The main reason to be optimistic about tonight’s matchup with the Celtics is that the Knicks couldn’t possibly lay an egg any worse than they did against the Bucks,…right? Then again, Garnett is playing this evening (he missed the first game, which was reasonably competitive, serving a one-game suspension), and the Celtics are on such a roll now that it’s hard to imagine them not getting win number 18 in their current streak.

Let's just hope it's competitive tonight -- coaches and writers frequently talk about "not settling for moral victories", and I'm sure the players will give it their all tonight. But a moral victory...I'll settle.

Other notes from a weekend of random League-Pass-ing:

• Cleveland looked good…*very* good in dismantling the Nuggets on Friday night. I still see guys like Delonte West (who I really like), Sczerbiak, and big Z light it up on offense, and remain doubtful that they can do it against a tougher defensive team in the playoffs for seven games. I would still love to see Lebron with a more consistent mid-range jumpshot. But this team is right behind the Celtics and I can’t wait to watch them play the Celts again.

• But for two rim-rattlers, the Lakers could have been two for Florida. Instead, they continue to scuffle, and though I think they’ll come back fine, they don’t seem to have the toughness inside or the focus lately. Bynum is the Lakers’ (more talented) answer to Wilson Chandler – a young player full of promise and highlight moments that will nevertheless drive you crazy almost every game.

• Jamal got 50! I actually watched the abomination of a matchup between the Bobcats and Warriors, which coming on the heels of Knicks-Bucks, was a major counterweight to so many great games this week (Celtics-Hawks, Spurs-Hornets, Knicks-Lakers).  The game fittingly ended with the Warriors ahead comfortably with less than a minute before Azubuike threw up a wild shot in the lane, and Okafor, with the opportunity to pull the Cats closer with 2 FTs, missed both, including an airball of the second.  As for Jamal, his jumper looked as sweet as you might imagine, but the "defense" of Raja Bell and Ray Felton didn't hurt either.

* OK, so maybe I was a little premature in writing off my former favorite point guard (who gives good backrubs, see above)...the battle between Mr. Big Shot and Nash wasn't one-sided the way I expected. Nash, hurting shot and all, managed to make several clutch shots down the stretch to pull it out for the Suns against the Nuggets. Nene is really fun to watch this year -- watching him bang with Shaq and Amare was worth the price of admission -- but the rest of the Nuggets still seem a bit schizoid on O and D, and Carmelo forgot to show up last night. Hornets and Spurs still seem like the teams in the West to challenge the Lakers right now, with the Nuggets, Blazers and Suns close behind.