Link'd Up, 12/29/09: Bay Breezes In

It appears the Mets have finally landed their big free agent prize. ESPN is reporting the club reached an agreement with marquee left fielder Jason Bay. The former Red Sox outfielder's deal is reportedly worth $66 million over four years, with a vesting option that could push the contract to five years, $80 million.

(Note: You gotta love sports free agency. Where else can you hear the words 'vesting option' and not think of Wall Street?)

Bay's signing creates a ripple effect that extends all the way up to the Bronx, where the Yankees are still looking for a starting left fielder. Right now, though, you have to take your hat off to Mets' GM Omar Minaya, who ended a brutal year on a positive note. Bay gives the Mets immediate power in a frontloaded lineup (see Reyes, Jose, Beltran, Carlos, and Wright, David) desperately in need of an RBI machine like Bay.

The Rundown: One Play Away

The latest issue of ESPN: The Magazine includes an article entitled "In Memoriam: NFL Parity". Perhaps the ESPN editors should check the AFC wild card picture.

No fewer than eight AFC teams -- half the conference -- are separated by a single game in the running for the conference's two wild card spots. One of those teams is the New York Jets, who missed out on a golden opportunity to seize control of their playoff destiny on Sunday.

The Jets led the Atlanta Falcons, 7-3, with under two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. Gang Green had been riding its defense all day, as Bart Scott and Co. had kept the Falcons out of the end zone and on their heels all day. Now Atlanta had a fourth-and-goal from the six, one last chance to play spoiler and torpedo the Jets' playoff hopes.

The Falcons have a very straightforward short-yardage offense: run the ball and hope Tony Gonzalez gets open. The veteran tight end and future Hall of Famer has 81 career touchdowns, the most in NFL history among tight ends. So... it might be a good idea to blanket cover him on the most important play of the season.

Instead, the Jets went zone, with no one specifically assigned to guard Gonzalez. The tight end found a hole in the zone, and Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan found him for the go-ahead score.

The touchdown proved to be the game-winner in a heartbreaking 10-7 loss for the Jets. Gang Green is one game behind the Broncos and Ravens at 7-7 and faces the undefeated Colts and playoff-bound Bengals in the season's final two weeks. Only a Christmas miracle can save Rex Ryan's squad now.

NEW YORK GIANTS: The Cowboys' monumental upset win over the Saints puts the G-Men on the razor's edge of playoff elimination. Though the Giants own the tiebreaker over Dallas, they are a game and half behind the 'Boys and must beat the Redskins tonight to keep their wild card hopes alive.

Tomorrow, I'll break down the game that was. Until then, I'll leave you New York sports fans with this Grinch-y prediction: Redskins 21, Giants 16.

NEW YORK YANKEES: They got Curtis Granderson. They got Nick Johnson. They're looking at Ben Sheets. Pretty good three weeks for the reigning champs, eh?

NEW YORK KNICKS: This week, the Knicks were only as good as their fourth quarters. In their two wins, they protected a slim lead and forged ahead in a game where they trailed by 20 points. In their two losses, they blew a 17-point second half lead and an eight-point fourth quarter lead. The Knicks were outscored 57-30 in the fourth quarter of their two losses, while they outscored opponents 45-43 in their two wins. Enough said.

ST. JOHN'S: Don't look now, but the Red Storm are 9-1 after their 72-60 win over Hofstra on Sunday. The catalyst for the early surge -- yes, it's a surge even though their biggest win so far is against Georgia -- is junior guard D.J. Kennedy. Far and away the most productive player on the team, Kennedy leads St. John's with 16.4 points and 3.8 assists per game. The junior has been Mr. Consistency for the Red Storm, reaching double figures in points every game this season. With a nine-point loss to No. 7 Duke the lone blemish on its card, St. John's will have a chance to prove itself NCAA-tournament worthy once Big East play begins in January. Until then, it's cupcake time (minus a marquee showdown against Cornell tonight, of course. Multiple family members of this scribe bleed Big Red, and I certainly wouldn't want to belittle the best team in the Ivy League.)

Link'd Up, 12/17/09: The new Yankee lineup?

Last week, I criticized the Yankees' trade for Curtis Granderson in part because it left their batting order unresolved.

Apparently, Brian Cashman was way ahead of me.

Unable to come to terms with free agent outfielder and resident No. 2 hitter Johnny Damon and facing life after Hideki Matsui, the Yanks' GM is trying to kill both birds with one Johnson. According to ESPN.com's Buster Olney, the Bombers are in serious negotiations with Marlins first baseman Nick Johnson. The former Yankee would replace Matsui as the full-time designated hitter and slide into Damon's spot in the batting order.

A former Yankee, Johnson has demonstrated an uncanny (dare I say Nick Swisher-like? OK, maybe not) ability to get on base. His .426 on-base percentage last season ranks highest among 2009 free agents, and he's averaged more than 95 walks per year over his last three full seasons.

Johnson's ability to get on base is ideal for the No. 2 spot in the Yankee order, directly in front of RBI machines Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez. He's already proven he can handle playing in New York, and he can spell Teixeira at first base and Granderson/Melky Cabrera in left field.

If Johnson does indeed sign with the Yankees, it all but assures Damon will not be back. The outfielder wants a multi-year deal for at least $13 million a year (his salary last season), while Cashman's best counteroffer has been two years and $18 million.

In the end, Cashman is making the right move. At 36, Damon is too uncertain a commodity to warrant $25+ million guaranteed when his range in left field is akin to Barry Bonds circa 2003. Johnson, meanwhile, is able to play several positions and will probably sign just a one-year contract.

Cashman may not be done dealing, though the Yankees have vehemently denied any interest in marquee free agent outfielders Matt Holliday and Jason Bay. But if the Bombers do stand pat, the 2010 Opening Day lineup should look a little something like this:

1. Derek Jeter, SS
2. Nick Johnson, DH
3. Mark Teixeira, 1B
4. Alex Rodriguez, 3B
5. Jorge Posada, C
6. Robinson Cano, 2B
7. Nick Swisher, RF
8. Melky Cabrera, LF
9. Curtis Granderson, CF

(Note: I like Granderson in the No. 9 spot. It really makes for a nice turnaround.)

The Rundown: Debunking the Jets' Playoff Myth

On Sept. 25, the Giants and Jets both stood at 3-0. Eleven weeks later, they once again share identical records, this time 7-6. A look at the last month, however, points to the Jets as New York's hotter team. Gang Green has won three in a row to climb back into the AFC playoff race, while the G-Men have dropped six of eight in a collapse that may soon rank among the worst in NFL history. Surely the Jets are more likely to make the postseason, playing on wild card weekend while Eli Manning plays shuffleboard in Boca Raton. Right?

Actually... no.

NEW YORK JETS: Led by backup quarterback Kellen Clemens, the Jets rolled over the hapless Bucs, 26-3, and are now tied with three other teams for the second AFC wild card spot. The Jets played to their strengths, rushing for 175 yards and holding Tampa Bay to 125 total yards. It was a vintage Rex Ryan performance.

But guess what, Jets fans? The win came against the Bucs (1-12). Just like the last win came against the Bills (5-8) and one before came against the Panthers (5-8). In fact, the Jets have beaten exactly one team this year with a winning record: the Pats in Week 2. And that was with a healthy Kris Jenkins and Leon Washington.

That trend will have to change for Gang Green to make the playoffs. You have to figure the sixth AFC playoff team will finish at least 9-7, so the Jets have to win at least two of their last three games. After a date with Atlanta (6-7) next week, the Jets close with the Colts (13-0) and the Bengals (9-4). Indy will most likely be playing for an undefeated season, while the Bengals may still be battling for the No. 2 seed and a bye week. If the Jets want to turn 4-6 into a playoff spot, they will need to win one of those games. Good luck.

NEW YORK GIANTS: Late in the third quarter of Big Blue's 45-38 loss to the Eagles, NBC ran a "Giants Miscues" recap, showing the Giants' many missed opportunities and bonehead plays. The "highlights" were more than two minutes long. And that was before the fourth quarter.

From Michael Boley's drop of a potential interception/fumble to four lost fumbles on offense to three drops on long passes by Hakeem Nicks to a punt return for a touchdown by DeSean Jackson to three passes of 30+ yards allowed by the defense (phew! finally done), the G-Men could not get out of their own way in the most important game of the season. The Giants racked up 512 total yards -- and lost. They held the Eagles to just 77 yards rushing -- and lost. They won the first down battle, controlled the ball longer and converted a higher percentage of third downs -- and lost. They scored 38 points -- and lost.

Amazingly, the Giants remain in a great position to grab the final NFC wild card spot. Tom Coughlin's squad should send Wade Phillips and Tony Romo holiday cards thanking them for yet another December collapse, as the Cowboys have lost two straight and face the 13-0 Saints next week. Meanwhile, the Giants play the hapless Redskins, the black sheep of the NFC East. If the Giants win and the Cowboys lose (as they both should), the teams would have identical 8-6 records, and the Giants hold the tiebreaker edge because they swept the season series. This time next week, the Giants could actually control their playoff destiny. Anyone who watched last night's debacle knows how incredible that is.

NEW YORK YANKEES: The latest from the continuously shifting free-agent landscape: The Angels are courting Hideki Matsui to be their DH, while the Yankees' negotiations to bring Johnny Damon back have stalled. Oh, and the Red Sox signed power pitcher John Lackey. Always nice to see baseball's superpowers up the ante.

NEW YORK METS: They're looking to sign free-agent outfielder Jason Bay. In other news, Tony Bernazard shot a 78 at Pebble Beach over the weekend, then ripped off his shirt and challenged the local caddies to a fight.

(OK, I made that up. But one more time folks, give it up for your 2009 New York Mets!)

NEW YORK KNICKS: I can explain the Knicks recent stretch of (gasp) over-.500 basketball in two words: Message received.

After guard Nate Robinson jokingly shot on his own basket -- and made it -- at the end of the first quarter against the Nets three weeks ago, I gave him the New York Sports Turkey of the Year award. Coach Mike D'Antoni had his own gift for Robinson -- a permanent seat at the end of the bench.

On Dec. 1, Robinson played 11 minutes against the Suns, notching one rebound and two assists. Since then, he has been rooted to the bench, getting the dreaded "DNP: Coach's Decision" in the last five games. D'Antoni's unspoken message to his players was obvious: If you screw around and put having fun before winning, you will not play.

The message has clearly gotten through to the Knicks, who have been all about winning this December. The team is 5-1 so far this month, the lone loss coming on the road against the Magic, who at 17-6 are among the best teams in the NBA. The Knicks have taken down some of the NBA's elite -- including road wins against the Hawks and Hornets -- and pasted the Suns at home. With five consecutive games against the Bulls, Bobcats and Clippers before a Christmas Day showdown with the Heat, expect the Knicks to continue their best stretch in recent memory.

NEW JERSEY NETS: Two wins are better than none, I guess. The Nets edged the Bulls, 103-101, for their first road win of the season on Tuesday. But even in victory, the Nets showcased their most recent fatal flaw: defense. In eight of its last nine games, New Jersey has allowed at least 100 points, not a good stat for a team that averages a league-worst 89.3 points per game. The coup de grace came Sunday, when the Nets allowed a season-worst 130 points to the Hawks in yet another blowout loss. A team as young as the Nets is expected to struggle on defense, where success stems from a mixture of effort and basketball acumen. But after playing stingy D early in the season for recently fired coach Lawrence Frank, the Nets are headed in the wrong direction.

Link'd Up, 12/9/09: The Year of Sleaze

It's not about New York sports per se, but this article from the L.A. Times' Bill Plaschke is too good and too pertinent to pass up. If you were/are outraged by Rick Pitino's "abortion payoff", by Alex Rodriguez's infidelity, Tiger Woods' ongoing sordid saga or any of the many sleazy acts in sports this year, you have to read this.

Trust me on this one.

Link'd Up, 12/9/09: Annnddy's back

According to multiple news sources, Andy Pettitte will be in pinstripes again next season. The free-agent pitcher signed a one-year, $11.75 million deal with the Yankees on Wednesday and will be a vital part of the Bombers' rotation in 2010.

This is the fourth consecutive year the Yanks have signed Pettitte to a one-year deal. The arrangement has been perfect for both sides -- the Yankees get to re-evaluate Pettitte's worth each season and the veteran southpaw gets to make a decision on retirement every winter.

Pettitte was 14-8 with a 4.16 ERA in the regular season, and at 37, you'd have to expect those numbers to fall off a bit more in 2010. But his veteran leadership and 4-0 postseason record in '09 make the decision to bring Andy back for one more "one more year" a no-brainer.

Breaking down the Granderson trade

World Series champions often rest on their laurels, content with the roster that was good enough to win it all (1997 Florida Marlins excepted). But the 2009 Yankees have wasted little time tweaking their roster. On Tuesday, they jumped in with both feet, picking up Tigers' center fielder Curtis Granderson and dumping pitchers Ian Kennedy and Phil Coke as part of a three-team trade.

A big deal -- literally and figuratively. Let's break it down.

--Ian Kennedy and Phil Coke for Curtis Granderson: That description isn't quite accurate -- the Yanks sent Coke to the Tigers and Kennedy to the Arizona Diamondbacks in return for Detroit sending their All-Star outfielder to the Bronx.

On the surface, this looks like a great deal. Kennedy had long since become the black sheep of the Joba-Hughes-Kennedy young hurler triumvirate, winning only one game in 12 career starts while battling injuries. Coke's fate was sealed when Damaso Marte was lights-out in the postseason, supplanting Coke as the southpaw specialist on a ballclub that traditionally relies on one lefty -- and one lefty only -- in relief. And adding Granderson allows the Yankees to safely say good-bye to Johnny Damon, whose contract demands (three years minimum and no pay cut for a 36-year-old outfielder) are beyond unrealistic.

It looks like a good deal. But let's look more closely at Mr. Granderson.

Granderson burst onto the scene in 2006 as the dangerous leadoff hitter on a Tigers' team that reached the World Series. He followed that up with a 2007 season that must resonate with all the old school statisticians: .302 average, 185 hits, 122 runs, 38 doubles, 23 triples, 23 home runs and 74 RBIs. A Ricky Henderson-type year for a leadoff hitter -- if you ignore the paltry .361 on-base percentage and 141 strikeouts.

The Yankees better hope they get Granderson 1.0, because the center fielder's numbers have plummeted each of the last two seasons. If you look only at last year -- a pretty good barometer for evaluating a player you want to start for your team -- Granderson is a bottom-of-the-road player (pun intended). He hit .249, managed only 20 stolen bases and struck out 141 times -- again. That's about one strikeout for every 1.7 times he reached base.

Which leads me to ask: What exactly is GM Brian Cashman's endgame here? Does Granderson take the place of Melky Cabrera, who had superior numbers across the board last year and seems to be on the way up? Does he slide over to left to replace Damon, and if so, is a Granderson-Cabrera-Nick Swisher outfield actually going to start Opening Day 2010? Will Granderson move to leadoff and bump Derek Jeter back to the No. 2 spot despite Jeter's massive statistical improvement in 2009 after he returned to leading off? If not, will he become the Bombers' second No. 9 hitter (because Melky is clearly a bottom-of-the-lineup guy)?

And the big one: With all our resources, this is the marquee outfielder we get for left field?

I don't like the move. I think it creates a conundrum in the batting order, where manager Joe Girardi will have to choose between moving Jeter away from his natural leadoff spot or batting Granderson/Robinson Cano second in the order (and neither of those guys get on base enough to be good table-setters for Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez). I think the real Curtis Granderson is the one from 2009, not 2007 -- the guy that ESPN.com's Jayson Stark introduces as "a man with a plummeting OPS and funky numbers against that sneaky portion of the population that insists on throwing a baseball left-handed." And I think that unless C-Grand (no? I like it) can take advantage of the short porch in right field at Yankee Stadium like Damon has, this deal will end up being a negative for the Yankees.

Thoughts?

Nets-Mavs Running Diary: Im-Perfection

9-73. 121-63. Darko Milicic. These are some of the most ignominious things in NBA history, abject failures (or in Darko's case, abject compared to his peers).

Tonight, it's time to add another item to that list... that's right, it's 0-18! I was so excited about the impending imperfection, I got my moldy bread and stale beer and sat down for a good old-fashioned historically bad time.

7:45. Good evening, folks! It's a historic night for the Nets, who are poised to lose their 18th in a row. Only a colossal -- COLOSSAL -- upset of the Dallas Mavericks will keep the Nets from unwanted NBA history.

Before we go any further, allow me to sift through the bog that is New Jersey's head coaching situation. For tonight, interim coach Tom Barrise is still running the team. Barrise replaced longtime coach Lawrence Frank, who was fired after overseeing an 0-16 start. The Nets have announced general manager Kiki Vandeweghe will coach the team going forward, likely beginning with Friday's game against the Bobcats.

A couple pregame "lines" to ponder:

Over/Under Dirk Nowitzki points: 35.5
First-quarter spread: Mavs (-6)
Over/Under defensive breakdowns for the Nets: 30
Over/Under of "We want Kiki" chants: 0
Kidd "Wow!" plays v Devin Harris "Wow!" plays: Kidd (-5)

Oh, and I'd make the Nets a 5-2 underdog right now.

7:42. And the Nets take a 2-0 lead! That's the spirit, fellas.

7:44. 5-2 Mavs. That was quick. Only the Nets can make 36-year old Jason Kidd look like 28-year old Jason Kidd.

7:45. Nifty three-point play from Brook Lopez. This guy is very slippery inside and had the strength to go through Erick Dampier.

7:49. Great over-the-top pass in transition from Kidd. This guy may be five years past his prime, and he may have no defensive skills, and he may be three steps slow... wait, what was I saying?

7:51. "There's no doubt Lawrence Frank will resurface in the basketball community." Also, I think there's a position open for him on the 2008 Detroit Lions.

(Hey-yo! But seriously, folks, 0-16 is really bad.)

7:53. 19-11 Mavs. That's two monster slams from Rodrigue Beaubois, who's listed generously at 6-2. I'm astonished. It's like a French Spud Webb.

7:57. 19-19. Lopez and Douglas-Roberts, who have 11 of the Nets' 19 points, are CARRYING this team back into the game. That's a first- and second-year player. So at least the future is looking up.

7:59. Just showed a Vandeweghe graphic. Is it just me, or is anyone else not sold on this guy? I don't know if it's the flimsy resume or the fact that he scapegoated Frank for a team he put together.

8:02. Current not-talked-about-much-lately-but-absolutely crucial-to-his-team NBA player? Jason Terry. He's a jolt of energy off the bench every single game, like Tayshaun Prince was for the old-school (as in good) Pistons.

8:04. Announcers got one right. Terrence Williams really should be considered for the slam dunk contest.

8:06. 28-28 after the first quarter. The Nets shot 10-19 from the field and 7-7 percent from the foul line. They scored a season-high 28 first quarter points. And yet they're only tied, possibly because the Mavs are shooting a sizzling 71 percent from the floor. If New Jersey get keep the offense up, Dallas should eventually cool down.

8:09. Harris takes a tumble. That's all they need, for him to get hurt again. The only legit guy over 23 on the team.

8:11. Airball from Sean Williams. That ball missed the rim by three feet. Williams is too quick to commit to his shot.

8:14. 39-36 Dallas. Harris makes a nice drive and turnaround finger-roll, then throws a pass to no one on the next possession. Still a little rust, but his drives are a thing of beauty.

8:15. Winnable games in December for the Nets: Charlotte, Knicks, at Golden State, at Minnesota, at Knicks. Also, they're home for 17 straight days. Meadowlands, anyone?

8:17. Extra pass from Nowitzki leads to an open three from Tim Thomas. How good has Dirk been this year (27.2-8.5)? Really carrying the Mavs into the NBA's elite group.

8:20. 7-0 run from the Mavs pushes the lead to 48-39. Dangerous time for the Nets...

8:23. YES announcers, stop bemoaning the fact that Jason Kidd no longer plays for New Jersey. Put on a happy face -- er, voice.

8:24. Brook Lopez's greatest weakness: low post defense. Dampier is actually abusing him near the basket. Erick Dampier.

8:26. Did I mention the Mavs are shooting 75 percent from the field with 4:22 left in the second quarter? Yeah.

8:27. Nowitzki buries a triple. 59-44 Dallas. 20-8 run thanks to New Jersey's sloppiness on offense and astounding levels of futility on defense.

8:30. That's it right there. That's the Nets season. Dampier makes a lunging bank shot, then blocks Douglas-Roberts at the other end, then Nowitzki flips it behind his back to Terry for a trey. 66-46 Dallas.

8:31. I'm calling time of death, people. I will unequivocally say: The Nets are losing this game.

(I know, I know. Really going out on a limb there.)

8:34. Dallas just hit 70 points. Even Jason Kidd is nailing threes. It's actually unfair.

8:37. Do I hear 75 first-half points... YES! Terry's steal and layup gets us there.

8:37. Kidd ends the first half with a great bounce pass to Drew Gooden for a easy deuce. 77-50 Mavs at the half.

8:38. 77 points. Wow. Woooooooow.

8:39. My Dad's first-half analysis: "Well, the Nets are going down in style." True. Allowing 150+ points in a history-making loss would do that.

8:44. Here's some quick first-half offensive stats for Dallas:

77 points
80.6 field-goal percentage (29-36)
87.5 three-point percentage (7-8)
100 free throw percentage (12-12)
5 players in double figures
49 second-quarter points
Nowitzki/Terry/Dampier 15-17 combined from the field

Nets' deficit despite shooting 50 percent in the half: 27.

8:45. While I've a got a minute, a quick shout-out to Allen Iverson, who signed with the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday and is expected to be in the starting lineup as early as Monday. Philly's second to last in the league in attendance, and they'll pick up the "Iverson bump" the Knicks willingly passed on.

8:48. Speaking of the Knicks, they're losing 88-66 to the Magic as I write this. On the bright side, they're losing by five less than the Nets. You could almost say they're winning by five...

8:49. Bonus first-half stat: The Mavs shot 17-19 in the second quarter. That's 90 percent. That's hard in a scrimmage, much less a real-life NBA game.

8:53. Nowitzki hits a jumper. Kidd steals the ball from Harris. 81-50 Dallas. It really does look like men v boys out there.

8:55. Second time Harris has been fouled on a three-point shot. He made the first and made two of three FTs on the second. Nicely taking advantage of the aggressive Dallas D.

8:56. Mavs outrebounding Nets 19-7. Dampier never looked so young.

8:58. 9-0 run for NJ. Harris' steal/layup fires up the crowd -- a little.

9:03. 85-66 Nets. Dampier has eight boards; the whole Nets team has 10. Meanwhile, the Nets are tearing it up on offense, as Dallas appears to have let up a little.

9:06. Horrible basketball. Kidd gets the steal, passes it to Gooden in transition, and no one comes back to help Harris. Gooden lobs it to Kidd for an easy layup.

That's inexcusable. When you're 0-17 and have a chance to get back into the game, you don't jog. You don't stand idly by and wait for the play to end. Hell, you don't do those things when you're up 30. Vandeweghe has to get that malaise out of his team.

9:09. What's harder to defend, Nowitzki's teardrop fallaway or Carmelo Anthony's turnaround jumper? Both are virtually unstoppable.

9:12. Two threes for Courtney Lee. His minutes will go up exponentially if he can start nailing shots from downtown.

9:14. Sean Williams decides to hang from the rim while Nowitzki shoots a layup. Um, that's basket interference, Sean. Brings to mind your "disciplinary issues" at Boston College.

9:15. We get it. Nowitzki and Pat Garrity were traded for Robert "Tractor" Traylor. Nowitzki and Pat Garrity. It was a horrible trade. We get it. Time to talk about the game in front of you.

9:18. Dallas 103-76. Aaaand the Mavs have reached their season average in points with 1:30 left in the third quarter.

9:21. Two misses from inside two feet end another disappointing quarter for the Nets, who are right back where they started the half -- down 27. Went from 77-50 to 85-66 to 105-78. All that's left is to dot the Is, cross the Ts, and change the record book.

9:28. "Dallas is down to 64 percent shooting from the field." Well there's that.

9:35. 107-91 Mavs. The Nets have come back enough to force Mavs coach Rick Carlisle to put Kidd and Nowitzki back in. It's nice to see some fourth-quarter life. The Nets could've just packed it in, but they've come out firing.

9:38. Nowitzki strips Harris and hits Terry for a fast-break layup. Back to 109-91. That could be New Jersey's last gasp.

9:42. Dampier tips in another of his own misses. 113-91 Dallas.

9:43. At this point, the biggest question is whether Kidd will get two more rebounds for a triple-double. With Dallas up 18 and three minutes left, probably not. But it'd certainly be poetic symbolism of the Nets' long decade's journey into night.

9:46. BTW the Nets' next milestone is 23 -- the longest single-season losing streak in NBA history. That was the 95-96 Grizzlies and the 97-98 Nuggets. If New Jersey actually were to get to 0-24, it would be against the Hawks on Dec. 13.

Also, here's a little info on Del Harris, who will be working closely with Vandeweghe on the bench. Harris' wealth of experience will hopefully help the development of the younger players, particularly Douglas-Roberts and Lopez.

9:51. And that's all she wrote! As the boos rain down from the 10 Nets' fans left, New Jersey falls to Dallas, 117-101. And the Nets stand alone at 0-18.

So that's that. Dallas shot 59 percent and had six players with double-digit scoring. The Nets allowed 49 points in the second quarter, as a 39-36 game turned into a 77-50 rout at halftime.

For a historic loss, it wasn't particularly historic. It was just another dismal game for a dismal team in the midst of a dismal season.

(Historically dismal! Overwhelmingly overwhelmed! Ladies and gentlemen, it's your 2009 New Jersey Nets!!!)