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CURRENT KNICKS POINT GUARD FRANK WILLIAMS HERE TO STAY

By Bobby "The Voice" Ciafardini

The New York Knickerbockers needed to make a change following the 2001-2002 season. They never realized how much they would miss the play of Patrick Ewing and Larry Johnson on the front-line, but the Knick brass never lost sight of adding a point guard that could penetrate and score.

Ironically, the trade that was supposed to help Knick fans forget about Ewing and Johnson, appears to have helped us remember how important a point guard, who can score and distribute, can change the makeup of your team. Of course, I’m referring to the trade that sent Marcus Camby, the seventh pick (Nene Hilario) and Mark Jackson to the Denver Nuggets in return for Antonio McDyess and the 25th pick in the first round on Draft Night two years ago.

The injury-prone McDyess is still considered the missing link for New York’s return to playoff contention, but recently the play of the nearly forgotten former first rounder Frank Williams has helped ignite the Knicks offense.

Who would have thought the Knicks would find the point guard of their future in a trade for their future power-forward?

Well, I don’t know about you, but I was very happy two years ago when the Knicks made that deal, although New York has never been great at trading and drafting.

Like most college basketball fanatics, I was most intrigued by the possibilities of Williams in a Knicks uniform, because I knew of Williams’ impressive college resume.

Williams started his first Big Ten Conference season in grand fashion back in 1999, hitting the game winning three-pointer at the buzzer to beat Ohio State in a conference opener. A year later, the Illinois born Williams made his way onto the Wooden All-America Team after securing the Big Ten’s MVP honors. The feisty 6’3" combo-guard was at it again in his final season, drilling the game-winning bucket against Minnesota to give Illinois the regular season conference title.

The 23 year-old Williams has shown glimpses of why the Knicks may have "struck gold" in an unlikely place. The knock on Williams at the end of his college career was that he was a difficult personality in the clubhouse, but the Knicks third-stringer is becoming more comfortable in the NBA, on and off the Hardwood.

After an injury filled rookie season, Williams has produced some memorable moments to start the 2003-2004 campaign, including last night’s 18 point performance on the road against the Memphis Grizzlies that snapped a seven game road losing streak for the Knicks.

Williams set a new career high for points, while tallying 14 in the second half to help secure the 98-94 win.

"The star for them was Frank Williams," Memphis coach Hubie Brown told the Associated Press. "He abused us in the pick-and-roll, and we weren’t getting anything out of our big people."

In 25 minutes, Williams shot 8-of-15 from the field, but saved the best for last, providing the biggest lay-up of the game with 40 seconds left that closed the door on the Grizzlies. The Knicks would go 5-for-6 from the free throw line in the final 23 seconds.

"He brings an element that we lack sometimes and that's penetration," Knicks forward Keith Van Horn said of Williams. "We have good shooters and good pull-up shooters. And to have a guy that can break down defenses like that is a big help."

About a month ago, Williams showed signs of brilliance when he got the opportunity to play. He logged 26 minutes against the Lakers on Nov. 19 en-route to a then career-high 14 point performance, including 12 points in the second half against the likes of Kobe Bryant. The superstar’s poor defense on Williams prompted Los Angeles coach Phil Jackson to bench Bryant briefly.

"I grew up playing with all of them on video games," Williams told the New York Times. "You have no idea how much fun I had out there."

Despite the impressive play by Williams – the Knicks fell short at the Garden, losing 104-83 to the Showtime Lakers.

Moreover, Williams had played more than Charlie Ward and almost as much as Howard Eisley, who logged 27 minutes in the loss.

Williams continued to respond when given the opportunity, producing a solid 17 point, five rebound, four assist performance in a 97-92 win against the Timberwolves on Nov. 26.

Williams’ then new career high was lost amidst Allan Houston’s return from injury and the hoopla surrounding New York’s first meeting against former Knick Latrell Sprewell.

The Knicks may have found the answer to their No. 1 problem.

That is: Can they ever find a point guard who can break down a defense?

While the Knicks mix and match Charlie Ward and Howard Eisley, speak of trades for point guards that are over-the-hill, and remind Knick fans of former second round pick, Serbian point guard Milos Vujanic, who’s starring overseas, the honest truth is Frank: Frank Williams.

Bobby is a former sportswriter for the Associated Press in New York. He currently writes for the Greenwich Time in Greenwich, Connecticut. Note: These opinions do not necessarily represent those of the Greenwich Time or InsideHoops.com