March 29
Knicks' goal is to really put on the Heat in Atlantic



SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Kicking off their trip into the wilds of the Pacific Division with a win in Portland, the Knicks are starting to think about something near and dear to their hearts.

Making Pat Riley's life miserable.

Patrick Ewing, Matt Geiger
Patrick Ewing and the Knicks could soar right past the Heat in the Atlantic.

A few weeks ago, it seemed like the Knicks could finish no higher than second in the Atlantic Division. But after holding off the Blazers with some of their best late-game execution of the season, the Knicks are poised to pass Riley's Heat for the division title.

"We're right there," Latrell Sprewell said after the Knicks pulled into a first-place tie with the Heat. "Obviously, we have some tough games still ahead of us. But we're right where we want to be. We've been chasing them and chasing them. So now it's even again. And it's all about who finishes the strongest."

If Sunday's games were any indication of what will happen down the stretch, the Knicks might even have a shot at the No. 1 seed in the East. The Pacers, once 31-3 at Conseco Fieldhouse, have lost two straight on their home floor.

"We looked tired, we looked old, we looked like we didn't have any life," Pacers coach Larry Bird said after a loss to the Sixers. "It's been that way the last two games (the other loss coming by 21 to Milwaukee last week). They're just not playing. The way we're playing, we're lucky to be in the playoffs. We established something here at home, but we lost it."

The Heat, meanwhile, have lost their grip on the Atlantic, going 6-5 in their last 11 games. They've left the door open, and the Knicks are ready to kick it in.

"I would be disappointed if we didn't win the division," Allan Houston said. "We'd be surprised. We never said we can't get it. It would be crazy to sit up and say, 'We can't reach this goal.' "

After losing in San Antonio, Utah, Phoenix and Minnesota, the Knicks achieved their goal of finally winning a quality road game against a Western power.

"We haven't been very good on the road, period," Marcus Camby said. "We've had some success beating these teams in the Garden. But we wanted to start getting even on this trip."

After leading by 17, New York saw its lead dwindle to two in the final minutes. But Patrick Ewing hit two key foul shots and blocked Scottie Pippen's shot with 19 seconds left to protect a three-point lead. All told, the Knicks made their last six foul shots, too.

Finishing ahead of the Heat, of course, will give the Knicks the homecourt edge if they have a showdown with their bitter rivals in the second round. But first, there's more work on this trip, starting Tuesday night against the Kings. Then it's Seattle on Wednesday and Vancouver on Friday. On Sunday, the big finish comes in L.A. against the Lakers.

"On a road trip like this, the first game is huge," Houston said after the Knicks became only the second Eastern team (besides Indiana) to sweep the Blazers. "We can gain some momentum from it. But if we come into Sacramento and have a letdown, it's going to take away a big win."

A win that got the Knicks thinking about the division championship.

Rim Shots I
If Eddie Jones has been on the level with teammates in recent days, it's nothing but bad news for the Hornets.

"I'm outta here," Jones has been saying, according to more than one Hornet.

Earlier this season, Jones confided to another ex-Laker that he was bolting the Hive. At that time, the Florida native mentioned going to either Orlando or trying to force a sign-and-trade to Miami.

But recently, he's mentioned that he's building a house in Orlando, so that's where his Charlotte mates expect him to go. The Magic can easily accommodate Jones, having nearly $20 million under the cap to spend this summer.

Feedback for Mitch
So what are your thoughts on this column by Mitch Lawrence? What about some other columns you read on ESPN.com? We want your feedback, good or bad. Click here to e-mail us your thoughts.

Jones and teammates privately have stated that Paul Silas needs an experienced pro coach at his side. That's a slam at assistant Jerry Eaves, who's had more input in defensive decision-making but is hardly a player favorite.

Rim Shots II
The Lakers weren't messing around when they knocked off the Kings.

"We need to send them a message," Phil Jackson said after L.A.'s last-second win Sunday. They have a feeling that they can beat us, that they have our number."

A message game for a possible eighth seed and first-round opponent? That tells you how much the Lakers don't want to see the Kings in the first round.

"We didn't get the message," Kings coach Rick Adelman said.

Obviously, the Kings are either too oblivious or just so plain care-free that they miss messages. So don't expect the Kings to be like Portland and the Heat and start suffering from Post-Laker Syndrome. Those two teams haven't been the same since losing to the Lakers.

"Everybody looks at the Lakers and Portland as teams that are supposed to win, because they've got all that talent, more than anybody," Nick Anderson said. "But we don't have anything to lose and everything to gain. That's always our attitude, even after we lose to them. We just bounce back."

The Blazers and Heat need to find out how.

Rim Shots III
  • George Karl and Big Dog Robinson got into a heated argument after a recent loss in Minnesota, and nearly came to blows. At one point, they had to be separated.

  • If UCLA's job opens, Rick Pitino wants it.

  • P.J. Carlesimo is denying that he had friends sniff around Georgia Tech about the Yellow Jackets' opening.

  • If Alabama prep star Gerald Wallace isn't going pro, how come he's decided to retain Arn Tellem?

  • GMs are getting real tired of Mike Jarvis' agent, Rob Ades, floating stories about NBA teams lining up for the St. John's coach's services.

  • Isiah Thomas has been told if he gets the Dallas job, he can't also own the CBA. The NBA says he'll have to move out of the commish's office.

  • The difference in the Pistons since canning Alvin Gentry? Grant Hill is taking over in fourth quarters. Now, if he can only do it in the playoffs. The Pistons are looking to finish strong so they can avoid a first-round series vs. the Knicks. They are the first to admit they don't match up well with Patrick Ewing.

  • Even though he downplays it to the media, Elton Brand admits to close friends he wants to win the Rookie of the Year Award. So why is Tim Floyd running end-of-quarter plays for others, like Chris Carr? The Bulls have nothing to play for, but they should be doing everything in their power to get Brand his hardware.

    Mitch Lawrence, who covers the NBA for the New York Daily News, writes a regular NBA column for ESPN.com.


  •   ESPN INSIDER
    Copyright 1995-2000 ESPN/Starwave Partners d/b/a ESPN Internet Ventures. All rights reserved. Do not duplicate or redistribute in any form. ESPN.com Privacy Policy. Use of this site signifies your agreement to the Terms of Service.