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Celtics angered by showboating from Knicks

While they were being blown out at home Friday, the Celtics felt the Knicks were showboating, rubbing Boston’s collective nose into the same floor they wiped with the Celtics team.

“Yeah, we did. We all did. That’s what made us so mad, so angry,” guard Avery Bradley said before the Celtics’ film session yesterday. “We just got to go out there and play the right way. We’ve got to not let that happen again. After the game, that was definitely something [discussed]. Somebody said it right after we got in the locker room: ‘Oh, they’re showboating on us, they’re dunking.’

“And everybody kind of looked like, ‘Yeah you’re right,’ ” Bradley added. “But all we can do is go out there and play the right way and play hard and don’t give them a chance to showboat.”

Easier said than done. Entering Game 4 at TD Garden today, the Celtics have been an offensive mess. They have averaged 75.0 points in the series, not once reaching 80. They’ve shot 39.5 percent and averaged 17.0 turnovers to negate the good of their defense.

— Reported by Fred Kerber of the New York Post

Melo helps Knicks take 2-0 lead vs Celtics

The New York Knicks are heading to Boston, then perhaps finally back to the second round.

The once-mighty Celtics don’t seem capable of stopping them.

Carmelo Anthony scored 34 points, Sixth Man of the Year J.R. Smith added 19, and New York opened a 2-0 lead over Boston with another dominant second half in an 87-71 victory on Tuesday night.

Raymond Felton added 16 points for the Knicks, who used a 27-4 run spanning halftime to blow it open and move halfway to their first series victory since the 2000 Eastern Conference semifinals. This is their first 2-0 lead since sweeping Toronto in the first round that year.

”For us, we know what type of team we are,” Anthony said. ”We know when we really buckle down on the defensive end, it’s been hard for teams.”

It’s been brutally difficult for Boston.

Paul Pierce scored 18 points for the Celtics, who will host Game 3 on Friday in their first home game since the Boston Marathon bombings.

They will have to be much sharper to avoid their first opening-round elimination since 2005, before they became one of the NBA’s power teams again.

”We have to figure out the offensive side of the ball and not be so stagnated,” Boston’s Kevin Garnett said. ”Figure out ways to score more often.”

Garnett had 12 points and 11 rebounds, but battled foul trouble and spent too much time walking back to the bench with a raucous Madison Square Garden crowd finally experiencing playoff success again hounding him every step of the way.

— Reported by Brian Mahoney of the Associated Press

Pablo Prigioni returns to Knicks lineup for Game 2

Pablo Prigioni is back in the New York Knicks’ starting lineup for Game 2 of their playoff series against Boston after missing the opener with a sprained right ankle.

Prigioni was hurt last Wednesday in the regular-season finale, but coach Mike Woodson says Tuesday the 35-year-old NBA rookie has practiced the last few days and seems to be moving well.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Mike Woodson and Mike D`Antoni named NBA Coaches of Month for April 2013

The New York Knicks’ Mike Woodson and the Los Angeles Lakers’ Mike D’Antoni today were named the NBA Eastern and Western Conference Coaches of the Month, respectively, for games played in April.

Woodson led the Knicks to an 8-2 month, tied for the most wins in the league in April with the Miami Heat. New York collected wins over four Eastern Conference Playoff teams — Atlanta (twice), Indiana, Miami and Milwaukee and finished the season 54-28 (.659). The Knicks surpassed the 50-win plateau for the first time since 1999-2000 under Woodson, and notched the best home record in the East at 31-10 (.756).

D’Antoni guided the Lakers to a share (Denver, Los Angeles Clippers) of the best record in the conference in April at 7-1 (.875). The Lakers won five straight games to close the season, including three over Western Conference playoff teams – Golden State, San Antonio and Houston, the final two without the services of Kobe Bryant (torn Achilles tendon). The seventh-seeded Lakers finished the season 45-37 (.549).

Other nominees for Coach of the Month were Brooklyn’s P.J. Carlesimo, Denver’s George Karl, Memphis’ Lionel Hollins, Miami’s Erik Spoelstra and Oklahoma City’s Scott Brooks.

Knicks bring back center Earl Barron

Rasheed Wallace out, a former Knick back in.

New York Knicks Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations and General Manager Glen Grunwald announced today that the team has signed center Earl Barron for the remainder of the season.

Barron, 7-0, 245-pounds, holds career averages of 4.9 points, on 37.5-percent shooting, and 3.6 rebounds over 14.7 minutes in 123 games (29 starts) over six seasons with Miami, New York, Phoenix, Milwaukee, Portland, Golden State and Washington. He last played in 11 games (one start) for Washington this season, averaging 2.5 points and 3.9 rebounds over 11.1 minutes, before being waived on Dec. 23.

The Clarksdale, MS-native, appeared in seven games (six starts) for New York in 2009-10, averaging 11.7 points and 11.0 rebounds over 33.1 minutes.

Earlier today, the team announced that Wallace has retired from pro basketball.

The NBA regular season ends tonight. The playoffs begin Saturday. The 2-seed Knicks will face the Boston Celtics in the first round.

Rasheed Wallace retires from basketball

New York Knicks Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations and General Manager Glen Grunwald announced forward/center Rasheed Wallace has retired from playing professional basketball.

“Rasheed has given this team everything he had,” Head Coach Mike Woodson said. “He is a winner, true professional and leader on and off the court. Due to his injury, he will not be available to play for us during the playoffs. We owe this season’s success to veterans like Rasheed.”

According to the Associated Press, “Wallace ended a two-year retirement this season to join the Knicks and was a key player off the bench during their strong start. But he hadn’t played since December before returning Monday against Charlotte, but he exited after 4 minutes because of continued soreness.”

Wallace, 6-11, 245-pounds, averaged 7.0 points, on 38.7-percent shooting, and 4.0 rebounds over 14.1 minutes in 21 games this season. In his 15th NBA season Wallace missed 60 games due to an injured left foot. On Feb. 27, new X-rays showed progression to a fractured left fifth metatarsal and he had surgery on Feb. 28.

“Both teams played hard.”

“Ball don’t lie.”

And so goes Sheed.

With the NBA regular season ending tonight, the Knicks, who clinched the No. 2 seed in the Eastern conference, may soon add another veteran to aid them in the playoffs, which begin Saturday, April 20.

Read NBA fan reaction or share your opinion in this basketball forum topic.

Knicks bring back Quentin Richardson

The playoff-bound New York Knicks have brought a familiar face back onto the squad.

Knicks Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations and General Manager Glen Grunwald announced today that the team has signed guard/forward Quentin Richardson for the remainder of the season, including the playoffs.

Richardson, 6-6, 220-pounds, holds career averages of 10.3 points, on 39.8-percent shooting from the field and 35.5-percent shooting from three-point range, with 4.7 rebounds and 1.5 assists over 26.5 minutes in 782 games (486 starts) over 12 seasons with the L.A. Clippers, Phoenix, New York, Miami and Orlando. He has appeared in 31 postseason games (21 starts), averaging 8.5 points and 4.3 rebounds over 28.5 minutes.

The Chicago, IL-native, last played in the NBA for Orlando during the 2011-12 season, averaging 4.5 points and 2.6 rebounds over 18 minutes in 48 games (three starts). He returns to New York after spending four seasons with the Knicks (2005-09), averaging 9.7 points and 5.0 rebounds over 28.2 minutes in 241 games (206 starts).

The Knicks, who clinched the No. 2 seed in the Eastern conference, have suffered multiple injuries recently, but expect to have some healthy big bodies back for the playoffs. Q-Rich adds depth at the wing spot.

The team recently waived Kurt Thomas, signed and then waived Solomon Jones, before signing Richardson.

Read NBA fan reaction or share your opinion in this basketball forum topic.

Kenyon Martin says he will be ready for playoffs

Knicks forward Kenyon Martin, currently nursing a sprained left ankle, pronounced himself a game-time decision for Sunday’s home game against the Indiana Pacers, but would “definitely” be ready for the start of the playoffs, he told the Daily News at Radio City Music Hall, where he took in a boxing card along with teammate Carmelo Anthony on Saturday night.

Martin sprained his ankle in the fourth quarter of the Knicks’ 120-99 win over the Wizards on Tuesday, the team’s 13th straight. Martin missed the next two games, including Thursday’s streak-busting loss to the Bulls. X-rays were negative on his ankle, and Martin, already dealing with a sore left knee, feels encouraged about his return.

“I’m getting there,” Martin said from ringside, seated on an elevated stage at Radio City Music Hall in between fights.

— Reported by Mitch Abramson of the New York Daily News

Knicks sign Solomon Jones for rest of season

New York Knicks Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations and General Manager Glen Grunwald announced today that the team has signed forward/center Solomon Jones for the remainder of the season.

Earlier today, the Knicks waived beloved veteran big-man Kurt Thomas, who due to injury was going to be unable to help the Knicks for weeks.

Jones, 6-10, 245-pounds, holds career averages of 3.1 points, on 47-percent shooting, and 2.4 rebounds over 11.1 minutes in 268 career games (11 starts) with Atlanta, Indiana, L.A. Clippers and New Orleans. During the 2012-13 season, Jones played for Liaoning of the Chinese Basketball Association and last played in the NBA during 2011-12, averaging 3.2 points and 2.8 rebounds over 13.9 minutes in 21 games (one start) with the L.A. Clippers and New Orleans.

The Eustis, FL-native was originally selected out of South Florida University by the Hawks in the second round (33rd pick overall) of the 2006 NBA Draft.

New York Knicks waive Kurt Thomas

New York Knicks Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations and General Manager Glen Grunwald announced today that the team has waived forward/center Kurt Thomas.

According to multiple reports, the team is expected to sign center Solomon Jones.

“Kurt’s contributions to the Knicks have been immeasurable,” Grunwald said. “From the first day of training camp, to his last game against the Utah Jazz, Kurt has been a key contributor to our team. The team’s success this season has been driven by veteran leadership on and off the court – it is something that cannot be quantified or read in a box score.

“Once it became clear that he would not be able to return this season, and due to a rash of injuries to our big men, we felt that it was important for us to free-up a spot on our roster. We thank Kurt for all that he has done. I have the utmost respect for Kurt as a player and as a man.”

The 6-9, 245-pound 18-year NBA veteran averaged 2.5 points, 2.3 rebounds and 10.1 minutes in 39 games, including a six-point, three-rebound performance at Utah on Mar. 18 that sparked the beginning of a 13-game winning streak, despite being hampered by a foot injury. On Mar. 19, an MRI on Thomas’ right foot revealed an acute stress reaction surrounding a chronic stress fracture in his navicular bone. He spent the next 12 games on the Inactive List.

Thomas currently ranks ninth on the franchise’s all-time rebounding list with 4,272 caroms and 15th in games played with 569 appearances.