Tsai takes party line on China’s NBA ban

SO THE Chinese government banned the NBA’s openers from TV on Tuesday. If one applies the self-serving “facts” issued by Nets owner and China-dependent billionaire Joe Tsai, a billion Chinese demanded such from the government. Yeah, it was a popular uprising, like in Hong Kong.

Near the end of the first quarter of the Knicks’ opener Wednesday in San Antonio, MSG’s Mike Breen said the Knicks were 1-for-9 on 3-pointers and had averaged 33 attempts in preseason games. Clyde Frazier: “That’s what the NBA has become now, Mike.”

Reader Tim O’Neil notes that Saturday at home against Princeton, Brown wore Nike black uniforms. Yep, even Brown wore black. Despite their menacing look, Brown lost, 65-22.

Why did the Cardinals appear pleased after beating the Giants on Sunday? They ended the game by taking a knee at the Giants’ 4-yard line, thus it was a red-zone failure! No matter, the NFL and obedient media have determined that red-zone stats — successes versus failures — are revealing and significant.

The best graphic of the week came from Game 6 of the ALCS, with Fox displaying how “the game has changed” (regressed) to make the designated hitter the designated swinger. It showed Astros and Yankees designated hitters having produced two hits and 21 strikeouts in 39 at-bats.

The best bad graphic also belonged to Fox: “Yanks’ J.A. Happ, at 37, is the oldest to pitch in an LCS game on his birthday.” Three questions: 1) who assigned that for research, 2) who approved it for entry into the data bank, 3) who determined it was worthy of a national TV audience?

The two “closers” at the close of the Yankees-Astros ALCS — loser Aroldis Chapman and blown save/winner Roberto Osuna — had both been suspended by MLB for domestic violence.

Reader Mark Morley: Pregame shows are the only TV programs where the “laugh” signs face the hosts.