It's halftime of the Knicks/Mavs game. And, there have been zero minutes of competitive basketball played in this game so far. Not a single, solitary minute. From the moment that it was decided, presumably by head coach Isiah Thomas, that rookie swing-man Wilson Chandler was going to jump for the game's opening tip-off this game has been a farce. From the moment that our 6-8 small forward went out to the center circle to contest that tip the ballgame was conceded. Even if the players didn't know it yet.

This sort of irresponsible game planning, or lack thereof, by a coach can't help but trickle down to the players on the court. If their coach isn't going to take the game seriously then how can the players? If he seems to be going out of his way so that they lose then why should they go out of their way to try to avoid losing? It's ridiculous.

Meanwhile, as a counterpoint to Isiah's willful violation of the responsibilities of a coach is Mavs HC Avery Johnson. In a crowded arena that has fallen eerily quite do to the boring game on display, the only sound that can be heard other than the voices of the announcers is the voice of Johnson. He is frantically chirping out instructions while his team is on the defensive end of the floor from his perch near the midcourt end of the coach's box. Only a few dozen feet away Isiah sits sullenly in his folding chair with nary a word or order for his feckless and leaderless charges out on the floor.