Reports the New York Post: Latrell Sprewell raced in on a break-away in the opening minutes Saturday night against his old team, Golden State. He laid the ball in softly off the glass. Fundamentally sound, but oddly peculiar.

The old Sprewell, the one the Garden fans had grown to love, would have slowed up and done his patented tomahawk jam, scowling as he hit the floor. It was the second game of a back-to-back and maybe Sprewell was saving his energy.

But Sprewell's robotic play Saturday and his candid preseason barbs speak to a larger issue: After three glorious seasons as a Knick, has he lost his heart and desire to play in New York, as Patrick Ewing once did? Does he want to go to a championship contender?

Indications are pointing that way.