Surprise, surprise
Are the Knicks for real, that question is yet to be answered.  One fact that’s clear the Knicks are now 6-0 after beating the Spurs 104-100. Even more telling they beat the Spurs in San Antonio. As for the other New York team the Nets managed to sneak by the Celtics (at home) 102-97.

Mike D’Antoni
I goofed; I wrote a story on Laker coach Mike D’Antoni and accidentally deleted a portion. Rather than try to add the portion I’d written and deleted below is a new story. Most of Lakerland was disappointed as was I, we expected Phil Jackson to be hired. I refuse to go into all the rumors circulating because none can be confirmed. Many in the media appear to have superior abilities than management of most teams. I say Stephan A. Smith and others if you know so much why are you writing or verbalizing about the sport? You should be in somebody’s front office decision making. The only sure fact D’Antoni is the coach and should be over the next 3-years. I had reservations, D’Antoni has an offensive mind (Kobe quote) so that wasn’t my concern. His Suns and Knick teams certainly were not noted for their defensive. Kobe quote again, “all the years under Phil we ran maybe 3 defensive sets.”

Dwight Howard has been 3-time defensive player of the year and 4-time first team selection. Kobe is 34 but he’s been selected All-Defensive first team 9 times and a 3-time second team selection. As for Metta World Peace he too has slowed at age 33, his resume is noteworthy too. Peace’s like Howard was once selected Defensive Player of the Year; in addition he’s been a first team selection twice, second team. Howard, Bryant and Peace play defense, will they quit under D’Antoni? The key all three plus Nash have a D’Antoni connection in the past. Phil Jackson’s credentials speak loud and clear no doubt but ponder this. Kobe, Gasol and Metta are the only Lakers with triangle experience we’ve witnessed the problems already with implementing the Princeton offense. This is a win now (or next year scenario); they don’t have time to teach. D’Antoni’s read and react type of offense is far easier for all. Could this hire be “Mike Brown” part deux, maybe but I don’t think so. We know for sure assistant coaches won’t be diagramming plays to run in crunch time.

Carolina
My buddy Skip (a Tarheel grad) pointed out a fact I failed to realize. During the course of our conversation Skip informed me “Laker Antwan Jamison (former Tarheel) has scored 19,253 points in the NBA.” My response went something like; “boy I sure didn’t realize that.” I remember he and teammate Vince Carter at North Carolina, at the time I thought Jamison was the superior athlete. Once Carter and Jamison arrived in the NBA it was a far different story. Carter’s NBA aerial act caused TNT analyst Kenny Smith to dub him “half-man half-amazing.” Sometime ago Carter’s high wire act left him, sure he’s still in the NBA but no longer spectacular. Steady, “low-flyer” Antwan Jamison’s career has certainly been as good as his former Carolina teammate. Depending on your view in some circles Jamison may have exceeded Carter.

Another Iverson
I had written earlier on Kuran Iverson a cousin of former NBA player Allen Iverson. Cousin is much taller and heavier than his diminutive relative at 6-8 and 200 pounds. This Iverson is awarded 4-stars by ESPN 100 and is the number 27 prospect in the Class of 2013. He’s from Windsor (CT) and attends Fishburne Military School in Waynesboro (VA). Fishburne is a military boarding school grade 7-12. Iverson had received offers from Florida and Memphis but verbally committed to Memphis.