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Brooklyn Nets Drop Third Straight Game to Lottery Bound Boston Celtics

Deron Williams Re-Aggravates Sore Left Side and Exits Game

In their last ten games, the Brooklyn Nets are 6-4.

It's better than average, good for most teams right?

Well if you don't count the last two consecutive losses to the Miami Heat and the Dallas Mavericks (both heart-breakers), then you're probably comfortable with the Nets progress thus far this season.

Sooner or later the Nets are going to have to decide what team they are going to be for the remainder of this season.

Can they catapult themselves towards the hierarchy of the Eastern Conference? Or will they mirror the team they once were during the 2012-13 season that enjoyed a short trip to the playoffs, eventually sent home in the first round in seven by the Chicago Bulls.

One game/win does not define a season, but the New York Knicks are in rebuild mode and the Nets are the city's only hope as far as competitive basketball is concerned.

With the precipitation featuring snow recently, the Brooklyn Nets have allowed the unfavorable weather beyond the comforts of the Barclays Center to affect their game, and it showed tonight hosting the Boston Celtics.

With the exception of the first quarter, the Nets struggled offensively for the rest of the game and fell to the lottery-bound Celtics, 89-81, their third straight loss.

The Nets are now three games under .500 at (16-19) while the Celtics improved to (12-21).

It just wasn't their night.

Expending a month's worth of energy in Monday's overtime loss to the Dallas Mavericks, 96-88 could have something to do with it, as well as, completing a 10-game stretch which included three back-to-backs.

"The energy was low and I was fearful of that coming in," said Brooklyn Nets Coach Lionel Hollins during his post-game press-conference.

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Brooklyn Nets head coach Lionel Hollins speaking with the media in a postgame press conferenence.

"We just played back-to-backs and one of them was overtime, and now we go back to another back-to-back, so we have a back-to-back, a day off, game, a day off and a back-to-back."

Hollins also expressed that the current schedule along with Deron Williams and his injury status (re-aggravating his sore left side in the second quarter against the Celtics), has forced Jarrett Jack and Joe Johnson to play more minutes than he would have liked.

In the Dallas overtime loss, Jack logged in 44 minutes and Johnson logged in 45.

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Brooklyn Nets point guard Jarrett Jack

Tonight, Jack logged in 39 minutes producing 15 points and four assists while Johnson contributed 17 points in 37 minutes.

Despite the Nets boasting four players in double figures, including Mason Plumlee who recorded his 7th double-double of the season with 16-12, as a whole, the home-team struggled on the offensive end the entire night as the Celtics out-scored the Nets in every quarter besides the first quarter (2nd: 21-14, 3rd: 29-23, 4th: 20-19).

Oh there's more.

The Nets shot 40.5% from the field, shooting 21.4% from behind the arc and 69.2% from the charity strike.

"When you are consistently at 39%, it's going to be a struggle to score every game," Hollins told the media post-game.

It gets worse!

The Nets committed 17 turnovers opposed to the Celtics 6.

As poor as the Nets offense was, they did compete on defense, but their efforts just weren't enough for a team who was younger and sported fresher legs.

And about those fresher legs, Celtics guard Avery Bradley showed off.

With the departure of Rajon Rondo, Bradley took advantage, torching the Nets for 21 points, shooting 3-5 from three-point range.

Tyler Zeller played sidekick to Bradley's exploits, as the Celtics second leading scorer with 18 points of his own, oh and another thing: every player who checked in for the Celtics recorded points.

The Celtics bench outscored the Nets bench, 34-18.

At the end of the day, it comes down to making shots and the Nets were unable to keep up with the hungrier and younger team.

They looked fatigued and un-enthusiastic.

Tonight, the Nets played with what the Knicks are made of which is just plain old bad.

In his post-game press-conference, Hollins, combated the negatives with his own observations of where his team is now opposed to where they were in the beginning of the year.

"We are playing much better," Hollins expressed.

"We've made progress, were moving forward, I think our culture is better, our togetherness is better, our defense is certainly better, we just have to figure out a way to make shots throughout the course of the game."

It seems like the Nets most recent struggles on the court stems back to the root of what their foundation as an organization is built on: The Big Three.

With the exception of Johnson, Williams and Brook Lopez have missed significant time on the court this season and their absence from this team as leaders, with their presence, continues to take its toll on the Nets, in the present and immediate future.

How long can Johnson and Jack continue to play excessive minutes without suffering injuries or just overall fatigue.

Their games will suffer which will eventually compel the remaining roster of the Nets to carry their load as starters, which isn't their role.

Jack was brought here to provide a formidable guard option off the bench along with Alan Anderson, and due to Williams injuries, his role has increased.

The Nets have to make a decision with their $99 million dollar-man in D-Will.

To trade or not to trade?

Williams re-injuring his sore left side during the second quarter of tonight's game does not help the possibilities of trading the former star at all.

As for the able bodies, Johnson and the crew are looking for the formula to solve their answers.

"I think we've had a few different lineups-us as players, trying to still learn and fine tune it for one another, so this team needs a little more time than we expected," Johnson said post-game.

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Joe Johnson, Brooklyn Nets Shooting Guard

"We just got to keep working hard, keep trusting one another and keep believing in one another."

The positive similarities in Johnson's and Hollins' post-game quotes regarding team chemistry are encouraging but losses like tonight are exactly what can disrupt that chemistry.

The Nets have to take care of their home-court and beat the teams that are inferior.

This weekend, the Nets will participate in another back-to-back. They play Philadelphia at home on the 9th and then will travel to play the streaking Detroit Pistons on the 10th, who are a perfect 6-0 since waiving Josh Smith.

The Nets need to win those two games.

Following Philly and Detroit, the Nets schedule features a ten-game stretch where they will face the likes of the Houston Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies (home-home), and the Washington Wizards (back-to-back; and away-home). The Nets then do a west coast swing to play the Sacramento Kings, Los Angeles Clippers (back-to-back), and Utah Jazz. They come home to play the Portland Trailblazers (Monday, Jan. 26), then back out to play the Atlanta Hawks (Wednesday, Jan. 28) and back home on Friday, January 30 to face the Toronto Raptors.

It can get very ugly.

But that's why it's Wednesday, were not there yet.

AUTHOR SIGHTING with a COMEDY Theme: Brian Robinson

How to Meet Women on the Subway

by Brian Robinson

 

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Man on subway reading How to Meet Women on the Subway by Brian Robinson.

First Sighting: Toastmasters 2009 Annual Conference

As a former member of Toastmasters, I can recall being in the audience among hundreds of people who howled with laughter when then-single and footloose Brian Robinson took center stage at the Toastmasters Annual Conference in 2009, competing in the Humorous Contest. Robinson's tale of woe and disaster about how he tried to meet women on the New York City subway was, well, hilarious. And, I recall that when all the votes were tallied, he went on to win the Contest that year.

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Brian Robinson (center), author of How to Meet Women on the Subway, at his book launch at Bowlmor Lanes in Manhattan

Next Sighting: @ Bowlmor Lanes, Mid-town Manhattan

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Now, five years later, Brian Robinson is partying at Bowlmor Lanes, the fun-loving way he chose to launch his book How to Meet Women on the Subway (2014). Yes, the book is about the author's woeful yet laugh-til-you-holler encounters with women on the subway. Robinson, now married, did not meet his lovely bride Angie on the subway. That doesn't mean, however, that he didn't learn the best strategies for meeting women. Indeed, he met hundreds of women that way, according to his book. To find out which of those excellent strategies for meeting women he used when it came time for him to marry that special someone, I guess you'll need to read his book (or ask Angie)!

 

 My Favorite Author Quips & Snippets

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What's The 411TV Book Editor, Luvon Roberson, with Brian Robinson, author of How to Meet Women on the Subway, at book launch at Bowlmor Lanes in Manhattan. Photo: Luvon Roberson

Quips from Brian Robinson, author of How to Meet Women on the Subway.

"The NYC subway has over 600 miles of track and 468 stations. It's open 24 hours every single day of the year; it's cheap at only $5 a day. And, unlike dating sites – you can meet women in-person!"

"With millions of women on the subway every day, where's a better place to meet them than underground – under the streets of New York City?"

"Hey, you can multi-task on the subway: Meet women and get work done on your laptop!"

For these & other quips visit: www.howtomeetwomenonthesubway.com

BIO: Brian Robinson

There were three experiences that changed Brian's life: Selling encyclopedias door-to door in college; working for The Doe Fund, a non-profit dedicated to assisting formerly homeless men get back to work; and discovering at age 43 that he had attention deficit disorder (ADD).

These life-changing experiences taught Brian powerful lessons about persistence, hope, and humor -- themes that you will frequently hear in his workshops and keynotes.

Brian is an active member of The Temple of Restoration, Toastmasters International, and he lives in Brooklyn with his wife, Angie. The professional speaker and motivator is currently writing his second book, Get Back Up!

Knicks Deal Shumpert and Smith to Cavaliers in Three-team Trade

Before the tip-off of this 2014-15 NBA season, Phil Jackson, the President of Basketball Operations for the New York Knicks believed that he assembled a team good enough to qualify for a playoff spot.

That hasn't been the case.

The 5-32 Knicks, fresh off of securing yet another loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night, 105-83 (12 straight), are on pace to challenge the (2012) 7-59, Charlotte Bobcats for the worst record in NBA history.

The climate around the Knicks has become so putrid that change was evident and Jackson initiated operation codename: Blow It Up.

Yesterday evening, the Knicks joined the Oklahoma City Thunder and Cleveland Cavaliers in a three-team deal which expressed the Knicks state of mind, fixated on the future.

The Knicks dealt Iman Shumpert and J.R. Smith to the Cavs.

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Point Guard/Shooting Guard Iman Shumpert and Shooting Guard J.R. Smith traded by the New York Knicks to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Photo Credit: NBA

The Cavs sent Dion Waiters to the Thunder while dealing Alex Kirk and Lou Amundson to the Knicks.

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Dion Waiters on his way to the Oklahoma City Thunder in a three-way deal involving the Cavs, Knicks, and Thunder. Photo Credit: NBA

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Cleveland Cavaliers send Alex Kirk and Lou Amundson to New York Knicks in three-way deal also involving the Oklahoma City Thunder. Photo Credit: NBA

The Thunder shipped Lance Thomas to the Knicks and a protected future first-round pick to the Cavs, who sent their 2019 second-round pick to the Knicks.

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Former Oklahoma City Thunder Forward Lance Thomas is on his way to the New York Knicks in a deal which included the Cleveland Cavaliers. Photo Credit: NBA

I will miss what Shumpert brought to this Knicks team on the defensive end of the floor, as well as, his potential as an all-around player.

It needed to go.

All of the players the Knicks received in this trade have non-guaranteed contracts.

It is the season of giving and it seems like the Orange and Blue New York team is the only team that is not participating in the festivities.

With this trade, the Knicks shed the contracts of Smith and Shumpert off the books and waived C Samuel Dalembert, moves which will save the team an excess of $20-million in salary and luxury taxes according to ESPN.com.

It also gives the Knicks $30-million in cap space to offer to free-agents in the upcoming off-season period.

In this trade, the Knicks recognized that this season is a forgone conclusion while the other two trade partners in this deal have the opportunity to reap the benefits of their acquisitions immediately.

The Cavs bolstered their perimeter defense in gaining Iman Shumpert and added a streaky but proven scorer in Smith, who is now in a better environment.

Dion Waiters can help the Thunder offensively despite the logjam at the shooting guard position (Reggie Jackson, Anthony Morrow, Jeremy Lamb even Russell Westbrook).

Although Shumpert is out with a shoulder injury, Smith can come in and provide another scoring option for the inconsistent Cavs who are currently missing Lebron James due to knee and back injuries.

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Former New York Knicks point guard/shooting guard Iman Shumpert. Photo Credit: NBA

When Shumpert returns, Kyrie Irving should benefit, as Waiters and his 10.5 points per game and need to have the ball in his hands to make plays for himself and others occasionally, will no longer be an issue.

Shumpert does not need the ball to be effective and adds defense to a team sorely lacking that element after losing big-man Anderson Varejao for the season due to a torn-Achilles.

For Smith, a winning environment is what he needs.

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Former New York Knicks forward and Sixth Man of the Year, J.R. Smith. Photo Credit: NBA

The last time Smith was in a situation where winning was a priority, he won the sixth-man of the year award, just saying.

For OKC, I understand the acquisition of bringing in a guy like Waiters to a team whose focal points in Westbrook and Kevin Durant have missed significant time on the court this season but then again I don't.

How will Thunder Head Coach Scott Brooks manage his guard situation?

Waiters needs the ball to be effective and so does Westbrook, Reggie Jackson, Jeremy Lamb and Anthony Morrow.

He cannot play these guards and keep everyone happy which means someone may be the odd man out in OKC.

Another reason why this move is questionable is because the Thunder failed to sure up their most important need in a low-post threat.

It's the reason why they targeted Bulls C Pau Gasol this past off-season.

Serge Ibaka is a nice player but prefers to do most of his damage from outside opposed to under the basket.

Kendrick Perkins, enough said.

It seems like this trade was a win for every team involved except the Knicks for various reasons.

Hopefully this move is one of many moves the Knicks will make when they will actually be required to do so from the public at large.

The 2015 free-agency period can't come any quicker can it?

Books Take Center Stage in Holiday Window Displays

Images of Books & Authors in Unexpected Places

Every year in December, I head off to Fifth Avenue to tour the gorgeous holiday window displays. This year, my traditional seasonal trek had a happy addition: Harlem's 125th Street! I was like a kid in a candy store, as several stores on Harlem's 125th Street showcased gorgeous holiday windows. Expecting to see the usual festive creations of glamorous gowns and dressed-to-the-nines mannequins; snow-filled dioramas; old-fashioned toys for miniature girls and boys; and the usual Christmas scenes, what a wonder-filled surprise to find instead, books and authors inspiring the holidays this year!

Fifth Avenue

Bergdorf Goodman offered windows on Architecture, Music, Painting, Theatre, and my favorite, Arts & Literature.

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Literature themed holiday window at Bergdorf Goodman - December 2014. Photo Credit: Ricky Zehavi

Can you find Frederick Douglass and Phyllis Wheatley among the many iconic writers featured in the window?

Harlem

Uptown, a Harlem store's fanciful window shimmered with a quote from Zora Neale Hurston, one of my most cherished writers. The images of Hurston and Langston Hughes, standing stand-by-side in the Yoga Land window display, made me smile.

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Photos of legendary authors Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston in a winter holiday themed window at Yoga Land in Harlem. Photo credit: DNAinfo/Gustavo Solis

Then, a happy thought came to me; all good wishes are sent forth – to everyone -- in this glorious holiday season!

Tour Bergdorf Goodman's holiday windows

Tour the Harlem stores' holiday windows.

===================================================

Each month, I'll share images of books and authors that I come upon in unexpected places. It's all to inspire you to experience, as if for the first time, the wonder of books and their creators.

Hit me up on Twitter @LuvonRwriter!

Break Up The Indiana Pacers: Brooklyn Nets Lose in a Rout 110-85

Jack, Johnson Try to Keep Nets in the Game

The Brooklyn Nets were feeling pretty good about themselves going into last night's contest with the Indiana Pacers, coming off three consecutive wins earlier this week. And, a big part of it has been the play of Jarrett Jack, as the Nets were 3-0 with Jack in the starting lineup.

After exchanging some opening buckets, Sergey Karasev, the big 6'7" guard in his ninth start, makes the first of his two 3-pointers to get the Nets on a little bit of an early run taking their first lead at 5-4.

Add a couple of free throws by recent hero, Mason Plumlee and jumpers by the offensive "Heavyweight Champion", Jack Johnson and by that I mean the duo of Jarrett Jack and Joe Johnson, Brooklyn scores the next six points unanswered to go ahead 11-4, three minutes in and it had the feeling like Christmas was going to continue for the Nets.

In only his third game back for the Pacers, George Hill had scored Indy's first two points and stayed aggressive throughout the opening quarter, grabbing 3 rebounds, hitting a big three pointer to keep them close midway through the first.

At the same time, Jack continued his fine play, running the offense, getting in the lane and scoring, Lopez comes in for the first time for KG and Joe Johnson hits his only 3 of the quarter to stretch the lead to 6 points and with another Jack floating jumper, the Nets re-establish their largest lead of the early going and the evening, eight points up 19-11.

As Coach Hollins would say in his postgame press conference, we shot well to start and then missed shots. Exhibit 1: Brook Lopez, looked flat footed and listless as he missed all of his four FG attempts. And considering Mason Plumlee's more stellar play, Lopez could be on the market in short order.

Despite abysmal offense and half-hearted defense, as Coach commented after the game, the team never stopped playing and competing and as a result made a valiant come back from 9 down to close the second quarter only 3 points behind the Pacers (50-47 ) going into the half.

Unfortunately the numbers say everything about the first half: NETS 32.6% FG Shooting, 31% 3 PT shooting, while PACERS 44.2% FG Shooting, 67% 3 PT shooting. Indiana scored 5 points off 7 turnovers and Nets scored nothing (0) off 4 turnovers.

Deron Williams who continues to be the subject of trade rumors, did not check in until the end of the first quarter and was part of a dismal offensive showing by the bench throughout the game.

Again, Head Coach Lionel Hollins, was very clear when asked what contributed to the poor outing, "when you expect to get a spark off the bench and they go 4 for 27, you're going to lose."

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Lionel Hollins, Head Coach, Brooklyn Nets

Then Hollins was asked, what did he see that presented such problems for his team?

He responded, "It's basketball, you put the ball in the basket and you guard somebody."

It became apparent even with Hibbert a non-factor, the Nets had no answer for David West, CJ Watson, and Rodney Stuckey and found themselves down by 14 at the end of the third quarter, 79-65.

The only NETS bright spots were the play and leadership of Jarrett Jack, as a consistent and productive scorer, although he needs to get to the line more. One free throw attempt is not enough for someone who penetrates the paint, as well as, he does and 2 assists is too few against 5 turnovers. And Karasev sets a new career high with 14 points.

The fourth quarter turned quickly into a rout, as the Pacers duplicated their 3rd period 11-point outscoring of the Nets and had the lead up to 27 points before both teams emptied their benches and finished with a 25 point victory, 110-85 over Brooklyn. While Coach Hollins felt like the team never stopped trying to compete, he could not explain the inept shooting except to say it was a good week winning their previous three games and these nights can happen.

Considering the Pacers desperation to make up for a beating they suffered in their last outing, they simply wanted it more and played that way. Even at 13-16 they're still in second place in the East Atlantic Division. Hopefully, the Nets can end the year on a positive note with Sacramento on Tuesday and Chicago on Wednesday and find their groove, as they did last season at the start of the New Year in 2015.

So there's good reason to keep hope alive, Happy New Year!

Brooklyn Nets Beat Sacramento Kings 107-99

Mason Plumlee and Jarrett Still Starting and Still Shining

Jarrett Jack and Mason Plumlee continue to start for the Brooklyn Nets; while Deron Williams and Brook Lopez provide their services off the bench.

It wasn't supposed to be that way, but injuries to both stars have kept them away from the court recently, and Jack and Plumlee have stepped up in their absence, so here we are.

It continued tonight against the Sacramento Kings with Plumlee and Jack in the starting lineup, opposed to Williams and Lopez.

There's a synergy there and the Kings experienced the dynamic duo's exploits tonight as the Nets, were able to sustain their late second quarter surge throughout the second half, pulling out a 107-99 win in front of a sellout crowd.

The Nets scored their highest point total (by quarter) of the game in the second with 30 points and the most important scores occurred in the closing minutes.

With 4:20 left, and the Nets leading by a deuce, 46-44, Plumlee and Co. organized a 11-0 run which improved their lead to double-digits, as they entered the intermission period up 13, 57-44.

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Brooklyn Nets point guard, Jarrett Jack

Plumlee scored half of the points in the run, which included two slams, while Alan Anderson and Jack accounted for the other six.

Plumlee and Jack also scored 10 and 12 respectively, leading the team in scoring individually into halftime.

At some point, you have to ask yourself where are Williams and Lopez?

After all, they did play and provide stability off the bench, but the more Williams and Lopez play in the roles they are currently reflecting, the more they are becoming after-thoughts.

Williams and Lopez, who subbed for Jack and Plumlee respectively in tonight's contest, have me questioning whether or not the crowd is cheering their arrival into the game or the play of the two they have come to replace on the floor.

Just a thought.

If you're wondering, Lopez scored 11 points with six rebounds while Williams chipped in six points and three assists.

The Nets improved to (14-16) overall on the season while the Kings dropped to (13-18), after defeating the New York Knicks just two days ago in OT, 135-129, which really isn't news by the way.

Unfortunately for the Kings, they were unable to sweep the state of New York tonight, as Brooklyn seems to be the only team that matters in the mecca, as far as basketball is concerned.

With the way the Nets are playing collectively, this alignment seems to be the recipe for success.

Plumlee, who had the challenge of facing up against DeMarcus Cousins (7th in All-Star balloting for front-court players with 117,003), one of the best young bigs in the game, held his own scoring 22 points with 4 rebounds, while Cousins produced a double-double in 24 and 14.

Jack and Joe Johnson both scored 16 points.

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Brooklyn Nets shooting guard, Joe Johnson

Since Jack and Plumlee replaced Williams and Lopez in the starting lineup, the Nets are 4-1.

It's a small sample size but you cannot argue with results.

To be honest, if Jack and Plumlee started the season, they could've been viable candidates to make the All-Star team as alternates on a team where no-one else deserves the honor.

Another key stat in tonight's game was the fact that Plumlee got to the line eight times, sinking 10 of 16 free throws.

"They got it to me on the block a little bit more and in transition I got fouled a bit," said Plumlee post-game.

"They wanted to foul, so they called them, and I got to the free throw line."

It seems like the only facet of Plumlee's game that is lacking is a face-up game and a 15-foot jumpshot, which is what makes Plumlee's development thus far and production such a surprise.

Although Plumlee and Jack were the stars of the game, the play of the game award goes to Kevin Garnett who flashed back to his Minnesota days for one play late in the third.

With 16.3 seconds remaining in the third quarter, Kevin Garnett rebounded a miss shot from Kings guard Ray McCallum and led a two-man fast-break, in which Sergey Karasev served him up an alley-oop slam, which Garnett completed emphatically, much to the delight of the crowd.

"I know I'm like 150 years... I can actually dunk the ball," said Garnett regarding his slam-dunk.

"You can't start in the league if you can't dunk."

Garnett finished with 10 points on the night.

With all the success the Nets are experiencing as of this moment, something has to be done about Williams and Lopez.

Two of the highest paid players on the team have accepted their new-found roles as bench players but how long can this last to this team's benefit.

There are a number of players around the league that can produce the numbers that Lopez and Williams are averaging off the bench for a discounted price.

Just saying.

Phil Jackson Asks Knicks’ Fans to be Patient

After falling to 5-26 following their 102-91 loss to the Washington Wizards on Christmas Day, New York Knicks star Carmelo Anthony shared his thoughts on the current state of the players comparing it to one of the fans that lives and dies by the orange and blue.

"I feel what the fans are feeling," Anthony said, according to ESPNNY.com. "The Fans are dying, we're dying....As much as I feel for the fans, I feel for us going through it too."

He's not lying.

On ESPN FirstTake with Cari Champion, Skip Bayless and Stephen A. Smith, last week Chris Rock stopped by as their guest and when asked about the state of the Knicks, Rock said that the Knicks were "Eddie Curry Bad."

If you know the Knicks, then you KNOW what Eddie Curry bad is.

The Knicks are in the midst of a six-game losing streak, with their last win coming in Boston almost two weeks ago. Tonight they will travel to the west to take on the "okay", 12-17 Sacramento Kings at 10 pm tonight.

It will probably be a loss but what's new.

As far as the losses are concerned, first-year Head Coach Derek Fisher remains as cool as ice-cream on the sidelines, keeping his emotions in check without showing any signs of melting throughout this season.

"No I have plenty of (emotion)," Fisher said, according to ESPN.

"It's just there are appropriate times to do it....Emotions during the game are already high enough. Oftentimes that's when you see confrontations between players and coaches.

"There are ways to be confrontational and let guys know how you feel without being angry and out of control. But as time goes on, the longer I'm here, the more you'll see."

There it is, Fisher expressing himself the only way Fisher can.

Fisher won't say he's suffering but it's obvious he is, especially for a first-year Head Coach whose playing career revolved around winning championships and having a win-at-all-cost type of mentality.

And if this hurts Fisher, you can only imagine how the newly appointed President of Basketball Operations in Phil Jackson feels.

Jackson is a two-time NBA Champion as a player and an 11-time NBA Champion as a Head Coach.

His Wins, have Wins.

So in his first experience as a general manager, without the opportunity to pace along the sidelines and teach and draw up strategies for the players to digest and implement, Jackson is out of his natural element.

Knicks fans did not expect the 2014-15 Jackson-Knicks to win a championship in its first year, but Jackson hauling in an excess of $12-million over the next 5-years should, at least translate to the 8th seed this year right?

It all goes back to Jackson's first summer as a GM and the transactions he executed.

He fired then Head Coach Mike Woodson and his coaching staff and replaced them with Derek Fisher and Kurt Rambis.

Phil Jackson signed Jason Smith.

He also traded center Tyson Chandler and point guard Raymond Felton to the Dallas Mavericks for guards Jose Calderon, Shane Larkin and Wayne Ellington, center Samuel Dalembert and two second-round draft picks.

Jackson extended Anthony to a 5-year deal worth over $120-million, re-signed Cole Aldrich, drafted Cleanthony Early, exercised the third-year option on point guard Tim Hardaway Jr. and acquired forwards Quincy Acy and Travis Outlaw from the Sacramento Kings for guard Wayne Ellington and forward Jeremy Tyler.

It was a busy off-season, including many moves which have yet to pay dividends.

Chandler has rejuvenated the Mavericks providing the authority in the middle that is so absent from the Knicks right now as Dalembert's efforts scream "Release".

Ellington could've been a viable option from the perimeter but the log-jam at the shooting-guard position with Hardaway Jr., Iman Shumpert and J.R. Smith forced Jackson to part ways with the shooter.

Calderon suffered an injury early in the season, forcing Fisher to start Larkin, which spelled trouble for the Knicks as early as the first month.

Anthony is Anthony and everyone else has struggled to grasp the concept of the new "Triangle" offense.

To be honest, Jackson didn't sign many winners and that can have an effect on a franchise hoping to change its dreadful past into an optimistic future.

Aaron Brooks, backing up Derrick Rose for the Chicago Bulls could have helped.

Rumors circled around Pau Gasol wanting to team-up with Jackson once again, but he, like Brooks elected to go to a winner in the Bulls.

Shaun Livingston, Kris Humphries (actually playing well for Washington), Rasaul Butler (Shooting 51.2% from three), and Al-Farouq Aminu (a good defender) were all available, and Jackson failed to sign these players who are all playing essential roles for their teams, who all sport winning records (Golden State Warriors, Washington Wizards and the Dallas Mavericks respectively).

Jackson made moves with the future in mind and the immediate future of this season is an absolute travesty.

I hate to mention Andrea Bargnani and his allergic reaction to playing basketball.

What saves Jackson is the fact that it is only year-one.

Rome wasn't built in one day.

Even pancakes take time to make.

The Knicks need time.

If you want some good news: the Knicks are on pace to secure a top-5 pick in a draft that boasts potential stars in center Jahlil Okafor (Duke), guard Emmanuel Mudiay (China) and forward Karl Towns (Kentucky).

The Knicks will also have enough money coming off the cap next off-season, to sign a max player when unrestricted free-agents in Marc Gasol, LaMarcus Aldridge, Al Jefferson, Goran Dragic, and Paul Millsap, among others, will all be available.

But the 2015 NBA Draft and the 2015 NBA Off-Season seem like years away and New Yorkers are hurting as we speak.

Until then there's not much we can do except "Hold On......." like Drake said.

And cut Jackson some slack because it's his first year.

At 10:33, Phil Jackson tweeted to #Knicksnation: "Merry Christmas to all and Peace on earth. Please be assured your hopes and wishes are getting through to Santa. He will bring a better 2015 than 14. The effort and skill of our team will grow as the players learn how to play with and for each other."

Let's hope so.

Teddy Bridgewater Exudes with Confidence at NFL Draft 2014

"You are setting the bar high," What's The 411Sports host, Glenn Gilliam, said upon greeting NFL Minnesota Vikings Draftee, Teddy Bridgewater.

Was there a team you felt more of a connection with going into the pro (NFL) workouts?

"I felt the same about every team," Teddy Bridgewater, an NFL Draftee, said about his NFL pro workouts. "That's amazing. You hear stories about guys feeling uncomfortable in one environment, at one organization, but with me, every team I visited, every team that I worked out for, I left there feeling the same."

So how does Bridgewater feel about which type of offense would suit him best?

"I can play in any offense," Bridgewater said with confidence. "I'm coachable, so I will be able to adjust to great coaching; tough coaching; soft coaching; an I formation offense; a shotgun spread offense; option offense, anything. I am just that multiple and that gifted.

All of the NFL draftees were looking rather dapper; so which designer was Bridgewater wearing?

"I can't even tell you, but I know it's from Saks Fifth Ave," he responded.

Inspired by Kevin Durant? 

Since everyone was talking about Oklahoma City Thunder guard Kevin Durant's NBA MVP acceptance speech, Glenn Gilliam asked Teddy Bridgewater if he received any inspiration from Kevin Durant's speech.

"Kevin Durant is my favorite athlete," Bridgewater responded. "I feel like he and I are somewhat similar; how special his mom is in his life and how special my mom is. He is down to earth and very humble. He is one of the greatest athletes in the NBA and he doesn't get the credit for it. I feel that he and I relate in those ways that I admire him and everything he said about his mom and his teammates stands out."

Check out video with Teddy Bridgewater 

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Tren'Ness Woods-Black NV Mover and Shaker Carrying on the Sylvia Woods Tradition

Check out video interview with Tren'ness Woods-Black

NV Magazine has established its 15-year history as a "new vision" of business publication for urban professionals around the country. Whether scaling the ladder within corporate America or creating a successful venture from scratch, NV has chosen to not only acknowledge but honor, many of these ground-breakers with its annual Movers & Shakers Awards.

For the past five years, Founder, Kyle Donovan and Publisher, Christopher Chaney and their team have solicited recommendations for and researched their selections to identify honorees from the well-established, even famous, to the less celebrated but ascending innovators, executives and business "hustlers" within the multicultural community. This isn't for the sake of taking nice pictures and having a cocktail, NV's mission is to empower communities of color through the recognition of these trendsetters and inspire collective collaboration to generate wealth and long-term economic stability for the black and Latino market.

Tren'ness Woods-Black, granddaughter of soul food restaurant icon Sylvia Woods was a recipient of the NV Movers and Shakers Award.

How excited are you for this recognition?

"I'm really excited," Tren'ness said. "First of all, NV Magazine, I've been a fan and a supporter from day one."

Your grandmother was a legend, so loved and dearly missed, thank you for continuing her work, what did she impart to you?

"Everything, she was a true legacy builder in every sense of the word. She was all about the community, she often would say, 'I am Harlem', she loved her family and that's one of the reasons why our business is still going on, three generations, hard at it, making things happen."

In terms of opportunities, things you're looking forward to, please share with our fans...

"Exciting stuff," Tren'ness responded. "Just last year we acquired the last bit of real estate that was available on our avenue, so our avenue is actually going to be renamed Sylvia Woods Way. We're building a brand new, beautiful, sexy restaurant that's going to last us another 51 and a half years, we are educating our youth with our scholarship foundation and we sent over 85 kids to school in just 12 years, so we're looking to double those numbers. So that's what we're all about, our food product company is doing amazingly well, so we're looking to grow that, so a lot is to come from the Sylvia Woods brand."

Are you still looking at expanding outside of NY?

"YES, we actually have some things cooking on the stove right now, so you'll have to stay tuned for more, but you'll definitely be seeing a lot more Sylvia's in hot states near you."

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Christopher Chaney Sees a Bright Future for NV Magazine

VIDEO Interview with Christopher Chaney: 

NV Magazine has established its 15-year history as a "new vision" of business publication for urban professionals around the country. Whether scaling the ladder within corporate America or creating a successful venture from scratch, NV has chosen to not only acknowledge but honor, many of these ground-breakers with its annual Movers & Shakers Awards.

For the past five years, Founder, Kyle Donovan and Publisher, Christopher Chaney and their team have solicited recommendations for and researched their selections to identify honorees from the well-established, even famous, to the less celebrated but ascending innovators, executives and business "hustlers" within the multicultural community. This isn't for the sake of taking nice pictures and having a cocktail, NV's mission is to empower communities of color through the recognition of these trendsetters and inspire collective collaboration to generate wealth and long-term economic stability for the black and Latino market.

Publisher, Christopher Chaney, could hardly contain his excitement when asked about tonight's event.

"Definitely excited about tonight, simply because it's going to be a packed house, it's always an amazing group of dynamic people, the magazine is 15 years old, we started doing this 5 years ago and it's like let's bring this group of people together, bring the network together and let all kind of possibilities happen. I mean the aftermath of the Movers & Shakers is that people are building businesses together, people are creating all kinds of new circles and typically people get promotions at their corporate jobs after this event, so it's a lovely night."

So how does NV magazine select its honorees for the Movers and Shakers Award?

"They typically happen probably 2 to 3 months before and it's a whole dynamic of past recommendations from prior Movers & Shakers and who they want to share with us and fit our group," Christopher replied. "We're always looking for people doing unique things, we're always looking for people who have really a strong voice in their industry and we definitely look for people who may be on the come up, so those you never really haven't seen in press before and you're like when you read about them you're like wow, I didn't know we were doing that, this is cool."

So, what's next for NV and how does it plan to build on what it has established with the Movers and Shakers Awards?

"What we definitely are doing is bringing back our marquee event, which is the NV Awards, which is our black tie gala where we honor only 10 people and all of them really at the top of their game, so we're doing that in 2015. In addition and what's coming up really quickly is that we have an app that we're about to release and that will be available on our website which will really be able to connect people in a totally different way so people should look for that on nvmagazine.com."

What has social media meant to NV's readership and how is the magazine playing in that space?

"That's exactly what our app is all about because it's a way of really connecting people and then having them build a network because if you have a great net-work, typically you have a great net worth, it builds access and it builds the ability to really grow wealth. Because you start making those relationships and start to have things click and it really comes through events like this and if you can take this to social media, if you can have them connect on your Facebook, on your Twitter and bridge your own apps where people can connect, then you really start building a change in our community, cause really our ultimate goal, is to build a community of wealth or community of wealth builders, where everyone comes in is like, okay, I can employ someone, wow I have a black-owned company you can do business with. So I think we need those kind of alternatives in our communities that's something we've been missing and that will bring up the hope and we'll have less hopelessness, we'll have less crime, we'll have less people struggling to get into the middle class and we'll have more middle-class looking at wealthy, we need more than one billionaire like Oprah."

To see our videos as soon as they are posted, subscribe to our YouTube channels: WhatsThe411TV and 411SportsTV

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