Newsday’s Barbara Barker had a great piece on Nate Robinson, who now finds himself out of the Knicks rotation. It is clear, for now, that the Knicks have a better set rotation without him.

“…In all six of their wins this season, Robinson has played less than 19 minutes. The Knicks are 0-9 when Robinson plays 19 minutes or more and 6-6 when he plays less than 19.

In the past four games, the Knicks have gone 3-1 without Robinson in the rotation. In the only game in which he saw any time, the Knicks beat the Suns on Tuesday. He took only two shots, and half his minutes came in garbage time. Yesterday’s game was his third straight DNP-CD.

D’Antoni has long made it known that Robinson tests his patience, but it seems as though several recent events have caused him to send Robinson into this prolonged exile.

The most notable came eight days ago when Robinson scored 22 points in the fourth quarter of a 114-103 loss to the Magic at the Garden. Orlando continued to pull away from the Knicks even as Robinson continued to score, but he didn’t seem to notice as he jumped around the court with glee and yelled at fans in celebration even while his team was losing.

Robinson was the first player in the locker room after yesterday’s game – probably because he didn’t have to shower. He made a point of saying all the right things, stumbling only slightly when he was asked what he felt when the fans cheered him.

“I love the support,” he said.

Then, just in case it sounded too selfish, he quickly added, “Hopefully, they will continue to come out and support our whole team, and that’s what we need…”

Does this mean no more Will Ferrell?

I said it yesterday and I’ll say it again. I don’t know who most of these fans who come to games are. Not all of them, mind you, but those who decided during the midst of a huge Knick run that saw them take control of the game that it was a good idea to start chanting for Nate.

He’s fun to watch and we all love rooting for the little guy. And it’s too easy to just pin the Knicks’s success on Nate not playing, but come on people.

The team is actually playing some decent basketball over the last week. Can’t you just go to the game and root for the team in white to get a W?

Granted the chats did start when the Knicks were flat and losing, but do we have to hear the chat from now on EVERY time the Knicks are losing?

I hope not.