Earlier today, a little history was made at the Mecca. No. Jim Dolan didn’t axe Isiah Thomas. It’s not April Fool’s yet!

But there was an actual remarkable accomplishment on a basketball court at the Garden which will most likely be the only time all season that probably happens. Playing his first game at MSG in almost two years, Los Angeles Laker superstar Kobe Bryant became the youngest player to reach 20,000 career points.

The historic moment took place when the 29 year-old Philadelphia native hit from downtown in the opening minute of the third quarter which gave him the milestone at the tender age of 29 years, 122 days.

Only NBA legends Wilt Chamberlain (29, 134) and Michael Jordan (29, 326) had reached the mark before turning 30. Pretty elite company for one of the league’s most prolific scorers on a day his 39 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists led Phil Jackson’s club to a 95-90 victory improving them to a surprising 17-10.

The Knicks’ second consecutive defeat and eight in their last 10 dropped them to a dismal 8-19. Merry Christmas Dumb and Dumber Management. Keep up the good work!

I was just glancing at this boxscore and noticed two common trends. The Knicks were a combined minus-31 with both Eddy “Fat Albert” Curry and Zach Randolph on the court.

Here’s something else for ya:

Andrew Bynum: 37:59 Min, 6-of-8 FG, 1-of-4 FT, 13 pts, 8 reb, 2 bs, +2

Eddy Curry: 21:04 Min, 2-of-8 FG, 4-of-6 FT, 8 pts, 1 reb, 0 bs, -13

What else about this one? How in the world were the Knicks a combined plus-35 with scrubs Jared Jeffries and Malik Rose in the game? They only had eight between them and 10 boards. Could it be that they actually tried at the defensive end unlike a couple of lazy starters?!?!?!?!?! Nah.

Two other stats from this game which sums up the complete difference between these teams. And we’re talking basic fundamentals which help you win:

              A        TO       Diff.  

Lakers     18*      8        +10

Knicks      7        17        -10

*Bryant’s 8 dimes were one more than the Knicks.

“Knick basketball. How Not To Ball 101 coming to a university near you!“ :lol:

Zach who? That’s what Blazer fans are saying these days. While former Portland star Zach Randolph continues to make excuses for why his new team in New York continue to stink it up to the tune of the East’s second worst record (8-18) behind only the Heat, the Blazers aren’t missing him at all.

After a slow 5-12 beginning to a rebuilding season without 2007 first overall selection Greg Oden due to right knee surgery, the NBA’s youngest team has caught fire reeling off 10 straight improving to 15-12 after a hard fought 99-96 home win over first place Denver Friday night to suddenly pull within half a game in the Northwest Division.

Many of those victories have come on their home floor where they improved to 12-3 thanks to a balanced attack which had five players in double figures including leading scorer Brandon Roy who finished with 18 points, five assists and three rebounds.  

Their 12 victories at Rose Garden rank fourth in the NBA behind defending champion San Antonio (13-1), Dallas (13-2) and the revamped Celtics (13-1) who are all tied with 13 W’s on their respective home courts. Pretty elite company, huh?

“Who would have thought Portland would do that?” the 23 year-old Roy pondered to the Associated Press about the franchise’s longest winning streak since 2001-02 when they won 12 in a row. “You’d think it would be Dallas or Phoenix.”

During the streak, the Blazers have won seven of 10 in front of their supporters who must be ecstatic with the direction this promising club is heading in.

Playing alongside last year’s NBA Rookie of The Year is second-year power forward LaMarcus Aldridge who chipped in with 18 (8-of-16 FG), eight boards and five assists last night. The 22 year-old second-year big man who starred at Texas has improved leaps and bounds more than doubling his scoring from 9.0 PPG to 18.5 PPG and hiking his rebounding from five to almost eight (7.7 RPG).

“We’re a young team but we’re growing up. We’re maturing a lot during this win streak,” Roy also noted. “If you watched tonight it wasn’t just a young team that’s hot. We had to work for this and face adversity, but we came through.“

Just like the Knicks circus on Seventh and 33rd where the real life version of Dumb and Dumber (Jim Dolan and Isiah Thomas) continue to ripoff and disenchant fans?!?!?!?!?!

Wait till Oden joins the Blazers next season.

In their three-point win over Denver, they outscored the Nuggets 39-10 off the bench with James Jones (14 pts) and Travis Outlaw (12 pts) each getting into double digits.

Even ex-Knick Channing Frye is contributing these days putting up a respectable eight, 10 boards and two assists in over 20 minutes. Oh btw, the Blazers were plus-eight with him in the game while on the same night at Charlotte, the Knicks were suffering their latest defeat where they were minus-16 with Eddy “Fat Albert” Curry and minus-13 with Randolph.

How much of a non-factor has Curry become? He only played 18:21 last night scoring 11 and five rebounds. Here’s the kicker. He didn’t even pickup a foul while the Bobcats were opening up as much as a 27-point lead before hanging on for a 105-95 win.

The Knicks are the NBA laughingstock. Mean time, the Blazers continue to earn respect from peers.

“They are very confident and I think they’ve matured very quickly. They have very good composure for close game situations,” Nuggets coach George Karl pointed out after his team fell by three. “They also have the ability to explode on you with the 3-ball. When you’ve got [Martell] Webster and Jones, they’re always able to hit three to four threes on you in any situation.”  

Even Carmelo Anthony came away impressed:

“It’s hard to say they’re creeping up on teams. They are a hot team and they are playing well right now. Everything they throw up is going in and they are playing together right now.“

It proves that if you use your head, you can actually successfully rebuild a team the right way. Try telling that to the two leading bozos at Penn Plaza. 

One other thought. Who would you rather have? Aldridge or Tyrus Thomas? I wonder what my Chicago buddy John Giagnorio would have to say.

Never mind.

Just how bad is pro basketball in the metro area? It was bad enough that the Nets lost to the Knicks a few nights ago but they couldn’t even beat a depleted Kings squad who had just one road win on the season.

Even without leading scorer Kevin Martin (out 4-6 weeks with groin injury) and Mike Bibby (thumb injury), Reggie Theus’ club came into a dead environment at the Izod Center (what kind of a freaking joke of a name is that) and defeated the struggling Nets 106-101 Tuesday night.

John Salmons’ career high 31 and seven assists paced the Kings as four players finished with 20-or-more. They also managed 23 assists spreading things out in a game which featured little defense as the Nets actually had four more assists if you can believe that.

Now just picture an angry Knicks fan (maybe me, kidding here) yelling at the top of their lungs wondering how the hell other teams can move the ball and wind up with that many assists.  

The Nets shot well enough (over 50 percent) but were done in by turnovers (20) and their opponents’ three-point shooting where Sacramento connected on 13 of 21 from beyond the arc while Lawrence Frank’s club made just four of 15.

You combine those two stats and there’s your difference in the latest depressing Nets home defeat where they’re now 5-10. Putting things in perspective, the Knicks are 6-8 at MSG.

The Kings also made the most of their chances at the charity stripe going 23 of 28 while New Jersey was 19 for 26. Ah. Another one of those lost simple fundamentals which usually comes in handy down in crunch time when the game’s on the line.

So despite shooting over 50 percent from the field, outrebounding the Kings 45-31 and finishing with four more assists for an impressive total of 27, the Nets once again came up on the short end before an announced paid crowd of 11,902. I want to know if they actually count the people who show up cause there were so many sections empty that it looked more like seven or eight at best.

So, who else did in the Nets? Bronx product Francisco Garcia knocked down five treys including a backbreaker which put them down 103-99 with 15 seconds left. The ex-Louisville star finished with 24 points on six-of-12 shooting and drained all seven free throws.

Former LaSalle and St. John’s star Ron Artest chipped in with 20, four boards, three assists and two blocks. Reliable veteran center Brad Miller added a double double (23 and 10) including some late free throws where he missed just once in eight attempts.

It was enough to spoil a 36-point nine rebound performance from leading scorer Richard Jefferson. Jason Kidd narrowly missed another triple double falling an assist shy with 11 points, 10 rebounds and nine dishes.

Meanwhile, Vince Carter had only 15 taking just 12 shots. Nice $68.5 million investment!There were a couple of instances where he passed up wide open looks including one where he was setup by J-Kidd from 15 and another on the right side of the arc but opted to overpass turning it over. That was the problem for the Nets on this night, especially late. Way too much passing. Sometimes, that can be bad. I’ve witnessed it at games I score. If you’re open and have a decent look, take it. Especially if you can shoot.

In his first NBA start, rookie Sean Williams didn’t disappoint finishing with eight blocked shots along with 11 points and seven boards in over 42 minutes. The former BC standout who sat out last year is looking more and more like a steal for the Nets. If he continues to develop especially on offense, watch out.

At the very least, now the Nets have a shot blocker who can alter shots and be an intimidator. They haven’t had that since the last time Kenyon Martin was relevant.

The Nets next visit Miami who just flat out suck. If they can’t win that, maybe they should just pack up.

So now they’re 10-15 while the Knicks are 7-17. That’s a combined 17-32 for those keeping track.

On that note, good night.

Just when you thought it couldn’t possibly get anymore humiliating to be a Knicks fan, it did during last night’s blowout 119-92 loss at The Garden to the Pacers.

I didn’t catch this one as I wisely had fallen asleep only to wake up and have my close pal message me online about the latest debacle against an average team in a weak East.

Just what is Isiah Thomas smiling about here:

  Nevermind. There can only be so many thought$ as to how this clown who destroyed the CBA and everything else one of the NBA’s 50 greatest former stars came into touch with.

Good god. When is David Stern finally going to step up and do something about the disgrace that calls itself a pro sports franchise on 7th Avenue and 33rd at Penn Plaza by Penn Station?!?!?!?!?!

Haven’t hoop fans suffered enough in this city? This franchise hasn’t won an NBA title since 1972 and now that feels like a century ago. Especially when you look at the current disgusting state this team is in thanks to the real life version of Dumb and Dumber. Do I even have to specify here?

Dolan and Isiah make Harry and Lloyd look like geniuses who aced all their classes and scored perfect 1600’s on their SATS.

So what did I miss? Somehow, the Knicks allowed Mike “freaking” Dunleavy to chew them up and spit them out for 22 of his career best 36 in the third quarter.

You know, they only allowed 66 second half points after trailing 53-46 at the half. 

Afterwards, Lord Isiah was fuming:

“As a coach, you bring certain things to the table, but our collective energy, our collective heart, our collective toughness, we say the right things but we don’t gut it out for 48 minutes,” Thomas indicated to the Associated Press.

“We don’t grind and we don’t compete like we should for 48 minutes and I’ve never … a lot of things that can be said about me and teams that I’ve coached and the way I played, but I’ve never been accused of not having heart or competing. Tonight was very discouraging to me because we didn’t collectively play with heart and compete like I know I do.”

“I can give you a lot of things, but I can’t give you pride and heart,” he added. “A certain amount of that, the team collectively as players got to bring that to the court every night.”

Jason Kidd and the Nets are probably pondering how they actually could’ve lost to this laughingstock. 

Funniest most bizarre comment from former student Jermaine O’Neal about his ex-coach:

“My heart goes out to Isiah, because I know him personally. Isiah’s like a father to me and I know the type of competitive nature he has and the effort that’s out there, and it’s tough to see. It’s tough to hear the crowd say fire him.”

You really can’t make this stuff up.

So here’s a little poem I wrote from scratch a little while ago about the joke known as Knickerbocker basketball.

“Only in Knicks Land” 

by Derek Felix

A team without heart or desire
Which should be burnt into a fire
Selfish players and a moron boss
Who make fans yell after every loss

Embarrassing, appalling in every way
Yeah that’s Isiah all night and day
The phoniest grin you ever saw
Which breaks every basketball law

Creating misery for all who still flip on a game
Wondering what they did or if they’re really insane
Ah but it can’t get any worse or so we think
Until you see Isiah’s lover Dolan laugh and wink

The dumbest CEO who ever walked the earth
How could anyone create this joke giving birth
Whose sig phrase is duuuuuuuh uhhh as he stands aloof
Good god he is in a 2nd rate jazz band what a doof

It’s been too long since we had a good team to root for
With players who cared oh knock knock knockin on heaven’s door
Instead we watch with our eyes half closed in utter shame
At the pathetic display which is Knicks basketball where it always rains

Remember the time when a hoops fan could actually sit down and enjoy a good game from one of the big teams? Yeah. It’s been a while since we could cheer for the Knicks, the St. John’s Redmen (not that silly Red Storm tag because of too many supersensitive people who don’t get sports and never will) or now even the Nets.

With my alma mater falling to out of all teams Niagara at Carnesecca Hall the other night for the first time in 44 years along with a heartless Knicks team having enough to get by even Jason Kidd and Co. which features the worst $68.5 million perimeter investment in the NBA, it begs the question when does it finally end?!?!?!?!?!

If you want bad ballin’, then sadly you came to the right place where the Jim Dolan/Isiah Thomas Knicks are tied for the NBA’s fourth worst record (7-16). Despite a big three of Kidd, Vincesanity and RJ, the Nets aren’t much better at only 10-14.

For our statistical analysts such as John Giagnorio AKA JPG, that’s a combined record of 17-30. As the words in one of the better Weezer songs says, “Say It Ain’t So.”

These days, it’s getting harder for hoop fans to find a team who can actually make them smile and enjoy the game. Luckily for myself, I at least get that opportunity once in a while thanks to scoring ACIS games at Berkeley Carroll in Park Slope.

Yes. There’s actually some good ‘ole fun team oriented high school ball being played at the athletic center. That can happen because the star player Zoe Cohen of the girls varsity team actually listens to her coach and makes teammates better around her. Amazing concept, huh?

The varsity boys don’t possess much size but they won’t always settle for the outside jumper. One of the lost arts I notice with today’s game is how little ball movement there is. Take the Knicks-Bulls game a few nights prior in Chicago. All I had to do was watch a few possessions and it was easy to see why these teams are stinking it up. There was way too much one-on-one play with teammates standing around watching instead of moving constantly.

Simple fundamentals such as passing, finding the open man and sliding your feet have become almost extinct in our bad teams. Instead of just hustling and doing what it takes to win, our star players would rather try to get as many points as they can and not be unselfish and group serving. That means playing D too. Not letting a guy five inches smaller than you abuse you inside like Eddy “Fat Albert” Curry.

One of the problems is the money these guys make. Let’s face it. If you’re cashing checks which add up to $15 to 20 million, you might fall into bad habits and take it easy.

The salaries are so out of wack these days that it almost invites guys to settle rather than earn their money.

Unless you’re part of a really good organization such as the Spurs who prioritizes winning over anything else, there’s a good chance that if you have too many stars, it will become dysfunctional such as the Knicks.

That’s why I have to tip my cap and give a ton of credit to KG, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce of the 20-2 Celtics (NBA’s best record) because each has put their differences aside to co-exist and try to bring back the Larry O’Brien trophy to Boston like the old days when Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish were starring for those great Celtics teams two decades earlier. 

The ultimate test will come next Spring when the newly formed dynamic superstar trio comes up against the Detroits, Orlandos and maybe even Toronto or the Nets if they wake up before their season collapses.

It’s true that the league isn’t as strong as it once was. As usual, the West is much deeper with the defending champion Spurs, Mavs, Suns, Jazz, Nuggets, Hornets and even the Warriors and Lakers. Houston and the surprising Blazers minus Greg Oden should also be in the mix for a final playoff spot. 

If only there was that much balance in the East where parity continues to be the theme. Though I got to give props to Eddie Jordan’s Wizards (13-10) for staying afloat despite no Gilbert Arenas. They’ve won four straight thanks to All-Stars Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison.  Underrated backup vet PG Antonio Daniels is out two to four weeks which could hurt on the court.

Of course, praising other depleted teams who persevere and don’t make excuses isn’t solving our dilemma here in NYC.

Unless you’re a HS hoops fan who appreciates the talent of Lincoln’s Lance Stephenson, there’s really not much to suggest.

St. John’s continues to struggle and it could be another long year with Anthony Mason, Jr. banged up. When exactly does Norm Roberts deliver a team we can be proud of?

Man. Even my old HS McKee/Staten Island Tech is now putting out a team which can win games and make the PSAL playoffs.

When I went to Tech and ran track, they used to be the laughingstock. I even recall a time where the next day in gym class, even some of the players were joking and laughing about how they got outscored by one player.

It’s a small school still but somehow they’ve managed to improve the program much like track, soccer and volleyball which have had recent success.

So, when do metro area b’ball fans get a team they can appreciate?

Maybe never. 

So, here’s a little something on the awful ballin’ we get to see in a state of misery. Walt “Clyde” Frazier would be proud of that one. ;)

Remember the time when you could actually cheer

Instead of watching your team in a state of fear

When Ewing, Oakley and Starks brought the house down

But now you have Starbury, Crawford and Fat Albert along with Dolan the clown

There was a time when Kidd, RJ and K-Mart made it rain

Instead it’s VC chucking his ass off what a crying shame

There also was a normal Ron Artest, Omar Cook and Bootsy from downtown

Now it’s Eugine Lawrence and the gang which can’t shoot straight bringing frowns

This is what’s become of our city’s game

Oh the misery and oh the pain

As brick after brick clang off the rim drawing boos from the crowd

When sudden orchestrated drum beats try to stop the Fire Isiah chants which ring loud

You still find yourself watching for some unknown reason

Even if there’s nothing more to believe in this cold season

And so you continue to search for an actual real good team

Which could make it all better not making you scream

But sometimes it’s what you get to see in front of you which reigns supreme

On a cold December night you finally discovered a real basketball team

One you could admire and be proud of not hanging your head in disgust

The kind which would never let you down and fully trust

If ever there was a symbolic picture which summed up Knicks basketball, the one above showing GM (General Moron)/Coach Isiah Thomas unable to look at his unbearable team which continued to disgrace itself by getting blown out by the lowly 76ers 105-77 at Madison Square Garden Saturday night.

Somehow, that same Philadelphia team swept Thomas’ expensive fat cats in a home-and-home on consecutive nights. Pathetic!

And so, instead of doing what any decent team would’ve done which is take both games against an inferior opponent who’s already preparing for next year’s lottery, the Orange and Blue managed to further disgrace itself and now are 6-13. So, any hope of turning it around and possibly being 8-11 is gone and so is the season.

Welcome to New York Knickerbocker basketball. Where the impossible becomes reality as things continue to get worse under Thomas and the dumbest CEO in Clown Management Jim Dolan. But then again, what would you expect from a guy who can’t even complete sentences without using his signature phrase, “The uhhhhhh…”

So what did Thomas think of this latest debacle?

“I was searching tonight. I went one through 12 just trying to find any combination that would work, any person that had some type of energy or fire. And there was nothing there tonight.“

He did say anyone. Maybe he didn’t search hard enough. I’ll bet there are a lot of people who wish they could take the court and play on Seventh and 33rd at the World’s Most Famous Arena (soon to be renamed World’s Most Shameless Arena). 

It’s certainly understandable why Stephon Marbury isn’t all there. While it’s sadly true that it hasn’t worked out quite the way Coney Island’s Finest wanted it to, the former Lincoln Railsplitter who I saw numerous times dominant games back when he ruled NYC has lost a lot of family members recently. But losing his Dad Donald Marbury to a severe heart attack when he was at last Sunday’s game before leaving for the hospital had to really drain Stephon. :(

His Dad was as passionate a supporter and hoops fan as anyone when it came to his family. And now, he’s gone too soon at 68, buried the other day. At least he got to see one of his kids live out his dream and make it to MSG. So many kids who grow up on the playgrounds in the city playing streetball dream of playing at the Mecca. It really is to die for.

I just wish it could’ve been happier times for the caring father when it came to his best son. And really it should’ve been different. But sometimes, things don’t always go as planned.

Marbury has received plenty of criticism (most deserved) for not being the emotional leader of this chaotic NBA club. He’s got as much talent as any guard in the league. But it’s that scoring mentality which sometimes gets in the way. And with his legs not what they once were, defense has become an issue. Whether it’s getting out and guarding on the perimeter or keeping an opposing guard in front of him. It’s just not there.

This isn’t just on No.3 He’s still got enough game to help his team win. What could you say about a 25 year-old overweight and out of shape plus unmotivated Eddy Curry? What’s his excuse? Fat Albert is only good for his points and that’s within five feet of the paint. Where’s the jump shot he was supposed to add? Where are the rebounds? I’ve seen stronger interior play from a high school Varsity girls player that I cover.

He just lacks motivation. Did anyone catch his postgame remarks? Good god. It was downright awful.

“Tonight was definitely a tough game,” Curry told the AP. “Two in a row, back-to-back with Philly. It’s been a while since I felt like this.”
A while?!?!?!?!?! What the heck is he talking about. What about that embarrassment at the Celtics a couple of weeks ago on national TV (TNT) no less? They got dissed and dismissed by Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith who’s their backup color to Walt “Clyde” Frazier.

When is enough enough already? Dolan was actually at the game last night and heard the boos and “Fire Isiah” chants. Or wait. He probably didn’t and had earplugs on still trying to block out his foolishness.

Not one starter reached double digits- already the second dubious time that’s happened this season.

You almost run out of adjectives to explain how unwatchable the Knicks have become.

They once were a must see. I wouldn’t miss a game for almost anything back in the day (early 90’s). Now, it’s like who cares. If I don’t see them, so what.

That’s how irrelevant they have become. Yet you continue to see headlines on the back pages and in the papers as the Mike Lupicas, Mike Vaccaros, Mitch Lawrences and Peter Vesceys continue to wonder when there will again be some sanity on Broadway.

I got a very simple answer in two words: TRY NEVER!!!!!

Not as long as Bozo the Clown continues to run things.

What gets me the most is the continued overpromotion of this awful team. I understand that basketball is the city game. But how can they be serious with all those NBA All-Star Game ballots even at Ranger games. They’re at least watchable though they’re trying their best to tick off fans lately. But with them, there’s at least hope.

Remember those idiotic Knick ads where some fan talked about how “overrated” the new look Big Three of the Celtics were. How’s that working out?

Boston: 17-2     -

New York: 6-13  11.0

Only with a Dolan franchise could this be possible. So, what can be done realistically to turn this around? Not much. Who’s taking Fat Albert’s salary. He’s one dimensional because he plays matador D, can’t block shots or block out and can easily be taken out of his game by smaller players who are physical.

Marbury??? You buy him out and Nate Robinson who was recently in Thomas’ doghouse is the starting PG. Yikes.

Fred Jones gives a good effort and has earned big minutes at the expense of Robinson. Elevate the former Pacer to the starting lineup over waste Quentin Richardson. While Q does care and tries hard, his back is too fragile for him to be a consistent contributor.

Zach Randolph is an above average scorer who can score in the low post and also step out and knock it down from 15-17. But he can’t play with Curry. Randolph also rebounds the ball. His problem is he tends to force the issue on offense and not trust his teammates enough. It must change.

Jamal Crawford is a streaky scorer who when on can be deadly like John Starks. But when the ball isn’t going in the bucket, it can get real ugly very fast. You see a guy with talent who’s not afraid to take the big shot. He’s got a good floater too and there seems to be desire. But does he want to do what it takes to get to that next level or this all he’ll ever be?

David Lee should be starting every night. He’s instant energy and can get double doubles. He can score inside and outside and defends well. Bench Curry and start him already.

I love Renaldo Balkman. Any hardworking forward who would even come out to a HS JV semifinal game scores points here. The former South Carolina product who was selected by the Knicks in the first round back in 2006 is a lock down defender who brings so much energy into games. He does all the little things which help you win. Defend. Rebound. Block shots. Dive for loose balls and hustle. And runs the floor and gets on the fastbreak and finishes.

If he ever develops an outside shot, he could be even better. He needs more minutes.  

So, will it ever get better for the Knicks? I don’t see how. They just aren’t team oriented. The lack of desire and D have been problems forever.

When does it finally register? I don’t have the answer.