Kings, Knicks can learn from new book
With the New York Knicks in town tonight against the Kings, Harvey Araton's new book on the Knicks' championship teams of 1970 and 1973 is particularly relevant.
This passage from Bill Bradley in "When the Garden Was Eden" should be required reading for the current Kings and Knicks: "Offense for us really had to be a collaborative effort, because we did not have the best player in the league or the biggest scorer or the biggest team. So through this period, we were on the floor night after night, all these minutes, and began playing off each other."
Araton, a New York Times columnist and former Knicks beat writer for the New York Post, writes within the context of the social and political developments of the era. Among his other interesting thoughts, he contends the old Knicks represented "the first marriage of sports and entertainment" because of their diversity, appealing Madison Avenue personalities and unselfish style.
Asked why it took him almost four decades to chronicle his favorite boyhood team, Araton laughed. "I was too busy being a muckraker for the tabloids (late 1970s)," he said, "and I had doubts that I could bring anything new to the story."
Not surprisingly, he is not a huge fan of the current Knicks roster.
"It's not very floor- balanced," he said. "You have duplication at the forward position. I like a team that has the big-time scorer, the big-time shot blocker and the great decision maker. In the absence of a point guard, they're trying to run an offense through Carmelo (Anthony). To that I say, good luck."
What to do, watch
NBA, New York at Kings, 5 p.m., Power Balance Pavilion, CSNCA: Head to the arena or watch on TV.
Weekend poll
Who should be the Kings' starting point guard?
• Tyreke Evans
• Jimmer Fredette
• Isaiah Thomas
• Marcus Thornton
Vote above or leave your comments in the comments field; or go to www.sacbee.com/sports
Friday's results
Can Cal become a BCS bowl contender?
• Yes, and with Jeff Tedford as coach: 35%
• Yes, but only with a different coach: 32%
• No, Cal will never be that good: 33%
Total votes: 145
© Copyright The Sacramento Bee. All rights reserved.
• Read more articles by Ailene Voisin
About Comments
Reader comments on Sacbee.com are the opinions of the writer, not The Sacramento Bee. If you see an objectionable comment, click the "Report Abuse" link below it. We will delete comments containing inappropriate links, obscenities, hate speech, and personal attacks. Flagrant or repeat violators will be banned. See more about comments here.