With roles are changing from game to game, and even from quarter to quarter, the Knicks continue to search for answers.

Jerome James, foul-plagued and unproductive, was inserted into the starting lineup, with poor results. Eddy Curry, who dominated inside early, spent the final 15 minutes on the bench, even as the Knicks struggled to score. Jamal Crawford's role shrank a little further (16 minutes).

Asked if head coach Larry Brown had used his high-energy rookies to send a message to his veterans, forward Malik Rose said, "I don't know what he's doing."

That sentiment fairly well summed up the feeling throughout the locker room, where blank stares and carefully worded answers were the order of the day.

"Part of me thinks Larry likes it, people not knowing what he wants or whatever," Rose said. "All I know is I go as hard as I can when I'm out there. Sometimes, things just don't go your way."

"I'm trying to figure out who can play and who can help us," Brown said, praising the energy of his three rookies, as well as Ariza, Matt Barnes and Antonio Davis. "We've all got to do that. It's got to be infectious for everybody."

"I don't know what Coach is going to do," star guard Stephon Marbury said of the unsettled rotation.

Asked if consistency would help, Marbury said: "Of course, consistency is always the best teacher. I guess Coach feels differently."