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.
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)
You can now re-live the most hilarious (but painful) moments of the Knicks season
This isn’t an official video, of course. The Knicks could have never won the NCAA championship.
Shoutout to the maker of the video for using one of our vines
Quincy Acy threw down a pretty nice alley-oop in the Knicks-Bucks game on Friday.
He got pretty excited.
His celebration kinda fizzled out a bit midway through though… I wonder why?
The Knicks being 15-63 might have something to do with it.
Former Knick Chris Copeland and two women were stabbed while leaving a Manhattan club on Wednesday morning, according to reports.
Copeland was in New York because the Indiana Pacers, his current team, are set to play the Knicks on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden. Copeland and others were leaving 1 OAK Club in Chelsea when they got in an argument with 22 year-old Shezoy Bleary, who pulled a knife and stabbed Copeland in the abdomen and elbow, slashed his ex-fiancée (now “good friend”) Katrine Saltara in the arm and leg, and slashed 53 year-old Catherine Somani (accidentally; she is believed to be the suspect’s friend) in the abdomen.
Copeland and Saltara were rushed to the hospital as police apprehended the suspect. They are both believed to be in stable condition.
Copeland’s elbow was fractured in the incident and will require surgery
Two Hawks players, Pero Antic and Thabo Sefolosha, were arrested at the scene for obstruction.
*UPDATE: Copeland is out of surgery
*UPDATE: Copeland has been released from the hospital
***Chris Copeland is my favorite player in the league, and has always been supportive of my efforts on this blog. He was nice enough to issue post-game passes so that I could meet him in person the last time the Pacers were at MSG. My thoughts are with him and his wife. -Tommy Rothman
New York Knicks Memes 