Dan Devine

"There's no light switch that we can just turn on and think that we're going to go win ballgames. Nobody's going to give us anything." At Y! Sports: I wrote about the 0-3 Knicks, who've been forcefully reminded that their shit *does* stink: tinyurl.com/53u58cv2

@jessethorn.bsky.social thank you for inspiring this morning's lunchbox message

Ace Bailey has done a lot of cool stuff here in the fourth quarter: rebounding, cutting, making the extra pass, making quick decisions with the ball, competing on defense. Just keeps getting better all the way around.

Giannis just dunked all over Daniel Gafford and, I believe, kneed him in the balls. Kind of a worst-case scenario, rim-protection wise.

I always forget how often you hear John Cena's theme song watching League Pass. "The Time is Now" is triple-platinum at NBA arenas.

In the little bit of Hornets-Wizards I've caught so far, I've seen Brandon Miller work in both ends of the pick-and-roll, ISO on a big on a switch, take a guard into the post, drill a pull-up 3 and draw free throws on a hard drive to the rim. Really has the keys in Charlotte.

Cooper Flagg looks so, so comfortable creating for teammates off the dribble. Head down, draw help, easy read, cash out.

Jesus, dude. Just brutal.

Through three games, Ty Jerome is averaging more than a point per minute on 56/43/89 shooting splits — which, obviously, is ridiculous. What's even more ridiculous, though ... is that it might not actually be that ridiculous? tinyurl.com/uaz69x8

When it comes to Bits I Love That My Wife Will Soon Hate, "rapping Ludacris lyrics in a Dracula accent" might be a new high water mark

I might get back into the Giants SOLELY if they maintain the exceedingly good bit of leading their division despite barely having a positive point differential for the season.

Now that the team has acknowledged this whole episode as an "unfortunate mistake," I think we can all agree that this morning's pro bono cybersecurity ethics seminar was time well spent for everyone.

It's like I've always said: If you like the sports team, you have to be willing to die in support of their cybersecurity policies.

If you can win an Emmy for an idea Shaq should win it for his game move here

A good morning-after read on the Cavs' it'd-be-unthinkable-if-it-wasn't-so-familiar meltdown, from @dannycunningham.bsky.social: theinsideshot.substack.com/p/game-night...

James Dolan might be immune to shame but we can still try www.teamziller.com/knicks-rings...

No, I don't. We get them all the time at Y! too. It's just maybe the most "dick move" version of it possible aftethe most joyous Knicks moment in 50 years. That's my point: Individually, these things might all be reasonable. In totality, man, it really feels like TRYING to stamp out that joy.

The issue, to me, isn't a specific phishing email or when assistants get rings or whether it's sound to avoid the second apron and negotiate hard or jettisoning Mitch pre-parade. It's how it's all seemed almost designed to drain the sweetness. A pointed sprint to poison the well.

Maxey being the best player on the floor, aggressive defense, hitting the gas in transition, matchup-hunting with two bully-ball big wings, and the occasional post-up or trail 3 for a former MVP. Pretty decent formula!

Play the song

Well, this isn't exactly quieting the criticisms of the Cavs.

UNTIL

Always a tough scene when the solo spotlight Thursday national game features Significant Administration of Belt.

The moment Tyrese Haliburton had spent the last 16 months waiting for came Wednesday. After everything he'd gone through to reach it, he wasn't going to let it pass him by. At Y! Sports: A quick one on Hali picking up where he left off, and the rush of emotions that followed: tinyurl.com/yjwtz9fp

The high scorers of the NBA's opening night were two usual suspects: Anthony Edwards and ... wait, it says here "Ty Jerome." Ty Jerome? Yes: Ty Jerome! At Y! Sports: A quick one on the Grizzlies' new point guard incinerating the Jazz, a big-time breakout hiding in plain sight: tinyurl.com/uaz69x8

Gotta say: If he dunks 10 times a game, shoots 100% from the field, and opponents have a 90 offensive rating when he's on the court, maybe the price tag for Walker Kessler wasn't too high after all

The high scorers of the NBA's opening night were two usual suspects: Anthony Edwards and ... wait, it says here "Ty Jerome." Ty Jerome? Yes: Ty Jerome! At Y! Sports: A quick one on the Grizzlies' new point guard incinerating the Jazz, a big-time breakout hiding in plain sight: tinyurl.com/uaz69x8

The moment Tyrese Haliburton had spent the last 16 months waiting for came Wednesday. After everything he'd gone through to reach it, he wasn't going to let it pass him by. At Y! Sports: A quick one on Hali picking up where he left off, and the rush of emotions that followed: tinyurl.com/yjwtz9fp

That was a strong-ass move by Derik Queen, just driving straight through the chest of the not-small Ivica Zubac and finishing with touch over the top.

"Holy cow, he's been Camboozled"

It turns out that, when the All-Stars the Wizards traded for actually play, the Wizards look pretty good! Against the Bucks, at least!

Zion Williamson just made two 3s in the final minute of the first half against Indiana. It's the fourth time in 277 career NBA games that he's made multiple 3-pointers in a game, and the first time he's done it in nearly four years: www.sports-reference.com/stathead/tin...

With most of the league getting going tonight, let's go ahead and reheat this year's Reintroduction to the Title Race — a kind of "ICYMI" refresher of the anticipated upper crust of the NBA in 2026-27: yhoo.it/47V8xwu

We lost Elliott 23 years ago today

After halftime, the Knicks had an 82.8 offensive rating with Towns, Brunson and Hart on the floor together: nba.com/stats/lineup... The cross-matching gave Philly more of what they wanted in their pick-and-roll coverages, and it's still something for the Knicks to work on.

"That's what we wanted to do — be a little spoiler. Obviously, what the Knicks accomplished is great. But it's a new season, new year." And the Sixers may be new, too. At Y! Sports: Wrote about Philly's tone-setting, ring-night-ruining visit to MSG: tinyurl.com/6nac3bra

"That's what we wanted to do — be a little spoiler. Obviously, what the Knicks accomplished is great. But it's a new season, new year." And the Sixers may be new, too. At Y! Sports: Wrote about Philly's tone-setting, ring-night-ruining visit to MSG: tinyurl.com/6nac3bra

Well, we'll always have the first half, Andre.

Great close to the third for the Sixers, who finish on a 14-2 run to take an 83-76 lead into the fourth. After hitting four 3s in the first 32 minutes, they hit four in the final 3:19, capped by a Jaylen Brown buzzer-beater after New York threw the ball away with 1.5 seconds to go.

Consecutive turnovers by Karl-Anthony Towns lead to consecutive Sixers runout buckets by LeBron James, cutting the Knicks lead to one. Rough opening night thus far for KAT: five points, seven rebounds, four turnovers, three fouls, just one field goal attempt.

Sixers switch up the defensive matchups coming out of half — going with the cross-match of LeBron onto KAT and parking Embiid on Hart.

can confirm: it's still up there

After Joel Embiid picks up his third foul of the first half, Nick Nurse sends in Anfernee Simons. Our first look at LeBron-at-the-5 for Philly.

Philly's lack of healthy size showing up early. Jordan Clarkson turned the corner on that dribble handoff with Andre Drummond, saw Jabari Walker backtracking in the paint, and went right at him for the layup. Not much resistance with Embiid out of the game.

"ANDRE DRUMMOND" chants at Madison Square Garden. Just as everyone predicted.

Andre Drummond has 10 points and 10 rebounds in his first 12 minutes as a Knick. I have checked this, and I have double-checked this ... and it checks out.

Loud "WE DON'T WANT YOU" chants with LeBron at the foul line. What a different world we live in.

Not exactly the beautiful game to start, with Philly shooting 41% from the field, New York shooting 37%, and the teams going a combined 4-for-19 from 3. But the Knicks are up 25-23 after 1 thanks largely to having five more FGA, with Andre Drummond playing a big role in that.

Loud "FUCK EMBIID" at MSG chants after that contact on Shamet under the rim following the KCP foul on the perimeter. Nature is healing.