Isiah Thomas has made it through 2007, but even his players were wondering how long he can last in 2008 after a 100-83 loss to the Bulls yesterday.

"You can't help but think about it," center Eddy Curry said of Thomas' possible firing if the team doesn't turn it around. "We're trying to win games. But I think it's definitely in the back of some people's minds."

The Knicks put a fitting ending to the year at Madison Square Garden, falling to 8-21 in another uninspired game.

Though Curry said the players are wondering about Thomas' future, they don't want to see him fired.

"We're really trying and we hope our owner knows that we're trying," said Curry, who came off the bench for the first time since Dec. 28, 2005 in Orlando. "We don't believe that it's (Thomas') fault that we're losing like this. We just, for whatever reason, can't run that corner."