Duhon Back in Starting Lineup as Knicks Host Kings

The Nate Robinson/Chris Duhon Experiment seems to be over.  

Following Monday’s practice at the team’s training center, Knicks head coach Mike D’Antoni announced that Robinson will be headed back to the bench while Chris Duhon will return to the starting point guard position beginning Tuesday when New York hosts the Sacramento Kings at Madison Square Garden.  

Robinson had started the previous two games at the point with Duhon coming off the bench for the first time since joining the Knicks prior to last season. But, after back-to-back losses to the Milwaukee Bucks and Cleveland Cavaliers over the weekend, D’Antoni feels Robinson is better suited in a reserve role at shooting guard and Duhon is more affective as the starting point guard.   

"I think Nate's better at off guard," D'Antoni said. "He's just a better off-guard than he is a point guard and I think he understands that. The team functions a little better with a true point."   

Robinson sat out Monday’s practice with a groin injury, but D’Antoni listed him as probable against the Kings in the Knicks’ final game before the weeklong All-Star break. Robinson is also expected to participate in this weekend’s slam dunk contest, looking to become the first three-time winner.   

"If it bothers him, obviously the best thing to do is to rest him," D'Antoni said. "But if he's OK to compete, it's a fun weekend and the NBA has asked him to do something and he's the defending champion, so I can understand why he wants to. But he has to know his body and know what's best for him."   

If Robinson is a go for Tuesday, D’Antoni expects to play him alongside Duhon for spurts throughout the game. In Saturday’s loss in Cleveland, Robinson and Duhon were both on the floor as the Knicks trimmed a 24-point deficit to three in the fourth quarter and nearly upset the league’s best team.   

D’Antoni continues to shuffle the lineup looking to find the right combinations to get the season back on track. He is hoping that the changes could serve as motivation for players like Duhon who have been struggling as of late.   

"At some point you just got to look in the mirror," said Duhon, who had eight assists against the Cavaliers. "It just comes from you and what you need to do to help this team win. Maybe sitting and not starting was kind of a reality check, gives you an opportunity to really not blame anything but yourself and do something about it."   

But Duhon wouldn’t make any promises that his recent wake-up call will result in any drastic changes.   

"It might not," he said. "I'm not saying it's going to work. It's obviously a collective thing that we have to do as a team to get back to how we were playing in December. Coach is trying to find lineups and guys that can go out there and get it done."   

The Knicks, who dropped to 12 games below .500 for the first time this season after losing seven of their previous nine games, are looking for anyone to step up and turn things around for a final playoff push. That includes the rookies, as Jordan Hill played some important minutes in Cleveland and could find himself on the court more as the season rolls on.   

But one player who might not be able to contribute right away is reserve guard Larry Hughes, who is questionable for Tuesday’s game with a sprained big toe. He missed Saturday’s game and did not practice on Monday. 

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