For a while, the Knicks appeared to be playing dress up in the land of make-believe.

The only thing missing was a Nerf ball.

Detroit was way beyond flat after playing overtime in Charlotte and jetting into New York just before last call. Most of the Pistons lost interest early on. They managed only 32 points in the first half, which is a season low. I supposed the defense gets a little credit.

It was a good win, regardless.

The players even admitted they question why these moments are so rare. Eddy Curry noted the Knicks would be in a great situation if they played this way on a consistent basis.

Yep.

“Some things in this league you can’t explain,” Jamal Crawford said. “Don’t even try to figure it out.”

Zach Randolph obviously got the message Isiah Thomas sent in Morse code the other night.

“Yeah, I did,” he said after getting 25 points. “I want to play and coach expects stuff from us. I
understand where he’s coming from.”

Here’s what I know about Randolph, so far.

The guy doesn’t read the papers. He takes all kinds of heat for screwing up the offense and polarizing the locker room. A lot of it lately is justified, but he stands there and provides usable answers every time you ask for something. No grudges.

• Marbury left without speaking to the media about the injury or the comments about struggling to adjust to a passive approach.

• Thomas clarified a statement he made on Saturday in response to a question about getting the possibility of getting fired. He said, “When that happens, we’ll all know it.� Upon further review, Thomas decided he worded the response poorly. “In New York, every word is analyzed,� he said before the game. “I guess the word would be ‘if’ and not ‘when.’ �