Tommy Dee: Why Not Play Derrick Brown?

Prior to the Knicks loss to the Bobcats last night, Tommy Dee from "The Knicks Blog" made the mere suggestion that the Knicks play Derrick Brown against his former team. After all, nothing else seems to be working for the team during this slump, so what could they have to lose? Nothing. Encouraging Brown to go out and play could have provided the Knicks with a much needed boost.

Instead, the Knicks lose again, to the Bobcats, while not inserting Brown into the game. Tommy breaks down what happened:

"Carmelo got killed by Stephen Jackson, but why not put Derrick Brown on the court, someone who probably guarded him every day in practice then move Melo on the slow footed Diaw?"

An excellent point is made here, as the Knicks have seen former teammates of their prominent offensive players shut them down before--the Pacers' Dahntay Jones flustered Carmelo Anthony for two games in a row during a home and home split earlier this month.

Jones is no superstar, but a defensive specialist whose years in Denver with Anthony were enough to pester him. Perhaps Brown's athleticism could have been enough to give Stephen Jackson enough trouble. After all, the Knicks did only lose by single-digits, so spurts of Brown shutting down Jackson (and any other former teammates of his, for that matter) could have been the difference maker.