Do you remember those silly Deep Thoughts segments on SNL? Well, that’s kind of what our Random Thoughts have always been like here. On a night when the Nets actually got 20-or-more for the first time this season from their big three (J-Kidd, RJ and Vincesanity) in a three-point win over the Wizards and the Dumb and Dumber Clown Management Knickerbockers couldn’t make anyone scream obscenities, here are some of the things floating around my head:

1.Dwight Howard is a monster these days with the Magic. In his team’s latest win (121-114 over hapless Miami in OT), the 22 year-old fourth-year big man finished with 29 points and pulled down 21 boards (seven offensive which is 2-3 more than Eddy Curry gets in a whole night). Part of the reason he’s made such a huge quantum leap in year four is the key addition of ex-Knick franchise center Patrick Ewing. How ironic that he would play a role in a young big man’s development while Fat Albert is glued to the bench for long stretches in Isiah Thomas’ dog house.

Explains a lot about the utter disgrace that is Knicks basketball these days.

This season, Howard is averaging a career high 23.1 PPG, 14.9 RPG and nearly three blocks (2.7 avg)

He also shoots better than 60 percent from the field mostly cause he scores most of his points from in close. Just imagine what kind of player he’ll become if he develops more in the low post and from the outside a la Ewing.

Fyi…he was selected first overall by the Magic in 2004. Just imagine that kind of young player developing here in the Big Apple. It would never happen.

Well, hey. The Knicks got their center piece in Curry!

2.While Curry struggles for PT, Nets’ 2007 first round pick Sean Williams is busy earning more minutes under Lawrence Frank as a starter. The 21 year-old former Boston College star who is still a project shows a lot of potential in the box where he’s a great finisher who is active on both sides of the floor. In the Nets’ 109-106 win over the Wizards, Williams posted a double/double (14 and 10) along with five blocked shots in nearly 34 minutes. Not too bad for a guy who didn’t play last season due to suspension for marijuana possession.

He shows the ability to impact the game on the defensive end and is a monster on the offensive glass. It’s the first time the Nets have boasted a big man like this since Kenyon Martin.

If he develops offensively, watch out.

3.Isn’t it utterly amazing how one-time Knick Nazr Mohammed (15 pts, 14 rebs in 99-85 loss to Hornets) consistently is putting up numbers for the Bobcats while they continue to get nothing from the middle?!?!?!?!?! Just remember, he’s got one more ring than most Knicks outside Malik Rose who also won one with San Antonio.

4.Curry’s former Bulls teammate Tyson Chandler is continuing to improve under the rebuilt Hornets. In their road win over Charlotte Friday night, he shot seven for eight from the field with 17 points, 17 rebounds and was a plus-13 in helping improve New Orleans to 19-10.

5.One thing I can’t seem to figure out is how Bulls GM John Paxson keeps his job. He dealt Chandler for PJ Brown and swapped LaMarcus Aldridge to Portland for Tyrus Thomas (0 pts, 1 reb, 2 TO, -7 rating in 4:12 in last night’s win over Milwaukee) who hasn’t shown much consistency yet.

Firing Scott Skiles is what my good Chicago buddy and stat mastah John Giagnorio wanted for Christmas and got. But when does the GM finally start being looked at for the team’s problems?

Paxson also committed way too many years to aging vet Ben Wallace.

6.Is there a better coaching job than the one being done in the nation’s capital by Eddie Jordan minus leading scorer Gilbert Arenas? Granted. Caron Butler (28 pts, 6 rebs, 6 dimes) and Antawn Jamison (27 and 13) are All-Stars who have carried the team. But what about the supporting cast around them including Deshawn Stevenson, Roger Mason and even center Brendan Haywood. They’re also missing one of the league’s best backup PG’s in vet Antonio Daniels (MCL sprain) yet are still .500 (14-14) hanging around. Rookie Nick Young out of USC came off the bench for 15 last night.

It comes down to coaching. Jordan is an underappreciated coach who gets the most out of his players and will get them in the playoffs. And you know they’ll be a tough out.

7.All this talk about whether the Giants should play to win tonight against the Pats as they aim for history at Giants Stadium has just gotten overblown. Enough already! They should go out and play hard without chancing injuries to Plaxico Burress and Brandon Jacobs. Sure. Nothing’s on the line here for them. But it is a big deal and they shouldn’t lay down for Bill Belichick’s club. It’s not in Tom Coughlin’s personality to do it half ass.

I happen to agree with WFAN’s Mike Francesa about this being a golden opportunity for Coughlin’s Giants to show the country that they are capable of making a run in this NFC next January. If they can win seven of eight on the road, why can’t they go into Tampa next week and win?

Tell ya one thing. If Big Blue is to get themselves into the division round. They’re going to need a lot more than they’re getting from Eli Manning. If that means taking a sack and keeping it simple, so be it. 

8.We’d sure like to see more of Ahmad Bradshaw.

9.If the Pats win tonight, it will be significant but if they don’t win the whole thing, you know that won’t sit well in Massachusetts. Run the table and they stamp their case as arguably the best NFL team in history. But lose in the playoffs say to the Colts in the championship round and it will rain on their parade.

10.Does anyone really care who’s a better coach for the Jets now: Eric Mangini or Herm “You Play To Win Da Game” Edwards?!?!?!?!?!

11.It’s 10 PM and Isiah still doesn’t know where Stephon Marbury is.

12.I guess it’s a good thing that Jim Dolan decided to settle up with former Ranger skater Courtney Prince. What tipped him off? $11.5 million reasons.

13.Isn’t it amazing how much better a player Kobe Bryant looks when he uses his teammates? Phil Jackson is doing some job there and deserves Coach of The Year consideration if it continues. Jersey native Andrew Bynum continues to make strides. The best thing that happened to that team was Kwame Brown’s injury because now he comes off the bench while the 20 year-old Bynum starts.

14.Every season, the Devils are written off after losing more stars from their Cup teams. And then Martin Brodeur goes out and continues this unbelievable high level which keeps his team in games. They don’t score much but here they are once again leading the Atlantic by five points. It just further cements the legacy of the 35 year-old three-time Cup and Vezina winner who’s been the model for the franchise.

15.Speaking of which, does anyone else find it just a little curious how favorable those new boards have been for the Devs at The Prudential Center? Just saying.

16.Ilya Kovalchuk has made the art of goalscoring matter again and that’s a very big deal in today’s defensive oriented NHL where goalies are much more athletic and defensemen are well schooled. His 31 goals in Atlanta’s first 37 contests is the fastest an NHL player has reached 30 since Teemu Selanne way back in 1997-98 with the Ducks. This is a big thing. How many will the exciting Russian sniper get? Can he carry his very average team into the postseason and collect a first Hart Trophy? Remains to be seen but it should be fun to follow. Here’s hoping he gets 60!

17.Speaking of hockey, who isn’t excited to see this second Hockey Heritage Outdoor Game which is scheduled in Buffalo at Ralph Wilson Stadium for New Year’s Day at noon on NBC? Even if you’re not a big puck fan, you just might want to tune in for some of what should be a very exciting contest between the host Sabres and rating league MVP Sidney Crosby’s Pens. The work that goes into that preparing the ice, etc for this once in a lifetime event is unreal. And here’s the best part. They’re calling for snow. Just imagine the players fighting through checks and snow and wind gusts as well. Hopefully, it won’t be bad enough to postpone. If that happens, they’d play it the next day.

18.I haven’t talked much college hoops these days but watching my alma mater St. John’s struggle on offense speaks to how poorly coached they are by Norm Roberts. Like many others, I felt he was the right guy to turn a once proud tradition around. Instead, you see a bunch of players who don’t pass the ball enough and are chucking up shots rather than be team oriented. They play solid enough in the defensive end but why does the offense have to make you queazy? It shouldn’t be that way. Basic fundamentals are something anyone can teach. There are no more excuses for the lack of progress.

19.Make me care about Jessica Simpson.

20.The tragedy which former Yankee 1996 World Series hero Jim Leyritz caused in crashing his vehicle and killing a woman on impact is devastating. He was charged with DUI manslaughter and could face up to 15 years behind bars. That alcohol looks to be involved tells you this kind of awful incident could’ve been prevented. I always liked Leyritz on and off the field. After his playing days ended with six teams, the ex-catcher became an MSG baseball analyst and was pretty astute.

But if he was so irresponsible here and refused a blood test, then the 44 year-old must own up and pay the price for his actions. You know he won’t do close to the max but this is a very serious offense which could’ve been committed by anyone behind the wheel who made an unconscious decision. I just hate double standards.

21.Have the Mets signed Bartolo Colon or Livan Hernandez yet? Just checking my Christmas list.

22.If Mark Prior comes back well after so much time off, that could be one heck of a steal for San Diego.

23.Can the Rocket make anymore of an ass out of himself?

24.Jessica Alba is pregnant and the guy doesn’t look like a model. To actually think we had a shot. Who knew?