"The Rockets own the Knicks' first-round pick this June from the Tracy McGrady trade. It seemed unfathomable entering the season the issue of the picks' protection rights ever would come up.

But as the Knicks flounder without a true point guard and look more beat up and ragged by the game, the notion of that pick being a lottery selection is no longer absurd. The Knicks could even get it back, as the pick is protected through five.

The Knicks, playing again without the resting Carmelo Anthony, were clobbered, 97-84, by the Rockets as coach Mike D'Antoni's club has lost nine of 10 and have fallen to six games below .500 at 7-13.

The point guard situation is such a complete mess that D'Antoni even resorted to using third-string Harvard alum, Jeremy Lin for the game's final 20 minutes.

Amar'e Stoudemire sounded graver than ever, and ripped some players for not preparing for games and not learning from mistakes, seemingly trying to protect D'Antoni for this wreckage. Stoudemire also agreed this 1-9 stretch is probably the low point of his Knicks stint."