Watching Curry warm up is like watching your ex-girlfriend walk into a bar with another guy.  It leaves this strange feeling that just sits in the pit of your stomach.  It’s not jealousy or regret, it’s more of a nostalgia. What never would have worked out anyway.  And it’s even worse when right after seeing your ex, you turn to see your current girlfriend.  The faults of the status-quo become even more profound: a la Chris Duhon.

Duhon, I’m sorry to say, is still holding his spot in the starting lineup and I suspect (hope) it won’t be for long.

Eddy Curry returned to practice today and Donnie Walsh was really talking him up.  The weird thing is I actually believe him.  Curry looks great.  Did I just say that?

Duhon, Hughes, Chandler, Gallo, and Lee are on the court to start the game.  Steph Curry is on the bench, not like I was looking for him or anything… But 2nd year player Anthony Morrow gets the nod.
Here we go.
My buddies rip on Mike Brey, because he never wears a tie and looks like a low level wise guy for the mob.  They’d be thrilled to see Nelson is rocking the typical t-shirt-under-the-blazer, in case anyone still actually believed Nelson cared.

0-0: Gallo got a haircut.  I’m not the guy who usually notices it – that would be my buddy Noon, but this is unmistakable.  Don Nelson and Stephen Jackson noticeably don’t like each other.  I’m sure it’s not Stephen – he’s got locker room guy written all over him.  And he misses a jumper right on cue.

2-0: David Lee Alley OOP!! Ahh!! Literally the whitest lay-up I’ve ever seen.  It’s like when you and your 6-foot friends lower the hoop to 9-feet so you all can dunk, but it still just looks weird.

5-0:  Gallo makes a three from the corner with Monta Ellis’ hand in his face.  His shot is unblockable.  (I think Ellis was trying to run his hands through Gallo’s hair - I can’t blame him)

5-9:  A guy in my section wearing a Gallo jersey literally just got up and left.  The 9 year-old kid next to me bet me 6:1 he wasn’t coming back, you know you’re in New York when… I put $5 down.

15-16: Gallo just ripped down back to back boards and finishes; when I say back to back I mean in-between getting called for a bullshit block and a travel in the post.  Is Gallo fat?  I can’t tell.  I think when people are on the fence (Gallo, David Lee, Big Ben, and Luke Harangody) they should just let us see them with their shirts off.  Is that weird?

18-20: Lee got bailed out by the official. T-Doog and Nasty-Nate check in.

21-28:  I have no idea what happened but Lee just got called for his second foul.  The Knicks have these 45 second lapses about 4 times a game and then the game is out of their reach.  Please don’t let it happen tonight.

22-28:  Ha.  They made Gallo’s shot a 3 instead of a 2.  If they review a shot like that does it end a run?  I don’t think they should be allowed to play that Pink song (I’m gonna start a fight) when Stephen Jackson is in the building.  I can see his left fist clenching from here.

26-32: Ok we can work with this.  T-Doog goes backdoor to end the quarter.  I heard some girls in Tallahassee say he was all about the backdoor.  I’m so happy he’s bringing it to New York!!


Start of the 2nd Quarter

Nasty and T-Doog make the team look so much better than Duhon and Hughes.  Am I crazy here?!!

31-34: T-Doog just made a jump shot, assisted Nasty, rebounded, led the fast break, and bounce passed the ball to Chandler who was fouled.  Am I crazy here?!!

31-38:  BG just texted me that Walt Frazier (on MSG Network) just said, “Stephen Jackson can’t control what goes in or out of his mouth.”  I get why it’s funny, but what could Frazier mean by he can’t control what goes in his mouth?  Is Jackson eating babies?  Too many carbs?  WHAT DO YOU MEAN WALT!!!

35-42:  Jackson just got called for a technical for punching a baby in the face.  Okay, actually it was defensive 3 seconds. 

38-42:  Every time MSG plays a ‘Kings of Leon’ song Stephen Jackson misses a 3.  The kid next to me tells me it’s MSG’s band of the night.  Dude in the Gallo jersey returned, kid wouldn’t pay up.  (He’s probably from Jersey)

(Why didn’t I use the real music video?  Because Kings of Leon have disabled embedding on Youtube.  That’s a pretty bitter move.)

38-46:  T-Doog just lobbed the ball into the 5th row, and D’Antoni called a timeout. Knicks turn it over and the Warriors have a 2-0.  (Stephen Jackson was literally walking back into the play.  He wasn’t even at the timeline with 12 seconds left on the shot clock)

43-56: I just got an update on my phone that Jeffries has been sidelined with ‘general soreness?’  Um – don’t we all have that?  I don’t think I could call out of work for that.  I’m not sure if that’s an acceptable excuse for anything actually.  This is the biggest deficit of the game and still no sign of Curry.  Stephen Jackson is killing us.  Literally, he’s punching fans all over MSG.

66-52. Halftime.  The half wasn’t horrible.  It got away for a little bit, but it’s the NBA, everyone makes a run and we’re in the game.  The 9 year-old next to me pounds a soda every time his dad gets a beer.  It’s kind of weird, and when I say weird I mean cool as shit.  I hope my son does the exact same thing – and then drives me home. At 9 years old.

Start of the 3rd Quarter

54-66: Holy shit – Jordan Hill shows off the lost art of the mid-range jumper.

54-68:  Hill also showing off turnovers.

62-72:  Ok, not to make the entire 3rd quarter about Hill, but I’m pretty into him to be honest.  He has 8 points, 14 rebounds, and 29 blocks in like 4 minutes.  I dig his hair, and he seems like a nice guy.

65-74:  GALLO.  It’s a 10-2 run I think?  Something like that. And just to clarify, it’s not a run until Gallo drops one in from 3 point land.

69-81:  T-Doog is back in.  The crowd is getting into it.  The 9 year old is pounding sprites and Duhon is on the bench!!  T-Doog hits a runner, and the crowd cheers.  (Because Duhon is on the bench)

69-82:  Bullshit fouls on Hill.  He picked up 4 fouls in like 19 seconds.  He’s got a great ‘bullshit foul’ smile though.

74-82: 2 minutes left, T-Doog cuts it to 8. 

78-85: Knicks have been in a zone for the last 6-7 minutes of the quarter and it appears to be giving Don Nelson heartburn.  Oh – never mind, it was just the lamb gyro he housed during the timeout.

80-86:  End of the 3rd quarter.
(Kings of Leon in the background)

I have this theory about the Knicks being the best team in the NBA from the 6 minute mark in the 3rd quarter until the start of the 4th.  This is the game we finish.

82-92: Warriors start the quarter with back to back 3’s.

84-97:  Stephen Jackson is a class act.

88-101:  Monta Ellis is jump stepping the Knicks to a 1-9 record.

92-108:  Between the fans and the Knicks, I don’t know who has worse body language. I’m going with the Knicks.

94-111:  The Warriors haven’t won on the road and haven’t given up less than 105 points. I’m approaching Paris level of bitterness.

99-113:  It looks like the Knicks are making a serious run at the 105 mark here.  The Garden is on their feet.

106-119:  They did it.  They scored more than 105 points on a Jordan Hill tip.  YES!!!

106-121:  Anthony Morrow just got a transition bucket off a Steph Curry block.  Curry blocked David Lee and Lee is proceeding to talk shit and act like he’s going to rough up Steph.  This is pathetic.  David Lee is acting like his younger brother just blocked his shot - he’s furious.

107-121:  Final score

That was the worst 4th quarter I’ve ever watched.  Down by 6 going into the 4th.  Should the Knicks have dropped out of the zone after the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd 3-pointer?  They looked tired.  I’m hopeful for Wednesday.