NBA beat notebook

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA122406.08C.BKNbeat.notebook.29a964c.html

Web Posted: 12/23/2006 09:32 PM CST
San Antonio Express-News

Only the most cynical would suggest that the Knicks' three-game, post-brawl winning streak was a result of coach Isiah Thomas having such a short bench he no longer could mess up his team's lineup. ...

A man's vehicle can be a sanctuary, even in a blinding blizzard. When the Denver Post's Marc J. Spears reached Andre Miller on his cell phone two days after the Allen Iverson trade sent Miller to Philadelphia, the point guard was in his vehicle, slogging through the snowstorm. Why drive into the teeth of a blizzard? "I'm just driving and thinking," Miller told Spears. ...

Happy 40th birthday (a day late) to Nets graybeard Uncle Cliffy Robinson. He has his share of quirks, but he's always been productive. ...

How much better are the Raptors this season? Their Friday victory in Portland made them 5-3 without injured Chris Bosh. Last season they were 1-11 without their star. ...

Warriors guard Monta Ellis is being called T.O. by some, and not because he is a fan of Cowboys receiver Terrell Owens. It stands for "turnover," and Ellis has been committing a ton of them lately. A big part of the problem is Ellis' inability to dribble well with his left hand. Warriors coach Don Nelson calls him a "Deuce Left," which means two dribbles with his left hand is about all he can handle, literally. ...

Toronto fans have been waiting a long time for the chance to laugh it up at Vince Carter's expense, and finally got it on Dec. 15. The ex-Raptors' star missed 13 of 17 shots, scored a season-low 12 points and Toronton won the game. ...

MVP for the Suns thus far? Not Steve Nash. It's Dr. Tom Carter . He's the surgeon who performed the microfracture surgery on Amare Stoudemire's left knee 14 months ago. ...

When the Warriors played in Boston on Wednesday, Baron Davis pointed out to teammates the retired No. 19 hanging in rafters of Boston's home arena (Sorry, just can't keep up with all these corporate name changes). He was the only Warriors player who knew the number belonged to his current coach, Don Nelson.