No. Not the Atlantic hockey division. But how about that atrocious Atlantic NBA division which even includes the 6-11 Isiah Thomas Knicks? Amazingly, after a 101-98 road win at Cleveland, Thomas’ club trails the first place 6-9 Nets by just a game in what is the NBA’s worst division. Just how pathetic is it? One game separates all five losing teams with both Boston and Philadelphia at 5-9 just a half game off the pace while the Knicks and Raptors are five under and a game back. Let’s put it this way. Until an inspired three point comeback win at Boston last night, the Nets had lost six straight. After a winless West coast trip, they even managed to fall at home to the lowly Bobcats (4-11). So they desperately needed a W just to get back on track. Just think though. One freaking victory in their last seven was good enough to vault them into first! If it was any worse, it would be renamed the Titanic. Realistically, the defending Atlantic champion Nets should be the best of this mediocre bunch. With the Big Three of Kidd, RJ and Vince-sanity all healthy along with Uconn rookie Marcus Williams and Nenad Krstic inside, they should be good enough to break away from the pack. But slow starts for Lawrence Frank’s squad are common. Last year, they had a similar sluggish beginning only to catch fire in the second half and pull away. So will it happen again? Logic says yes. But for now, they remain one of five teams that would be in big trouble in any other division. Only in the NBA could this be possible. “I love this game!”

While we’re on the subject of the Knicks, it’s not surprising that five of their six wins have come away from MSG. Let’s face it. Knicks fans hate this team and won’t support it until Thomas is fired (haha like that’s happening) or Stephon Marbury is traded. The former Lincoln High product has been anything but advertised. Instead of playing to capability, the league’s self-proclaimed “best point guard” has mysteriously gone stretches without taking any shots. And in games where he has shot the ball, he’s been very lackluster. And to think how it was thought everything would be cool with his buddy Isiah running things and not former sheriff Larry Brown. The dilemma for the Knicks is that there are too many guards on the roster. Steve Francis and Marbury basically are the same player while Jamal Crawford and Nate Robinson see major minutes off the bench and usually provide a lift. Marbury needs major time to produce along with the freedom to get involved offensively. His confidence is shot. Anyone can see that. He needs a change of scenery. Why he won’t ask out might be a matter of pride. He doesn’t want to look like he’s quitting. Though you might get some disagreement here. It’s a situation worth watching.

The best things that can be said about the Knicks are the continued emergence of second-year small forward David Lee and rookie Renaldo Balkman. Lee leads the team in rebounding with over nine-per-game and is almost a double-double with 10.1 PPG. Meanwhile, the much maligned Balkman who was selected as the Knicks’ first round pick back in June over Williams has worked his ass off. He might not score a lot but the hustle this young man displays in the defensive end and doggedness is why Thomas selected him. He looks like a fan favorite already. So far, so good.