I thought those dirty bastards who control the Shea Stadium scoreboard were lying, but no- New York to San Diego isn’t 3,000 miles, it’s 2,432. that’s nothing! I’m driving out next week. Apparently, San Fran is farther, clocking 2582. who knew?

And on to NYC sports.

KNICKS.

The Knicks draft was pretty good. No NBDL-bound high schoolers or Euro players to lounge on the end of the bench, checking their hair. Though I miss that 7 foot 6 guy who couldn’t run very well. Nate Robinson will be a human highlight reel.

Do you remember the commercial from about 5-7 years ago, where Kevin Garnett/ Gary Payton et al were the fun police? I believe there was one where Payton finds a kid hoarding balls in his closet; Gary admonishes him to make passes.

Nate Robinson will be the fun police. Starbury/ J-Crawf (Jamal Crawford)/ and Q (Quinton Richardson a/k/a Mr. Brandy) will hold the ball like it’s their mama and the bully up the block just tried to take their lunch money. Enter Nate Robinson to make this squad distribute the rock. It’s gonna be fun.

NETS.

But not fun enough to make me watch the New York Bricks. I turn my eyes to the swamps of Dirty Jersey, where Lawrence Frank is making like a college recruiter and going after Shareef Abdur-Rahim. With an actual power forward who isn’t simply taking up space as Jason Collins so ably does, the Nets may be contenders again.

Well… contenders once they address the defense and the Carter/ Jefferson issue. The defense was check 29th in the league last year, and that won’t even win in the NBDL. Part of the problem is that the Nets’ defensive schemes were set up for Kerry Kittles to switch with Kidd and play either pressure/ on-the-ball defense or to chase the annoying shooting guards of the league (Miller, Hamilton) around. Vinsanity is not as willing and won’t hustle as much.

Not that he is as bad as people make his defense out to be; but Kittles was a singularly selfless player with long arms and unparalleled quickness. Plus he made J-Kidd look good. Jefferson will be the small forward because he’s better at it, more versatile on defense. But they need a guard to do the defensive dirty work. An aside— here’s hoping the Keyon Dooling is brought into the fold for just that purpose.

Then Carter and Jefferson play the same position. Jefferson is a little more inside/ out. And Carter is a little more outside in (and is always willing to hoist a three-pointer). Obviously—a problem. That they will work out in time and in practice.