SB Nation - Jared Jeffries

Knicks 88, Bulls 81

Seth — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 06:41:57 -0000

More photos » by Nathaniel S. Butler - NBAE/Getty Images

We've seen plenty of Jekyll and Hyde games from the Knicks this season. They've been known to race ahead in the first half only to lose their grasp in the second or, more commonly, follow a tepid first half with a spirited late-game comeback. Rarely, though, have the Knicks held on/come back to actually win one of those tales of two halves. In that sense, I guess the Knicks showed some signs of progress tonight. It sure didn't feel that way at some points, but New York came out on top, and that's what matters.

It started with a bang. Chicago was 24 hours removed from that epic comeback loss against Sacramento, and looked in no mood to play basketball. The Knicks, meanwhile, were passing and finishing like champs and cleaning the glass on both ends. They went into the half up 22, needing only a modest effort to sail to their third straight win. They couldn't manage modest, though. After almost two quarters of sub-modest basketball, it took a couple long-distance makes from Jared Jeffries (!), some late-game gaffes by Chicago, and one huge rim-rolling jumper from David Lee to survive.

Take the jump for a few notes and thangs...

- Danilo Gallinari kept missing from the field, but made his presence felt in other ways. He shot just 2-13, but got to the line a little (6-6), rebounded (7), and played some nice man defense for stretches (3 blocks, including one spectacular swat of a Luol Deng drive). As ugly as his line was, I was pleased with Gallo tonight. He took the right shots and stayed active without forcing. They just don't fall on some nights. It was nice to see D'Antoni let Danilo work through his misses and find other ways to contribute.

- I'm not gonna rag on D'Antoni after a win, but with Jonathan Bender sitting the second half after straining his hip, the Knick rotation was actually only seven guys. I'm not saying that was the reason for the second half collapse, but I'm not saying it wasn't.

- I'm not entirely sure how the topic came up (presumably something to do with Chicago's mascot), but Clyde and Breen spent a good chunk of the second quarter discussing bullfighting.

- Jared Jeffries was whistled for a foul in the second quarter and D'Antoni responded by immediately yanking Al Harrington off the bench. Jeffries looked confused, then glanced up at the scoreboard, saw that he'd just committed his third foul, and visibly uttered "Oh, fuck". Props to MSG for catching that.

- Al Harrington hit the halftime buzzer-beater to put the Knicks up 22, and turned to run down court with his arm still bent in a gooseneck. This meant that the guy sitting courtside who wanted a high five had to slap his elbow. It sucks to get left hanging.

- Jill Martin and Hugh Jackman conducted a halftime interview so fraught with sexual tension and intrigue, it might as well have been Swordfish 2: Gimme a Minute.

- I mentioned Bender's sore hip before, but it didn't sound like it was a big deal. They're just taking every possible precaution with Legs, which makes sense. By the way, there currently exists an extremely fly "Legs" t-shirt ready for production. I know it's far too soon for that, but are people interested?

- Derrick Rose is exceedingly good at basketball when he chooses to be. I harp on David Lee's poor help defense, but Rose would've made Dikembe Mutombo look wimpy with some of these drives. The former first pick single-handedly outscored the Knicks 16-15 in the third quarter, which is a testament both to Rose's majesty and to how messily the Knicks shat themselves in the second half.

- Walt Frazier cannot whistle, which is a late entry but likely front-runner for "Most Surprising Thing I Learned in 2009".

- Hey Wilson Chandler (16 points on 8-18, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals), I see you. Keep attacking.

- I mentioned it briefly in the intro, but I'll reiterate that two of the huge shots that ended up stifling the Chicago comeback were long bombs by Jared Jeffries. Jared canned a three from the right corner with about 10 minutes left, then took a step in for a long two around the 6 minute mark. Thankfully, he rimmed out a three that would've iced it in the final minute, or the world's bear population would've awoken from hibernation, vacated their caves, headed to the nearest ocean, and plunged headfirst into extinction.

- The Bulls also found every possible way to cough up the ball when the game was in the balance. There were bad passes, awful shots, violations, and all other manner of wasted possession. I think Luol Deng dribbled off his gouche at one point.

- David Lee's in-out-and-in-again jumper put the Knicks up 5 and in the clear with 6 seconds left, and it was a well-deserved flourish on a brilliant night by Lee. Joakim Noah is a damn tough cover, but Lee grit his teeth, held his breath to withstand the smell, and went toe-to-toe with Noah in a battle for the paint. Dave finished with a masterful 18 points, 21 boards, and 5 assists (including one gorgeous no-look dish to Chris Duhon. I've been waiting for Clyde to yell "Skip to my Lee!"), while Noah came up with 10 points and 21 bounds of his own. It was fun to watch the two former Gatorbros go at it. By the way, I'd bet that Noah is actually far cleaner than the average basketball player and smells like fresh flowers on the court. You know, just to mess with people's heads. Anyway, not to get all spoiler alert on Willy's stickers, but Lee was the man of the night.

- Last point: Don't mock Bulls fans. Isn't blowing a 35-point lead, then falling just short of a 22-point comeback exactly the kind of thing the Knicks have been known to do as recently as like a month ago? Our friends at Blog-a-Bull deserve your sympathy. Show some love, and remember that we're not that far removed from stretches like that. It could very well happen again.

And on that note, I'll leave y'all to your other activities. Next game is Christmas!

Knicks 106, Nets 97

Seth — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 04:11:22 -0000

More photos » by Mary Altaffer - AP

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Like many Knicks games this season, tonight's win over the Nets was a tale of two halves. Thankfully, the opponent was helpless enough to render New York's own mood swings less than fatal. In the first half, we saw the familiar Knicks. They actually scored pretty effectively, but gave the Nets absolutely anything they wanted on the other end. The first two quarters today comprised the Nets' best half of the season. They league's worst team scored 61 points in the opening periods, keyed by Devin Harris, who drove to the rim and pulled-up from midrange pretty much unimpeded. In the second half? 36. The Knicks tightened up their defense and (aided slightly by the Nets' natural instincts to implode) turned a losing effort into a decisive win.

Notes, after the jump...

- Danilo Gallinari was back in uniform tonight (with a shooter's sleeve!), but Mike D'Antoni opted to ride the hot hand and keep Al Harrington in the starting lineup, which paid off nicely. From the outset, Al recognized the speed advantage he had over Josh Boone and exploited it mercilessly. Harrington's spin move is deadly, and he utilized it early and often to blow past Boone and finish at the rim. On the game, Al limited himself to only three threes, and did most of his work around the basket. He didn't just score either, finishing with a superb 24 points (10-18), 14 boards, and 5 assists in 40 minutes. Al's a hell of a player, and if he was always this motivated, nobody would be in favor of trading him.

- Just to emphasize that the quality of Harrington's dominant performance was a welcome departure from the usual, Clyde reacted to a gorgeous pass thrown Al to David Lee with "where did that come from!?".

- David Lee couldn't do much to stop Brook Lopez on offense (as Clyde said, "size matters"), but give credit to both Lee and Harrington for superb box-outs throughout the game. Lopez was muscled out of a number of rebounds, and finished with only 6 of his own. Lee and Harrington had 9 and 14 boards respectively, and worked hard for them.

- Lee also had his offense going, and kept Lopez honest by nailing his mid-range jumpers. That opened up the paint for Lee and others, as big Brookie had to step out to contest the J. That's an under-rated weapon, and it was a pleasure to see Dave score confidently from outside.

- Chris Duhon started attacking the rim, but just couldn't get a roll. He ended up 2-12, but I will say that he was, for the most part, missing the kinds of shots we'd like to see him take. There were more quick drives to the rim and less out-of-rhythm threes. That counts for something, I think. Not a great game, though.

- Danilo Gallinari made a relatively brief appearance today, probably owing to both his still-injured forearm and the recent resurgence of Al Harrington. Gallo was able to make an impact in his 21 minutes, though, with 3 three-pointers and 4 rebounds to his name.

- The Knicks were at their very worst in the second quarter, and it was a little disarming. One would like to think that the main advantage the Knicks have over a team like the Nets is their second unit, but Kiki Vandeweghe's bench thrived against the second-string Knicks. Rafer Alston (3-11) didn't shoot well, but had an easy team finding teammates like Keyon Dooling (4-7) for open shots. The pace quickened in the second, which you would think of as Knick-friendly, but New Jersey actually opened up a double-digit lead for part of the quarter.

- Chris Douglas-Roberts is very talented, very cool, and makes Joey look very wise. I love Gallo and wouldn't change a thing about that draft, but...damn.

- I'm disappointed in Clyde for not rhyming "Dooling" with something.

- This game was especially well mic'd, and we got to hear a lot of the on-court banter, including Al Harrington, after taking a hard fast break foul from Devin Harris, grumbling "I'm never gonna try and dunk again" while being peeled off the floor.

- Mike D'Antoni wielded his zone defense a few times, including in that second quarter in order to stifle the Nets' run. It worked pretty nicely for stretches, as Jared Jeffries or Wilson Chandler was able to roam the middle and help out on Brook Lopez to limit his touches and force other Nets to create offense.

- Al Trautwig casually snuck in a pretty ominous line during the halftime show: "The Knicks are what Chris Duhon is". Yikes.

- The young Garden audience (it was a noon start) spent much of the second half huffing and puffing at Mike D'Antoni's doghouse, begging for Nate Robinson. Chants of "we want Nate!" rained down even as the Knicks pulled away for the win, which leads me to conclude that the majority of New York-area youth don't do what Toney Douglas do just yet. This disappoints me. Weren't you little brats listening?

- In the third quarter, it was Larry Hughes of all people that keyed the run that eventually became the win. Hughes scored 12 in the period, including a personal stretch of 8 straight, and the Nets could never recover. Can't blame them. I've only just recovered.

- The guy who initiates that "I SAY D, YOU SAY FENSE!" chant sounds a lot like Xzibit to me. Since I haven't been to a game in a while, I'm gonna go ahead and assume that the Garden hype guy actually is Xzibit, since that's not at all out of the question, given his other work.

The Knicks have now won three of their last four, and look to add to their recent success tomorrow night against the Blazers. I have to be in class for pretty much the duration of the game (I know, right?), so I'll be in the market for a guest-recapper if anybody's interested. Let me know.

Knicks 126, Suns 99

Seth — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 05:06:33 -0000

More photos » by Frank Franklin II - AP

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Wow. In a season full of miscues and misery, that was just what the doctor ordered. The Knicks invited the Suns into the Garden, spanked them mercilessly, then sent the league's best team packing. Shots fell and the defense clicked as the Knicks built a lead and never really looked back. A number of different players stepped up and filled their roles with aplomb. Phoenix, meanwhile, played the part of the home team, flubbing easy plays and exerting very little effort en route to their first sub-100-point output of the season. The Knicks' best stuff and the Suns' worst just happened to coincide, and I must say it was positively exquisite.

Notes, after the jump...

I mentioned that each Knick played his role brilliantly. I wasn't kidding. Check it:

- Wilson Chandler got things started by driving to the basket on offense, getting fouled early and connecting at the line. Later, he canned a couple open threes (2-3) and otherwise let the offense come to him. On the other end, D'Antoni chose to match Wil with Steve Nash, which worked nicely, as Chandler was quick enough to stay near (not in front of. Nobody does that.) Nash, and big enough to disrupt his passes and switch onto Amare' Stoudemire when picks were set.

- Chris Duhon (2-8) didn't shoot as well as he did in the previous game, but hit a pretty big three, dished out 5 assists, and spent 23 minutes on the bench. Perfect.

- Al Harrington (8-14) took a reasonable number of shots and hit most of them. He also pulled down 8 rebounds.

- David Lee registered 24 points and 8 boards, actually made an effort to defend Stoudemire, and didn't get embarrassed on help defense because the Suns hardly attacked the rim. Lee's hands were up, too, as indicated by his 4 steals.

Those Knicks did their jobs. These Knicks went above and beyond:

- Larry Hughes up and stole the point guard reins from Chris Duhon in early going, dropping 8 dimes in the first quarter and finishing with 12 on the night. He demanded the ball, directed traffic in the halfcourt set, and hit cutters with pinpoint passes. It was beautiful. Hughes's 11 points and 4 steals were just gravy. That little display of competent point guard play was tremendous. Not to continue to dump on Duhon after a win, but Larry's leadership made a massive difference. Evidence: The Knicks started the second quarter with Hughes on the floor and won the first 4 minutes 12-10. Duhon then checked in for Hughes, and the Suns promptly went on an 8-3 run. Hughes then re-entered, and the Knicks won the next four and half minutes 17-12. I'm not just saying...I'm just saying...

- I can't say enough about Jared Jeffries's play. He was mostly a garbagebro on offense (4-6, 10 points), and I mean that in the best way possible. The rest of his line, though, is what stands out. 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 blocks, and a steal are marks of a job well done by Jeffries, and he did that in just 25 minutes. Jared's quiet contributions helped keep the Knicks afloat when it looked like the Suns were poised to strike. Superb game.

- Finally, a big ol' Rooster Salute for Danilo Gallinari. Gallo asserted himself just like we hoped he would, finishing with 27 points, 10 boards, and 2 monstrous Cock-blocks. Gallo was potent from downtown (6-12, and it would've been more with a kinder rim), but didn't just settle for threes. He looked much more confident and made his way into the center of the court to participate more in the offensive flow. There were backdoor cuts, frontdoor cuts, and even a stop-and-pop banker from about 12 feet out.If you're on Twitter, hit up @gallinari8888 and tell him to keep up the great work. Gallo's shot at stardom is tied to the kind of confidence and aggression we saw him from him tonight.

The rest of the notes:

- Billie Jean King was interviewed by Al Trautwig at courtside, and finished her conversation by calling Trautwig "Babes". The following dialogue ensued:

Breen: "Did she just call Al 'Babes?'"

Clyde: "She's from the 70s."

Breen: "Don't you go call Al that now."

- King also took the opportunity to smack some tennis balls into the crowd during a timeout. One of them whizzed perilously close to Channing Frye's head, and Frye reacted with that memorable look of puzzlement we first witnessed in his "sometimes, dinner was just crackers" Garden of Dreams commercial. If you remember that MSG ad, you're officially a pimp by P&T standards (and a moron by everyone else's standards, but forget those guys.)

- Nate Robinson got very little burn in this one. The way Hughes was playing, I guess he wasn't really needed. Robinson didn't show any blatant displeasure, and actually did a nice job pushing the tempo in his 10 minutes.

- Amare' Stoudemire, who I'd typically consider to be a pretty good shot-blocker, didn't even bother to contest a lot of the Knicks' drives into the paint. Either Stoudemire's defense has fallen off or David Lee is contagious.

- Apparently some sort of rodeo is coming to MSG, and I feel obligated to pass along the information that the Garden will be "filled with the world's toughest cowboys and rankest bulls". I know P&T folks like their bulls rank, so I figured I'd share for those of you who missed the ad.

- P&T hero Frederic Weis coined the term "Knickslexia" to describe the phenomenon of reading a winning Knicks score backwards, because your tendency to assume they're losing overrides what you actually perceive. If you checked out the 71-58 score at halftime, odds are you got all kinds of Knickslexic.

- Robin Lopez is something else. No, really. He's something else.

- Clyde always mocks Mike Breen for being a ballhog on the basketball court. Do we have any evidence that these two have actually played ball together? If so, is it on video? If so, can I have it?

- Goran Dragic probably doesn't wear a diaper on the court, but he might.

- With the season's first real blowout came the season's first real garbage time. It was magical. Toney Douglas DWTDD for a sec, burying two threes and handing out a couple assists. Jordan Hill shot and missed a bunch (2-7) but looked active (to use the adjective that's gradually becoming his middle name) and showed off some of his typically fluid moves, with a jump shot to boot. Jordan Hill is pretty good at basketball. Mark my words. Marcus Landry got to spin as well, and hit a three just to ice the cake.

- Darko Milicic, despite chants from the crowd, was a DNP-BHWCSIYMHPGT. See if you can crack that one.

Tonight was marvelous. Thanks go to everybody who commented, and also to the Knicks for putting together a masterpiece of a performance in beating the league's best team. I got a little choked up for a bit there.

I'm sure we'll have video and some more excitement in the morning, but there isn't much time to bask. The Knicks head straight to Orlando for another meeting with the Magic tomorrow night. Could they possibly keep the dream alive?

Preview: Knicks at Kings

Ziller — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 20:00:27 -0000

by Mike Groll - AP

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That's low, Al Harrington. Real fricking low.

THE OPPONENT

This is going to blow your fricking mind: the Knicks defense is better than the Knicks offense.

That is more of a commentary on the dreadful shooting the Knicks have given the world this season. New York ranks 22nd in effective field goal percentage, and 24th in three-point shooting. This is particularly problematic because the Knicks have taken more threes than anyone else. A full 32 percent of New York's FGAs are threes, which is outpaced by Orlando (34 percent) but still bloody robust. And, again, bloody, considering New York hits only 31 percent of those. That's an eFG of about 46 percent on threes, which is comparable with lower echelon two-point shooting. While threes are among the most efficient shots in the game, you do need to remain fairly good at hitting them to reap the benefits.

As for New York's defense: opponents turn the ball over quite a bit against the Knicks. Larry Hughes is the only passing lane wizard on the squad, but Sacramento has shown such a propensity to turn the ball over lately that even Eddy Curry could morph into a hawk before our eyes. A frightening visage, no doubt.

			FG			3PT			FT			Rebounds			Misc
	G	M	M	A	Pct	M	A	Pct	M	A	Pct	Off	Def	Tot	Ast	TO	Stl	Blk	PF	PPG
Al Harrington	14	31.1	6.7	15.1	44.3	1.4	5.1	28.2	4.2	4.9	85.5	1.1	4.8	5.9	1.4	2.4	1.2	0.4	3.3	19.1
David Lee	14	32.6	6.9	13.1	53.0	0.0	0.1	0.0	3.4	4.6	73.4	2.3	7.4	9.7	2.6	2.4	1.2	0.4	3.4	17.2
Danilo Gallinari	14	29.1	4.6	10.2	45.5	3.0	6.7	44.7	1.7	2.0	85.7	0.6	3.6	4.2	1.5	1.4	0.8	0.6	2.2	14.0
Larry Hughes	12	33.4	4.5	10.8	41.9	1.1	3.8	28.3	2.5	3.2	78.9	0.8	3.3	4.1	4.1	1.7	2.1	0.7	2.5	12.6
Wilson Chandler	14	33.0	4.9	12.3	39.5	0.7	3.3	21.7	1.8	2.0	89.3	1.6	4.0	5.6	1.7	1.7	0.5	1.2	3.6	12.2
Nate Robinson	8	21.4	3.3	8.9	36.6	1.5	4.5	33.3	0.9	1.4	63.6	0.6	1.3	1.9	3.3	1.6	0.8	0.4	2.4	8.9
Toney Douglas	13	14.5	3.4	6.6	51.2	0.8	2.2	37.9	0.4	0.5	83.3	0.2	0.8	1.1	0.6	0.8	0.4	0.0	1.5	8.0
Chris Duhon	14	34.5	1.9	7.7	24.1	0.8	3.9	20.0	1.9	2.3	81.3	0.3	2.9	3.2	6.2	1.9	1.2	0.1	1.4	6.4
Eddy Curry	4	11.3	1.8	4.5	38.9	0.0	0.0	0.0	1.8	3.3	53.8	1.0	1.5	2.5	0.0	2.8	0.0	0.0	2.0	5.3
Jordan Hill	7	7.7	2.0	3.1	63.6	0.0	0.1	0.0	0.6	0.7	80.0	1.1	0.6	1.7	0.3	0.7	0.4	0.4	1.6	4.6
Jared Jeffries	13	19.7	1.2	3.0	41.0	0.2	0.8	30.0	0.4	0.7	55.6	1.2	1.7	2.8	1.4	1.2	0.5	0.8	2.2	3.1
Marcus Landry	4	5.3	1.0	2.0	50.0	0.3	1.0	25.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.5	0.5	1.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.8	2.3
Darko Milicic	8	8.8	1.0	2.1	47.1	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.6	1.6	2.3	0.5	0.3	0.5	0.1	0.9	2.0

Seth of Posting & Toasting is the funniest 20-year-old I've ever met, which the two exceptions being Donte Greene last year and myself at age 20. (If you can't see the joke in there, my humor is way too next level for you.)

THE KEY BATTLE

I would announce the coming conquest of Tyreke Evans over his worst DraftExpress comp (Hughes) if Evans were certain to play, but alas, he is soft. (This is the greatest: part of the Peaches crusade against Kevin Martin was that Evans was so tough that he'd play through minor things like sprains. "If it isn't broke, you play." Guess what? Sprains hurt! They limit your ability to run, stop, jump, cut and slide! Basketball requires those movements! Frequently! And basketball players -- even tough basketball players -- need to let their body heal sometimes. Sorry that Kevin Martin and Tyreke Evans and Bobby Jackson are robbing you of your $0 tickets.)

In conclusion, if Grant Napear were an actor, he'd be Peter O'TOOLe. If Grant Napear were a president, he'd be IDIOTham Lincoln. If Grant Napear were a Danish philosopher, he'd be Soren DOUCHEgaard. If Grant Napear were a game show host, he'd be Pat SaJACKASS.

THE KEY BATTLE, NON-TANGENT EDITION

Beno Udrih, meet Chris Duhon. Destroy Chris Duhon. Destroy him. (I will also accept Jason Thompson vs. Al Harrington.)

INTERESTING SIDESHOW

The Kings are 0-1 in games when free pregame buffets are provided to fans. But I've got a special feeling about this buffet. Yes, this one will beget good things. Lofty things. (Seriously, nice promo, Kings. Golf clap. If I didn't have a date with an infant and some spit-up, I'd be right there with you shovelling mashed potatoes down my throat, leaving my seat to visit the gentlemen's room at a crucial point in the game. Right there with you.)

BOLD PROCLAMATION

Eddy Curry will not feel like commiserating with Francisco Garcia over the dangerous realities of exercise balls. (Speaking of which, does anyone else think El Flaco should spend his time away from the court doing stand-up? "An Israeli soldier, Sean May and Eric Musselman walk into a bar. And then I'm like, wassup fellas? <cackle>")

NUMERIC PREDICTION

Considering the Sexy Systemic Rating System has been an abject failure in determining margins of victory, let us stick to the mainstream methods: random guesses, based on intuition and hope. Kings 124, Knick 78.

DETAILS

7 PM start (for the game and the game thread. Forreal this time). Buffet opens at 5:30. No Game Thread II tonight. Post-game thread at 9:45. Go Kings.

Tracy McGrady and the New York Knicks... Again

Tom Martin — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:48:35 -0000

More photos » by Kevin C. Cox - Getty Images

about 1 month ago: ATLANTA - NOVEMBER 20: Tracy McGrady #3 of the Houston Rockets warms up before the game against the Atlanta Hawks at Philips Arena on November 20, 2009 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

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As you may have read, there's been speculation that Tracy McGrady could end up in New York City, primarily from Newsday's Alan Hahn. Not like we haven't heard this before.

However, this go-around, the timing of the chatter certainly makes sense. McGrady and the Rockets, despite what each says, are clearly not on the same page, and a continued feud between the two could result in a decision to part ways. It's a good foundation upon which to pile countless rumors and ideas. As we here have said for months, it's not easy to trade a giant golden nugget such as McGrady. That said, if there was one club out there who could make it work, it's probably the Knicks.

But even if a proposed trade works contractually, is it a good decision for the team? I'm not sold.

1. We haven't seen him post-microfracture surgery yet.

There's a number of folks out there who think that the surgery and the resulting rehab sessions have revitalized Tracy's career, but there's an equal number who think that while the surgery will heal his leg, it won't improve his game from the paltry form that we saw last season. In other words, we don't know what we are presumably trading. I'd like to see him in game action before anything happens. At least ten games or so.

2. Who would we get in return?

Proposed trades in the blogosphere have included the likes of Eddy Curry, Wilson Chandler, Cuttino Mobely's contract, Larry Hughes, Jared Jeffries... and draft picks (we'll come back to the latter soon enough). None of that sounds very appealing to me, in terms of fitting in with the current roster we have. None of those players are very efficient either. Curry has always played smaller than his size, averaging 7 rebounds per game only once in his career. He's been lamented for his below-averageness, inspiring a Yahoo! Fanasty Sports staple called the "Eddy Curry Line" in which a player must average more turnovers than assists, steals, and blocks combined. Whether it's fantasy or reality, it's not good.

Chandler is just as inefficient as Curry. He doesn't get to the free throw line, and averages 12 points on 11 shots per game. Sounds like Ron Artest doesn't it? Except that Chandler isn't too good of a defender either, making Artest look that much better. It's not something that we want to see return to Houston.

Hughes has always been a negative influence to his team, so much so that a popular (and hilarious, might I add) website was created after him. We'll leave it at that. And Jefferies has been a bust, at best. At worst, he's been transparent.

To summarize, a deal with the Knicks would not be for a personnel upgrade. It would be contractually motivated, so that the Rockets would be able to move McGrady and still be able to knock off 22-23 million dollars off of their salary payments next season.

3. There's no reason why we can't just bench McGrady.

It would be cruel and unusual punishment, but assuming he comes back and gets hurt again, or if he is playing extremely poorly, we can send him to the pine. This little incentive that Xiane was talking about a few days ago makes that a very appealing decision, assuming the worst from Tracy:

"Houston can start to collect up to 80 percent of his prorated per-game salary after he's missed 41 consecutive games. McGrady sat out his 42nd straight game Wednesday in Minnesota, and the league insurance plan would reimburse the Rockets for any additional missed games. For the rest of the season, the insurance policy could cover 80 percent of his per-game salary of $282,946."

4. We're not looking at the "now" as much as we're looking to the future.

Eddy Curry is not so appealing as to trade for him exclusively to plug him in this year and hope that he can make a difference before expiring next season (he does have a player option, though; we've been through that with Cook Daddy thus far, and it's not fun). And if it's not evident enough, Trevor Ariza is a much more attractive developmental wing player than Chandler is. Whereas Chandler looks to score, and takes up a lot of possessions to do so, Ariza fits in much better as a third option, which is what we're hoping to see him as come next season. Yes, we're looking to compete this year, but there's no sense in messing with the future in order to bump a team up from the possible 8th slot in the West to the 5th slot.

5. He could be productive and could be an asset to the team... imagine that!

This news concerning his practice today helps to fortify that front.

Compared to the five reasons that I've laid out supporting McGrady's return to Houston, there are only two that I can think of supporting his exit.

1. He keeps acting up and becomes THAT MUCH of a distraction.

If it gets to the point where he's more of a hindrance than a help, albeit on or off the court, trading him for $$$$ is an acceptable solution. Remember, the deal would not be to improve our current roster, but to move McGrady's attitude and his contract to New York in exchange for expiring contracts such as Mobely and Curry.

2. New York throws a few draft picks into the mix.

One Knicks source that I talked to discussed the possibility that the Knicks throw in a protected 2012 first round pick as well as a 2010 second round pick, or something of that nature. If this were to ever be offered (D'Antoni has a long history of trading first rounders), then I think Daryl Morey would have to at least consider it. Any chance to find more talent for the long run needs to be looked at.

In the end, this is all speculation, which is why I think it's kind of silly that I'm discussing it myself. However, I thought you'd like to see the possibilites of a deal with the Knicks. At least you've got a decent idea of what would be at stake. Personally, I'd like to hold onto McGrady for now, but like I said, if draft picks are in the equation, it becomes much more interesting.

Jazz 95, Knicks 93

Seth — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 06:23:36 -0000

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I know that there's "no such thing as a moral victory" and whatnot, but I'm gonna go ahead and take the moral victory on this one. For the most part, this game was the usual fare: a truly horrid start followed by a spirited comeback that fell just short. We've seen that before. There were a couple elements of this one, though, that made it stand out. The primary one, as you might have heard, was the performance of a particular "precocious neophyte".

Yes, for perhaps the first time in his young career, Toney Douglas did what Toney Douglas do. It wasn't a revelation, really. Toney played 23 minutes of steady, determined basketball, and ultimately took the fall for a heartbreaking loss. The contrast, though, between TD and Chris Duhon was a sight to be seen. I know Chris means well, but he's been playing like he doesn't care. Most of us picked up on it, and I think Mike D'Antoni finally gave into the suspicion as well. He benched Du for the entire fourth quarter and handed the keys to Pretty Toney, who very nearly won the game by his damn self. Throughout the evening, but particularly in the fourth quarter, Douglas showed his full arsenal- three-point bombs, pull-up twos, and speedy drives to the rim. Though Toney threw away more turnovers (2) than assists (1), it was immediately evident that his ability and willingness to score prevented the D from sagging and made for many more passing opportunities. Should he continue to score so successfully, the pick-and-roll options and team-wide ball movement should thrive in turn. This isn't even close to Toney Douglas's team yet, but he made it very clear that he deserves a chance at taking the reins. His playing the full fourth quarter suggests that D'Antoni is fully willing to grant him that chance. As for that last shot, one more dribble and he could have splashed a nice running floater off the correct leg. Toney's a rookie, though. These things happen. If he keeps up this nerve, I'd be more than happy to watch Toney Douglas learn on the fly. DWTDD.

The rest of your game notes are after the jump...

- This was mentioned in the comments, and it's really a splendid thought. I see two ways to deal with the Knicks' tendency to fall behind early then storm back late. One would be to make them play two or three quarters of five-on-five before the game starts so they're in endgame mode by the time tip-off rolls around. Another would simply be to change the scoreboard to indicate that they're down 18 in the fourth quarter from the outset. You could totally pull that off, at least at home.

- I asked my team of trained genius badgers to run some numbers and found the following: The Knicks have lost every first quarter except for two (vs. Indiana and New Orleans). Through 8 games, the average first quarter margin is -9.4. Meanwhile, the Knicks have won every fourth quarter except for one (against Indiana), with an average margin of +7.6. That just goes to show that my first bullet point is no joke. The Knicks have really clicked in fourth quarters, but never enough to crack the eggs they collectively lay in first quarters. Part of this is that the opposition gets sloppy in the waning moments of a blowout, but part of it is significantly better New York basketball. Like I said, start each game with a fourth quarter and the Knicks would be a pretty solid team.

- Danilo Gallinari had a quiet night. His outside shots weren't really in rhythm, and he didn't get nearly as many touches as one would hope. It's tough for a youngster to demand the ball on offense, but I'd rather watch Gallo go iso for 20 seconds than see most anyone else try and create offense. Danilo also had two fantastic blocks (he's better at that than I expected) and was seen pounding his signature dish- scaloppini di Gallo- with Tina Cervasio in a pre-game feature. It's gnocchi with veal, if you're curious. I would love some right now.

- The presence of both Carlos Boozer and Ronnie Brewer nearly made Walt Frazier's head explode. By the end of the game, I'm pretty sure he resorted to calling both of them "Broozum".

- One thing that distinguished tonight's loss from every other loss was that the Knicks got back into it with zone defense. D'Antoni saw the opportunity to create turnovers and exploit Utah's lack of shooters by employing a 2-3 zone for very lengthy stretches. He was successful on one of two fronts. With Toney and Larry Hughes in the backcourt, New York was able to disrupt a lot of passes and even turn some steals into fast break buckets. At the same time, though, Utah accepted the challenge to shoot and did so with considerable success. Andrei Kirilenko hit 5 of 8 threes, many of which were so wide open that the nearest defender was someone in the crowd. Jerry Sloan also made his squad stack one side of the floor, which meant that one guard (often Douglas) found himself stranded at the top of the zone. The ensuing scramble repeatedly left Ronnie Brewer open for a mid-range J, or one of the big men open off a backdoor cut.

- That was the other big thing. Be it laziness or a child-like understanding of object constancy, the Knicks were completely baffled by backdoor cuts. I don't have much more to say on this. If somebody disappears for a second, that doesn't mean they're completely gone. I thought that was a given.

- This movie 2012 shouldn't be advertised on MSG. It almost makes me think Walsh should be clearing cap space for John Cusack, since it seems like he'll be the only dude around in a few years.

- Jared Jeffries has a new haircut. It looks fresh. Jared Jeffries's free throws look like the opposite of his haircut.

- Al Harrington really troubles me. He's trying very hard to be the difference and provide energy, but his shots just ain't falling of late. It's problematic, but I'm not as ready to bench him as some of y'all are.

- I guess Larry Hughes (and Toney, right?) deserves some credit for holding Deron Williams to 2-10 shooting for just 5 points and 7 turnovers. D-Wil did have 16 assists, though.

- Listen, I think the fact that the Knicks promote the Lustgarten Foundation is really, really excellent. Pancreatic cancer is a serious problem and it's a worthy cause for the organization to advocate. All that said, I can't help but single out Mike D'Antoni's performance in his ad spot for the foundation. Where Channing Frye's former rendition of "sometimes, dinner was just crackers" for the Garden of Dreams foundation was classically deadpan, D'Antoni's gratingly loud delivery of "WORKINGTOGETHERASATEAM (beat) THAT'SHOWWE'LLBEATPANCREATICCANCER." lacks nuance and prosody to the point that I have to laugh. The cause is truly noble, but the execution is downright hilarious. Am I a bad person for thinking that? Probably. Just to clear my conscience, why don't I link you over to the foundation one more time.

- In her regular halftime interview, Jill Martin asked Darryl Strawberry what trend from the 80's he'd most like to have back. Once more, I felt like a bad person for thinking the thoughts that I thought.

- It's funny how a 17-point deficit feels like nothing at halftime. That's practically a tie game in the context of this early season incompetence.

- I couldn't have told you without looking that Wilson Chandler (33 minutes, 17 points on 8-15 shooting, 10 rebounds, 2 assists) had a good game, but I guess he did. I'd prefer he not shoot 4 threes and 0 free throws, but hats off to Wil, I suppose. That's a nice line.

- According to the boxscore, Jordan Hill played in this game. I must have been blinking.

I don't have much else to say. The Knicks, as usual, hung tough when they hit open shots and play defense with even a hint of conviction. As usual, that occurred in the fourth quarter. As usual, it wasn't quite enough. Luckily for us, this game was distinct because of a compelling stretch of zone defense and an intriguing breakout performance from Toney Douglas.

Next game's on Wednesday against the Hawks.

Just saying...

Seth — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:12:13 -0000

From the Knicks Fix:

Jeffries needed three stitches to close a gash opened by the elbow of Hilton Armstrong as Jeffries drove to the basket in the third quarter of the Knicks' win over the Hornets tonight at the Garden. Jeffries needed four stitches to close a cut over the same eye during a preseason game against the 76ers, when Elton Brand caught him with an elbow.

Might as well, right? It'd look pretty badass.

Knicks 117, Hornets 111

Seth — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 04:02:44 -0000

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How sweet it is! The Knicks finally looked like a basketball team tonight, and turned back the Hornets with an even, consistent effort tonight at the Garden. I missed what sounded to be a hot start in the first quarter, but got to see the victorious fourth, which was more than a little refreshing. Some notes:

- The three-point shooting this evening was much more tempered, and came mostly when called for. The Knicks weren't especially accurate (7-23), so they refused to settle. They moved the ball instead and attacked the basket as well to earn 24-28 from the charity stripe.

- The defense made some key stops in the fourth, and looked generally improved throughout. You can't really call giving up 111 points a "good" defensive performance, but the Knicks helped much better and didn't switch on absolutely everything. Credit the Hornets with taking whatever New York gave them. Emeka "The Dream" Okafor was busting out post moves like you wouldn't believe, and finished with 24 on 9-13 shooting. Chris Paul, for his part, is a near-perfect basketball player. Good lord.

- Holy tits, Larry Hughes. What's gotten into you? For those of you who didn't bear witness, Larry dropped in 20 points on 8-13 shooting and added 6 boards, 2 assists, a steal, and an overall +10 as side dishes. Hughes made a few gorgeous passes, checked Chris Paul as best he could (Paul hit some tough, tough shots), and even made a big bucket or two down the stretch. Until the other shoe drops, this is excellent.

- I wanna give Chris Duhon a noogie or buy him a soda or something. Duhon dropped 18 and 9, and was incredibly precise on the pick-and-roll. Defying all the flak I've given him this past week, Du repeatedly conjured new ways to find David Lee in scoring position. Sure enough, that opened up his scoring opportunities, and Chris dropped 18 points to go with his 9 assists. Way to bring it, Du. Keep pushing.

- Danilo Gallinari's shot was in preseason form tonight. His legs just weren't under him, and he kept fading away for no apparent reason. This meant for just 1-6 from three (which probably made his percentage plummet, which makes me terribly sad) and 2-9 from the field. On the bright side, Gallo drove more than his line suggests and handed out a career-high 5 assists, a couple of which were rather pretty.

- Wilson Chandler reined in his attempts a little bit, opting to shake and bake against the bigger David West rather than spotting up from outside. Wil had only 9 points on 4-10 shooting, but I was pleased with his shot selection, both in quality and quantity.

- I totally missed Toney Douglas's six minutes, but it doesn't look like it went very well. The kid needs more time to get comfortable. Larry Hughes's mini-breakout doesn't help matters. The Knicks have too many players with names ending in "s".

- Speaking of which, Jared Jeffries caught a Hilton Armstrong arm right in the eyehole. Knowing that Armstrong sharpens his elbows twice daily, I was not surprised to see Jared lose quite a bit of blood. He hit one of two free throws with his eye hastily patched and didn't return. He probably got some stitches.

- Funny Walt Frazier moment: With the Knicks starting the fourth down four points, Clyde noted that "the Knicks [had] not won a game this season when they trailed after three quarters". Coulda cut that sentence short, Clyde.

- David Lee's mid-range shot has come along quite nicely. He got his usual fill of easy finishes off pick-and-rolls, but also did a superb job facing up and hitting jumpers at various ranges. Lee put up a very impressive 28 (13-17) and 8 in 35 minutes.

- I can't wait for this movie with Sandra Bullock and Big Baby.

- Bobby Brown should probably reconsider most of what he does on the basketball court.

- Al Harrington played his second game off the bench and was similarly instrumental in the fourth quarter. He put up double-digit points (I think) and spiked one of Paul's late-game layups off the backboard. Al's pretty animated down the stretch, but he's backing up his antics.

Tonight was a welcome departure from the heartbreak of last two games. It didn't take much, really. The shot selection was slightly better, the help defense was a step quicker, and the ball movement was a bit more precise. It's a game like this that makes games like the first three even more aggravating. The Knicks are deep and not without talent. It just takes a little effort.

My only complaint? Needs more Toney Douglas. Other than that, tonight was the first positive experience of the 09-10 season. Hopefully the first of many. Or at least several.

Knicks 106, Maccabi 91

Seth — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 21:11:28 -0000

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Well, that was interesting. In their second visit to Madison Square Garden in three years, Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv couldn't quite handle the Knicks' fast pace or the NBA's foreign rules, but they did leave their mark. If this game, which was to benefit the Migdal Ohr orphanage, is remembered, it will be for a bizarre incident in the third quarter.

Maccabi is coached by the notorious Pini Gershon, who is what NBA and media-types call a "character". He comes across as a difficult, hot-tempered fellow, and that reputation was bolstered by today's events. Gershon had been giving the replacement refs an earful all afternoon, and was whistled for his second technical after pointing and chastising an official. The ref motioned for Gershon to leave the premises, but the coach...well...just wouldn't. Within a minute or two, the court was swarmed with more men in suits and ties (and yarmulkes) than actual NBA folk, all while Gershon stood his ground and hammed it up a little for the camera and crowd. Keep in mind that this match-up was a philanthropic affair and that the crowd was largely Maccabi fans, so this was all super awkward. After the sheepish refs were turned away, some other authorities (including the rabbi who's in charge of Migdal Ohr) managed to coerce Gershon into leaving the floor, lest Maccabi have to forfeit a charity game. It took about 10 minutes, all told, to clear up the nonsense, although Al Trautwig reported later on that Gershon nearly stormed back onto the court when he couldn't find a feed of the game in the locker room. Suffice to say it was an uncomfortable ordeal.

Anyway, there was some actual basketball played this afternoon, so click through for some notes on the main event.

- The one thing that set this game apart from the rest was tempo. The Knicks made a pretty consistent effort to push the action, and it started with defense. Pretty much every unit played half-court pressure, jumped passing lanes, and trapped with conviction. This made for 14 team steals and 21 total Maccabi turnovers off of which the Knicks scored 25 points. Even in the absence of turnovers, the Knicks ran. David Lee and Wilson Chandler did an excellent job either heaving outlet passes or leading the break themselves, and Maccabi couldn't keep up. NBA squads are probably more equipped for the D'Antoni attack, but that's how I envision the Knicks stealing wins this year: swarming team defense, forced turnovers, and quick scores.

- Maccabi played very aggressive halfcourt defense, so Chris Duhon and Nate Robinson deserve credit for still managing to run the set offense. Du and Nate finished with 6 and 4 assists apiece, and both enjoyed some success running the pick-and-roll.

- Despite D'Antoni's decision to keep Nate Robinson in the starting unit, the early lineup looked a bit sluggish. In fact, it took a pair of Jared Jeffries threes to get the ball rolling. After that, things returned to normal: the Knick offense started clicking, and Jared went 0-4 on threes from that point forward.

- Danilo Gallinari should watch video of Dirk Nowitzki to learn how a man of his size and caliber manages to take 20 shots a game and make a lot of them. There were flashes, including a lefty drive and dunk attempt that drew a foul, but Gallo's still far too willing to settle into the role of spot-up shooter. He fouled out, too.

- Maccabi's best player is Alan Anderson, who you may remember from his days at Michigan State or his stint with the Bobcats (during which he and Emeka Okafor led the NBA in eyebrows per 48 minutes). Anderson's not a great shooter, but he did make a fool of bigger defenders like Gallinari with some impressive drives. He also screeches like a bald eagle after missing a free throw, which is neat.

- At one point, Jared Jeffries wound up for what appeared to be a thunderous wide open dunk, then suddenly decided a layup would be better, then realized he was already sort of touching the rim already and tried to dunk again, then missed. You could write an entire play out of Jared's aerial monologue on that move.

- Larry Hughes didn't play in the first half, but finally made his first field goal of the preseason in the fourth quarter. The Jews bring miracles with them wherever they go.

- Darko Milicic looked concerned all game, then dashed to the locker room after a foul call in the second quarter. I predicted correctly that Darko was hampered by a case of the runs. Unfortunately, the Jews bring falafel with them wherever they go, too.

- Maciej Lampe looks very solid, but if you're caught up comparing him to current young Knicks, then you are a child.

- I'm repeating myself here, but Toney Douglas should never shoot threes. He should shoot pull up twos or drive to the basket, because he's very talented at both of those things.

- Nate Robinson was the best player on the floor for just about the whole game. Though only credited with two steals, he was directly responsible for about half a dozen Maccabi turnovers that begot Knick fast breaks. On offense, Nate's passing was spot-on, particularly during a 21-4 run to finish the second quarter. Robinson was also the only Knick to shoot decently (4-8) from downtown, and he finished with a team-leading 19 points.

- Jordan Hill looked typically rushed, but he did have a little more success under the basket this afternoon. HIll went for 8 points (4-8) and 6 boards.

- Wilson Chandler didn't post big scoring numbers (11 points on 4-9 shooting), but that's not a bad thing. Wil limited his three-point attempts (0-2) and didn't overextend himself off the dribble. His scores tended to be assisted, as he'd get out on the break or blow by his man off the ball to make a catch and finish near the rim. That's what I like to see.

- Chris Hunter, Marcus Landry, and Joe Crawford are all NBA players. Hunter and Crawford both had an impact in their first preseason minutes (albeit during garbage time), while Landry continued to show that willingness to outwork every other player on the floor. Even without Morris Almond and Nikoloz Tskitishvili, I love the bench squad.

And there you have it. Despite some extracurricular activity and a hostile home crowd, the Knicks managed a blowout against the talented Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv. The halfcourt offense still wasn't in regular season form, but dogged defense and increased tempo helped the Knicks get in front and stay there. The next preseason is Tuesday against the Celtics.

Knicks 93, Nets 89

Seth — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 17:44:27 -0000

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Also featured in last night's game: The invisible limbo. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)

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And that's why we have the Nets, friends. New Jersey's finest played without Lucious "Devin" Harris last night and couldn't hang with our Knicks (who, to be fair, were without Al Harrington). As is becoming a preseason trend, the Knicks clicked through the middle two quarters and gained enough ground to compensate for the sloppiness that bookended the action. During the second and third, the Knicks spaced well on offense and finally ran the pick-and-roll successfully. On defense, they switched and doubled with gusto while minding the boards as well.

More, after the jump...

Given that the middle two quarters were unmistakably the most successful, it puzzles me how the Knicks' starters (Robinson, Duhon, Lee, Chandler, and Jeffries) managed to be the only five players with positive plus/minuses. I need to pay closer attention the rotation. Some other things:

- I'm not gonna beat up Lawrence Frank for not wearing a tie to last night's game. Preseason is a casual affair, after all. I watched the game completely naked except for an oven mitt.

- Danilo Gallinari shouldn't attempt less than 15 shots in a game, especially if it's the preseason. Gallo looked sharp early, but seemed hesitant after missing a few jumpers. He ended up shooting 3-8 (2-6 from downtown) for 10 points. It wasn't a bad performance, but Gallo's hesitance to impose his will is palpable. I'm all for being a team player, but a scorer of Danilo's caliber is welcome to assert himself.

- David Lee was in midseason form, notching a double-double at halftime and finishing with 20 and 14. He, Jared Jeffries, and Darko Milicic also did a solid job handling Brook Lopez, who was held to 4-10 shooting.

- Two more David Lee points: 1. I have no question that Lee is strong enough to be one of the league's best outlet passers. He's always been a bit lazy with them, though. With a little instruction on timing and placement, he could be a real weapon in igniting the fast break. 2. Dave's got enough handles to put the ball on the floor when defended by a larger player. He showed off a gorgeous spin move from about 12 feet out when Lopez was checking him, and I see no reason why that shouldn't be the norm. Lee faced up and drove all the time in training camp.

- If I were coaching Jordan Hill, I'd tell him to hold the ball with two hands and not even think about releasing it. Get up in the air, draw some contact, then make the attempt. Hill continues to find himself in decent position, but gets anxious and rushes his shots. That's why he gets blocked so often.

- New and improved version of a classic Clyde rhyme: "Dishin' and swishin' in transition".

- The Knicks are at their best when Chris Duhon runs the pick and roll confidently and effectively. The best stretch of this was in the late second quarter, when New York spaced the floor beautifully and gave Du room to hit rollers with precise, undeterred passes. The Knicks finished the half on a 13-2 run.

- I miss the old MSG music. They've changed it up again, and the new tune sounds like the music from this dinosaur computer game I used to play.

- Jill Martin's halftime interview was with the actor Leon, also known as the guy who played Derice Bannock in Cool Runnings, and it was an ordeal. His favorite recent movie? Leon doesn't go to the movies. His favorite NYC burger spot? Leon's a vegetarian. The worst money he ever spent? Leon couldn't say. The conversation finished with Jill and Leon awkwardly trading lines of "Ain't To Proud to Beg" and wishing they were elsewhere. It was quite a spectacle, and I'm proud to be one of about six people lame enough to watch the halftime show of a Knicks-Nets preseason game who got to see it.

- Have you ever dreamed of sitting courtside at a Knicks game with David Duchovny? Me neither. In fact, I'm fairly certain that there isn't a sentient lifeform on earth that's dreamt of that. Things I'd rather do than sit courtside at a Knicks game with David Duchovny: play croquet with Frankie Muniz, hunt wild boar with James Spader, or share a cobb salad with Rene Russo.

- Larry Hughes didn't play in the first half, and shot 0-3 in the second half. He's now 0-for-everything in preseason play.

- Props to Jared Jeffries for taking the ball to the rack when matched with Yi Jianlian. Jared's drives weren't pretty, but he got by that goof with ease.

- Nate Robinson's defense is going to get him punched this season, and I mean that in the best way possible. Nate's using his quickness to hound point guards the full length of the court, and he's still doing that thing where he turns his back to the ballhandler. I don't know what the purpose of that strategy is, but it definitely succeeds in irritating the opposition. Rafer Alston was getting fairly frustrated, and looked like he was trying to kick Nate a few times.

- Bobby Simmons' shameless 0-8 shooting, all from outside, leads me to believe that he'll be a Knick by season's end.

- My favorite Toney Douglas shot is when he uses a pick to pull up for an 18-footer. It's well within his range and keeps defenses honest. If Toney hits that consistently, he'll have a much easier time feeding the cutter in a less crowded paint area.

- Clyde called Jared Jeffries "Jefferson" at one point.

- Joe Crawford and Chris Hunter in a furious battle for the final roster spot, as each tries to out-clap and out-high five the other during timeouts. I'm hardly kidding. Watch the two of them when a timeout gets called.

- Marcus Landry made a late appearance and hit two fairly crucial threes. Well done, Marcus.

The Knicks kick off a stretch of three games in four nights tomorrow night at the Garden. It'll be Maccabi Tel Aviv tomorrow, followed by the Celtics (again) and Nets (again) on Tuesday and Wednesday.