The games will matter soon — sooner than anyone would prefer — and the Knicks will accept that cold reality with a mix of trepidation and self-assurance. They are too new to be entirely comfortable, but talented enough to feel secure.

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Barton Silverman/The New York Times

Iman Shumpert, the Knicks’ rookie guard, driving to the basket against the Nets on Wednesday.

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• On Basketball: Former Teammates, 2 Big Men Went Different Ways
  (December 22, 2011)

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The Knicks closed a truncated two-game preseason Wednesday night with an 88-82 victory over the Nets, their final tune-up for a truncated 66-game season that begins Sunday at Madison Square Garden, against the Boston Celtics.

In so many ways, the Knicks are clearly not ready. Their starting backcourt is shaky, their vaunted frontcourt is still getting acquainted and their bench is still, well, developing. But fans got an encouraging preview of what the reconstructed Knicks may become.

Tyson Chandler, in his first game under the Garden lights as a Knick, grabbed 12 rebounds, blocked 2 shots and scored 8 points. The building roared with each block and howled when he soared over the Nets rookie Marshon Brooks for a dunk attempt, although he missed when Brooks fouled him.

Amar’e Stoudemire finished with 15 points, and Carmelo Anthony 21, a rough approximation of what the Knicks expect from their star frontcourt.

“That’s going to be typical,” Chandler said. “But it’s going to get better. It’s only going to get better.”

The blemishes and the rust from an abnormally long off-season were evident, too. The Knicks shot 33.7 percent from the field, with Stoudemire going 5 for 14. The 2-0 preseason record is nice, but meaningless, both wins having come against an unfinished Nets team.

Deron Williams, the Nets’ star point guard, had 21 points and 7 assists. Damion James, the second-year forward, had 13 points and 9 rebounds.

It had been nearly eight months since the Knicks’ last Garden appearance — a 101-89 playoff loss to the Celtics. The long layoff did nothing to soften Knicks fans, who relished the chance to boo someone again. Their chief target was Kris Humphries, whose tumultuous off-season included a televised wedding to the reality-show star Kim Kardashian, followed by a humiliating separation.

Humphries, who re-signed with the Nets on Tuesday, was loudly booed when he entered the game and every time he touched the ball in the first half. He did not play after halftime, to the fans’ chagrin. They repeatedly chanted, “We want Humphries!” in the closing minutes.

“It’s whatever,” Humphries said. “We’re here to win games. Got to do that, I guess.”

The booing seemed to support the results of a Nielsen and E-Poll Market Research poll, released Wednesday, that named Humphries as the N.B.A.’s most hated player — ahead of LeBron James and eight other players with far more N.B.A. fame.

Anthony momentarily expressed sympathy, but then smiled and said: “New York fans is New York fans. I like it, to be honest with you. That’s how it should be. Our fans shouldn’t be cheering for nobody else.”

With four days left until the opener, the Knicks are still adding players. They claimed Steve Novak, a 3-point shooting specialist, off waivers Wednesday, bolstering a still-suspect bench.

“You can’t have too many shooters,” Coach Mike D’Antoni said.

Novak, a 6-foot-10 forward, shot 41.7 percent on 3-point attempts in five seasons with the Rockets, Clippers, Mavericks and Spurs. He effectively replaces Shawne Williams, who signed with the Nets last week.

The Knicks are still thin at both forward spots and have a $2.5 million cap exception to spend. But they have apparently chosen not to pursue James Posey or any other free agents at this point.

“We’re not against doing something,” D’Antoni said, “but I don’t see it for the foreseeable future.”

The Knicks may be holding the exception for one of the players still under contract in China, Kenyon Martin or J. R. Smith. Martin cut ties with his team on Wednesday, according to Yahoo Sports but, like Smith, he is ineligible to play in the N.B.A. until the Chinese season ends in March.

Wilson Chandler, who was traded from the Knicks to the Denver Nuggets last February, is also playing in China. But Chandler is a restricted free agent, and the Nuggets will surely match any offer he receives upon returning to the United States.

The Knicks are also waiting for Baron Davis, who signed this week, to recover from a herniated disk, which could take two months. Until then, D’Antoni will lean on a suspect bench that has no natural scorer, no reliable big men and three rookies.

D’Antoni is hoping for rapid growth from the Knicks’ two 2011 draft picks, Iman Shumpert and Josh Harrellson. After a strong debut against the Nets on Saturday, Shumpert struggled with his shot, going 2 for 12 from the field. Harrellson impressed, with 10 rebounds, 2 blocks and 3 steals.

Given the Knicks’ lack of depth, both rookies could become rotation fixtures.

“Just keep thinking that they’re going to be part of everything, that they’ve earned some time,” D’Antoni said. “So that’s one question mark that seems to be O.K. right now.”

REBOUNDS

Mike Bibby sat out the second half because of back spasms. Bill Walker (groin) and Jared Jeffries (calf) did not dress for the game. Both are expected to be available for Sunday’s season opener. … Shawne Williams again missed the chance to face the Knicks, his former team, because of flulike symptoms.

HBO Films seems to have two essential mission statements. First, to corner the market on Al Pacinos good acting (see: Angels in America, You Dont Know Jack, the upcoming Phil Spector biopic. Second, and more importantly, the moviemaking arm of the network appears to be constructing a complete chronology of American history, from the Revolution (John Adams) through the Great War (Band of Brothers, The Pacific), and right up to our disturbing modern moment (Recount, Too Big to Fail).

Next years Game Change is an intriguing new entry in the HBO History canon, adapting the addictive behind-the-scenes muckrake of the 2008 presidential campaign into a star-studded film. Intriguingly, the film apparently wont follow the books fascinating portrayal of the Hillary Clinton-Barack Obama primary fight; instead, it will focus entirely on the eleventh-hour arrival of Governor Sarah Palin in John McCains campaign. The first trailer features Ed Harris as McCain, but predictably, Julianne Moores Palin steals the show. Watch below:

Hey, maybe when Game Change airs, Julianne Moore can host Saturday Night Live, and she can do her Palin impersonation, and then the real Sarah Palin can walk onstage and say, I wouldve preferred that Jodie Foster play me, and then Jodie Foster can walk onstage and do a Sarah Palin impression. And then Tina Fey can show up and give birth in character as Sarah Palin. I guarantee itll get, like, two million hits on YouTube.

Follow Darren on Twitter: @EWDarrenFranich

Read more:
First Look: Ed Harris as John McCain
Woody Harrelson joins Game Change

Claude Giroux had a goal and three assists in his return from a four-game absence caused by a concussion, and the surging Philadelphia Flyers beat the host Dallas Stars 4-1 Wednesday night.

Wayne Simmonds and Jaromir Jagr added power-play goals, and defenseman Andrej Meszaros connected at even strength for Philadelphia. The Flyers improved to 10-2-1 in their past 13 games and 13-3-2 on the road this season.

Giroux, who leads the NHL with 43 points, had been out since he was injured in a game against Tampa Bay on Dec. 10 when he was accidentally hit in the back of the head by Simmonds knee.

Giroux received medical clearance to play last weekend, and he was inserted into the lineup after he was able to participate in Wednesdays morning skate.

Hes clearly established himself as a top player in the league, Flyers head coach Peter Laviolette said. He missed some time and wanted to get back in there. Hes capable of that. It shouldnt surprise anybody.

The game was heated at times, with three misconducts issued and several skirmishes after whistles.

I had a lot of fun just playing and was kind of in Dallas face, and they were pretty much doing the same thing to us, Giroux said.

In addition, there was an incident after the first period when Laviolette shoved Dallas agitator Steve Ott in the back as the teams headed to their locker rooms.

Laviolette entered the tunnel while the Stars were exiting, and Ott thought the Flyers coach should have waited until the home team had cleared.

Its disrespect of our building. Just let our team off; its not a big deal, Ott said.

Robert Griffin III could be making his final appearance in front of the home fans Saturday when he and the No. 17 Baylor Bears go for a second consecutive victory over the No. 22 Texas Longhorns.

Griffin is a junior, but he was granted a redshirt in 2009 after sustaining a devastating knee injury that hes clearly put behind him. He graduated last December with a degree in political science three years after enrolling at Baylor. He is a top three Heisman candidate and depending which draft boards you look at he could be as high as the third quarterback selected in Aprils NFL draft.

What he has meant to Baylors football fortunes on the field and its profile off it is practically immeasurable. Coach Art Briles, who first recruited the Copperas Cove star to Houston before taking the Baylor job, would certainly love to have Griffins rare combination of brilliant athleticism on the field and humility off it for one more season.

It might be wishful thinking.

Its something Ive got to decide with coach Briles, coach Kaz Kazardi, our strength coach whos played in the NFL, my family and anybody else whos out there that Ive felt close to to give me advice, Griffin said last week before sustaining a concussion and being knocked out early in the Bears 66-42 victory over Texas Tech. I dont want it to be about money or about draft status or anything. If its time for me to go then its time for me to go. But, if I come back it wont be because Im not a high enough draft pick, it will be because God told me this is where I need to be, and Im definitely proud to be a part of whats going on here at Baylor.

Whats going on at Baylor is a second consecutive bowl berth, an eight-win season for the first time since 1991 and the possibility of the first nine-win season since 1986 and first 10-win season since 1980. Such progress is a testament to the entire program, from Briles on down, but who can fathom the Bears being this good without a gem like Griffin at the helm?

He will have a decision to make. Some say it shouldnt be difficult, that he should not risk injury playing another year in college and go to the NFL in April. It will be his call.

Its something that Ill decide, but right now I am a Baylor Bear, Griffin said. Were guaranteed [two] games, but Im not guaranteed another day, so Im going to make sure I seize every moment as a Baylor Bear.

Blues-Avalanche Game Review

Denver, CO (Sports Network) – Jay McClement scored the winner in the second period to help the Colorado Avalanche take a 3-2 win over the St. Louis Blues.

Paul Stastny and Cody McLeod each had a goal for the Avalanche, who have won three straight and tied a franchise record with their seventh straight home win. Jean-Sebastien Giguere turned aside 37 shots in the win.

This is a good time to do it, in December where we play a lot of games at home, said Stastny. We have one more game until Christmas that is what we want to focus on and not get distracted.

Chris Stewart and David Backes each had a goal for the Blues, who have dropped two of three. Brian Elliott stopped 19 shots in the loss.

I think they came at us early, got a couple of lucky bounces and they worked for their bounces, said Elliott. We had to play come back hockey and we have to start with the lead and learn this as a lesson.

The deciding goal came at the 14:07 mark of the second period when McClement sent a backhand pass from the right wing that hit off Alex Pietrangelo and went into the net. However, Pietrangelo was sliding backwards on his belly and crashed into the net, causing it to dislodge.

After a lengthy replay, it was ruled a good goal and the Avalanche took a 3-2 lead.

That held up in the third period thanks to 11 saves from Giguere.

Colorado got the first goal of the game as Matt Hunwicks shot from the right point was tipped in by Stastny just 3:52 in.

Just over a minute later, a dump in from Kevin Porter saw Elliott field the puck and attempt to pass it over to his left for a teammate. However, the attempt was ineffective and McLeod picked up the puck and snuck it in for the easy goal.

St. Louis, though, made it a one-goal game 3:01 into the second when Backes wrister from the left circle beat Giguere cleanly to the glove side.

At the 9:10 mark of the second, the Blues tied the game when Patrik Berglund skated around to the slot and sent a backhand shot on net that saw Stewart tap home the rebound.

FRISCO, Texas — Frisco will see huge crowds roll in after the New Year, as the NCAA announced that Pizza Hut Park is sold out for the FCS national championship game.

The NCAA expects a capacity crowd of 20,086 for the title game between Sam Houston State and North Dakota State at FC Dallas home stadium, NCAA media coordinator JD Hamilton said.

Kellen Moore, the winningest quarterback in NCAA history, will play his last college game in the MAACO Las Vegas Bowl.

Ajax have issued an apology following the terrible incident which saw AZ Alkmaar goalkeeper Esteban Alvarado attacked by a pitch invader.

The fan targeted the Costa Rican after running on to the playing area 37 minutes into the Dutch Cup clash at the Amsterdam ArenA on Wednesday night.

Esteban, 22, responded by kicking the fan to the ground, leading him to be shown a red card by referee Bas Nijhuis.

AZ coach Gertjan Verbeek was livid and called his players from the field, forcing Nijhuis to abandon the game.

Ajax director Jeroen Slop told the clubs official website: This was a terrible incident and we deeply regret it and offer our sincere apologies.

The supporter has been handed over to the police. It was a 19-year-old man who was probably under the influence of alcohol. He said he hated the AZ goalkeeper and had therefore attacked him.

Safety

According to Slop, Ajax gave AZ assurances about their safety after the incident but the visitors opted not to resume the match.

He said: Ajax offered to put additional stewards around the pitch to ensure their safety and play the game but AZ stuck to their decision.

The Dutch FA (KNVB) must now decide what action, if any, to take.

A statement read: The case has been submitted to the prosecutor of football. He will see if there is guilt and report his findings.

There are three options: the game is played completed, the game is replayed, or the respective position is regarded as the final score.

Ajax were leading 1-0 at the time of the abandonment.

Lakers-ClippersGame Review

Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) – Blake Griffin totaled 30 points, seven assists and six rebounds, and the Clippers edged the Kobe Bryant-less Lakers, 108-103.

Bryant did not play in Wednesdays preseason finale because of a torn ligament in his right wrist, which he suffered in Mondays loss to the Clippers.

The Lakers did not announce if Bryant will be ready for their regular season opener against the Bulls on Sunday.

The Clippers looked crisp heading to their Christmas Day matchup against the Wizards. Caron Butler and Mo Williams each netted 16 points, DeAndre Jordan chipped in 14 and Chris Paul handed out 10 assists in the win.

Andrew Bynum netted 26 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for the Lakers, who got 20 points from Steve Blake and 13 points and nine boards from Pau Gasol.

Thursday nights Texans-Colts game represents a happy combination of successful seasons not only for the Texans, who are gearing up for their first playoff berth, but for NFL Network as it wraps up its sixth year of prime-time games.

Entering its eighth and final game, viewership for the Thursday/Saturday package is up 19 percent over 2010. In the wake of the new television agreements announced last week, the league now expects to expand its Thursday night schedule next season.

What you see coming out if this deal is more games on NFL Network, which is a vote of confidence from the ownership, said Brian Rolapp, chief operating officer for NFL Media.

The eight-game package on NFL Network was viewed in 2006 as a loss leader to prop up viewership for the league-owned network. NFL Network is now available in 60 million households, and Rolapp said the league is more inclined to add games on NFL Network than to sell another package of eight games to another network.

The sole motivation is to build a long-term asset that will return more to our owners, he said. Theres a real advantage to having a voice that talks about the NFL 24/7, 365 days a year. Weve been happy with football on Thursday nights.

Everybodys happy

The NFL last week announced contract extensions through 2022 with NBC, CBS and Fox totaling about $3 billion a year, wrapping up the agreements a year ahead of schedule.

All three were interested in extending their relationship, so there was no real reason to wait, Rolapp said.

Local broadcasters have ample reason for optimism. Through their first 13 games, Texans games this year have drawn an average audience of 523,000 households and more than 800,000 total viewers in Houston, a 46 percent bump from 358,000 households last season.

Another new element of the new broadcast agreements is expanded video streaming. NBC, which has been allowed to stream Sunday night games since 2008, will for the first time stream its wild card playoffs and the Super Bowl. Games also will be available to Verizon mobile subscribers.

Under the new 2014 agreement, Fox and CBS will be allowed to stream the same game in each market that is being carried by the local TV affiliate. In Houston, for example, if KHOU (Channel 11) is showing a Texans game, CBS can stream the Texans game in Houston.

New shifting of games

Also new is cross-flex scheduling, which will allow the NFL to shift games between Fox and CBS to provide the largest possible audience. Rolapp said some cross-flexed games will be scheduled before the season and others will be moved during the season.

Rolapp also said NFL Network, which is based in Los Angeles, and the league remain committed to NFL Films in suburban Philadelphia. Some published reports have suggested the documentary style of NFL Films is at odds with the more shallow, quick-hit approach of NFL Network, but Rolapp said NFL Films is a big part of what we do.

He also borrowed from the title of the book Only the Paranoid Survive, written by one of Intels founders, to describe the NFLs approach to media growth and development.

We can always improve the product and our relationship with broadcasters, he said. The minute you think youre done is when you have to anticipate change before youre forced to change.

Theres still work to be done to build digital platforms and enhance the live game experience. We know people will watch the games, but there is plenty to be done outside the games, with highlights and preview shows and fantasy shows. We also want more offseason events.

david.barron@chron.com