We are starting a new take on this blog today. And there was a little introductory post all set up to explain what readers can expect.
Kobe Bryant ruined this plan by dropping 61 points at Madison Square Garden, so last night’s Knicks game will be the subject of the first post-Super-Bowl entry on the new Back Page.
The Knicks aren’t as good as the Lakers or the Cavaliers or the Celtics — the three teams that will be invading MSG for what was dubbed “Dream Week.” Everyone knew that before Bryant’s record-setting performance, everyone would have known it if the Knicks had won by 20 points last night.
The fact is, the Knicks aren’t going to win an NBA Championship this season, but they could be good enough to compete for a playoff spot, and last night didn’t change that.
What did change was the hype about this week. It wasn’t about LeBron James coming to the Garden and the hope he will make it his permanent home in 2010.
“This morning in the workout room, people aren’t talking about how many points I’m going to score,” Bryant said before tipoff. “Today, a lot of people are talking as if the Knicks will win.”
They didn’t and it was Bryant’s night, but here’s hoping that his amazing performance doesn’t change that with James and the Cavs coming in tomorrow night.
Elsewhere:
People forget that Phil Jackson wrote a book in which he called Bryant “uncoachable.” Now they’ve been back to the Finals and are Western Conference favorites again.
Joel Sherman says that means Joe Torre has nothing to worry about in the Dodgers dugout.
The Akron Beacon Journal says there’s a softer side to Eric Mangini.
Former Giants coach Jim Fassel may have found a job — with the Las Vegas team in the United Football League.