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Knicks guard Iman Shumpert injury will keep him out 6-8 months

iman shumpert

The Knicks were smoked by the Miami Heat in Game 1 of their first round series, but the loss wasn’t even the worst news of the day for New York.

After losing 100-67 in Miami, the team learned that guard Iman Shumpert, who suffered an injury during the game, has a torn left ACL and torn lateral meniscus. He will need surgery and is expected to miss 6-8 months, which means he will likely not be healthy until perhaps the second half of next season.

An athletic rookie, Shumpert averaged 9.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.7 steals per game for the Knicks during the regular season. He is also one of the team’s most enthusiastic defenders.

Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul named Players of Month for April

The New York Knicks’ Carmelo Anthony and the Los Angeles Clippers’ Chris Paul today were named the NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month, respectively, for games played in April.

Anthony led the Knicks to a 9-4 month and helped them secure their second consecutive playoff berth. He led the league in scoring, averaging 29.8 points, connecting on 135-of-273 shots from the floor. Over the month, he compiled seven 30-point and two 40-point performances, to go along with his second career triple-double in an April 17 victory over the Celtics. On April 8, Anthony scored 43 points and connected on both game-tying and game-winning three-pointers to knock off the Bulls 100-99 in overtime.

Paul helped the Clippers to a 9-5 record and steered them to their first playoff berth since 2005-06. He averaged 20.7 points, ranking fourth in West while pacing the league with 3.0 spg and leading the conference with 9.9 apg. He engineered six double-doubles, seven 20-point games and three 30-point games. On April 22, Paul scored 33 points, handed out 13 assists and had a season-high eight steals in a 107-98 win over New Orleans.

Other nominees for NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month were Atlanta’s Joe Johnson and Josh Smith, Boston’s Avery Bradley, Indiana’s David West, Miami’s LeBron James, Memphis’ Rudy Gay, Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant, San Antonio’s Tony Parker and Utah’s Al Jefferson.

Johan Petro scores final New Jersey basket

Johan Petro

Johan Petro became part of Nets history Thursday night.

When he hit 20-foot, left-side jumper with 24.9 seconds left on the clock in the Nets’ 98-67 wipeout loss to the Raptors, Petro scored the final basket in the history of the New Jersey Nets. The team is making its long-awaited move to Brooklyn next season.

“Hey, that’s the way to keep my name in some book,” Petro said with a smile.

And he had no idea when he made the shot. Or even afterward.

“I was just trying to hit the shot, I wasn’t thinking about the whole history behind it,” the 7-foot center said. “But thanks to you guys, now I know. Got my name somewhere.”

— Reported by Fred Kerber of the New York Post

Knicks name Glen Grunwald executive vice president and general manager

The New York Knicks announced today that Glen Grunwald has been named executive vice president and general manager. Grunwald had been serving in this role on an interim basis since July.

“Glen has done a terrific job this season,” Executive Chairman of The Madison Square Garden Company James Dolan said. “He is an intelligent, seasoned executive and we look forward to him continuing in the role of General Manager for many years to come.”

Grunwald joined the Knicks on Sep. 6, 2006 as the team’s senior vice president, basketball operations, following a decade with the Toronto Raptors (1994-2004), including seven seasons as general manager. He has served as New York’s interim general manager since Jul. 1, 2011.

“It has been a great honor to be a part of this storied franchise for the past six seasons,” Grunwald said. “I would like to thank Mr. Dolan for this opportunity and look forward to building on our commitment to give our fans a team that they can be proud of today, and in the future.”

Kris Humphries hopes to stay with Nets

Kris Humphries

“Of course,” Humphries replied when asked if he wants to re-sign with the Nets. “I think everyone wants to come back and be a part of Brooklyn. But we understand that we probably won’t have the same exact team as this year, so hopefully, as many guys as possible can be a part of it.”

The Nets, though, could be headed in another direction. Sources have told ESPN NewYork.com that the team will pursue free agents Kevin Garnett, Ryan Anderson and Ersan Ilyasova in the offseason.

Reported by Mike Mazzeo of ESPN New York

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie says GOOD RIDDANCE to Nets

As the Nets were preparing their farewell, the Governor of New Jersey was kicking them out the door.

Speaking after signing a bill in Newark, Gov. Chris Christie, a Newark native and Republican, was in typical unabashed form when asked about the Nets.

“I’m not going to the Nets game tonight and my message to the Nets is ‘Goodbye,’ ” Christie said. “If you don’t want to stay, we don’t want you. Seriously, I’m not going to be in the business of begging people to stay here. That’s one of the most beautiful arenas in America that they’ve had a chance to play in. It’s in one of the country’s most vibrant cities.

“They want to leave here and go to Brooklyn? Good riddance. See you later.”

— Reported by Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News

Melo scores 39, Knicks edge Hawks

carmelo anthony

The New York Knicks gave center Tyson Chandler, the key to their improved defense, a day off against the Atlanta Hawks. Both teams seemed to scrap their defenses through three quarters of a shootout between playoff-bound teams.

However, it was a defensive play that decided the game when Amare Stoudemire blocked Marvin Williams’ dunk attempt at the buzzer to save the Knicks’ 113-112 win over the Hawks on Sunday.

Carmelo Anthony scored 39 points and hit the winning jumper with 1:40 left on Atlanta’s defensive miscommunication. Stoudemire finished with 22 points and 12 rebounds in his second game back after missing 13 with a sore back.

Williams scored a season-high 29 points in a rare start, but came up empty when he – and a full-throated crowd in Philips Arena – felt he was fouled…

Sunday didn’t help, and Atlanta All-Star Joe Johnson wasn’t happy about it after he spent much of the day chasing Anthony. Johnson scored 22 points on 9-for-14 shooting. Anthony was 14 for 32 as the only New York starter to shoot under 50 percent.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Knicks sign Dan Gadzuric, waive Bill Walker

Dan Gadzuric

New York Knicks Senior Vice President, Basketball Operations and Interim General Manager Glen Grunwald announced today that the team has signed free agent center Dan Gadzuric and waived guard/forward Bill Walker.

Gadzuric, 6-11, 240-pounds, holds career averages of 4.7 points, on .500 shooting from the field, 4.4 rebounds, 0.85 blocks and 14.8 minutes in 525 games (164 starts) over nine NBA seasons with Milwaukee, Golden State and New Jersey. He appeared in 12 games for Texas Legends of the NBA Development League this season, averaging 12.0 points, on .531 shooting, 11.3 rebounds and 1.00 blocks over 25.7 minutes.

The Netherlands-native was originally selected by the Milwaukee Bucks following a four-year career at UCLA in the second round (34th overall) of 2002 NBA Draft.

Walker, 6-6, 235-pounds, averaged 5.9 points, 2.5 rebounds and 19.4 minutes over 32 games (eight starts) this season for New York. He was originally acquired from Boston, with Eddie House and J.R. Giddens, in exchange for Nate Robinson and Marcus Landry on Feb. 18, 2010.

Baron Davis out sick, Bibby starts for Knicks

Baron Davis missed the Knicks’ game at New Jersey on Wednesday night because of a stomach virus and was replaced in the starting lineup by Mike Bibby.

Davis was feeling ill Tuesday and played only 18 minutes of the Knicks’ 118-110 victory over Boston. He has been the starter since Jeremy Lin was lost to knee surgery, despite battling a hamstring injury.

— Reported by the Associated Press