It appears the author of the of the original Bad Boys - the Detroit Pistons - is now singing a different song. Now coaching in New Jersey, Chuck Daly claims the rival New York Knicks are playing dirty.

Knicks president Dave Checketts has been in the New York press lately, claiming Daly's charges go too far. "We're not about being dirty," Checketts told the New York Daily News. "That's now what we choose to be. Intense? Yes. Dirty? No."Checketts claims Daly is using the media to brand the Knicks as a vicious team. "What's distressing is how some coaches are using the media to get an edge on us," Checketts continued. "Chuck Daly continues to fire things at us. He continues to use the media to get his message out."

For his part, Daly admitted he has been the pounder as well as the poundee. "He (Checketts) has a right to express his opinion. I admire that style of play. When we won with it, people tried copying it. It wasn't always easy, and sometimes it was impossible to control a (Rick) Mahorn or (Dennis) Rodman because of the way they play. I wonder if the Knicks can control their players."

Daly claimed the Knicks' brutality cost them the services of guard Kenny Anderson, who was pushed by the Knicks' John Starks. Starks received a $5,000 fine and Anderson received a broken wrist.

"Remember the Detroit Pistons? Remember Dennis Rodman throwing people into the stands every night?" said Checketts. "Was Chuck uncomfortable with that? Now he's going through the media to attack us."

Ah, life in New York.

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With the impressive number of young players in the NBA, writers are already referring to such players as Michael Jordan and Isiah Thomas in terms like "statesman" and "Grand Old Man."

Asked if he could be referred to as a statesman of basketball, Jordan replied, "I'm getting up there. But with age comes experience and along with that goes advantages."

Thomas concurred. "It's flattering," said Thomas. "Because they say it in such a distinguished way."

AND THEN SOME: The Jazz must go 20-2 to match last year's 55-win regular season. . . . Television reporter Dick Schapp on the difference between Wilt Chamberlain and Shaquille O'Neal: "Wilt was further ahead of his game than O'Neal is ahead of his game right now. I think the difference between O'Neal and (Alonzo) Mourning, while it's a sizable difference, is not as immense as it was between Wilt and anybody else who was coming into the league at that time. Wilt was a whole new ballgame. Shaquille raises it a level, but not to the same extent that Wilt did." . . . Charles Barkley on assists: "Anytime I want an assist, I give it to (Danny) Ainge. I KNOW he won't pass it." . . . Tyrone Corbin on his shooting slump: "Right now I just need to play well against anybody."

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