Knicks-Bucks: Tracy McGrady Drops 15 Points, but New York Falls to Milwaukee

I know there’s only so much one individual player can do for a team, especially if that team is the reeling New York Knicks in the ever-weak but somewhat improving Eastern Conference.

Regardless of the conference, Tracy McGrady and the new-look Knicks continued their losing ways on Monday evening at home against the Milwaukee Bucks.

T-Mac led the way offensively for New York with 15 points (while actually having a poor shooting night in draining just five of the 14 shots he attempted), but the Knicks fell again, this time by a lopsided 83-67 score.

To make matters worse, McGrady is also uncertain if he will play in the Knicks’ next game after banging knees a couple times against the Bucks.

“Hopefully it’s not sore tomorrow,” McGrady told ESPN. “I may lace them up and play tomorrow, but we’ll see.”

Also scoring in double-digits for the Knicks were David Lee (12 PTS, 13 REB) and newly acquired Eddie House (10 PTS, 3 AST); newcomer Sergio Rodriguez picked up a game-high eight steals.

“I don’t want to make too many excuses, but obviously we weren’t familiar with what we’re doing and with each other,” Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni told ESPN following Monday’s loss. “The first night, we ran on a lot of adrenaline and kind of got us through. I just thought we just didn't really have a lot of pop down there. The ball didn’t really move and stopped. Guys were hesitating. They seemed lost.”

McGrady and his new team return to the hardwood tomorrow night on the road against the conference-contending Boston Celtics.

“I think if we would have shot the ball like we shot the ball the other night, we give ourselves a chance,” McGrady said. “Tonight we just couldn’t make no shots. That’s a very, very good defensive team and it showed, we only scored 67 points. We’re still growing as a team. We’re learning on the fly.”

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Denton Ramsey may be reached at [e-mail].