Poor Portland got no sympathy from the Knickerbockers last night in the garden as the improved and somewhat exciting Knicks trounced the Blazers 93-84. While the score suggests a rather evenly matched game, it doesn’t reflect how lopsided the game was during the middle two quarters where the Knicks outscored Portland 60-37.

This is the first 3-game winning streak of the season for New York and by far the most energizing basketball they’ve played all year. Larry Hughes was a key figure in the victory once again for the Knicks as he shot 4-8 from behind the arc, scored 21pts and snagged 6 rebounds. This comes just one game after scoring 25 in a win versus New Jersey where the Knicks found themselves down at half and Hughes found himself at the line 17 times; two more times than the Nets.

I love to hate on Hughes more than anyone I know but I don’t dislike him enough to not give him his props when he deserves them. The Knicks haven’t been this easy to watch all season long and they’ve moved into 3^rd place (not as cool as it sounds but a big step for these bums), neither of which would have been possible without the performances of Larry Hughes.

What’s even more surprising than Hughes being productive and making the team better, is that he started the season on the bench and it wasn’t because of an injury. Mike D’Antoni has never been shy about sitting star players and Hughes was his example at the beginning of this season. Unlike Marbury, who was benched and cried his way onto the Celtics, Hughes took his DNP on the chin and kept showing up to play. Finally after back-to-back losses to start the season D’Antoni saw a hole that needed filling and Hughes was in.

D’Antoni’s newest player to receive the DNP hex is fan favorite Nate Robinson. Nate had performed very well in a couple of losses earlier this season but considering his most memorable moment of the season thus far is shooting a ball jokingly in the opposing teams basket, you can understand why he is riding the pine…err folding chairs. D’Antoni gets fed up with players and shows he doesn’t really mind benching a fan favorite, because he knows in the end the fans like winning just as much as he does no matter who’s playing.

And while Nate can be electric on the court and a blast to watch he just isn’t in the winning formula this season. His high flying, ball chucking, no look passing, can’t get back on defense approach isn’t one the Knicks seem interested in taking, at least not right now. While the fans may like flare and pizzazz, D’Antoni is looking for consistency and results i.e. David Lee.

But what no one seems to mention (except for my man Frank Isola of the NYDN) is that a big reason why Nate finds himself in warm-ups all day is because of the Defensive prowess of rookie Tony Douglas. Douglas has been responsible for at least 5-7 of the minutes Robinson no longer plays each game. Defense is something the Knicks don’t always play and something D’Antoni has never really been known for coaching. Douglas’ energy on the defensive side of the ball is apparent to fans watching from home and way too obvious for the coaching staff to over look…even D’Antoni.

Team/Player Photos: WASHINGTON WIZARDS v NEW YORK KNICKS on Apr 13, 2010

The Knicks have found something good here and are turning it into a winning formula. They have earned their three days off but will hopefully not cool down or forget how to win while they’re away. The Knicks have looked better and have almost made D’Antoni appear like Nostradamus for saying he thinks this is a playoff caliber team…almost.