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Normally this type of buzz over clothing is reserved for a night in late June, when the soon-to-be NBA employees keep tight lipped about their apparel of choice for Draft night. Players around the league are being less secretive about their feelings over the NBA's new dress code, which takes effect when the season opens on Nov. 1.

In the weeks leading up to the announcement, it's safe to say many players were less than excited about the mandate.
-- [Detroit News]

Now, as the Knicks' Antonio Davis, president of the National Basketball Players Association, says the prospect of any change whatsoever will lead some to be hesitant, but ultimately the players will embrace the new policy.
-- [New York Times, Reg. req'd]

But what if they don't? So far, it's uncertain what the penalties will be, however, Commissioner Stern is optimistic the players will comply.
-- [ESPN.com]

Much of the early displeasure over the idea of a dress code came from not fully understanding the requirements involved. Now that the picture is clearer, it seems less rigid than initially feared.
-- [San Antonio Express-News, Reg. req'd]

That's not to say the guidelines won't be met without any protest.
-- [ESPN.com]

These days, the concern is over headwear, jerseys, t-shirts and jewelry, unlike in Phil Jackson's playing days, when his attire of choice was bib overalls.
-- [Los Angeles Times, Reg. req'd]

While some may not like the idea of being told what to wear, others, like the Dallas Mavericks, are thinking more creatively. Leave it to the team that commissioned Diddy to design an alternate jersey to think fashion-first and consider having a designer help create a look the team can make its own.
-- [NBA.com and BlogMaverick.com]

Let's just hope the designer has the good taste to tailor something a little larger than what Cuban is threatening to wear ... keep reading, you'll see.

While most players are content doing their talking on the court, Etan Thomas is showing that pro athletes can have a way with words off it, too.
-- [New York Times, Reg. req'd]

You've likely heard the Pacers were high on rookie Danny Granger and considered him the steal of June's NBA Draft, but did you think he'd be posting 19-and-15 on the defending champions this early in his career?
-- [NBA.com and Indianapolis Star]

Can we get one last flop for old time's sake?
-- [New York Times, Reg. req'd]

The first time I ever saw Allan Houston play was at Reynolds Coliseum on the North Carolina State campus. I was a high school senior visiting State for an interview. My brother was a grad student there and he got us tickets for a Saturday night game against the University of Tennessee. I believe State won a close game, but the most memorable moment of the trip for me was a shot in the middle of the second half. Houston had the ball outside the arc, a few feet to the right of the top of the key. He was dribbling the ball with his left hand, a defender within reach.

What proceeded was a move that I have tried to imitate several hundred times in my driveway, always awkwardly or unsuccessfully. Houston dribbled the ball with his left hand through his legs straight into his shooting motion - the smoothest shooting motion I have ever seen - and drained the shot. Sounds pretty simple, right? Just dribble through the legs from left to right and shoot? Go out and try it. No hesitation allowed. Now make it look as smooth as Allan Houston did.

Houston announced his retirement yesterday. For some, his inability to play has been a running joke for the last couple of years as he tried to come back again and again from microfracture surgery.
-- [New York Daily News]

For others, he is one of the best shooters we have seen in recent memory and for those close to him, has been a model of determination. For Houston and all of New York one moment in time will always be remembered.
-- [New York Post, Reg. req'd]

Larry Brown regrets that he won't have Houston as a positive influence on the Knicks' youngsters. Through it all, Houston has been nothing but a class act. Even opponents have nothing but good things to say about him.
-- [New York Daily News]

In the end, Houston's contract will likely overshadow the appreciation he deserves.
-- [Newark Star-Ledger]

LeBron is back and practicing like nothing ever happened.
-- [Cleveland Plain Dealer]

If you haven't ordered League Pass yet, now's the time to do it. Four games tonight and several more later this week, including five on Friday. If you weren't watching last night, you missed the Ryan Bowen Dunkathon and the introduction of Johan Petro.
-- [Houston Chronicle and Tacoma News Tribune]

Last week, we talked about the Celtics point guard situation. Well, Marcus Banks has a broken leg, so it's down to Dan Dickau and Delonte West, unless Ricky Davis can play the point.
-- [Boston Globe and Boston Herald]

Finally, the new Dress Code was put in place last night. Expect plenty of reaction in the days ahead...

Sure it's only Oct. 17 and a meaningful game is yet to be played, but Knicks fans have to be eager for the regular season to get underway and see what kind of turnaround Larry Brown can lead. Through two preseason contests, the preliminary results look promising.

On Saturday, the Knicks knocked off the Nets in Bridgeport, Conn. in a game featuring the debuts of new Knicks Larry Brown, Quentin Richardson, Eddy Curry and rookies Nate Robinson, David Lee and Channing Frye.
-- [New York Post, Reg. req'd]

Curry, who was traded to the Knicks as training camp opened two weeks ago, had a solid showing with his new club, posting 16 points in only 13 minutes.
-- [New York Newsday]

Then last night, in Brown's first game as Knicks coach at Madison Square Garden, New York came up just short of a victory against the Mavs, as Robinson -- all 5-9 of him, as he's listed -- came up short on a rebound at the buzzer ...
-- [New York Times, Reg. req'd]

While some saw DeSagana Diop tip in the game-winning bucket over the outstretched Robinson, Larry Brown is sure to have seen just how Diop got into the lane in the first place: A failed box out by Frye ( watch video ).
-- [NBA.com]

Missed assignments like that, among others, had Brown steamed after the game. "I was disappointed because I didn't think we rebounded or defended with our key guys," Brown said, "and that's what it's going to take if we're going to have any chance."
-- [New Jersey Star-Ledger]

Frye's classmate, Lee, didn't make many rookie mistakes through his first two games of NBA action ...
-- [New York Newsday]

... and could see his regular season minutes increase if he keeps drawing favorable comparisons from his new coach.
-- [New York Post, Reg. req'd]

Classmate Robinson, on the other hand, saw his minutes diminish immediately after this show-boat maneuver.
-- [New York Daily News]

So, while the rookie trio is getting extended minutes in the preseason, it remains to be seen what type of impact Frye, Robinson and Lee will have once the regular season tips off; Brown has never been particularly fond of giving much run to his youngsters, but these three may change his mind.

Two-time defending Euroleague champion Maccabi Tel Aviv, playing without their star Sarunas Jasikevicius who now suits up for the Indiana Pacers, defeated the Toronto Raptors Sunday to become only the second international squad to ever defeat an NBA team.
-- [Toronto Sun]

Fans remember Jason Collier and send their condolences to the Collier and Atlanta Hawks families. Although autopsy results are still pending, the Hawks have resumed play and will keep their teammates's spirit with them during the 2005-06 season.
-- [Hawks.com and Atlanta Journal-Constitution]

Houston, we have a ... "lot of work to do." Rockets see improvement in turnovers and rebounding, but believe there's more to improve on.
-- [Houston Chronicle]