By MARC BERMAN
By MARC BERMAN
MEMPHIS – Opening night in the NBA Tuesday was not necessarily a good night for Knick fans. The fortunes of the Bulls directly effect the Knicks’ draft position and Chicago looked like world-beaters in creaming the defending champion Heat, 108-66.
The Bulls will get a chance to swap picks with the Knicks this June because of the Eddy Curry trade. That means it is almost a lock Knicks president/coach Isiah Thomas, if heâs still around, will have to fork over his lottery pick to Chicago â as he did last June – if the Knicks donât make the playoffs.
It wouldnât be suprising if the Bullsâ fortunes play a role in James Dolanâs overall evaluation of Isiah either. The Bulls looked like world-beaters Tuesday and if they finish with the leagueâs best record, the Knicks would select 30th in the draft.
Thomas watched the Bulls’ blowout from his Memphis hotel room with his coaches. âI wasnât stunned Miami lost,ââ Thomas said at this morningâs shootaround at Fedex Forum. âI was stunned by the margin. Normally on ring night, youâre set up for it. Normally itâs a disaster, still at the parade. If nothing else, what we saw last night is that itâs open. Everybody has a chance. On any given night, anybody can beat anybody.ââ
Trust me, I know Chicago officials are watching the Knicks intently too, as they savor a chance at Greg Oden. Tyrus Thomas, the stud defensive forward the Bulls selected No. 1 in the Knicksâ slot, looked great, blocking Shaquille OâNeal twice.
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Jared Jeffries was flying in for tonightâs game following his Tuesday surgery. Thomas had not spoken to his big offseason defensive addition to see how his wrist was doing but said, âI heard the first thing he asked for when he got out of surgery was a chilidog with mustard. I guess itâs a good sign.ââ Jeffries could be gone until Jan. 1â¦I guess the Knick beat writers have good taste. We sat near Grizzlies GM Jerry West downing ribs for lunch at the touristy, Blues City Café on Beale Street â a place he frequents twice a week. Thomas claimed to love Westâs acquisition of UConn rookie Rudy Gay on Draft Night for veteran Shane Battier, though most league observers have questioned the wiseness of the great West. âAnytime you can get a talent such as him, you have to go for it and they did. I think heâll be a big-time talent, big-time player.âââ¦With the Grizzlies hurting up front, starting Jake Tsakalidis and former Syracuse standout Hakim Warrick, Thomas plans on spotlighting Eddy Curry big time. And he should do it most nights.
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The hardcore readers of The Post’s new Knicks blog must be familiar with the Knicks’ most popular fan website – Ultimateknicks.com.
It’s a great source for the diehards as every story written around the country about James Dolan’s club is posted. I’m particularly fond of it because the The Post’s pieces are always first.
Friday for the Knicks’ game in Atlanta, the guys who run Ultimateknicks.com, Martin and Andrew, are staging a season-opening fan party at Park Avenue Country Club, 381 Park Avenue South, on the corner of 27th and Park.
As Martin tells it, “It’s a chance for all the folks who stop by the site to get together, buy each other drinks and have a good time. Any Knicks fan is welcome.”
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It’s gray, rainy and cloudy here but the Knicks chances are bright, at least for one game. Pau Gasol and Stromile Swift are out, Shane Battier is a Rocket and green rookie Rudy Gay is playing his first-ever game.
