Watchdog

On the defending Eastern Conference champs: "Cleveland's not going to make the playoffs. That was a fluky thing that happened to them last year. They didn't make any improvements, and everybody around them got better. They're the only team in the East that didn't get better.''

On David Stern relaxing rules governing officials gambling in casinos: "It proved again he is the best commissioner in sports. Guys should be able to go to casinos. I don't go from, you're in a casino, to, you're betting on games. I'm glad he changed that rule."

On disgraced ref Tim Donaghy: "It was just one guy who lost his mind betting on games. I said I only would be concerned if it was more than one guy. And I think they proved it really was only one guy.''

On TV ratings: "The ratings system is full of ----. I wish all the people that run these stations had the ---- to go after these ratings people. The ratings system is the most bogus thing in this country. It's like the BCS . . . I've been living for 44 years. I've never met a person with a Nielsen box, never in my life. And when you're black and have money you get a lot of people coming around.''

On what he has been asked about most this offseason: "The fans want to talk about the Celtics and how the Knicks are going to do. Those are the two questions I've been asked most once the preseason started . . . Everybody wants to talk about Zach Randolph and Eddie Curry.''

On the Nets: "I picked New Jersey [in the East] last year; I'm picking them again this year. I love New Jersey. I think if everybody had been healthy last year New Jersey would have won the East.''

On Jason Kidd: "I think Jason Kidd is the best leader in sports.''

More on gambling: "Most people like to gamble. There's nothing wrong with that . . . Alcohol ain't bad for you unless you're an alcoholic. People want to go from A to Z so quickly.''

On Kobe Bryant: "You can fool the press, you can fool the public, but when guys are with you every day they can tell when you're going through the motions.''