Tim Thomas (above) has had a rough start to the 2004/05 campaign, but he achieved a small measure of redemption with a 20 point (7-11 from the field) performance in New York’s win over the same Charlotte team that embarrassed them earlier in the season.

That said, the Knicks’ season-long indifference to defense was manifest in 23 offensive rebounds to the expansion Bobcats, led by no. 2 overall pick Emeka Okafor (23 points, 15 rebounds).

In other good news for the Knicks, Jamal Crawford took fewer ridiculous shots than usual yesterday. He was on the injured list and wearing street clothes, but I think it is important to give the young man as much positive reinforcement as possible.