Most Snakebitten NBA Team: New York Knicks

Tough to find a place in your heart to feel sorry for Isiah Thomas and the New York Knicks, but hear me out. Coming into Thursday's game against Portland, the Knicks had amassed a 30-37 record. They were knotted in a three-way tie with Orlando and Indiana for that coveted eighth and final playoff spot.

And the Knicks have done all of this while suffering through more injuries than any other team in the NBA. Among their top eight players, here's the rundown:

Steve Francis 33 games missed
Jared Jeffries 27 games missed
Quentin Richardson 18 games missed
David Lee 12 games missed
Channing Frye 10 games missed
Jamal Crawford 9 games missed

At what point will some folks take notice of the pretty darn good coaching job Isiah Thomas has done with this overpaid, $200+ million M.A.S.H. unit? The irony of it all is that the team's biggest health risk, Eddy Curry, he of the weak heart, has only missed two games.

The Knicks wound up losing Thursday to the Trailblazers, 92-86, their fourth loss in five games. Silver lining: double-double machine David Lee returned much earlier than expected from a leg injury that was supposed to sideline him for four weeks.

The Coach of the Year candidates are probably Sam Mitchell of Toronto, Jeff Van Gundy and Jerry Sloan. Thomas should find his way into the Top 5.