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Tag: New York Knicks

  • Gabrielle Union Videobombs Hubby Dwayne Wade’s Post-Game Fox Sports Interview — It’s Adorable

    Gabrielle Union didn’t miss a beat when she decided to videobomb hubby Dwayne Wade‘s post-game interview on Sunday with her own analysis of her husband’s performance.

    Following the Miami Heat’s game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Sunday, Union popped in on Wade’s interview with Fox Sports.

    Wade was busy updating the reporter on how he felt the game went — the first since he was sidelined for seven games following a hamstring injury.

    “I just stayed with it,” Wade, 32, began to tell the reporter. “My teammates did a great job of keeping me into it. I got a little frustrated early on; guys ain’t played with me in a while …”

    And bam, that’s when the 42-year-old actress decided to foul her husband and try to steal the ball from him mid-sentence.

    “It was, uh, it was okay!” she said, joking. “It was okay. I mean, a hamstring pull … wow.”

    Wade took one look at his wife with a sweet little smirk on his face and asked if she was photobombing him.

    “Yeah, wow … to come back with 27 points, we’re gonna talk about the free throws later…” Union kept right on with her analysis. However, she may have touched a sore point considering Wade’s free-throw percentage in the game could have been … well … better.

    And with a loving pat on her husband’s rear, she ended her analysis with — he “did good, for an old geezer.”

    OK, this couple is beyond adorable.

    The couple, who were married in August, have been together for five years. After all those years, she very well may know what she’s talking about.

  • Carmelo Anthony Caught Between Los Angeles Lakers And New York Knicks

    Carmelo Anthony has had a lot of sweet deals from a lot of teams. But now the player has a choice to make: go to Los Angeles or stay in New York. However, it’s not Anthony sweating over the stakes, but the owners and coaches of the teams who are waiting desperately for an answer.

    Yahoo Sports reported that the Los Angeles Lakers met on Friday to offer Anthony a deal to move west. 97 million dollars to play for them for four years. Not only that, but Kobe Bryant has been in constant contact with Anthony. They’re giving him the hard sell.

    The New York Knicks have their own hard sell to make. They want Anthony back for five years. This time, they’ll pay 129 million dollars. According to ESPN, both teams are anxiously waiting for Carmelo Anthony to make a decision.

    Anthony has proven to be a star player for the New York Knicks. In January, the the Knicks faced off against the Los Angeles Lakers in Madison Square Garden. Carmelo Anthony scored 62 points in one game, and 35 points in another. Both contributions launched the Knicks to victory.

    So if Anthony left, it would be a big blow to the New York Knicks, especially their president, Phil Jackson. Back in March, Jackson had stressed he planned to keep Anthony in New York. “I have no problems with committing to saying Carmelo is in the future plans,” the former coach explained. Now, it’s looking like Anthony is making different plans, in spite of Jackson.

    Jackson had already asked Anthony to stay, but it’s up to Anthony whether or not Jackson’s offer is good enough. The Knicks had to fight off a lot of other offers from teams around the country, and it looks like the only one left standing in their way is the Lakers.

    Image via NBA, YouTube.

  • Carmelo Anthony: Will He Leave New York?

    Carmelo Anthony: Will He Leave New York?

    Carmelo Anthony decided to use the opt-out clause in his contract with the New York Knicks. A league source said that Anthony will be a free agent starting on July 1. The source revealed the news in anonymity, as he is not authorized to talk about the situation.

    New York Knicks President Phil Jackson said that he asked Anthony to continue playing with the team, which will be under new management for the final year of his contract.

    Opting out of his contract does not mean that Anthony can no longer play for the New York Knicks. He can still re-sign with the team if he chooses.

    However, now that Anthony is a free agent, he is expected to have offers from the Miami Heat, Los Angeles Lakers, Houston Rockets, Chicago Bulls, and New York Knicks. Sources say that NBA teams can start talking to their free agent prospects on July 1, but official contracts cannot be signed until July 10.

    Anthony, 30, now has to make the biggest decision of his NBA career. Reports say that other teams will offer him as much as $96 million and a four-year contract, while the New York Knicks will offer him a five-year contract along with $130 million. No doubt, the compensation he is offered will be a big factor in his decision. He will, however, also need to decide on which team will give him the best chance of winning an NBA championship.

    Anthony has not been a free agent since he was drafted by the Denver Nuggets in 2003. He played with the Nuggets until 2011, until they traded him to the New York Knicks.

    The Knicks haven’t advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals in Anthony’s more than three seasons in New York. With Derek Fisher as the new Knicks coach, the team is hoping to improve their play. Anthony now needs to decide if he will stick with his former team under new management, or if he will transfer to another team to seek other opportunities.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • New York Knicks: Will Carmelo Anthony Stay Put?

    If you’re a New York Knicks’ fan then you certainly know about heartache, that’s one thing for sure.

    And another thing you probably know is that very few things have made sense with the organization, in regards to some of the bad trades they’ve made, and some of the coaches they’ve selected throughout the years, because let’s face it, getting Carmelo Anthony a few years back was probably the team’s only smart decision in the last 15 years or so.

    Which leads one to ask why the Knicks seem to be so dysfunctional season after season?

    Up until the team’s press conference to announce Phil Jackson becoming president a few days ago, it was hard to understand why the Knicks weren’t making any progress. But now it’s clear to see that owner Jim Dolan was making a lot of the day-to-day decisions with the team, which isn’t so unusual, but Dolan admitted that he isn’t a hoops expert.

    “I am by no means an expert in basketball,” he said at the press conference. “A fan, but my expertise lies in managing companies and businesses. So I think I’m a little out of my element when it comes to the team. I found myself in a position where I needed to be more part of the decision making for a while.”

    And as far as the team’s future, Jackson says everything begins and ends with Anthony staying in New York, since he’ll be a free agent at the end of this season, and Jackson isn’t sure what he’ll do with coach Mike Woodson, he says.

    “I have no problems with committing to saying Carmelo is in the future plans,” said the legendary coach.

    And Jackson said he wouldn’t have taken the president’s job if he wasn’t able to commit fully, which is why he packed his things and moved to the East Coast.

    “I said if I want to make this change and I think I can make the change, I have to jump in with both feet,” said Jackson. “I’ve got to move to New York and I’ve got to do this job the right way.”

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • New York Knicks’ Coach Says He Has Nothing To Prove

    Now that Phil Jackson has accepted the job as president of the New York Knicks, some fans believe it’s the only thing the team needed to start being successful, because the Knick front office has been the biggest problem for the organization, not so much the players, despite the lackluster performance the team has given all season.

    For some reason the front office keeps selecting older players, so the star of the team Carmelo Anthony doesn’t have enough actual help, which is probably why Knick’s coach Mike Woodson doesn’t feel completely bad about the team’s dismal record, as he’s doing all he can, he said.

    “I don’t think I need to prove anything as a coach,” explained Woodson in a recent interview. “I’ve never felt that way. I try to do the best I can do and if you’re going to judge me on 16 games then that’s on you.”

    Right now the Knicks are on a pretty decent winning streak, as they’ve recently won their sixth game in a row, thanks to some stellar play from people like Tim Hardaway Jr, who’s been doing his fair share to help out Anthony. But Woodson says he’s remaining focused on the playoffs and not the winning streak, and he doesn’t want his team to get too high or too low, he just wants them to remained focus on finishing the season strong.

    “We’ve had our ups and downs this year and I take full responsibility for that,” stated Woodson. “But at the end of the day we still have 16 games left. We’ve got a legitimate shot to make the playoffs and that’s where I’m looking to push this team.”

    Jackson taking the president position is a coming home for the 68 year old, as he played with the Knicks from 1967 to 1978, and of course he was a successful coach with both the Chicago Bulls and the Los Angeles Lakers, and led each team to championships.

    Image via YouTube

  • Phil Jackson Very Likely To Join the Knicks

    Phil Jackson can’t seem to shake the allure of the game. It just calls him right back, and oh, no… now he’s with the Knicks.

    Staying true to his word on being done with coaching, New York Times reports that anonymous sources have announced that Jackson has agreed to a presidency position in an attempt to straighten up the troubled Knicks’ organization.

    Phil Jackson was a part of the Knicks’ championship teams as a player in the 1970’s, and he is obviously no stranger to championships during his time leading Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls along with some other team with their star player being a guy who likely brings steak sauce to your mind for some reason a few years ago.

    Either way, the Zen will be in full effect as Phil takes on the task of rearranging the badly mismanaged Knicks office. There is a possibility that the Knicks may not make it to the post-season with a 26-40 record despite having the second-highest payroll in the NBA, and the team is mostly full of average players except for Carmelo Anthony. Zen Master Phil also has to deal with James L. Dolan, the Knicks’ notorious owner. Dolan has been known for actions that could be considered brash and hasty to some; Dolan has gone through six coaches since 2004, and replaced general manager Glen Grunwald with Steve Mills right before the start of

    Phil Jackson’s first and most important task likely consists of convincing Carmelo Anthony to stay put, unless he has a better option. Which you never know with a man who is known for forming winning teams as opposed to being satisfied with one star player.

    Jackson has commented on the Knicks a couple years back, calling them “clumsy” with “flawed” roster choices. Now it looks as if he’ll be able to take matters into his own hands, and hopefully soon the city can celebrate a few more victories than before.


    Image via NDN

  • Phil Jackson Reportedly Headed Back to the Knicks

    Phil Jackson left the NBA in 2011. Since that time numerous teams have tried to entice the 11-time coaching champion out of his retirement home in Montana and back to the game of basketball. Now, it appears that the New York Knicks have succeeded in netting the 68-year-old.

    Several reports are circulating that the Knicks and Jackson have reached a deal in principle that will bring Jackson into the front office. Although an official announcement is not expected until the end of the week, a source has confirmed the agreement. “Everything is pretty much done. There are just some little things here and there that need to be worked out, but the Knicks are very confident that this is essentially done.”

    Neither Jackson or the Knicks has commented on the speculation. But if the deal goes through as expected, then it will be a reunion for Jackson and the organization where he got his start. In fact, Jackson played on the last Knicks’ championship team way back in 1973.

    Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony, who will become a free agent after this season, spoke of the front office move, “Have I heard? Yeah, I’ve heard that he will be coming on board. It’s not official yet. You can always use Phil Jackson’s insight on whatever … his philosophy, his mindset, his resume, what he brings to the game, what he brings to a team or organization. That goes without even saying, so we’ll see how that plays out.”

    It doesn’t appear that Jackson’s signing will have a big impact on Anthony’s free agency plans. “It wasn’t something that was do-or-die based on my decision. Them guys was going to make that decision regardless of what I said.” He added, “I don’t think it’ll have any effect on me, just as far as what I’m thinking or my decision or anything like that.”

    After a promising 54 wins last season, the Knicks thought that they could be championship-bound this year. However, they are currently 25-40. But even with the abysmal record, the team is only 3.5 games behind the Atlanta Hawks for the final eighth playoff spot.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Phil Jackson Seriously Considering Offer To Join New York Knicks’ Front Office

    An important league source reports that former Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers head coach Phil Jackson is close to accepting an important position at the New York Knicks’ front office. ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith says that the exact job title remains unclear, but that it would entail “more than just consulting” responsibilities.

    The addition of the Hall of Fame head coach to the struggling New York team might finally turn the tables for them.

    The struggling Knicks team has been pursuing the Hall of Fame head coach for a while, in hopes of recovering from their dismal standing in the current season. According the same source, while there is no final answer from Jackson as of yet, the Knicks “have a sense of what’s going to happen” – and that is Jackson deciding to join the team.

    New York Daily News’ Frank Isola reported that Jackson recently met with New York Knicks owner James Dolan to discuss a potential union with the franchise. Dolan initially approached the idea of a coaching gig for Jackson, but Jackson did not seem keen on the idea of going back to the sideline at his age of 68.

    Jackson has not coached in the NBA since 2011, but rumor has it that the coaching legend is interested in going back to the basketball world. News of Jackson possibly joining the Knicks surfaced in 2012, when Gery Woelfel of The Journal Times reported that the team made a $50 million offer for Jackson to coach for four years. ESPN’s Smith reinforced those rumors when he reported that New York Knicks President and General Manager Steve Mills had met with Jackson to introduce the possibility of him taking over the coaching position in New York City.

    Jackson is expected to give an official answer within the next few days. Although he has been clear about not coaching the team, Knicks guard J.R. Smith thinks that his involvement in the team’s basketball operations will benefit them greatly.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Joakim Noah’s Performance Helps The Bulls Dominate The NY Knicks

    On a team that has had its ups and downs over the course of the 2013-2014 season, Joakim Noah continues to deliver with big time performances. The New York Knicks have now lost now lost six games in a row after being crushed by the Bulls.

    As a center for the Chicago Bulls, he was elected to the 2014 NBA All-Star Game, and on a team where he was joined by stars such as Lebron James, Kyrie Irving, Carmelo Anthony and others, Joakim Noah was able to execute one of the best performances on the court.

    The Knicks continue to struggle, and a bit of a surprise came from the Chicago Bulls who have also had troubles following the season-ending injury to their star guard Derrick Rose. The Bulls defeated the Knicks on Sunday afternoon with a final score of 109-90.

    Noah’s performance was one of the best by anyone all season, achieving a triple-double with a tally of 13 points, 12 rebounds, and a stunningly high number of assists-14. He also had two blocks and two steals. However, he wasn’t the only one with a big game, and in fact, Chicago had seven different players score in double figures yesterday.

    However, it is not all about the main star, and Noah humbly said “It’s really all my teammates. It’s really all my teammates.” While the stats of All-Star Joakim Noah are often talked about in terms of scoring and rebounds, he also worked well with his teammates in yesterday’s game, and helped others in on the action such as Kirk Hinrich, Jimmy Butler and Taj Gibson.

    The Knicks seem to be getting worse, and Carmelo Anthony examines his place on the team, the Bulls have won 9 of their last 10 games.After another crushing loss, it has hard to know where the Knicks will go from here, and what the future will hold for Carmelo Anthony, who is essentially running the team at this point.

    In a a desperate attempt to somehow improve, the Knicks picked up two free agents for 10-day contracts recently with Shannon Brown and Earl Clark.

    Joakim Noah continues to be a dominant force in the Eastern Conference, and as a member of the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls are now 33-26, which puts them at fourth place in the Eastern Conference, behind the Pacers, Heat, and Raptors.

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  • Jimmer Fredette Close to Becoming Free Agent

    According to NBA sources, Jimmer Fredette and the Sacramento Kings are close to finalizing a buyout agreement on Fredette’s contract.

    Once the buyout is finalized, Fredette still needs to clear NBA waivers. If that happens, though, he’ll soon be a free agent.

    Despite his outstanding college basketball career at Brigham Young University and being the 10th overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft, Fredette has struggled to find his place with the Kings.

    Kings general manager Pete D’Alessandro said he has been working with Fredette’s representatives on the buyout agreement after trying unsuccessfully to place the third-year guard elsewhere prior to the NBA’s annual trade deadline last Thursday.

    He said that Kings owner Vivek Ranadivé “loves Jimmer and wants to do the right thing by Jimmer. We’re just talking about things at this point. There’s nothing done at this point.”

    “I think Pete D’Alessandro and Vivek Ranadivé, our owner, deserve a lot of credit,” head coach Michael Malone said prior to Tuesday night’s match up with the Houston Rockets. “Because we could just hold on to him and he could kind of finish out the season, go into free agency. But we’re trying to do this to help him out, to get (him) with a team where maybe he can get on a playoff roster and showcase his abilities in a different scenario…”

    Fredette didn’t play Tuesday night. The Kings lost 129-103 on home court.

    “His three years here have not gone the way he would have hoped obviously,” Malone said. “But I have a lot of respect for him as a man and how he’s carried himself through some difficult times, so hopefully this will all be resolved soon and I always wish Jimmer nothing but the best.”

    Among the teams rumored to be looking at signing Fredette should he become a free agent are the Memphis Grizzlies and the New York Knicks.

    Fredette boasts a loyal fan base that has carried over from his glory days at BYU. “Jimmermania” is still going strong, with the hashtag #freejimmer making the rounds on Twitter.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Raymond Felton, New York Knick, Gets Two Gun Charges

    If the New York Knicks were smart they’d cancel the rest of the season this year and focus on coming back better next season. And the only way they’ll be better is if they completely gut the whole team–aside from Carmello Anthony of course–and totally start anew.

    The first person they should get rid of is point guard Raymond Felton, because not only has he loused up the basketball court this year by playing horribly, he’s just been charged with two counts of felony gun possession by New York City police.

    Here’s how the whole thing went down: Felton’s wife, Ariane Raymondo-Felton, recently filed for divorce, and while she was staying in the couples’ Manhattan home on the Upper West Side, she felt uncomfortable with the two handguns that Felton had lying around, so she took them to the nearest police station.

    Neither of the guns were registered, so Felton was immediately questioned and ultimately charged with two counts of felony gun possession. Plus, Raymondo-Felton said her husband would wave the guns around whenever they argued or whenever he was upset. But police say he never pointed the guns at her directly.

    Plaxico Burress, who was a wide receiver for the Giants, and also charged with illegal gun possession a few years ago, said things will eventually look up for Felton.

    “It’s just one of those things where I think the support system will come together and support him,” he said. “I believe that the city of New York will support him.”

    Reportedly, the 6’1″ point guard legally brought the Belgium made handguns when he was in college in North Carolina, but he never registered them when he moved to New York. Both of the guns were also loaded with 18 armor-piercing bullets, police said.

    It remains to be seen if Felton will be charged for waving the guns at his wife or not, as those potential charges are still up in the air. However, Raymondo-Felton said she always felt threatened with the guns being in the house.

    “When we’d have arguments over our marriage, he would pull out the gun and wave it,” she said. “It was obviously done to intimidate me.”

    Image via YouTube

  • New York Knicks Set To Add Two Free Agents To Roster

    It is no surprise that the New York Knicks are shaking up the roster as they go through yet another disappointing season. They recently waived two players, and are working on acquiring two more to replace them.

    In the past few days, the Knicks have waived Metta World Peace and Beno Udrih, two players who have not done much for the franchise recently. They are aiming to pick up a forward and guard to replace them, and reports say that the team is looking to get Earl Clark and Shannon Brown.

    Both Clark and Brown have been in the league for a handful of years, but have never been able to become stars for any of the teams that they have played for. The New York Knicks are in need of some help at almost every part of the game, but especially a big man, a part of the game where Earl Clark would come in.

    The New York Knicks are desperate, and will do just about anything at this point in order to obtain different players on their roster, with the hopes that somehow they will be able to improve. Despite having Carmelo Anthony, who is one of the best players in the NBA, who performed better than most at the 2014 NBA All-Star Game, the team continues to struggle.

    Anthony has continued to show his disgust with the team’s losing, and although he continues to perform at a high level, without the help of others, it is not enough to win. After Monday’s last second loss to the Dallas Mavericks, the Knicks star said “You kind of ask yourself, ‘Is it worth it?’ I’m not going to stop what I’m doing. This was a tough one. We fought. We gave all our effort, man. … We did everything besides win the basketball game.”

    Brown has been in the league for seven years, while Clark has played for five seasons, although he has bounced around between four different teams in that time. Both players are set to receive 10-day contracts, and it will be officially announced by the team on Thursday, which will give both players the opportunity to be under contract for seven games.

    Shannon Brown had played 10 games with the San Antonio Spurs this season, but was released after the second of two 10-day contracts. However, last season was much better for him, and he averaged 10.5 points and pulled down 2.5 rebounds in 59 games for the Phoenix Suns. Meanwhile, Earl Clark averaged 5.2 points with the Cleveland Cavaliers before being traded, and subsequently waived.

    The New York Knicks currently have a record of 21-36, which places them at 11th in the conference. Could adding a couple veteran players help the team at all? After several years of struggling, it seems that they will need all the help that they can get.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Tracy McGrady May Attempt Baseball Career

    Tracy McGrady May Attempt Baseball Career

    It looks like Tracy McGrady may be considering a career in baseball after retiring from the NBA last year.

    ESPN commentator Jeff Van Gundy set off a swirl of rumors during a telecast of Friday night’s game between the Brooklyn Nets and the Oklahoma City Thunder.

    “I think he’s going to play independent league baseball as a pitcher this year,” Van Gundy said. “I’m being serious. I’ve heard from sources in Houston — seriously — that he’s throwing over 90 miles per hour.”

    Van Gundy, who has coached for the New York Knicks and the Houston Rockets, hinted that McGrady may join the Sugar Land Skeeters. The team – located in the greater Houston metropolitan area – is a member of the independent Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.

    Randy McIlvoy of KPRC-Houston echoed Van Gundy’s prediction:

    McGrady, known in the sports world as T-Mac – retired last year after playing for numerous professional teams throughout his 16 years in the NBA.

    A seven-time All-Star, McGrady entered the NBA straight out of high school in 1997, starting his career with the Toronto Raptors, and moving on to Orlando Magic, Houston Rockets, New York Knicks, and Detroit Pistons. His stint in Houston was actually the longest time he spent with any one team, playing there from 2004 to 2010.

    At the time of his retirement, he was playing for another Texas team – the San Antonio Spurs.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_qk-NAMeiI

    When McGrady announced his retirement on ESPN’s First Take, he said he was excited and happy about what was to come. He said his run in the NBA had been a great one.

    But he alluded to the fact that his time with the Atlanta Hawks, Qingdao Eagles (of the Chinese Basketball Association), and the Spurs had not lived up to his expectations: “I can’t allow myself to settle. The last three years have mentally ejected me from the game,” McGrady said.

    At one point, McGrady called baseball his first love:

    That may explain why he joined forces with his friend Tim Bennett, president of Jackson, Mississippi-based Overtime Sports to fund a minor league baseball team in Biloxi, MS.

    The team will be a Double-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. The stadium groundbreaking took place in January.

    Bennett was instrumental in getting the Atlanta Braves to move their Double-A team to the Jackson suburb of Pearl from Greenville, SC back in 2004.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Carmelo Anthony Scores 35 After 62-Point Game

    It was East versus West in Madison Square Garden yesterday, when the New York Knicks faced the Los Angeles Lakers.

    Carmello Anthony had a total of 35 points, which was a far cry from his 62-point game this past Friday, but it was still good enough to secure a victory over the Lakers 110-103.

    Although most would probably assume that Knicks’ coach, Mike Woodson, would love for Anthony to duplicate his Friday night performance every night, he said that he much rather have his entire team be equal contributors, which is necessary in order to keep other teams guessing

    “Last year we had five guys that averaged in double figures and I’ve always wanted a team where you just didn’t know where it was going to come from,” said Woodson. “And we know Melo’s going to get his, but we need everybody to be a part of the offense and touch the ball and feel good about themselves.”

    Apparently, Raymond Felton felt good about himself, scoring 18 points, and Tim Hardaway Jr. and J.R. Smith seemed to feel good too, as they put in 18 and 16 points respectively.

    Lakers’ Coach, Mike D’Antoni said, Anthony wasn’t the team’s biggest concern, it was the other Knick players, and if the Lakers’ could shutdown everybody else they would be victorious, but that obviously wasn’t the case.

    Plus, D’Antoni said that he wasn’t worried about Anthony going on another scoring spree like he did on Friday night, because it’s really hard to stop that. “Melo is going to do that against anyone,” he said. “That’s what he does. Where they killed us was Hardaway was 4 for 5 for 3s and Felton didn’t miss his shots. We made some mistakes on guys on rotations and stuff.”

    But the biggest drawback for the Lakers is not having Kobe Bryant, as he’s still out with a severe knee injury, and most likely won’t be back before the all-star break. But once he returns and is able to get himself into game-shape, and other key Laker scorers return as well, the team should be able to compete way better, and they’ll need to if they even have a chance of making the playoffs.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Did J.R. Smith Really Learn A Lesson After Being Benched?

    It’s no secret that New York Knicks’ shooting guard J.R. Smith has quite the reputation. The man has a list of run-ins with the law, in addition to a long lineage of suspensions, league fines, and backlash from the media due to his prolific antics.

    However, his latest suspension may have denoted a change toward a more positive direction. If his performance in Saturday night’s Knicks’ game was an indicator, it definitely proves that he’s making great strides in the right direction.

    Smith’s stellar performance put 14 points on the board, with six assists, which ultimately contributed to the Knicks’ 102-92 win over the Philadelphia 76ers. However, his statements to the press throughout the day may have blemished his performance on the court.

    According to CBS News, following the Knicks’ game last night, the 2013 ‘Sixth Man of the Year’ told media reporters what he’d learned from his recent experience of being benched. Unfortunately, his admission came with little sincerity.

    “Don’t goof around, I guess. Be serious. Be a professional. And just don’t take this opportunity here you have for granted,” he said. “There’s a lot of people in this world that want our jobs. You can’t take it for granted. It can be taken away just that fast.”

    Smith’s teammate, Carmelo Anthony also chimed in on his perspective of the incident. “I thought he was a real pro tonight, man, despite everything that’s going on,” said Anthony. “For him to bounce back the way he did today and obviously put that stuff behind him and move forward, that was big-time for him as a person.”

    “This is a situation that really opened his eyes up, he looked himself in the mirror and hopefully he wants to change, he’s got to change,” Anthony said. “It’s up to him now.”

    “It’s the worst feeling in the world,” Smith said in reference to being benched. Earlier this week it was also reported that Knicks’ head coach Mike Woodson expressed his frustrations toward Smith’s behavior. He referred to Smith as “unprofessional,” saying that he needed to “grow up.”

    On Saturday morning before the game, Smith was asked of his sentiments of Woodson’s remarks, he said, “He’s been telling me that since I got here,” Smith said Saturday morning. “Honestly, ‘growing up,’ I don’t know if I really understand the true meaning of it.”

    So, now the looming question is, “did J.R. Smith really learn a lesson after being benched?” If he doesn’t really understand Woodson’s frustration, then the answer is he did not! Hopefully, he makes the needed changes to move forward in a positive directions for the sake of his career.

    Image via Twitter | J.R. Smith

  • J.R. Smith Helps Lead Knicks To Victory After Suspension

    Throughout his career, J.R. Smith has been known as one of the most problematic players in the league. His on and off-the-court incidents are catching up to him again, and most recently, he was fined $50,000 for attempting to untie the shoelaces of multiple opponents.

    After returning from his suspension, J.R. Smith had an excellent performance against the Philadelphia 76ers. The Knicks were down when Smith entered the game, and he eventually led them to a 102-92 victory. He is constantly criticized for what he does wrong, but Smith is a great scorer too.

    Punishing him may have worked this time as he returned to the court with authority, embarrassing the 76ers and outscoring them by 20 points when he was on the floor.

    Things were certainly not going to his way coming into this game since he averaged only 11.3 points per game while shooting 34.8 percent from the field.

    After the game concluded, J.R. Smith had 14 points, 3 rebounds and 6 assists during 27 minutes of action. He shot 5 of 8 from the field, and made 3 of 4 from beyond the arc.

    Before the game, there were talks of trading the scoring guard, and whether this performance is enough to silence those rumors is a mystery, but Smith is doing what he can to stick with his team.

    Speaking about the game, he said “I’m still trying to find myself, trying to find the right way to be a professional. It’s a short span we get to play this game and I can’t be selfish with it, got to think team first.”

    J.R. Smith also came out with a serious tone in this game and played as if he truly cared about basketball, leaving behind his goofy lightheartedness, and perhaps showing that he cares about being a member of the New York Knicks.

    The Knicks have been struggling all year, but after two wins in a row, their season may begin to turn around along with J.R. Smith’s attitude as a player. Next up, they play the Phoenix Suns at home.

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  • Rajon Rondo Could Be Joining The Knicks

    After the Boston Celtics continue to struggle, and continue to work on rebuilding the team, it looks like Rajon Rondo may be switching teams after this season. Rondo has been injured for part of the season, preventing him from contributing to the team and having a presence as the star player that he is.

    Both the Celtics and the Knicks, along with most of the Eastern Conference have had trouble winning games this season. Recently, Carmelo Anthony has been in talks with Rajon Rondo in order to recruit him as a member of the New York Knicks starting in 2015.

    Rajon Rondo will be forced to undergo ACL surgery, and his return to the court as of right now is unknown. However, Rondo has been injured before, and is one of the tougher players in the NBA, especially for his size. Whether he will remain in Boston will is to be determined in the future, but his contract is set to expire after the 2014-2015 season, making him a free agent during that season.

    Steve Smith, who coached both Carmelo Anthony and Rajon Rondo at Oak Hill Academy, said of the situation, “Whether he stays in Boston or not who knows. I know, talking to Melo, he’s recruiting Rajon to come to New York. Melo thinks he’ll come too. You never know about that stuff though. I think either way, Rajon will be fine.”

    After 18 games, the Knicks are only 5-13, and could certainly use some improvement on their roster. The 2014-2015 season may be a rebuilding year, since only five players on the roster have been signed for the next season.

    In addition to the idea of recruiting Rajon Rondo to join the team, Carmelo Anthony’s contract will also be coming up soon, and after 10 years in the league without playing for a national championship, Anthony wants to make sure he is in the right place.

    He came into the league at the same time as Dwayne Wade and Lebron James, and everyone knows the success that they have had. Due to their success, Anthony has received a lot of criticism about not being able to win in the playoffs. After next season, there is no doubt that the rumors will resurface and with New York’s available salary cap space, Rondo could be the best option to turn to.

    Bringing Rajon Rondo into the Knicks roster may be a healthy addition for the team, and Anthony’s shot at a national championship. It certainly couldn’t hurt, considering the success that Rondo has had with Boston, and his experience winning a championship already.

    Image via Facebook

  • Kristen Wiig and Fabrizio Moretti Back Together?

    Kristen Wiig may not be on the dating market after all. The Saturday Night Live alum was reportedly seen with her ex-boyfriend, The Strokes drummer, Fabrizio Moretti, last Sunday sitting court side at a New York Knicks basketball game. The couple reportedly broke up in July under what Wiig’s friends called “amicable” circumstances.

    The Bridemaids star told Marie Claire magazine in an interview in July of 2012 that she is actually a pretty shy person. However, the often tight-lipped Wiig, did open up a little bit about her personal life during the interview. “I will say that I’m happier than I’ve ever been and I feel very lucky right now.”

    In 2011, Wiig took the comedy world by storm when she shattered the old Hollywood ideology that a female-led cast can’t make bank at the box office. Her smash hit Bridesmaids, which Wiig starred and co-write, made nearly $300 million worldwide. The comedian’s dark comedy We Got This Covered, co-starring Annette Bening and Matt Dillon, hits shelves on DVD/Blu-Ray today.

    Here’s an exclusive look at one of the deleted scenes from the film that you can now see on the DVD/Blu-Ray edition:

    The 40-year-old actress was married to actor Hayes Hargrove for four years. The couple divorced in 2009. In an interview with Look, Wiig stated that she would like to have a family and become a mother one day.

    Wiig is currently filming the comedy Welcome to Me co-starring fellow SNL alum Will Ferrell. In the film, she plays a character named Alice, a woman with borderline personality disorder who wins the lottery and decides to spend her cash on starting her very own cable access talk show.

    Image via Wikipedia

  • Ex-NBA Player Banned After Choking Incident

    Renaldo Balkman, a former player for the NBA‘s New York Knicks and Denver Nuggets, has been banned from the Philippine Basketball Association following an on-court incident.

    According to a Reuters report, Balkman placed his hands around his teammate Arwind Santos’ neck as Santos tried to restrain Balkman’s anger over a disputed call.

    In addition to the lifetime ban, the report states that Balkman was fined the equivalent of $6,100 over the choking.

    As seen in the video of the incident below, Balkman also shoved teammates and coaches during his outburst:

    Balkman and Santos were both playing for the Petron Blaze Boosters against the Alaska Aces. The Aces went on to win the game, 83 to 73.

    Balkman has apologized for his actions via his Twitter account. He apologized specifically to Santos and said that he respects the Philippine Basketball Association’s decision:

  • Jeremy Lin May Not Re-Sign with the New York Knicks

    Jeremy Lin, the guy who brought “Linsanity” to the New York Knicks, is a restricted free agent this summer, which means that he can pretty much sign with whoever he wants. Assuming, of course, that they want him, as well. The Knicks will have an opportunity match any offers, which I’m sure they will given Lin’s talent and popularity. And while some people feel that there’s no reason to panic over a potential departure, Lin’s agent suggests you shouldn’t assume he’s going to return.

    In a recent interview with the New York Post, agent Roger Montgomery explained, “I don’t expect that. We’re not anticipating that’s going to happen. We don’t have assurances of anything. I know history shows most restricted free agents go back to their team, but I’m not going to assume anything. We’re waiting to see what happens.”

    Lin himself echoed these sentiments, adding, “There’s always going to be uncertainty until the final contract is signed, so definitely nothing is set in stone. Nothing’s set in stone until it’s really written.”

    This may come as a surprise to Knicks coach Mike Woodson, who said that Lin would “absolutely” return to play for the Knicks next season. It’s understandable why he’d want Lin to return. In addition to helping reinvigorate the franchise towards the end of the season, the point guard also has a devoted fan following which essentially translates into dollar signs when you start plastering his name and likeness onto overpriced merchandise.

    In related news, Lin was recently named to the USA Basketball Select Team, which will assist in the U.S. Olympic team in preparing for the London games this summer.

    (image) Tommy Beer
    @TommyBeer     So Jeremy’s Lin agent will actually try to negotiate, as opposed to accepting the Knicks first offer… Breaking news, huh?
    4 hours ago via TweetDeck · powered by @socialditto
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    (image) selene
    @juhdaynuh     he can kindly exit stage left if he likes. “@SportsCenter: @JLin7‘s agent: Don’t assume he’ll return to the @nyknicks http://t.co/wYm6JZJ9”
    1 hour ago via Twitter for iPhone · powered by @socialditto
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    (image) Zach Zoeller
    @zachzoeller     What lasted longer Kim Kardashian’s marriage or Jeremy Lin’s fame?
    13 minutes ago via web · powered by @socialditto
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    (image) Anthony Nguyen
    @anthony_thinks     Report: Raptors to pursue Jeremy Lin. Wow!
    12 minutes ago via Twitter for BlackBerry® · powered by @socialditto
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    (image) Not Bill Walton
    @NotBillWalton     Danica Patrick got lapped, yet ESPN will continue giving her a ton of attention. A commercial with Jeremy Lin & Tim Tebow is coming soon!
    8 days ago via web · powered by @socialditto
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  • Mike D’antoni Resigns As New York Knicks Coach

    A little less than a month ago, Jeremy Lin was taking New York City–and the world–by storm, bringing Linsanity to the people. The trend was so popular, as was the Knicks’ minor winning streak, some speculated Lin’s play was in the process of saving head coach Mike D’antoni’s job. Fast forward to March, and, well, things are different.

    Reports are Linsanity is dying–extended losing streaks have a way of doing that–and now, the once-saved Mike D’antoni is now out of a job, having resigned his position as head coach of the New York Knickerbockers.

    Naturally, Twitter is blowing up about D’antoni’s decision, but before that, some speculation. While Lin was credited with giving D’antoni a stay of execution, Carmelo Anthony is taking the heat as the one responsible for the failure the Knicks have been exhibiting. Furthermore, there were rumors of Anthony not wanting to play for D’antoni anymore, something he denied.

    On Twitter, of course.

    (image)@carmeloanthony
    Carmelo Anthony    Alright, enough with all this trade talk. It’s making me sick to my stomach to hear that I wanna leave NY.(image) 1 hour ago via Twitter for iPhone ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    While denying the trade talks is well and good, Anthony didn’t necessarily step up for his now ex-coach, either. As for the Twitter explosion, as of this writing, the phrase “Mike D” was the top Twitter trend, and no, it wasn’t talking about the Beastie Boys MC, either. There’s even a fake Mike D’antoni Twitter account, and it, too, got in on the fun:

    (image)@Coach_D_Antoni
    Coach D’Antoni    The Knicks and I have mutually agreed to part. Dolan agreed to keep Melo and make me play him and I agreed to tell him to go fuck himself.(image) 45 minutes ago via web ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    (image)@Coach_D_Antoni
    Coach D’Antoni    The good news is Phil Jackson will replace me and his starting lineup will be Lebron, Durant, MJ, Magic and Bird. #keepdreamingassholes(image) 38 minutes ago via web ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    Sounds like a pleasant dream to have, but this final gem is aimed directly at Knicks fans who want to turn back the clock:

    (image)@Coach_D_Antoni
    Coach D’Antoni    Anyone calling for Jeff Van Gundy probably needs someone to cut their food for them. #fuckwits(image) 31 minutes ago via web ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    More reaction:

    (image)@KySportsRadio
    Matt Jones    Mike D’antoni has resigned from the Knicks…Calipari to the Knicks rumors will now begin(image) 42 minutes ago via Echofon ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    Um, not everyone idolizes Calipari like you do, Matt.

    (image)@PeytonsHead
    Peyton’s Head    Mike D’Antoni has resigned as coach of the Knicks. #unLINployed(image) 53 minutes ago via web ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    Note the hashtag.

    (image)@pareene
    Alex Pareene    Mike D’Antoni announces plans to write much-emailed Times op-ed(image) 55 minutes ago via web ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    It’s funny because it’s relevant.

    (image)@_RidingOnCruise
    Marreo R.    Mike D’antoni out of a head coaching job……#YESSSS(image) 50 seconds ago via Echofon ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    (image)@Danny_Is_Like
    danny    Carmelo got Mike D fired,. That’s a cold deal(image) 1 minute ago via web ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    These last two do a great job of demonstrating the line between “Yay, he’s gone” and “They fired D’antoni? WTH?” Which side of the coin are you on?