Lost somewhere in today's Daily News sport section, behind the amazing story of how Peyton Manning's victory will somehow translate to additional burden to Eli Manning or something (sounds like a Lupica piece in the works!), is this story about Jerome James.
Basically, James is going to start alongside Eddy Curry, for the next couple of games. He's been limited to just 18 games this season because of plantar fasciitis. Supposedly, this is because he will help out Curry's weakness (defense, and rebounding), and keep Curry from being double-teamed as often. This is absolutely true, by the way... it might help the Knicks.
But let's get it straight: Isiah has shelved James, a lazy, unproductive scrub who he signed haphazardly because the Knicks needed a center, only to find Curry available three weeks later. So the Knicks have the most expensive backup center in the NBA. James has sat most of the season because he is out of shape, and when he comes into the game he quickly gets called for three fouls and is sent back to the bench. So why start him?
Easy - you've kept him on the sidelines most of the season, with the coach's injury (plantar, which GM's love to use as an excuse, along with back injuries, because it's hard to disprove, and easy to come back from with sufficient rest)... now it's showcase time. The trading deadline is less than a month away, Isiah is going to start James, hope he looks good and doesn't f*ck up enough. Then hopefully some dumb GM (really, really dumb) who needs a center or big man will decide to deal for James, who Isiah would give away if he could, just to get his four years left deal off the books. It probably what he'll do with Francis, too.
The odds of either James or Francis getting traded are none to noner. In fact, if he somehow gets rid of them, regardless of whether he even gets anything back, I think Knicks fans (and the media) would have to give some credit to Isiah....
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