Category: New York Knicks Blog

Here’s the New York Daily News on Knicks guard Iman Shumpert stepping up in an upset win on the road in San Antonio Thursday night:

If Iman Shumpert’s New Year’s resolution was to get back to be an athletic two-way player then maybe the Knicks can still make something of this season.

At the very least, the 2014 Knicks looked nothing like the Knicks from the final three months of 2013. And the same can be said of Shumpert.

“He saved us,” Carmelo Anthony said. “He saved the day. He was back to the old Shump that we fell in love with.”

Shumpert scored a season-high 27 points including the go-ahead basket with 23.4 seconds left as the Knicks opened January with an inspiring 105-101 victory over the San Antonio Spurs.

The third year guard, who has been the subject of trade rumors for months and has been at odds with head coach Mike Woodson, hadn’t played this well since last May’s second round playoff series against the Indiana Pacers. But on Thursday, Shumpert made 10 of 13 shots including 6 of 8 three-pointers as the Knicks overcame a nine-point second quarter deficit.

Here’s ESPN New York on a key Knicks defensive issue:

More often than not, defending the pick-and-roll has been a mystery for the Knicks this year.

According to Synergy Sports, they are giving up the second-most points per play in the NBA to both the ball handler and the screener on pick-and-roll plays this season.

At issue is the Knicks’ decision to switch defenders on pick-and-rolls. Often, the switching leads to a mismatch (think small guard defending big man or plodding big man defending a quick point guard).

Mike Woodson wants all of the switching to stop.

“I don’t want to switch,” Woodson said after Thursday’s practice. “I’ve always wanted to put the emphasis on our perimeter guys to guard perimeter players. Bigs are supposed to guard bigs and when there’s some breakdowns there is supposed to be help. It’s a team defense.”

Here’s the New York Post on the latest Knicks struggles:

The coach admitted his team’s rebounding was embarrassing, and the star player acknowledged the home struggles have gotten into their heads. There was no denying either after the Knicks’ 95-87 defeat to Memphis Saturday, when they got humiliated on the boards and matched their home loss total for all of last season.

Mike Woodson tried to counter their matinee woes with a 10 p.m. curfew Friday night, and tried to match up against Memphis with a big lineup of Carmelo Anthony, Andrea Bargnani and Tyson Chandler. Neither worked, as they were badly out-rebounded and booed by the Garden crowd yet again. After going 31-10 at home last season, they fell to 4-10 at the Garden this season.

“You look at the rebounding, it was 55-29. That’s embarrassing, especially when you start a big lineup,’’ said Woodson, whose Knicks are 0-3 in noon starts. “Tyson, Bargnani, Melo, they’ve got to rebound the ball better. We’ve got to do it as a unit as well. That was the difference, then the fact that we gave so much up at the rim. … We couldn’t keep them out of the paint. That was the problem.’’

Here’s ESPN New York reporting on Metta World Peace trying to find peace with his knees:

Metta World Peace sat out of Saturday’s game against Memphis with a left knee issue that may keep him out for an extended period.

The veteran forward said before Saturday’s game he’s unsure if he can play Monday against Orlando.

“I just have to take some time. We’ll see how long,” he said.

Any issue surrounding World Peace’s left knee is a bit of a concern for the Knicks.

With an 8-17 record, the New York Knicks aren’t off to the start they envisioned. But things have looked better lately, and should keep improving now that center Tyson Chandler is back in action. Here’s ESPN New York with more:

Raymond Felton’s heard the “Fire Woodson” chants at Knicks home games. He’s heard the throaty boos from the MSG faithful when the Knicks struggle.

But the point guard has a request for Knicks fans — stay positive. Please.

“All we’re trying to do is stay positive. That’s what we’re trying to explain to the fans, to the media, that all the negativity, the booing, the ‘get rid of Woody, the trade this guy, trade that guy.’ Like, c’mon man, just ride with us,” Felton said at his second annual holiday party, where he provided gifts and a basketball clinic to 100 local children at Basketball City.

“Last year when we were doing well, we were winning all these games everybody was riding with us. Ride with us now, when we’re in our tough times. Because everything is not always perfect.”

New York Knicks President and General Manager Steve Mills announced today that the team has recalled guard Chris Smith from the Erie BayHawks of the NBA Development League.

Smith, 6-0, 200-pounds, was assigned to Erie on Nov. 18 and has averaged 11.3 points, on 50.0-percent shooting, 4.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists over 24.7 minutes in six games for the BayHawks.

With a 7-17 record, the Knicks are 4th from bottom in the league. Smith is considered strictly backup material, so he isn’t expected to play much, if at all. The bigger story for the team right now is that center Tyson Chandler should soon return.

Here’s ESPN New York with an update on New York Knicks PG Raymond Felton:

Knicks starting point guard Raymond Felton missed Wednesday night’s 83-78 win over the Chicago Bulls due to a hamstring ailment, and coach Mike Woodson said he could be out for “a little while.”

Felton aggravated a pre-existing left hamstring injury in the third quarter against Cleveland while driving to the basket on Tuesday. He was removed from the game shortly thereafter and never returned.

“I don’t think we’re at a day to day right now. He’s going to probably be a little while,” Woodson said before tipoff against the Bulls on Wednesday.

Felton has been playing with hamstring and hip soreness for much of the season.