STAY READY

“You have to follow the lead and sometimes wait for your (name) to be called,” said Thomas Bryant after making his third start with Anthony Davis sidelined. “It doesn’t change the fact that you have to be ready and stay ready and do what you can to make sure you’re in that mode in case something like this happens. I take pride in the preparation that I have.”

Nikola Jokic scored 40 points Sunday night adding 27 rebounds and 10 assists leading the Nuggets to a 119-115 win over Charlotte. Jokic shot 13-26 from the floor, 12-17 from the free-throw line. In 39 minutes Jokic was a +20. “I didn’t know it was a 40-27-10 night but I knew he was having another Nikola Jokic stellar performance, efficient,” Mike Malone said. “And it’s not just about Nikola. It’s about his ability to make every one of his teammates better. Yeah, Nikola is a generational talent.”

Mike Breen is something else. On one particular play during Sunday night’s game between the Knicks and Pacers, Breen mentioned a Knicks player sprinting back on defense: “You gotta like him sprinting back.” HUH? Players are supposed to sprint back on defense. Why applaud someone for doing their job? Late in the game, with 1:56 remaining the Pacers went on a run. they led 104-98. Breen said, “The Knicks need a timeout.” No they don’t. New York came down court, made a 3, got a steal on defense which led to a layup. Now the Knicks are down 1. Sometimes you have to let the players play through it and figure it out. Huge pet peeve is when announcers try to coach.

George Blaha is another one. The long-time announcer for the Detroit Pistons had a classic line during the Nets game when talking about Nets center Nic Claxton, “He’s six-eleven…and a long six-eleven.”

Did you see Jaden Ivey’s dunk against the Nets? WOW!

How about James Harden saying the Nets didn’t have any structure? I thought players wanted to play with freedom? Make up your mind bearded one…

Kemba Walker still has game. The Rice High School alum filled in for Luka Doncic the other night against the Cavaliers and scored 32 points on 12-25 shooting, 4-13 from 3 with 5 rebounds and 7 assists. In just his third game with the Mavs Kemba got the start, his first with his new club. Dallas lost in OT, 100-99.

What would happen if basketball referees decided not to work games? Treat these men and women with more respect.

With their win Sunday night over the Indiana Pacers, the Knicks have won 7 straight games, including 6 straight road games. Chemistry and defense seem to be coming together.

What is going on with the Chicago Bulls? They gave up 150 points Sunday night in a loss to the T-Wolves. And Minnesota played without K.A.T. – Hey but kudos to their fans for giving Derrick Rose a round of applause against the Knicks. Bulls are 11-18. They’ve lost 4 straight, 7 of their last 9. Head coach Billy Donovan wants his team to compete harder on defense. Their next three games are at Miami, at Atlanta and at New York.

Mitchell Robinson is 4th all-time on the Knicks blocked shots list with 501. Patrick Ewing is one (2,758) followed by Bill Cartwright (543) and Marvin Webster (542).

Ben Simmons needs to work on his shot. I’m captain obvious, right? How come the Nets brass demand this of him?

Don’t you just love the gambling ads during basketball games? No, just kidding. Gambling is a huge problem. It’s an addiction.

I have been wondering about Luka Garza lately. Sunday night I turned on the T-Wolves and sure enough there was the former Iowa Hawkeye working hard.

Knicks announcers were talking nicknames Sunday night and Clyde mentioned Bones Hyland of the Denver Nuggets. The only “Bones” in my book is Howard “Bones” Tompkins – former Wagner Seawhawk. One night I was watching Wagner and St. Francis in Brooklyn. On the layup line before the game SFC athletic director Carlo Tramontozzi, in his Italian accent screams at him for dunking; “BONES, BONES, STAY OFF THE RIM.”

Love the Brooklyn Nets uniforms. They went old school from the Super John Williamson days…Has there ever been two teammates, (Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving) who led their team in scoring and shoot 92% or higher from the free-throw line? KD scored 26 in the 3rd quarter Sunday night, Pistons had no answer for him. Nets have won six straight.

Lakers beat the Wizards 119-117 without Anthony Davis. A.D. will miss a month of action. LeBron James scored 33 points, 7 rebounds and 9 assists. LA is 2-2 without Davis this season. “Whoever is available to play, we have to make plays,” said James who had his fourth consecutive game of at least 30 points. “We’re all NBA players and we have to go out and trust the game plan the coaches put oth there. Tonight, we were able to do that for the majority of the game.” Big game for LeBron and Company tonight in Phoenix.

Congratulations to Argentina. They’re your 2022 World Cup Champions. I would love to travel to their country some day and work with their young basketball players.