Dominique Wilkins getting whistled for a travel on a Eurostep in the 80s. (That spin on Bird to set up the steal was pretty cool, too.)

This was called an offensive foul on Elgin Baylor in 1959, without the defender even trying to flop or sell the call.

This was called a travel in the 1980 All-Star Game. Compare that strict enforcement to what players get away with today.

The Showtime Lakers once started 29–0 against the Kings in 1987, holding Sacramento without a single field goal in a 40–4 first quarter: Kings guard Derek Smith on the brutal start: "It didn't take an Einstein to realize that when they were up by 16 points and they were running plays for Kurt Rambis to hit jump shots, we were in trouble." Pat Riley on the blowout: "I don't think any team embarrasses another team, but a team can embarrass themselves. I will never take any joy in beating anybody like that. That's not what it's all about." A.C. Green: "The first time I looked at the score it was 22–0. I was out there hustling and playing as hard as I could. I never noticed that they hadn't scored a basket." Byron Scott: "I don't feel badly for the Kings. That's the way it goes in the NBA."

The fact that Bam broke Kobe’s scoring record says everything about where the game is at. And that’s no disrespect to Bam… he played the hand he was dealt. But the 2000s was a real defensive era. When the league inflates offense so much that an average All-Star can top 81 points, it ruins the history and balance of the game.

In the 60s, Wilt got whistled for millimeter pivot slips. Today, perimeter players get unlimited gather steps and carries. The rule enforcement leeway directly drives today's inflated efficiency. Modern defense will stay broken until the league restores fundamental rules.

Phil Jackson in December 2007 on rumors of the Lakers trading Kobe Bryant to the Knicks: "The Knicks? He's just being kind to New York. That wasn't a serious issue." "There just aren't any comparable situations. It's like giving up a diamond for some garnets."

I like how Giannis has cut his 3-point volume way down over the years. He’s living at the rim. Punishing defenses. Using his size the way it's meant to be used. There is a massive developmental lesson in that for Wemby.

Willis Reed on preparing to face Wilt Chamberlain in the 1970 NBA Finals after battling Wes Unseld and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: "Unseld was the least offensive-minded of the three. Alcindor was the most. But Wilt is more diversified than both. He can score, he can rebound and he can play defense." "He has more assets to contribute to the game. He has a wealth of experience and he’s mighty big."

Calvin Murphy in 1982 on why Moses Malone was the best player in the world: "People talked about Moses as though he were a one-dimensional player. But he can do it all. He can play inside. He can play outside. He'll do all the dirty work. Moses Malone is the best basketball player in the world today. He can do whatever is asked of him."

Wemby is a big man built completely backwards. Settling on the perimeter without a go-to interior move will keep holding him back in high-stakes playoff series until he learns to leverage his length for easy buckets down low.

The second late-game math error of the night. Down 6 with :41 left, Brunson drove for a 2. Even on a make, New York remains down 4—still a two-possession game. Only a 3-pointer flips the variance to a single-possession game. Celtics made the exact same mistake earlier (Tatum 2-pointer down 6 with :35 left). A simple late-clock mismanagement, but teams keep making it.

The Knicks' last championship banner night was Oct 9, 1973. There was no ceremony. The banner was already hanging when fans arrived, and the Garden sat 1,000 short of a sellout while the Mets played a playoff game that afternoon. Tonight they raise their first in 53 years.

On opening night of the 1966–67 season, Wilt Chamberlain dropped 28 points and 21 rebounds in a 128–112 Sixers win over the Knicks: "Wilt Chamberlain tried a way-out foul shooting method that worked... and new coach Alex Hannum had the nerve to bench Wilt for nine minutes." "Chamberlain began the third-period surge with two one-handed free throws from the left corner of the foul line."

The last time the Knicks and 76ers opened the season against each other: Halloween 2000, the first game after the Patrick Ewing trade. The Sixers won by 29—while Garden fans chanted "Patrick Ewing!" Larry Johnson on the chants and Ewing's absence: "That's dead and gone. That's dead and gone. We're 0-1 with this team." Sixers forward George Lynch: "It was real strange… When you think of the Knicks, ever since I've been young, I've always thought about Patrick Ewing being there... It's just unfortunate that he's not here anymore."

Early 1960s Lakers-Pistons action as Jerry West elevates for a jumper: "Jerry West of the Lakers zeroes in and there's no rebound for Pistons' Dukes (left) and Ferry (16)"

Prime quotes from Wilt Chamberlain on his 50th birthday in Toronto: • On bringing an NBA franchise to Toronto: "I've been coming here for 30 years... I've come to love Toronto. Maybe it is because I was raised in a city and I have watched Toronto grow. It's a great cosmopolitan city." • On challenging NBA owners: "While I wouldn't play anymore, I think I could still take on every owner in the NBA on the court — one on one." • On his custom $400,000 sports cars: "They're called Chamberlains... They are exotic cars, something like the Lamborghinis. I have 20 of them..." • On pro wrestling: "You know, for a while I was thinking of becoming a pro wrestler."

Jim Pollard on Wilt Chamberlain blocking 9 consecutive shots by rookie Walt Bellamy: "My man is 6-11, but every time he went for the shot, boom, there was that big hand." "Chamberlain is great, but he ought to be better. He paces himself something terrible. One of these nights he's gonna get mad and score 100 points… and stuff three players and two referees through the hoop while he's at it."

Rick Barry with the rejection on Elgin Baylor in 1967: "Elgin Baylor goes up for a shot, only to have it blocked by Rick Barry, the Warriors' super soph." (Rare sighting of Baylor wearing No. 14 instead of his iconic No. 22)

Scottie Pippen on former coach Phil Jackson influencing the officials during the 2001 playoffs: "I think Phil has a little more power. He changed the way the game was called. The referees allowed the game to be impacted from the sideline." "If they allow Shaq to play like that, there is no way anyone can win against them. It's just a ridiculous way to play the game. If they let him lead with his elbow and throw us out of the way… then we have to change the way we play." Phil Jackson: "Let the referees sort it out. That's their job."