New York Knicks Blog – Page 103 – NBA Blog

Knicks sign J.R. Smith, waive Renaldo Balkman

J.R. Smith

Hopefully won’t anger Jeremy Lin

The New York Knicks have officially added a talented shooting guard with deep range, great athletic ability, and questionable decision-making skills.

Senior Vice President, Basketball Operations and Interim General Manager Glen Grunwald announced today that the team has signed free agent guard J.R. Smith.

Smith, 6-6, 220-pounds, returns to the NBA after playing overseas for Zhejiang of the Chinese Basketball Association.

He holds NBA career averages of 12.5 points, on .428 shooting from the field and .371 from three-point range, and 23.9 minutes in 503 games (129 starts) over seven NBA seasons with New Orleans/Oklahoma City and Denver. He averaged 12.3 points on .435 shooting and .390 from downtown (124-318), 4.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists over 24.9 minutes in 79 games (six starts) with Denver last season.

The Freehold, NJ-native was originally selected out of high school by the New Orleans Hornets in the first round (18th overall) of 2004 NBA Draft.

To generate roster space, the Knicks waived Renaldo Balkman. The 6-8, 225-pounds averaged 3.0 points and 8.2 minutes over 14 games off the bench for New York this season.

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MSG Network, Time Warner Cable blackout ends

City Council Speaker Christine Quinn confirmed in a triumphant press statement reports that Time Warner Cable and MSG Network had ended their nearly two-month long standoff as political and populist pressure intensified over the past few days thanks in large part to Linsanity.

“I want to thank the MSG-Network and Time Warner Cable for coming to a deal that will put the Knicks and the Rangers back on TV. Now, a million more New Yorkers will be able to go Linsane in the privacy of their own living room. I’m looking forward to watching the return of Carmelo Anthony for the Knicks and Henrik Lundqvist in goal for the Rangers.”

A Time Warner spokesman declined to comment on the reported deal and spokesmen for the MSG Network did not immediately return requests for comment.

— Reported by Nina Mandell of the New York Daily News

President Obama is aware of Linsanity

Jeremy Lin

Attention Whore (Just Kidding)

White House spokesman Jay Carney says President Barack Obama is tracking the exploits of Jeremy Lin, the sudden star of the New York Knicks.

The point guard from Harvard has come out of nowhere to lead the team on a winning streak and he’s captured widespread public attention.

Carney says Lin’s game-winning 3-pointer at the end of Tuesday night’s game against Toronto was the subject of conversation with the president aboard Marine One on Wednesday morning.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Chauncey Billups undergoes surgery on left Achilles tendon

Chauncey Billups

No retirement plans at this time

Los Angeles Clippers guard Chauncey Billups underwent successful surgery today to repair a torn left Achilles tendon.

The surgery was performed by Dr. Thomas Clanton at The Steadman Clinic in Vail, Colorado. Billups is expected to remain in Colorado for approximately four weeks following the surgery before returning to Los Angeles to begin the rehabilitation process.

The injury occurred with 5:48 remaining in the fourth quarter in the Clippers’ 107-102 win in Orlando on February 6th and will sideline Billups for the remainder of the 2011-12 NBA season. In 20 games played this season (20 starts), Billups has tallied 14.9 points, 4.0 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 30.4 minutes per game.

He won’t play again during the 2011-12 NBA season. According to several reports, Billups does not plan on retiring and hopes to resume his pro career once he heals.

Jeremy Lin and Russell Westbrook named NBA Players of Week

Jeremy Lin

He really exists.

Linsanity is running wild, and the NBA league office has taken notice.

About six games ago, Knicks guard Jeremy Lin was considered a 15th man, and a player on the fringe, having to fight to stick around in the league.

Things change quickly, sometimes.

Lin and the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Russell Westbrook today were named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, Feb. 6, through Sunday, Feb. 12.

Lin led the Knicks to a 4-0 week, averaging 27.3 points, 8.3 assists and 2.0 steals. His 109 points over his first four career starts are the most by any player since 1976-77, and he became the first player in NBA history to tally at least 20 points and seven assists in each of his first four starts. Lin scored a career-high 38 points on Feb. 10, in a 92-85 win over the Lakers.

Westbrook helped the Thunder to a 3-1 week, averaging 30.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 2.5 steals. Westbrook scored 28 or more points in all four of Oklahoma City’s games, and posted one double-double (28 points, 11 rebounds) on Feb. 6, in a 111-107 win over the Portland Trail Blazers. Westbrook connected on a career-high 15 field goals on Feb. 9, during a 106-101 loss to the Sacramento Kings.

Here is a recap of the week for Lin and Westbrook:

Jeremy Lin, New York Knicks

Feb. 6 vs. Utah: Posted 28 points, eight assists and two steals in a 99-88 win over the Jazz.

Feb. 8 @ Washington: Tallied 23 points, 10 assists and four rebounds in a 107-93 win over the Wizards.

Feb. 10 vs. L.A. Lakers: Scored a career-high 38 points and added seven assists, four rebounds and two steals in a 92-85 win over the Lakers.

Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder

Feb. 6 @ Portland: Tallied 28 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists during a 111-107 overtime win over the Trail Blazers.

Feb. 7 at Golden State: Posted 31 points and added seven assists and two steals in a 119-116 win over the Warriors.

Feb. 10 at Utah: Collected 28 points and added six rebounds and three assists during a 101-87 win over the Jazz.

Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Dallas’ Dirk Nowitzki, Detroit’s Greg Monroe, Golden State’s Monta Ellis, Miami’s LeBron James and Dwyane Wade and Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant.

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With Jeremy Lin’s emergence, Knicks games added in Asia

Jeremy Lin

International Linsation, at least this week

Jeremy Lin is making the Knicks must-see TV in Asia.

The NBA says Thursday its Asian TV partners have added Knicks games to their broadcast schedules following the emergence of Lin, the first American-born NBA player of Chinese or Taiwanese descent.

Sina in China will show Friday’s game against the Lakers, while stations in Taiwan will televise Knicks games this month against Toronto, Sacramento, New Orleans, New Jersey and Atlanta. ESPN Philippines also added the Feb. 17 Hornets game in New York.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Wilson Chandler intends to sign with Nuggets

Wilson Chandler

Probably craves some pizza

Restricted free-agent forward Wilson Chandler plans to re-sign with the Denver Nuggets once he finishes playing in China, his agent told Yahoo! Sports.

Chandler signed with Zhejiang Guangsha of the Chinese Basketball Association during the NBA lockout and is committed to stay with the team until China’s season is over. Chandler is drawing “significant interest” from other NBA teams, Chandler’s agent, Chris Luchey said, but he wants to re-sign with the Nuggets for either the rest or the season or a longer-term deal.

Nuggets general manager Masai Ujiri acknowledged the team’s interest in re-signing Chandler. The Nuggets have the right to match any offer Chandler receives from another NBA team.

— Reported by Marc. J Spears of Yahoo! Sports

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Chauncey Billups does not plan to retire yet

Clippers guard Chauncey Billups realized his worst fears Tuesday when an MRI exam revealed he has a torn left Achilles’ tendon that will end his first season with the team.

But the 35-year-old Billups doesn’t plan on retiring.

“No, sir. There is no way I’m going to crawl out of the league,” Billups said Tuesday. “I’m going to be back. Trust me.”

Billups was examined at the Cleveland Clinic and he will return to Los Angeles on Thursday for further evaluation. No date has been set for his surgery.

But it is expected that Billups will be sidelined at least eight months while recovering from the injury. “I’ll get it taken care of and get back the best way I can. That’s exactly what I’m going to do,” he said.

His contract with the Clippers runs out after this season. Billups said he wants to return to the Clippers — if the feeling is mutual.

— Reported by Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times

Chauncey Billups out for season with torn left Achilles tendon

Chauncey Billups

Career may be over

Clippers guard Chauncey Billups suffered a torn left Achilles tendon in last night’s 107-102 Clippers’ win in Orlando. The injury, which occurred with 5:48 remaining in the fourth quarter, will sideline Billups for the remainder of the 2011-12 NBA season.

Billups underwent an MRI today at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio which confirmed the injury. He will return to Los Angeles on Thursday for further evaluation. A date for surgery is yet to be determined.

In 20 games played this season (20 starts), Billups has tallied 14.9 points, 4.0 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 30.4 minutes per game.

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Chauncey Billups suffers Achilles injury

The good news for the Clippers was that they beat the Orlando Magic, 107-102, in overtime Monday night at Amway Center in Orlando, Fla.

The bad news came when Chauncey Billups injured his left Achilles tendon with 5 minutes 48 seconds left in a game.

He was helped off the court and into the Clippers’ locker room and never returned.

The Clippers said Billups, 35, will be evaluated Tuesday when the team arrives in Cleveland.

Billups had 11 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter. He had made three three-pointers in the fourth, his last giving the Clippers an 82-74 lead.

— Reported by Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times (Blog)

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