Richardson was especially miffed because he returned to the game in the fourth quarter despite a bruised forearm that needed X-rays afterward, knowing their bare-bones state.

The Knicks officially are back to being a losing team as they fell under .500 to 7-8, and the short-term future doesn't promise to brighten. They've lost five of six games — all contributing to Richardson's blast on Marbury.

"The way the situation is, I don't consider him my teammate," Richardson said. "He hasn't played with us all year. He doesn't want to play with us. This is the second time. I don't look at him as a teammate. Teammates don't do that, regardless what's going on with the coach. You don't do that to teammates. We were basically left out there."

Marbury and Richardson always have had a strained relationship, but last night was the final straw as the Knicks are still reeling from the aftershocks of Friday's trades and needed a boost on the second night of a back-to-back. They lost both games, to Cleveland and Detroit, by a combined 32 points.

"I seen him always saying I haven't done anything personal to us," said Richardson. "Regardless of whoever he's trying to stick it to, at the end of the day, we're being left out there. We're shorthanded, we're hurt and people are still playing banged up pretty bad. He's the furthest thing from my mind now."

The last time the Knicks were below .500 was at 1-2. They are 1-3 since Friday's two trades busted the roster to clear cap space for 2010.

Wednesday night's cause wasn't helped when Chandler was booted with 1:10 left in the third for punching the ball into the stands after the whistle as the Pistons' made their game-sealing run. Chandler said afterward he tried to punch the ball back to the official.

D'Antoni said the two trades will make them "better" this season but acknowledged it would take some time. For now they stink and have Marbury creating new tension. Two of the new guys, Al Harrington and Tim Thomas, still are learning the offense and D'Antoni said neither are in proper shape. Harrington, after a 3-of-12 first half, settled down in the second half to lead the Knicks with 25 points and seven rebounds.

Harrington is 13-of-40 in two games. Thomas added 12 points.

News » Richardson: 'I don't consider him my teammate'
Richardson: 'I don't consider him my teammate'
Quentin Richardson lashed out at Stephon Marbury following Wednesday night's 110-96 loss to the Pistons at The Palace in which the Knicks were reduced to seven bodies following Wilson Chandler's third-quarter ejection. The frustation has reached a boiling point and the decimated Knicks were in desperate need of Marbury to play last night but he declined Mike D'Antoni's fervent pitch. More from the New York Post Four injured Giants miss practice Costello: Jets could run the table Prucha may OK to rejoin Rangers More from The New York Post