New York Knicks Blog – Page 138 – NBA Blog

Bill Walker has chance to shine with Knicks

New York Knicks swingman Bill Walker is getting a chance to show his stuff, something he was rarely given an opportunity to do on the extremely talented Boston Celtics squad he used to be on.

Mike Ganter of the Toronto Sun reports:

“It was just more mentally challenging,” Walker said of his time in Boston, a huge chunk of which he spent in the Development League. “Physically I was able to play every day and do things like that. Dealing with not being able to get on the floor. That was the hardest part. Keeping your mind positive.”

Walker’s get-out-of-jail-free card arrived in the form of a Eddie House for Nate Robinson trade deadline deal in which he followed House to New York.

Walker’s opportunity arrived in a 124-93 blowout loss in Cleveland to the Cavs. Cleveland had built a 26-point lead by the half and extended it to 49.

Walker wound up playing 35 minutes and hitting 9-of-14 from the field for a Knicks high and personal career high 21 points.

Chris Bosh misses game due to stomach cramps

Eric Koreen of the National Post reports:

Chris Bosh will not make his return to the floor Friday night. When the forward will be able to play is up in the air.

The Toronto Raptors star will miss his seventh straight game on Friday against the Knicks. He missed the first six because of a sprained left ankle, but is missing this game because of severe stomach cramps.

LeBron sees T-Mac is rusty

Marc Berman of the New York Post reports:

Tracy McGrady has already e-mailed LeBron James an overture to join him in New York next season.

But James will have to see more from T-Mac for his New York presence to be a draw.

Following McGrady’s listless six-point, 25-minute performance, James saw the rust.

“He looked like a guy who hasn’t played much,” James said after the Cavaliers crushed the Knicks 124-93 last night. “It doesn’t matter how much rehab you do, how much working out you do. You have to be out on the court, because game-time stamina is totally different. He’s still shooting extremely well. He still can play point forward as he always had. But he’s still getting his legs back. The last 20 games will help him, help him a lot for next year.”

Fun, unlikely idea: LeBron James to Lakers

Almost no chance Lakers ever get LeBron James

Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James will be the star of this summer’s NBA free agent market. And as is the case with all players who expect the league maximum salary (or anything even remotely close), the safest bet is that he remains with his current team.

While LeBron’s teammates in Cleveland are not the best supporting cast in the world, they’re good enough to form a squad that currently sports a league-best 46-14 record. He’s in a winning situation. The team is one of only a few legitimate championship contenders in the league. Mainly due to LeBron. But the skills of his teammates fit in well around him.

While select other teams can offer LeBron a maximum contract this summer, the Cavs can offer a longer deal, with more money involved. And most of the teams with cap room this summer are flawed, rebuilding squads that won’t offer LeBron a better shot at a championship than his current team offers.

How about LeBron James to the Lakers? Would he entertain the notion? Sure, why not! Human beings tend to entertain lots of notions. Have you entertained the notion of marrying Jessica Alba? Is it likely? Heck no.

The Lakers have no cap room. So LeBron would have to sign at a bargain rate and make less money than Jerome James (0.0 ppg) makes on the Chicago Bulls this season.

How about trades? The Cavs will never trade LeBron James. They’d consider it only if they knew for a fact he was going to sign elsewhere, and even then the team would probably refuse to believe LeBron was really leaving and would do everything possible to change his mind if there was any indication he might take off.

Does LeBron want to be a Laker? I’m sure the thought has entered his mind. They’re the NBA champions. Every good player probably imagines themselves joining the league’s best, somehow, at some point. At least in conversation with their buddies on a rainy day.

There certainly are positives to LeBron sacrificing his NBA salary for the sake of signing with the Lakers. His market value would increase being in Los Angeles. He’d be playing on a team pretty much guaranteed to win lots of championships. As Kobe Bryant gets old, LeBron would still be improving (if that’s even possible). So as Kobe faded, LeBron would gain even more glory. It’s fun stuff to think about. But likely? No.

I’d say there’s a 70 percent chance the Cavaliers keep LeBron. A 15 percent chance the Knicks get him. A 14.5 percent chance some other team in the league gets him. And a 0.5 percent chance (make sure you understand, that’s half of one percent) the Lakers get him.

So, it’s not impossible!

It’s also possible you win the lottery tomorrow. Good luck with that!

Eddy Curry should bring his A-game

By Jerald Hoover

New York Knicks center Eddy Curry should seize the moment, get his act together, get in shape and become a viable part of the rotation.

With the trade of Jared Jeffries and Jordan Hill, the club was left devoid of bigs. True, Jeffries nor Hill are what you would call “classic centers” but they were 6-feet-11 inches.

For all of Tracy McGrady’s wondrous gifts and talents as a basketball player, the hot shooting that Eddie House can provide and for all of the flashy passes that Sergio Rodriguez can throw, there isn’t a real BIG MAN to provide lost post scoring. Curry is a horrible defender and that’s well known but he is a huge seven-footer that could be a real BEAST down low.

If McGrady stays healthy and can play like a star, perhaps it’ll bring the best out in Curry, if he ever sees the floor.

Curry is talented, and if he needs to be coddled, pampered and consoled to an extent then do it, if you can get 20 points and at least five rebounds and a block or two. That would allow Coach D’Antoni to move David Lee to his natural position of power forward and the Knicks can become a little more conventional.

Tough to say whether coach Mike D’Antoni will ever give Curry a shot, and no one is sure if Curry is in the type of shape needed to play in the first place.

Jerald L Hoover is a producer and director of a Mount V, NY basketball documentary: Four Square Miles to Glory.

Nate Robinson will not miss post-game interviews in New York

Recently traded from the New York Knicks to the Boston Celtics, scoring guard Nate Robinson definitely notices the difference between the atmosphere around a losing team and that of a winning one.

Frank Dell’Apa of the Boston Globe reports:

Nate Robinson said he will not miss being in New York, at least taking part in postgame interviews.

“It’s tough to lose every night and get asked the same questions, what’s the problem?’’ Robinson said. “Here, we’re here to win every night, not take ‘Ls,’ and they carry themselves that way, and I have carried myself that way my whole life.

“Doc is honest and straightforward, and as a player that’s what you want from a coach, to always be honest with you and explain exactly what he wants you to do. He’s all about winning. I’ve been a winner all my life and that’s something I want to continue to be.

“Doc makes you that much more confident in becoming a winner. He said just come in and just be Nate. He doesn’t want to change me, just come in and be ready to play. I play with energy, play for the love of game.’’

It’s safe to say that New York media members look forward to covering a winning team. So hopefully they won’t have to ask such questions like the ones Nate didn’t like in the near future.

Eddie House gets standing ovation in Boston

Julian Benbow of the Boston Globe reports:

At times last night, Eddie House found himself joking around with Rajon Rondo on the court, and at others he was making plays against him. Back at TD Garden almost instantly after being traded from the Celtics to the Knicks last week at the deadline, House got a standing ovation from the crowd of 18,624 fans.

“It was hard to stay serious at times, but it was a lot of fun,’’ House said. “I was glad to see those guys. I wish the best of luck to those guys, best of luck to Nate [Robinson, who came to Boston in the deal], and best of success to those guys.’’

In the first quarter, a video tribute to House was played, flashing moments from the Celtics’ 2008 championship run, and House did his best not to look before finally coming onto the parquet and giving a nod to the fans and his former teammates.

Andrew Bogut dominates in Bucks win over Knicks

The New York Knicks recently made some changes, but their losing ways continued in dramatic fashion Monday night in Madison Square Garden as the visiting Milwaukee Bucks enjoyed a convincing 83-67 victory.

Monday’s matchup marked the second game for new Knicks Tracy McGrady, Sergio Rodriguez and Eddie House. And after showing some entertaining and effective flashes in his first game for New York, this time Rodriguez got the start, over generally ineffective point guard Chris Duhon.

But while Rodriguez continued to show his great quickness and creativity, aside from the ridiculous eight steals he managed to grab, his first start was a struggle as he shot 2-of-8 for four points, just one assist and three turnovers in 29 minutes of play.

For the winning Bucks, center Andrew Bogut was unstoppable, shooting 12-of-15 for 24 points, 20 rebounds and five blocks. John Salmons added 15 (but just 7-of-18 shooting). Luc Richard Mbah a Moute added 11.

Rookie point guard Brandon Jennings struggled with his shot, hitting just 1-of-9 for four points, though he added eight rebounds and seven assists.

Against Bogut, Knicks center David Lee had a quiet double-double, hitting 6-of-12 for 12 points and 13 assists.

The Knicks were led by Tracy McGrady’s 15 points, though he shot just 5-of-14 and didn’t contribute much else. He also came up limping. A close eye will be kept on his knees over the next week and beyond.

The Knicks as a team shot just 33.8% and only hit 5-for-24 from three-point range. The Bucks dominated in the rebounding department 61-35. The Bucks also dished 20 assists, while the Knicks only had 10.

Sergio Rodriguez struggles in first start for Knicks

Marc Berman of the New York Post reports:

The Chris Duhon Era may be over as the Knicks named a new starting point guard for now and perhaps the distant future.

The flashy Sergio Rodriguez, the Spanish bonus in Thursday’s Tracy McGrady blockbuster trade, made his first start last night vs. the Bucks, but it turned out to be a big dud.

Rodriguez, who had eight steals, was 2 of 8 for four points and once passed with 1 second on the shot clock. Duhon recorded his first DNP as a Knick as Eddie House backed up Rodriguez in their awful, boo-infested 81-67 loss at the Garden.

Rodriguez, 23, will be a work in progress, but Duhon made it easy for coach Mike D’Antoni by playing horribly again Saturday, going scoreless. Duhon is not expected to be re-signed when his contract expires at the end of the season.

New Knicks provide thrilling spark in overtime home loss to Thunder

Behind huge games from Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, Saturday night in New York the Oklahoma City Thunder topped the Knicks 121-118 in overtime. Durant (10-of-25, 14-of-15 free throws) scored 36 points, while Westbrook (13-of-23) was dominant with 31 points, nine rebounds and 10 assists.

For the Knicks, tonight marked the debut of new squad members Tracy McGrady, Eddie House and Sergio Rodriguez. And although victory narrowly eluded them, the results were more positive than anyone could have expected.

While Rodriguez provided a much bigger spark than his five points and six assists suggests, the Knicks were carried by David Lee’s 30 points (12-of-16), 10 rebounds and six assists, McGrady’s 26 points and five assists, and Eddie House’s 24 points and five rebounds off the bench.

Here’s what Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni said after the game about McGrady and House:

“I thought it was really, really good. Just their intensity. Just the little things, getting the ball here and there. Talking in the timeouts. Talking going on the floor, understanding who they got. Just all the intangibles that they’re bringing. It’s something that we really work on, in a sence, that’s pretty good. As soon as they get used to each other a little bit better, Tracy gets his legs a little bit more. He kind of ran out of gas toward the end. Foul shots were tough, you saw it. But, not having played all year, a couple of years, almost, 26 points, not bad against a team that defends really well. They’re long and athletic. They’re palying well.”

More D’Antoni thoughts on McGrady:

“His basketball IQ is way up. He does that. He makes the soccer pass or the hockey pass, whatever you want to call it. Butu he does that. Obviously, he can score. He’s very intelligent on defense. He’s pointing and talking. The guy has been around and been an all-star a long time.”

Although the Knicks lost tonight, this was the most fun night of pro basketball Madison Square Garden has enjoyed in years. Unless you love watching amazing individual performances where one superstar shines while everyone else watches. Then, the shows LeBron James and Kobe Bryant put on in recent seasons eclipse tonight.

As for Rodriguez, he was a one-man carnival. In a good way. The guard flung himself all over the court on both ends of the floor, made tons of brilliant passes, and was an absolute joy to watch.

Great showing by the new Knicks, even in a loss.