Johnson to miss two weeks 11.26.99

The NY Daily News reports:
Larry Johnson sat in front of his computer two days ago for 40 pain-free minutes of Solitaire. The numbing pain that had been shooting down his leg the previous six days was gone. The next morning, however, Johnson sat down to enjoy a cup of coffee and within minutes the pain had returned. The mixed messages have confused the veteran power forward, who revealed yesterday that he has reaggravated a herniated disc injury and will be sidelined at least two weeks. Johnson missed 31 games six years ago after herniating a disc. He remains optimistic that surgery will not be needed and began taking steroids to strengthen his back. "The good sign," he said, "is that I'm starting to feel better." Johnson's uncertain status has exacerbated Jeff Van Gundy's concerns about his slumping basketball team, which approaches tomorrow's game against Orlando with a 6-7 record. "It's significant," Van Gundy said of Johnson's absence. "But even when Larry was here we had some of the same problems. In general, over the last two years our preparation, work ethic and our seriousness to how we approach the game has really dropped. It's a crisis because we don't realize it's a crisis." Van Gundy hinted at a leadership void on the floor and inside the locker room, problems that have been magnified with Johnson sidelined. Although the bond between Van Gundy and Patrick Ewing is strong, Johnson is the one veteran the head coach relies on most. Regarded as the most most respected voice in the locker room, Johnson, unlike Ewing, is willing to speak to his teammates either collectively or individually on a daily basis. Johnson's work ethic in practice is also unmatched. Van Gundy was not satisfied with his club's performance during yesterday's two-hour practice. But for the foreseeable future, Van Gundy will have to get used to not having his most trusted player around. "There's too much coach prodding instead of internal motivation, which is the only motivation that lasts," said Van Gundy. "I can't go to the whip every day." Van Gundy promised change following Tuesday night's loss to the Clippers but modified that statement yesterday, saying he wants his players to "change how we go about our business." He is angry that his undermanned team is doing the exact opposite of what most teams do when they're missing key personnel, which is to play harder. In six of the Knicks' seven losses they have trailed by 15 or more points. Against the Clippers, they were down 28 in the second quarter. "If we're a prepared, serious and hardworking team you're not getting run out of the game all the time," said Van Gundy. "We've earned the record we have." The Knicks' slow start is eerily reminiscent of the first two months of the 1995 season. The year after reaching the 1994 NBA Finals, Ewing missed all of training camp and the Knicks went 12-12 to start the season. "No one can be close to satisfied with the performance," said Johnson. "But now is not the time to start pointing fingers. We have to listen to the coaches and pay attention to detail." A best-case scenario would have Johnson returning in two weeks, which is also when Ewing is due back. In the meantime, the Knicks may be without Marcus Camby, who is suffering from left knee tendinitis. Camby did not practice yesterday and is uncertain whether he'll play tomorrow. An MRI of his sore left knee was negative, but Camby would prefer to give his leg additional rest. "Brendan (Malone) said something that was true," Van Gundy said of a conversation he had with his assistant coach. "He said, 'You have to wait on the player until they're ready to play.' But this has been going on for two months. We can't wait forever."