Nate Back In A BIG Way

Maybe everyone should take a month off from work every now and then.

Especially if it guarantees a return performance like the one Nate Robinson had tonight against the Hawks.

Mike D’Antoni FINALLY put Nate Rob (only took him a month to listen to my man Chris) in the game after 14 straight DNP-CD’s and you know where it went from there…..

41 points in one of the most dominant displays ANYONE has put on in the NBA this season.

Seriously, that run he went on beginning in the fourth and into overtime was reminiscent of……and you Jordan-lovers better not cringe….. #23 himself.

Nate absolutely took that game over. He put the Knicks on his back, or, more accurately, said to them “get the hell out of my way.”

If you missed the game, the most telling moment came when Nate was in the midst of his unconscious stretch and the MSG cameras caught Mike D’Antoni with one of those smiles that said “you’ve gotta be kidding me.”

We still don’t know exactly why D’Antoni buried Nate so deep in the dog house, but it seems like it might have been the best thing for all parties concerned.

Now the question is, what role does Robinson have from here on out?

Even though he hardly passed the ball during the 4th quarter and overtime periods, you could tell that his teammates weren’t upset – in fact, they were loving every minute of it.

It seems like Nate handled this whole thing the right way; instead of pouting he endeared himself to teammates that no doubt became sympathetic to his cause.

By playing he cut deeply into Chris Duhon’s minutes. He took shots away from noted chuckers Al Harrington and Danillo Galinari.

Sure, it was all good tonight while he couldn’t miss. But when Nate struggles again, how will his ways be perceived?

There’s still much to come in the Nate Saga, but for one night you have to feel good for the guy and the team.

The Knicks (or as they were known tonight, ‘The Nates’) hadn’t played a more entertaining game all year.

Matt Estreich for The Huddle