Knicks Morning News (2016.02.03)

  • [New York Post] Derek Fisher’s top 2016 goal for Knicks — and it’s not playoffs (Wed, 03 Feb 2016 02:06:42 -0500)

    Knicks coach Derek Fisher said because his club is coming off a 17-win season, he can't consider it a failure if they don't make the playoffs, believing the "end result” is not what's most essential. With the Knicks about to face two teams they need to pass to nab a playoff berth — Boston on…

  • [New York Post] Knicks’ playoff-squelching talk proves painfully prophetic (Wed, 03 Feb 2016 01:09:14 -0500)

    Perhaps Derek Fisher is right after all. Maybe any notion the Knicks might actually contend for a playoff berth is too big to dream right now. Not only are the Knicks not in the class of the defending champion Warriors, as evidenced over the weekend, they also lack the physical and mental makeup to hang…

  • [New York Times] On Pro Basketball: Celtics’ Danny Ainge Is Striving to Build Another Winner (Wed, 03 Feb 2016 10:00:02 GMT)

    Ainge has developed a roster of solid, young veterans, but his efforts to acquire or draft stars will determine if the Celtics can challenge in the East.

  • [New York Times] Kobe Scores 38, Lakers Beat Wolves 119-115 to End 10-Gm Skid (Wed, 03 Feb 2016 07:33:35 GMT)

    Kobe Bryant has lifted the Los Angeles Lakers onto his shoulders countless times over the past two decades, and he rarely flinches under the weight.

  • [New York Times] Lakers’ Russell Makes Case for More Playing Time (Wed, 03 Feb 2016 06:42:27 GMT)

    Los Angeles Lakers’ No. 2 overall pick D’Angelo Russell produced one of his better games of the season on Tuesday to heatup the debate about his playing time and development.

  • [New York Times] Raptors Spoil Debut of Interim Suns Coach Watson (Wed, 03 Feb 2016 06:00:28 GMT)

    Toronto guard Kyle Lowry scored 26 points and DeMar DeRozan had 22 as the Raptors spoiled Phoenix interim coach Earl Watson’s debut in a 104-97 victory over the Suns on Tuesday at Talking Stick Resort Arena.

  • [New York Times] Blazers Beat Bucks 107-95 for 5th Straight Win (Wed, 03 Feb 2016 05:42:34 GMT)

    CJ McCollum had 30 points and Portland beat the Milwaukee Bucks 107-95 on Tuesday night for the Trail Blazers’ season-high fifth straight win.

  • [New York Times] Lowry, Raptors Hold Off Suns, Spoil Watson’s Coaching Debut (Wed, 03 Feb 2016 05:18:45 GMT)

    Kyle Lowry scored 26 points, including five 3-pointers, DeMar DeRozan added 22 points and the Toronto Raptors held off Phoenix 104-97 Tuesday night, spoiling the debut of Suns interim coach Earl Watson.

  • [New York Times] Sports Briefing | Pro Basketball: Sylvia Fowles Stays With Lynx (Wed, 03 Feb 2016 04:54:42 GMT)

    Fowles was the most valuable player of the W.N.B.A. finals in October.

  • [New York Times] Harden’s 26 Points Lead Rockets Over Heat 115-102 (Wed, 03 Feb 2016 04:51:39 GMT)

    James Harden has long been known as a great scorer.

  • [New York Times] Celtics Wear Down Knicks for 97-89 Victory (Wed, 03 Feb 2016 04:33:49 GMT)

    The Celtics toughened up their defense and were simply too tough for the Knicks.

  • [New York Times] N.B.A. Roundup: Rockets Win After Dwight Howard Is Suspended (Wed, 03 Feb 2016 04:20:41 GMT)

    James Harden scored 26 points to help the Houston Rockets end a three-game losing streak with a 115-102 win over the Miami Heat.

  • [New York Times] Celtics 97, Knicks 89: Kristaps Porzingis, East’s Rookie of Month, Continues Recent Struggles (Wed, 03 Feb 2016 04:02:13 GMT)

    Porzingis was chosen as the top first-year player in the Eastern Conference for the third straight month, but he shot poorly as the Knicks fell to Boston at Madison Square Garden.

  • [New York Times] Diminutive All-Star Isaiah Thomas Finds Shoulders to Stand On (Wed, 03 Feb 2016 02:05:15 GMT)

    Thomas acknowledged a debt to the undersize men who played before him, like Muggsy Bogues, who has become a mentor and sounding board for Thomas.

  • [New York Times] Suns GM McDonough Says Team Wasn’t Responding to Hornacek (Wed, 03 Feb 2016 00:01:10 GMT)

    Phoenix Suns general manager Ryan McDonough says coach Jeff Hornacek was fired because the players weren’t responding to him.

  • [New York Daily News] Isola: What’s the point? Knicks need backcourt help (Wed, 03 Feb 2016 07:29:52 GMT)

    The Knicks will need to win 18 of their final 31 games to reach 41 victories. Good luck with that, especially with this roster.

  • [New York Daily News] Knicks drop to five games under .500 with loss to Celtics (Wed, 03 Feb 2016 06:31:16 GMT)

    According to their coach, the Knicks have suffered from a “slippage” in focus.

  • [New York Daily News] Carmelo Anthony hits Crowder with elbow, Celtic warns him (Wed, 03 Feb 2016 05:17:43 GMT)

    The recipient of a Carmelo Anthony elbow-to-the-face told the Daily News that it wasn’t an isolated incident.