An hour before every home game at Madison Square Garden, a handful of ballers gather in a small room next to the visitors' locker room for their final stage of game preparation. But this has nothing to do with ankle tape or film breakdown. For this bunch, it's all about the Good Book.

Mark Jackson and the Detroit Pistons' Michael Curry are the first to arrive. Curry is showing off the cast that protects his dislocated thumb on his shooting hand. "Good thing it's not on his strong hand," jokes Jackson. Curry pulls a small book out of his suit jacket pocket, which he considers the secret to his inspirational success. "I can't put this thing down," he says. "I'll sneak a peak on the bench, the team bus, wherever." It's called Prayers of Jabez, and Jackson is not unfamiliar with it. "I just finished it," Jackson says." That's some powerful stuff."

Just then, Allan Houston and Kurt Thomas walk in and give me dap. "I see you got the book too, " Houston says to Jackson and Curry. There are a dozen or so chairs in a half-circle surrounding a single chair. The single seat is reserved for Pastor John Love. He's been making the trip up from Baltimore on game nights for the past 12 years to hold his pre-game prayer meetings. At this particular service, Love reads from the book of Joshua about the Battle of Jericho as the players sit silently. At the conclusion of the service, we gather in a circle while Love delivers his final message. Houston and Jackson whisper "Thank you, Jesus" and "Yes Lord". Love preaches that no matter how rough things get, there is always a "door of hope."

Things have been a little rough for Love lately. Jeff Van Gundy recently questioned why the pastor is given so much time with the players before games. The coach called the pastor a distraction. "Maybe I haven't prayed enough for coach," says Houston.

Word to Revelation.

Chris Palmer covers The NBA Life for ESPN The Magazine. E-mail him at christopher.palmer@espnmag.com.