NEW YORK -- Two superb NBA stories of late implicate the Milwaukee Bucks, which is why you've read or heard precious little about them.

Despite boasting an unadulterated All-Star in Michael Redd -- unrecognizable at his own dinner table until his coming out party in L.A. in which Rick Carlisle set up a possible game-tying trifecta in his honor -- the Bucks essentially are a company of hand-me-downs.

In fact, if not for rookie stylist Terry Porter earning a modicum of national consideration for coaching honors, nobody outside of Wisconsin would have known his geeked-up band of overachievers were fourth in the East and several games north of the equator.

Oh, that's news to you, too?

Well, here's another bulletin:

After Damon Jones was given custody of the ball several games ago following T.J. Ford's slight (is there such a diagnosis?) spinal injury, the Bucks won four of five -- losing to the Timberwolves -- and (drum roll) Jones accumulated an inhuman 53 assists and two turnovers, accentuated by the 17-0 ratio in last week's manacling of the Magic in Orlando.

Attention, please, the above stats are not typographical errors.

Damon, who, you plead?

Damon Jones, you know, the guy who came out of the University of Houston undrafted in 1997 and known primarily as a 3-point long distance dialer.

Admittedly, my short-term memory isn't what it used to be, but, as I recall, he nailed 20 or 25 in a row (some ridiculous number like that) from long range in last summer's Wheelchair Classic at Madison Square Garden.

Yeah, that Damon Jones, holding it down for his ninth outfit in six seasons; his stops at the blinking light include Orlando, New Jersey, Boston, Golden State, Dallas, Vancouver, Detroit, Sacramento, Milwaukee and the obligatory para-professional leagues in between.

Yeah, that Damon Jones, here a free agent, there a free agent, every year a free agent. Come July 1, it'll be no different. During that hang tough time, it's safe to say, Jones has amassed more per diem than after-tax dollars.

Because Redd is such a toxic outside shooter and Desmond Mason has developed a lethal weapon to complement his aerially dynamic act, the Bucks began the season armed but not all that dangerous.

Porter's emphasis on dripping sweat on defensive assignments, sharing the ball and running at every opportunity made them competitive more times than not. But what makes them especially complicated to negotiate with recently, is the pick-and-roll orchestrated by Damon and Keith Van Horn.

Unlike Ford, whose springer is suspect, at best, Damon's jumper must be taken seriously; cheaters are instantly punished.

Unlike Thomas, not exactly celebrated for his passing, Van Horn creates easier shots for himself or Jones in the two-man game. Additionally, he flaunts longer and more accurate range.

For the first time since college, Van Horn's teammates and coach are focusing on his strengths as opposed to highlighting his weaknesses. Whether it's been Jersey, Philly or New York, Van Horn has been accused of being soft, defensively deficient and unathletic.

In Milwaukee, the help is there before he can be exploited. Moreover, he's being encouraged to do what he does best.

Already Van Horn has notched a 23-point effort, delivered a season-high 30 and poured in 25 against the Magic. Down the stretch the Bucks cleared out the middle -- that's right, cleared out the middle -- and let him work one-on-one against Drew Gooden or Tracy McGrady. Using superior size and experience he mistreated both! Frequently!

Jayson Williams says Allen Iverson (who was 2-21 from the field in one game last week) needs to work on his shooting.

Having beaten the Knicks by 18 and Nets by 13, the Suns were anointed by George Karl as the best team in the New York area. In all fairness, the Jersey Jammers were without Jason Kidd, who afterward admitted it was tough being on the receiving end of such abuse in Arizona.

Sen. John Kerry said he didn't mind showing up in a photo with Jane Fonda. But he drew the line when asked to pose with Celtics' GM Danny Ainge.