Category: NBA

A Rose in the Garden.

The Knicks make a panic trade in procuring Jalen Rose and a draft pick (Denver’s) for the expiring contract of Antonio Davis. Hmmm. Rose is a talented player on the offensive end, but he brings little to the table that we don’t already have in Stephon Marbury and Jamal Crawford. And that contract…ugh. Somebody should tell Isiah the first rule in getting out of a hole: Stop digging.

Nothing but Net.

See what you’ve wrought, Kobe? Local prospect Epiphanny Prince puts up 113 points in a high school game. (Final score: 137-32.) “‘It’s an amazing thing when an individual does that,’ NBA star LeBron James said when told about Prince’s performance. ‘I don’t know who she is, but maybe we’ll see her in the WNBA. For that matter, the NBA.‘” Doesn’t sound like the other team was all that competitive…But, heck, I’m sure we could find a spot for her on this current Knicks squad.

King for a Day.

Peja for Artest? That’s one more nail in the coffin of the Kings team of old, and, to my mind, probably a bad move on Sacramento’s part. I always had Latrell Sprewell’s back when he came to the Knicks after the Carlesimo episode, but Ron Artest — unlike Spree — seems like both a legitimate head case and a locker room cancer. As for Peja, he should have no problem filling the Reggie Miller role in Indiana’s offense, but that still probably won’t put the Pacers in contention with Detroit. At any rate, hopefully this going through will break the gridlock on trades, and we’ll start to see some movement around the league. Update: It begins, with Wally World for Ricky Davis. Advantage: T-Wolves.

Pass the Ball, Dog…

I must admit, between the relentless, team-killing ego and that highly suspect night in Colorado, Kobe Bryant is far and away my least favorite player in the league. But, 81 is 81. Even given that Kobe never passes up a single shot and clearly makes his teammates worse, that’s a pretty impressive night of work against any NBA team, even the lowly Raptors. (And, oh yes, congrats to the Steelers and Seahawks on lopsided victories…see y’all in Detroit.)

Go NY Go NY Go.

Hey, don’t look now, but the New York Knickbockers, the worst team in the league in late 2005, are “starting to percolate” as Walt Frazier would put it, and are now undefeated five games into 2006, including impressive wins against Phoenix, Dallas, and Cleveland on the road. And, given that at 12-21 we’re only two games out of the eight-spot in the woeful East, we may actually have a season on our hands. Is it too late to get on board the Larry Brown bandwagon? Update: Make it six.

Cooled Off.

The current number of Van Gundy’s in the NBA has dropped to one, as Stan Van Gundy abruptly leaves the Miami Heat “for family reasons.” That’s really too bad…I’ve always rooted for the Van Gundy boys since Jeff’s Knicks stint (which ended almost four years ago to the day.) At any rate, Pat Riley will take the helm once again in Miami.