Robinson Back in D'Antoni's Dog House

ORLANDO -- A strange season for the New York Knicks is getting stranger by the game. No one really expected the Knicks to win in Orlando Wednesday night -- not after they played Phoenix on Tuesday -- but they did expect to see what mighty-mite Nate Robinson could do against Dwight Howard.

Didn't happen. And no one wanted to say why. We could only assume.

Robinson scored a game-high 24 points last week in New York against the Magic, including 22 in the fourth quarter when he led a failed comeback, but he never got off the bench Wednesday.

It looked like his shorts were nailed to his seat.

He may have averaged 22 points in four games last season against the Magic. He may have led the Knicks in scoring in three of the last four games, but coach Mike D'Antoni had no interest in playing him Wednesday at Amway Arena.

"We're just trying to find a winning formula. If he's conducive to winning, then he'll obviously get back into the lineup."
- Mike D'Antoni
on Nate Robinson "Coach's decision, that would be the reason,'' D'Antoni said after his Knicks were spanked, 118-104, at Amway Arena. "There's always a reason. I'm not going to stand here and explain it. We're just trying to find a winning formula. If he's conducive to winning, then he'll obviously get back into the lineup.''

Robinson said he was physically fine. He said he was disappointed he didn't play, but he had no interest in questioning D'Antoni's decision.

"It's always tough when you don't play. It's doubly tough when you lose. But he (D'Antoni) knows what he's doing. I just have to be ready when my number is called.''

Robinson never has been one of D'Antoni's favorites, frustrating him often with a perceived lack of professionalism. Robinson is the one who recently took an after-the-buzzer shot at an opponent's basket, trying to be funny. He sometimes showboats to the crowd, makes silly fouls, and has been known as tough to coach.

Still, the Knicks could have used another one of his offensive explosions like he had Sunday against the Magic when he hit 10 of his 11 shots in the fourth quarter. He was two points shy of a franchise record for points in a period.

The Knicks never seriously challenged the Magic on Wednesday. They couldn't stop them, allowing the Magic to shoot 55 percent from the field. Starting point guard Chris Duhon struggled, but it was rookie Toney Douglas and not Robinson who got the playing time.

"We're trying to get the best winners on the floor at all times,'' D'Antoni said. "He (Robinson) is fine. It's fluid, and there's nothing definite. We'll just see how it goes.''

Robinson, meanwhile, sat by his locker eating his dinner after the game. He didn't sound upset, but he clearly was disappointed.

"You take the good with the bad,'' Robinson said. "I want to be a teammate who goes the extra mile. I'll be ready to play when called.''