Sporting News, The: Riley gambles and the Knicks hit the jackpot - New York coach Pat Riley

Weary from a West Coast trip and reeling from four consecutive losses in late February, Knicks Coach Pat Riley took his team on a trip to Reno. It was a diversion to a city of sin for players guilty of a few themselves.

From the airport, six limos whisked them to the casinos. There, they played blackjack. They played the slots. And, sadly for some, the losing steak continued.

But the Knicks weren't through gambling. The next day, Riley made three changes in the starting lineup, a move that's rarely made in midseason on teams with realistic championship aspirations.

Both the Reno trip and the personnel changes were designed to shake the Knicks free of lethargy, and it worked. The Knicks ran the tables in Nevada, then the schedule in March, winning all 14 games for the first perfect month in franchise history.

Therefore, the 48-hour period linking the last day of February with the first of March will be a watershed event when the final chapter of the Knicks' season is written, regardless of whether they're parading their title or brooding another playoff elimination.

"We've come out real "hyped" ever since," forward Charles Oakley says. "That's where it all started."

The Reno trip wasn't a premeditated move by Riley. They were headed to Sacramento from Phoenix, and although they were thousands of feet in the air, the Knicks were as low as ever after losing for the seventh time in 10 games. About the time they were flying over Fresno, Riley decided to take the team on a tour of Napa Valley. Then he changed his mind and figured Lake Tahoe would be a better option. Finally, about 10 minutes before landing, he settled on Reno.

This escape from basketball wasn't a completely new exercise for Riley. On the Knicks' last two trips to Seattle, he had his players dress for practice, only to bus them to the nearest movie theater. Riley likes these "necessary diversions" because they're a way to break up the monotony.

Movies are one thing. Reno?

"It was strange," guard Derek Harper says. "But it was good from the standpoint it took your mind off the problems at hand. It sort of cleansed your mind of the job."

The next change of plans had a longer lasting effect. Charles Smith, Greg Anthony and John Starks were benched in favor of Anthony Bonner, Harper and Hubert Davis.

Smith was still smarting from two knee operations and, some might say, those four missed layups against the Bulls last year. That combination of physical and mental mayhem, suspicion has it, stole Smith's confidence, his jump shot and any aggressiveness he might have had.

Anthony, at the time of the switch, was probably playing his best ball of the season. But Riley needed to commit to Harper and give him complete authority, allowing Harper to shed himself of the apprehension that had dogged him since his arrival from the Mavericks.

Starks is the Knicks' second-leading scorer ... and maybe the league's most unreliable scorer, capable of 30 points one night and shooting 4 for 17 the next. Davis has a steadier hand and just as much range, and the Knicks could live with Davis' borderline defensive abilities.

The result: The Knicks beat the Kings by 12 and never hit a speed bump the rest of the month. They sent messages to their two chief rivals, winning in Atlanta and holding Chicago to 78 points. The Knicks actually became a better defensive team and allowed an average of only 87 points and 41 percent shooting. Twice, Davis scored his season high. Harper discovered his jump shot, and the Knicks received more production from the small-forward position with Bonner and Anthony Mason than they did with Smith as a starter.

"Everyone's contributing, and that's what makes this especially satisfying," Harper says.

Riley will be faced with another round of decisions when Smith and Starks regain their health. When that happens, Riley would be wise not to disrupt the chemistry. Starks will deserve major minutes because of his 3-point shooting and defense. Smith's role in the rotation, however, should be taken on a per-game, as-needed basis.

Riley and the Knicks gambled twice and it paid handsomely. Now it's time they stop while they're ahead.

Tomorrow's suits

Seeing how Magic Johnson's transition from player to coach has been fairly effortless, a question begs to be raised: Who else has the tools to become a decent coach or general manager?

The qualifications: They must be organized, have great communication skills and, above all, a sharp knowledge of the game. They don't necessarily have to be great players. Plenty of those wearing suits today were marginal talents yesterday (Chris Ford, Phil Jackson, Wayne Embry, Mike Dunleavy).

With an assist from several G.M.s who offered their opinions, here's our list of candidates:

* Rolando Blackman: His desire lies in broadcasting, which would be a loss to the league. Blackman is a pro's pro and a basketball educator. Hubert Davis couldn't have a better mentor.

* Chris Dudley: The only Ivy Leaguer in the NBA. No one can question the intelligence of this Yalie ... unless he aspires to teach free-throw shooting.

* Mike Gminski: In a 14-year career, the G-Man has been with a team that won (the Nets of the mind-1980s), an expansion team (Hornets) and a rebuilding team (Bucks). His experience runs the gamut.

* Rick Mahorn: He'd be a great coach. First of all, no player would dare question this ex-Bad Boy's authority. Plus, Mahorn's mind is always in the game, even if his body isn't these days. Against Orlando recently, Mahorn pointed out something that Nets Coach Chuck Daly missed. Mahorn warned that teammate P.J. Brown would be called for traveling if he shuffled his feet while throwing an inbounds pass. Brown did, and he was.

* Nate McMillan: He's a lot like Blackman, a true professional and one of the few calm influences in a sometimes chaotic SuperSonics locker room.

* Scott Skiles: Orlando's backup point guard and assistant coach-in-training, Skiles has already developed a coach's trait: None of the players are in love with him, but they listen to him anyway.

* Isiah Thomas: A front-office natural. Some would crack that Thomas' G.M. career began in 1981, when the Pistons drafted him.

* Buck Williams: He'd probably be as hard-working behind a desk as he is on the glass. As the new president of the players' association, Williams will get a quick lesson in negotiating this summer, when the league and the union hammer out a new labor agreement.

Free fall

For the second time in 12 months, Calvin Murphy's name may be erased from the record books. Timberwolves guard Michael Williams broke Murphy's mark for consecutive free throws last year. This year, Nuggets guard Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf has his sights on Murphy's single-season free-throw percentage mark of 95.8.

Murphy has been known to playfully harass those who threaten his records. Abdul-Rauf says, "If he comes around, I'm just not going to listen to him."

Murphy claims he won't worry about Abdul-Rauf until the final week of the season.

Turnover

One general manager projects as many as six coaching changes this summer. The most obvious? Washington. Rumor has it Wes Unseld will be kicked upstairs and replaced by Jimmy Lynam, the 76ers' G.M. First-round playoff failures could mean openings in Portland, Miami and Utah. The most attractive and sought-after candidate is Rick Pitino. He's signed with Kentucky until the turn of the century and is happy there. But the right kind of money ($3 million-plus) and combination of ideal city/team could change his mind. If Magic Johnson waives his option to coach the Lakers beyond this season, look for Owner Jerry Buss to make a run at Pitino. Buss has shown he's willing to pay whatever it takes for what he wants.