The Knicks have season-ticket holders?

Their must be a name for such a pathology, similar to Munchausens, or something, that would lead someone to go to Madison Square Garden night after night to watch Isaiah Thomas's Knicks play.

On several occasions, the Knicks' embattled coach could be seen talking to fans at center court near the Knicks' bench. Longtime season-ticket holder Mara Altschuler claimed that Thomas blamed the fans for the Knicks' problems. When some fans began chanting Jeff Van Gundy's name, Thomas replied, "You ran him out of here as well," according to Altschuler.

Thomas later appeared surprised when asked about his conversations with fans. He didn't deny them but rather gave a convoluted answer that didn't exactly clear things up. "I was just, uh, trying to make sure, um, that we kept the team together and we stayed focused on what we were doing and trying to win a basketball game," Thomas said. "Our fans are great. They support us and they show up and we're glad they're here."

Thomas' relationship with fans has been especially strained since September, when it was alleged during the Anucha Browne Sanders sexual harassment trial that he made a derogatory comment about white season-ticket holders. Thomas has vehemently denied saying such a thing to Sanders.

Last night's back and forth with season-ticket holders came on the same day that the Garden reached an $11.5 million settlement with Sanders that was announced 90 minutes before tipoff.

Thomas refused to answer questions about the settlement, saying only: "As I've said before, I am completely innocent. This decision doesn't change that. However it's in the best interests of Madison Square Garden to move forward. And I fully support it."

Oh, yeah.