There are nine days left in the preseason and Jeff Van Gundy has yet to announce who will run his team for the 170 days that follow. He doesn't really have to do that, of course -- everyone knows Mark Jackson will be the starting point guard -- but withholding the announcement means the Knicks coach won't have to hurt anyone's feelings until it becomes necessary.

"Mark, I don't see him as a guy coming off the bench," Van Gundy said Friday afternoon in the most definitive statement he has made. "I think they're all good players. We're fortunate to have them all, it's just an unfortunate situation for them. The decision is tough and it's going to be tough on them, too. All of them have developed a close relationship and it's going to be an unfair thing for one of them."