ATLANTA - Mike D'Antoni's New Year's resolution looks to be getting
Nate Robinson
back in the rotation."
D'Antoni said at this morning's
shootaround that Robinson could see his first action since Dec. 1st in their New Year's Night contest vs. the Hawks."
D'Antoni said he is evaluating whether the bench scoring needs a boost and admitted Robinson is back on his radar."
"Without a doubt,'' D'Antoni said when asked if he's closer to playing today than a couple of weeks ago. "It could be tonight, could be tomorrow night, could be the 12th of never.''
"He's definitely not out,'' D'Antoni added. "It's something we need to look at and see if he can gives us an offensive spark, no doubt about it. There are moments we need that.''
Robinson hasn't played in 14 straight games and his agent demanded a trade. But neither
Larry Hughes or Jonathan Bender are giving the Knicks any spark off the bench recently. The loss to the pathetic Nets Wednesday has gotten the wheels in motion."
Robinson hinted before the Detroit game earlier this week he thought he was getting closer to making it back."
"He's right in his assessment,'' D'Antoni said. "It's always a possibility.''
"There are times you need what people have and he obviously is an offensive spark and we will evaluate that and if we deem that's what we need, we'll play him. I'm not against playing. I want to make sure it's the right circumstance.''
"We made that change and we really caught fire,'' D'Antoni added. "Why mess with a good thing. Against New Jersey and couple of other games, we needed an offensive spark.''
But Robinson told The Post none of the coaches have talked to him yet. "The only person whose talked to me is God,'' Robinson said. "
There are a few scenarios in which Robinson could see time. The most likely is if Hughes struggles again in the first half, Robinson could get action in the second half. But D'Antoni said if he goes with Robinson, he'd want to roll with it a few games and not just give him a cameo."
'I'm just waiting patiently,'' Robinson told The Post. "I don't know how I would do, but I know I'd play my hardest if it's two minutes or 30 minutes. It's been very difficult. We'll see I I get in there, how good I play. I just want to help this team win. I just want to win.''
