Around the Association

Alright hoops fans, gather round the computer. Here are my musings on the best league in all of sports, the National Basketball Association:



---Here is something I haven't said in a while: The New York Knicks are really good. Seriously. Anybody still doubting this fact need look no further than last night's thoroughly convincing road win in Chicago. The Knicks dominated a Bulls team that many people, including myself, expect to contend for a championship this season. Mike D'Antoni's lightning-fast offense was in full effect, as the Knicks put up 70 points in the first half. Dare I say that the Knicks are an absolute lock to make the playoffs this season?



---Obviously, the additions of Amar'e Stoudamire and Raymond Felton will pay enormous dividends for the Knicks. But New York's secret weapon may well be Danilo Gallinari. Gallinari was a lights-out shooter last night, and he was perfect from downtown. If Gallinari can maintain that smooth shooting touch from outside the perimeter, he may well conjure memories of former Knick Allen Houston, one of the most underrated shooters NBA history.



---As for the Bulls, that was an extremely discouraging effort. I was baffled by Tom Thibodeau's refusal to put Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah back in the game late in the fourth quarter. The Bulls, thanks to some timely threes from sharp-shooter Kyle Korver, were making a significant run, but Rose and Noah remained on the bench during crunch time. Thibodeau probably wanted to save Rose and Noah so that they could be fully healthy for Thibodeau's return to Boston tonight against the Celtics. But it was certainly surprising to see Chicago's two best players as bystanders with the game on the line against the Knicks.



---After the Knicks earned a stellar road win, the Oklahoma City Thunder followed suit in Portland, beating the Blazers in a thrilling, overtime affair. Fresh off a complete dud against the Clippers the night before, a game in which Kevin Durant looked shockingly human, the Thunder responded with a gutsy, resilient performance at the Rose Garden last night.



---Durant responded nicely after his poor performance against the Clips, but last night's MVP for OKC was Russell Westbrook. Ladies and gentlemen, it is official: Westbrook is one of the game's best point guards.



---In Boston, controversy is surrounding notorious trash-talker Kevin Garnett. After last week's dominating win at the Pistons, Pistons' forward Charlie Villanueva took to his twitter page, accusing K.G. of calling Villanueva a "cancer patient" during the game. K.G. denied the accusation, saying that he called Villanueva "cancerous to your team and to our league." Oh ok, well that's better.

---Look, I believe K.G. when he says he did not call Villanueva a cancer patient, as that would be one of the most heinous, tasteless pieces of trash talk ever utterred. Still, K.G.'s version of what he said is still over the top. I love the intensity and passion that Garnett brings to the table night and and night out, but his incessant trash talking is tiresome and foolish. K.G. needs to realize that when his team is up by 20-plus points, there is no need to unleash any cruel verbal diatribes toward Charlie Villanueva.

---Villanueva, however, also deserves criticism in this incident. The fact that he made such an accusation through his twitter page showed a stunning lack of class. There was no need to bring this incident into the public spotlight. If Villanueva truly had a problem with K.G., he should have handled it with K.G. directly, behind closed doors.

---The Wizards haven't exactly looked all that sharp to start this season, but John Wall has been absolutely brilliant. Prior to the start of the year there seemed to be a growing consensus that Blake Griffin would be Rookie of the Year. Not so fast, my friends. Nothing against Griffin---who has indeed been outstanding, the lone bright spot for the Clippers so far this season---but after watching him play, my money is on Wall to win R.O.Y., especially if he can somehow find a way to bolster the Wizards into the playoffs.

---If the San Antonio Spurs are to overcome their age to contend in the West this season, they will need major productivity from young Tiago Splitter. Splitter's NBA career is off to a decent start, but he is still a raw talent. Splitter needs to be a fast learner in the NBA if San Antonio wants to ascend back to the top of the Western pack. Because as great as Tim Duncan is, he is not going to be able to play the same amount of minutes that he once did.

---Once again, I am overcome with gleeful optimism regarding my beloved Golden State Warriors. Monta Ellis has been sensational, Dorell Wright has been a wonderful surprise, David Lee has been solid, Reggie Williams continues to improve, and with a healthy Steph Curry, the Warriors are going to make noise in the West! Not that I'm biased or anything.

---My two least favorite teams, the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat, are also the two best teams in the NBA right now. Kobe Bryant has been frighteningly great, as always, and Phil Jackson's team looks poised for another three-peat. In South Beach, the Big 3 is finally starting to hit their stride. Bummer. One can only hope that the Lakers and Heat fall apart, but that appears unlikely.

---Terrific article on ESPN.com by the great J.A. Adande on Nuggets Coach George Karl. Karl is a superb coach and a class act. The deeply moving article is a must-read.