JR Smith is in a better place now. And he knows it.
Smith, who along with Iman Shumpert was sent to (dumped on) Cleveland in a January trade, is headed to the Eastern Conference Finals following the Cavs’ Game 6 victory over the Bulls.
After the game, JR posted this on his Instagram:
I believe the saying traditionally goes, “One man’s trash can still go places that matter if LeBron James slings it over his shoulder and hauls it to those places,” but to each his own.
A handful of NBA jersey designs were leaked today, all of them featuring a “throwback” look. Among them was a Knicks design, with a heavy use of one of the team’s colors (blue) and a nearly complete lack of the other primary color (orange). It is assumed that the jerseys will be used as the Christmas design for 2015. The design can be seen above.
The Madison Square Garden Company, which is run by James Dolan and owns the Knicks, Rangers, and Liberty, hired Isiah Thomas on Tuesday to serve as President of the Liberty.
Thomas served as the Knicks’ President of Basketball Operations from 2003-08 and their coach from 2006-08. His tenure was disastrous in every aspect, as he set the Knicks back several years while leading the team to the (then) worst record in franchise-history, handing out several bloated contracts, and facing a sexual harassment lawsuit.
To the outrage of Knicks fans, Dolan has flirted with the idea of bringing Thomas back (and attempted to do so) in some capacity several times since his departure. According to the New York Post, Thomas has had his heart set on regaining control of the Knicks since his departure.
That’s a shaky claim to say the least, and Thomas certainly doesn’t have that now. But he’s in the same building, and it’s uncomfortably close. Thomas will also have part ownership of the Liberty.
NOTE: This is 100% real, despite the fact that it definitely sounds like a joke. -Tommy
The Knicks like Karl-Anthony Towns. Karl-Anthony Towns likes the Knicks. But neither party can control what happens in the Draft on June 25.
Towns, who grew up in New Jersey, is a big Knicks fan, and figures to be a top-two pick on Draft night.
In an interview with Marc Berman of the New York Post, Towns raved about Phil Jackson, and said that he would love to play for his favorite team:
“It’s his presence,” Towns said of Jackson. “What he means to me, his presence is just amazing. What was so awesome as a coach, he made every player better and put them in the best position to succeed. He’s just so smart and intelligent and has so much experience. He knows how to win. At the end of the day, what every player wants to do is win.”
“If I have the opportunity to ever play for the Knicks, that’s what I would love to do.’’
The 19 year-old could get that opportunity very soon. The Knicks had the second-worst record in the NBA this season.
But due to the lottery, getting a shot at Kentucky’s center is no sure thing.
The Knicks have a 19.9 % chance at the top pick, an 18.8 % chance at the second pick (38.7 % of being top-two), a 17.1 % chance at the third pick (55.8 % top-three), a 31.9 % chance at the fourth pick (87.7 % top-four), and a 12.3 % chance at the fifth pick (100% top-five).
The Draft order will be determined in the Draft Lottery on May 19. -Tommy Rothman
(Here’s a picture of Towns with Knicks star Carmelo Anthony)
Knicks superstar Carmelo Anthony travelled to Baltimore on Thursday to participate in a protest against police violence following the death of Freddie Gray.
Melo was born in Brooklyn, but grew up in Baltimore after his family moved when he was eight.
The incident has sparked protests and riots in Baltimore and other US cities (including New York) this week. The Baltimore Orioles had to cancel one game, ask fans to remain in the ballpark after another, play one that was closed to the public, and move a series to Florida due to safety concerns.
While the public unrest has led to several riots in the Baltimore area, most of the protests have been peaceful, including the one Anthony marched in on Thursday.
Earlier in the week, Carmelo posted a message on Instagram for the people of Baltimore, saying “We need to protect our city, not destroy it.”
You can take the JR Smith out of the #KnicksTank.
But you can’t take the #KnicksTank out of the JR Smith.
Shades of Knicks vs Celtics Round 1 Game 4 from 2013, when JR, with a 3-0 lead in Boston, got ejected for elbowing Jason Terry for no reason. That was EXACTLY two years ago today.
History repeats itself.
New York Knicks Memes 