Month: October 2016

Knicks 2017 Roundtable: Season Wins

The Vegas line is 38.5, if I set it to 40.5, are you going over or under?

Fisher-Cohen: The Knicks registered assists on 62.6% of their preseason field goals and finished preseason with the 5th best offense. Last season, they only assisted on 55.7% of their field goals. Unfortunately, it’s the preseason… The Kings finished with the 6th best offense. It gives me something to hope for this season, but I don’t expect the Knicks to be a great offensive team, and one talented yet injury prone center won’t make up for terrible perimeter defense. We’ve seen that movie before back when it starred Tyson Chandler.

Anyway, my biggest concern with this team is Rose, who barely played this preseason. To me, he’s the new late Knicks era Stoudemire — the same weak defense, the same star power to demand minutes and shots. The main difference is Rose is far less efficient. I expect him to be this team’s albatross. This team has a lot of parallels to the team Jackson inherited in 2014 in terms of contracts, age and current talent, and I expect it to perform similarly. If you told me Rose would go down early or Hornacek would have the balls to bench him and the presence to keep it from becoming a distraction, I would probably take the over, but right now, I have to go under.

Also, as of 10/4, Vegas had the Knicks at 40 wins.

Kurylo: You can look at this team and see lots of things to be optimistic about. Let’s start with the most obvious: Porzingis. He’s almost certain to get better, the only question being how much better. Is he a future All Star? A top 10 player? A generational talent? Only time will tell.

The signing of Hornacek was another plus for the front office. If nothing else, it showed that the team wasn’t afraid to correct their mistake, or at least the mistake of hiring Derek Fisher. “Checkers” wasn’t awesome in Phoenix, but he did well with what he had. Even if he doesn’t turn out to be a success, it will only be a bad move from hindsight. Right now it’s a solid choice.

The next big plus is the addition of Joakim Noah. New York needs a defensive minded center to play alongside Melo, and a healthy Noah gives them exactly that. His energetic play will be a plus for Gardenites, who will likely cheer bigly for their hometown hero.

But I’m not an optimist, and there’s a dark side to this team as well. The PG position is in shambles, and I’m having a hard time wondering if Derrick Rose missing 20 games is going to be a good thing for the team given their lack of depth. The franchise has lacked a good PG since Marbury took his talents to Asia. In the 11 seasons since this blog’s inception, only 6 Knicks have managed 1500+ minutes and 4.5 ast/36, — and the list isn’t exactly a group you’d be proud of. (For fun – try to name the 6 PGs in the comments.)

But PG isn’t the only problem. I talked about ‘Melo yesterday, and how his production is fading. The overall defense is questionable. And if Noah gets hurt for an extended period, this team is going to flail their way to 32 games again.

It’s a transition year, not a year to dream about a deep playoff run. Last year I hit the bullseye with my prediction, and I’d be happy if they won more than the 37 games I foresee. Save yourself the heartache and go with the UNDER.

Plugh: Setting the number at 40.5 instead of 38.5 makes all the difference in the world to me. At 38.5 I would feel comfortable taking the OVER. I’ve been feeling confident about the Knicks being at .500 with a plus or minus of 2 games. Two games under 41 is 39, so cool. OVER. Setting it at 40.5 means I have to hit it right on the money and I’m just not super confident that they’re good enough to hit .500 for sure. The wiggle room was nice on the Vegas line.

I like Max’s comparison of Rose and Stoudemire. It does feel similar, and I hadn’t made that connection. Of course the problem is the star power/minutes formula vs. the defensive liability and usage issues. Health is worrisome. Defense, generally, is worrisome. I could continue to tick off my concerns about the team and arrive at UNDER, but unlike Kurylo, I am an optimist and I think there’s an outside shot the team could be really good. The smart bet is probably that they’re not going to be very good, but I’m going to say OVER because I continue to believe in two important things. 1) Porzingis is going to make a leap this season and semi-take over the identity of the club. It’s still going to be Melo’s team in most ways, but the dirty little secret that will evolve over the next 2-3 seasons is that Porzingis is alpha and omega. 2) Joakim Noah will have a Jason Kidd effect on the ball club. His presence on the court, and ability to share the rock, will impact the team more than his actual production. His defensive spirit will coax the team to be better than miserable, even if he can’t do what he used to, and even though none of his teammates are actually very good at defense. Those predictions, admittedly, aren’t born out by any statistical model, but I think I feel comfortable with them based on stylistic precedent. OVER.

Topaz: Maybe Schrödinger was a Knicks fan. The team may have the widest possible win-loss range this year for any team in the NBA. There’s a universe in which the Knicks win 48-50 games—if Rose is healthy and effective, if Noah stays healthy to anchor a formidable frontcourt defense, if KP makes a big leap. There’s another universe in which they win 30-32 games—if Noah and Rose continue to regress and/or get injured, if Melo takes a step back, etc. Another unpredictable year for an unpredictable franchise.

When in doubt, though, go with what you know. I keep thinking about this Chris Herring tweet from January. We know that the Knicks have failed to address their biggest problem from last year (or the past half decade): point guard defense. We know that Rose has always been a bad shooter and has been an inefficient scorer the past three years when healthy. We know that Noah is 31, an extremely physical player whose body is likely breaking down, and had a 41 TS% (!) in 29 games last year. We know that while the Knicks are deep at the forward position (Hi Lance!) they are awfully thin at point guard and center—where, as it stands, the team has its most injury-prone starters. We know that 21-year-olds sometimes need time to develop before we demand yet another breakout season from them. We know that the offensive spacing will likely get really ugly, really quickly if Melo or KP have to miss extended time.

It could all work out. But it’s likelier that it won’t—there are just too many 50-50 balls that have to go in the Knicks favor. I’ll take the UNDER at 37 wins.

Udwary: As everyone mentioned, this is a really tough team to predict for the season, but I think it’s easy to predict the beginning of the season. We have three new starters who weren’t on the team last year, two of whom missed several preseason games, and a new coach installing a new system. I would expect the team to be a mess early on, but once they start getting used to playing together and in this system they can be a formidable team. How many games will that take? 20? 30? By then I would start to worry about injuries. I think the under would be the safe bet, but the over is not out of the question with a healthy Noah and Melo. My prediction for the season is something like a 12-20 start, but a late push, just missing the 8 spot in the playoffs with a 41-41 finish. OVER! There is no way I would bet real money on that line, though. There are just way too many question marks surrounding this team.

Knicks Morning News (2016.10.25)

  • [SNY Knicks] GEICO SportsNite: Knicks ready for opener against Cavs
    (Tuesday, October 25, 2016 12:51:43 AM)

    Jeff Hornacek, Carmelo Anthony and Derrick Rose discuss the coming season and the Knicks season opener in Cleveland.

  • [SNY Knicks] Porzingis embracing heightened expectations
    (Monday, October 24, 2016 10:49:23 PM)

    New York Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis is embracing raised expectations heading into his second professional season.

  • [SNY Knicks] Noah’s recent injury still slowing him down
    (Monday, October 24, 2016 8:25:00 AM)

    Joakim Noah hasn’t shown too much rust in the New York Knicks’ preseason schedule so far, but he will need to recover from his hamstring injury fast as the regular season quickly approaches.

  • [NYPost] Knicks could learn a thing or two about winning from Cavaliers
    (Monday, October 24, 2016 8:44:10 PM)

    CLEVELAND — You should see what it looks like here, in this city that not so long ago was bereft of sporting hope, drowning in decades of despair. You should hear how optimistic the locals sound, how rich is their swagger, how deep is their confidence. It’s actually disconcerting. And more than a little contagious….

  • [NYPost] Warriors’ fun-loving spectacle now loathed for juicy NBA year
    (Monday, October 24, 2016 8:00:56 PM)

    When trying to assess the 2016-17 NBA landscape, a pointed observation from one of mankind’s late, great philosophers immediately surfaces. “Everybody pulls for David,” Wilt Chamberlain once said. “Nobody roots for Goliath.” This season’s NBA Goliath is Golden State. The Warriors were as beloved as Mother Teresa a few years back. Fun to watch with…

  • [NYPost] Knicks’ new-looks roster gets first test vs. defending champs
    (Monday, October 24, 2016 7:36:33 PM)

    CLEVELAND — Carmelo Anthony will watch bittersweetly as his buddies LeBron James and ex-Knick teammates, J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert receive their championship rings Tuesday night. He hopes one day he’ll be in the same position of receiving jewelry now that he has Derrick Rose on his side. The Rose Era dawns in a special…

  • [NYPost] Phil Jackson on his last do-over if Knicks’ risks go bust
    (Monday, October 24, 2016 1:45:53 PM)

    Three strikes, you’re out. Knicks president Phil Jackson has an 0-2 count on him as his club starts its third full season under the Zen Master’s faulty presidency Tuesday night at Cleveland’s Quicken Loans Arena. After another major roster reconstruction and hiring a new, inventive coach in Jeff Hornacek, Jackson may have gotten it right…

  • [NYPost] Knicks docs monitoring Derrick Rose for signs of trial ‘stress’
    (Monday, October 24, 2016 11:55:04 AM)

    The Knicks medical staff isn’t just worried about Derrick Rose’s knees. On the eve of Rose’s Knicks debut, doctors were more concerned about his conditioning and stress levels following a two-plus-week civil sexual assault trial. Rose said he was advised by the Knicks’ medical director, Lisa Callahan, not to overexert himself in the beginning stages…

  • [NY Newsday] Knicks preview: Added talent brings opportunity
    (Tuesday, October 25, 2016 3:31:19 AM)

    Cleaning out his locker in the middle of April the last three years had Carmelo Anthony in a foul mood.

  • [NY Newsday] Kristaps Porzingis ready to make jump
    (Tuesday, October 25, 2016 3:25:48 AM)

    Kristaps Porzingis’ smile is big and wide as he thinks about his rookie season and the way he silenced so many who thought he was a long-term project based on his appearance.

  • [NY Newsday] Derrick Rose gets his chance to begin resurgence with Knicks
    (Monday, October 24, 2016 8:48:29 PM)

    CLEVELAND — After the Cavaliers’ NBA championship banner gets raised to the rafters Tuesday night, the Knicks will unveil a team with 10 new players, a new coach and a former MVP who is out to show he’s still an elite player who can carry a team to the playoffs.

  • [NY Newsday] NBA power rankings: Eastern Conference
    (Monday, October 24, 2016 5:51:10 PM)

    1. CAVALIERS: The reigning NBA champs remain the class of the conference and should rule the East again as long as LeBron James is healthy and leading them.

  • [NY Newsday] NBA Eastern Conference preview: Cleveland Cavaliers not satisfied
    (Monday, October 24, 2016 5:13:00 PM)

    LeBron James helped the Cavaliers make history last year, twice. But that doesn’t mean the best player of his generation is going to exhale.

  • [NY Newsday] What to like and not like about the Knicks in 2016-17
    (Monday, October 24, 2016 3:47:00 PM)

    Health concerns, Phil’s future, Derrick Rose and more

  • [NY Newsday] Add Mark Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy to those who like the improved Knicks
    (Monday, October 24, 2016 2:47:48 PM)

    Like most NBA observers, ESPN analysts Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson believe the Knicks will be much improved this season and have a good chance of making the playoffs – with one important caveat, of course.

  • [NYDN] Knicks doctor expresses concern over Derrick Rose’s stress level
    (Monday, October 24, 2016 9:29:56 PM)

    Derrick Rose begins his Knicks career with confidence that he’ll regain MVP form, but also under orders to monitor his stress hormones.

  • [NYDN] What will Carmelo Anthony be thinking when LeBron James gets ring
    (Monday, October 24, 2016 3:32:59 PM)

    It feels like a cruel punishment to have Carmelo Anthony present for Cleveland’s championship ring ceremony.

  • [ESPN] Tuesday’s Knicks News: New-look roster gets top test against Cavs
    (Tuesday, October 25, 2016 5:09:31 AM)

    Tuesday’s Knicks News: New-look roster gets top test against Cavs

  • [ESPN] Rose: Regaining elite PG status ‘a matter of time’
    (Monday, October 24, 2016 5:03:40 PM)

    Rose: Regaining elite PG status ‘a matter of time’

  • [NYTimes] N.B.A. Schedule: Here’s What to Watch This Week
    (Monday, October 24, 2016 7:04:07 PM)

    The 2016-17 N.B.A. season kicks off on Tuesday with games between the Knicks and the Cavaliers, the Jazz and the Trail Blazers and the Spurs and the Warriors.

  • [NYTimes] Warriors’ Aesthetic Is Basketball Ballet
    (Tuesday, October 25, 2016 9:00:21 AM)

    The beauty of the pass-first style that Golden State rode to a 73-9 record last season is that it looks deceptively unscripted. But that’s not the case.

  • [NYTimes] On Pro Basketball: LeBron James Remains a Rock Amid N.B.A.’s Changing Terrain
    (Tuesday, October 25, 2016 12:49:48 AM)

    In a whirlwind off-season, Kevin Durant moved to the Warriors, and Dwyane Wade went to the Bulls. The Cavaliers look the same, and they’re thankful for that.

    • Knicks 2017 Rountable: Carmelo Anthony

    Look into your crystal ball, and tell us what you see for Carmelo Anthony in 2017.

    Fisher-Cohen: If the team plays uptempo, Melo will benefit from the transition threes on which he thrived in his two best seasons in NY. I don’t think, unfortunately, over the course of a season, 32 year old Melo can be the guy who draws the defense and creates opportunities for others every possession. There was only one player age 32+ last season who played 1800 minutes with a BPM over +1.0: Pau Gasol. This is out of 64 total players who accomplished the feat. If Melo’s going to continue as an elite player, sooner rather than later, he’ll need help.

    Does he have it? Of the three players the Knicks added to their starting lineup, none had a positive OBPM last season. What really concerns me though is that it’s just so hard to score effectively when you have two guys who aren’t scoring threats from anywhere on the court. The point of ball and player movement is to force defenses to move, but if you’ve got multiple players out there who don’t concern the defense, it makes their rotations so much easier.

    If Rose is hurt or visited by some doctors from the Starfleet who restore his athleticism, sure, I could see Melo having a nice season where he matches career highs in efficiency and just scores in lower volume, but the latter at least is a long shot.

    Kurylo: An objective person would look at Carmelo Anthony and have a pessimistic outlook for 2017. Over the last 4 years, he’s missed an average of 18 games, his ts% has dropped about 30 points, and his pts/36 is down 5.5 pts. For a player of his scoring frequency, his efficiency is below average. Looking at the 18 players that averaged at least 22.4 pts/36 last year, only 2 had a ts% lower than ‘Melo: Dwayne Wade and the artistic performance that was Kobe Bryant’s last season. (Wait — that was a real athlete actually trying to compete?)

    On the other hand Anthony might be making up for his diminished scoring in other areas. He had career highs in rebounds and assists per minute. And he seems interesting in sharing the spotlight with Porzingis, something that he may have had issues with in the past (see: Linsanity).

    But it’s hard to argue that this is enough compensation for his decline in his main strength: scoring. Also consider that Anthony’s summer rest was interrupted by the Olympics and that he’s on the wrong side of 30. How can I logically make the case that his production will increase from his last two seasons?

    So for Melo I see about 10-15 games missed, a ts% that might be reach 53.0%, and him reaching a level of maturity that previously eluded him.

    Plugh: The only thing I can say for sure is that Carmelo Anthony will always get his shots. I feel relatively comfortable saying that Melo will get most of his shots in isolation, as he usually does, and the million dollar question is whether or not he’ll return to the Jason Kidd-era ball movement that we saw work so effectively on the way to 54 wins. The Knicks are clearly going to play faster this season, but we don’t yet know what makeup of plays to expect. Will they run a lot more pick and roll? Will they get comfortable whipping the ball around? Will every possession that extends beyond 10-12 seconds end with a Melo isolation? In principle, that shouldn’t happen given Phil Jackson’s wishes, and Jeff Hornacek’s past coaching philosophy. What’s going to give? You’d hope Melo will bend, if only a little.

    His health is going to remain a question for the rest of his career. He’s on the other side of 30 and he’s coming off a busy offseason at the Olympic Games. Everyone loves Olympic Melo, but four years is a long time, and we don’t know how this version of Olympic Melo is going to hold up. One of the upsides to resting Melo from time to time is the emphasis on Kristaps Porzingis as go-to-guy. We’ve already seen it in the preseason as Melo sat out periodically. Porzingis goes from support player to alpha dog and his game really blossoms. My hope is that Melo sits out periodically (DNP-Old) and Porzingis gets to shine.

    Gibberman: I understand and think all the concerns brought up above are reasonable, but I think there’s a path for Melo to be more efficient than he was the last two seasons.

    The increased pace and more fluid offense will create easier shots than he’s had the last two seasons. According to NBA.com, Anthony shot 38% on catch & shoot threes last year, up from 35% the year before. Playing off of Rose, Jennings and Noah should help push him towards these type of shots.

    Even though we didn’t see it much in the preseason, I believe Hornacek will unleash Porzingis and Melo at C/PF together for at least 5-12 minutes every night. Maybe it doesn’t happen right away but either through injuries or just the offense needing a boost it will get there. This will also help Melo be more efficient.

    The injuries are an undeniable problem. His defense still isn’t good enough on a consistent basis. Melo has his flaws as a player but that doesn’t mean he can’t play at a high level with a smarter team-wide approach.

    Knicks Morning News (2016.10.24)

  • [NY Newsday] Joakim Noah still trying to get his defense up to speed
    (Sunday, October 23, 2016 7:21:28 PM)

    GREENBURGH, N.Y. — With only one practice left before the opener, getting their starting point guard comfortable and up to speed with the new offense isn’t the only concern for the Knicks. The player they brought in to anchor their defense isn’t moving as well as he would like.

  • [SNY Knicks] Knicks’ Jennings has chip on shoulder after 29 other teams passed on him
    (Sunday, October 23, 2016 9:46:21 AM)

    If it seemed as though the Knicks got themselves a bargain on Brandon Jennings (one-year, $5 million contract), it’s because there wasn’t much of a bidding war to be had.

  • [NYPost] Jeff Hornacek wants Cubs to be an inspiration to Knicks
    (Sunday, October 23, 2016 5:41:31 PM)

    Jeff Hornacek knows about title droughts. Long before joining the Knicks, the coach already was quite familiar with long-suffering fan bases. On Saturday night, the lifelong Cubs fan watched what happens when repeated misery is replaced by long-awaited exhilaration. Hornacek, who grew up in suburban Chicago, saw how much more special celebrations become when moments…

  • [NYPost] Honest Knicks admit beginning of the season may be rough
    (Sunday, October 23, 2016 3:13:56 PM)

    Joakim Noah admittedly is a “step slow” since suffering recent hamstring and ankle injuries. Derrick Rose has practiced with the Knicks just twice since returning from his civil trial for rape in Los Angeles. The time the team had to integrate its prized new additions is just about over, with the Knicks going the entire…

  • [NYDN] Joakim Noah not his former self as Knicks defense struggles
    (Sunday, October 23, 2016 9:14:45 PM)

    It was just preseason, but it was ugly.

  • [NYDN] Jeff Hornacek wants Knicks to get angry during Cavs ring ceremony
    (Sunday, October 23, 2016 1:31:39 PM)

    Jeff Hornacek believes there’s one advantage to diving right in against the defending champs.

  • [NYDN] Knicks Insider: Joakim Noah quick to admit defensive faults
    (Sunday, October 23, 2016 11:18:49 AM)

    In their final three games, the Knicks allowed an average of 109 points per game with the opponents shooting 50%.

  • [ESPN] Monday’s Knicks News: Joakim Noah still a step slow
    (Monday, October 24, 2016 5:17:57 AM)

    Monday’s Knicks News: Joakim Noah still a step slow

  • [ESPN] Knicks’ Porzingis: Club cohesion will take time
    (Sunday, October 23, 2016 3:26:49 PM)

    Knicks’ Porzingis: Club cohesion will take time

  • [NYTimes] Cavaliers’ Reward for the Title Is to Share a Prized Trophy
    (Sunday, October 23, 2016 6:48:50 PM)

    Like some other recent N.B.A. champions, Cleveland has taken the Larry O’Brien Trophy on tour, but the extent to which they have embraced the trophy is unique.

    • Knicks Morning News (2016.10.23)

  • [NYPost] How Knicks’ defensive problem decided last roster spot
    (Saturday, October 22, 2016 1:26:02 PM)

    The Knicks’ defense wasn’t impressive in the preseason, which is why coach Jeff Hornacek refused to cut defensive forward Maurice Ndour and rolled the dice in waiving injured point guard Chasson Randle, with hopes he doesn’t re-sign elsewhere. The wiry 6-foot-9 Ndour was the Knicks’ 2015 summer-league standout who played briefly in Spain last season…

  • [NYPost] Derrick Rose returns to Knicks ‘heaven,’ only regrets son’s birthday
    (Saturday, October 22, 2016 10:21:14 AM)

    An ecstatic Derrick Rose said it felt like “heaven” to be on the court for his first Knicks practice after missing more than two weeks for his $21.5 million civil rape trial, saying he “just wants to hoop.’’ Rose was cleared of all sexual assault charges Wednesday in federal court. He rejoined the club at its…

  • [SNY Knicks] Being back with Knicks feels like ‘heaven’ for Rose
    (Saturday, October 22, 2016 4:57:51 PM)

    After missing nine practices and five of the team’s preseason games, Derrick Rose is back with the Knicks and gearing up for the start of the season.

  • [SNY Knicks] Knicks should keep close tabs on Chasson Randle
    (Saturday, October 22, 2016 12:13:39 PM)

    After getting waived on Friday, Chasson Randle will leave the Knicks with a $100,000 parting gift. Despite being a wealthier man, this couldn’t have been the exact outcome he was hoping for.

  • [SNY Knicks] Knicks head Into season with momentum and uncertainty
    (Saturday, October 22, 2016 9:11:00 AM)

    Defensively, the Knicks have a ways to go, but overall the team seems to have gelled, specifically on the second unit where Brandon Jennings has taken a leadership role as the backup quarterback and, most recently, that has sparked solid play from Kyle O’Quinn, who the Knicks need to fill a huge role for them this season behind Joakim Noah.

  • [NYTimes] Crystal Balls Show Cavaliers and Warriors Back in the N.B.A. Finals
    (Sunday, October 23, 2016 1:53:42 AM)

    The two teams who met in the finals last season are most likely to outclass the rest of the league once again.

  • [NY Newsday] Derrick Rose overjoyed to work out with Knicks teammates
    (Saturday, October 22, 2016 5:19:00 PM)

    Derrick Rose was reunited with his teammates for the first time in more than two weeks at Knicks practice on Saturday. He didn’t wear a shirt during the final minutes of the workout, but he did wear a look of relief afterward.

  • [NYDN] Knicks far from ‘Super Team,’ but should make playoffs if healthy
    (Saturday, October 22, 2016 10:23:01 PM)

    The experiment of the Knicks, if nothing else, will be worth watching for the journey.

  • [NYDN] Derrick Rose, Knicks will limit Phil Jackson’s triangle offense
    (Saturday, October 22, 2016 10:17:51 PM)

    Derrick Rose is confident he’ll easily pick up Jeff Hornacek’s reduced triangle.

  • [NYDN] Derrick Rose expresses sympathy toward accuser in Knicks return
    (Saturday, October 22, 2016 10:16:04 PM)

    Derrick Rose took the compassionate and modest approach regarding the verdict that cleared him of liability in his messy civil trial.

  • [NYDN] Knicks season preview: Positional breakdown, burning questions
    (Saturday, October 22, 2016 5:49:26 PM)

    The Knicks have assembled what Derrick Rose calls a “Super Team” and most others call a “Playoff Possibility.”

  • [ESPN] Rose rejoins Knicks; being on court ‘like heaven’
    (Saturday, October 22, 2016 3:11:27 PM)

    Rose rejoins Knicks; being on court ‘like heaven’

    • Knicks Morning News (2016.10.22)

  • [NY Newsday] Carmelo Anthony excited for the ‘unknown’ of the Knicks’ new season
    (Friday, October 21, 2016 9:34:53 PM)

    The year was 2013, or in NBA parlance 2012-13. The Knicks’ roster was dotted with veterans and the team went 54-28 under coach Mike Woodson.

  • [NY Newsday] Knicks cut Cleanthony Early, Lou Amundson, Chasson Randle, two others
    (Friday, October 21, 2016 3:02:03 PM)

    The Knicks trimmed their roster to 15 players today, as they cut Chasson Randle, J.P. Tokoto, Cleanthony Early, Damien Inglis and veteran Lou Amundson.

  • [NY Newsday] Will it work? A look at some NBA free agent deals of note
    (Friday, October 21, 2016 2:22:00 PM)

    Teams spent a lot of money this NBA offseason and not every deal will pay dividends, so here’s a look at some worth following closely

  • [NY Newsday] Knicks Q&A: Ten minutes with Brandon Jennings
    (Friday, October 21, 2016 1:21:00 PM)

    Point guard Brandon Jennings was passed on by the Knicks in the 2009 NBA Draft (in favor of Jordan Hill) but he wasn’t going to pass on a chance to play for them.

  • [NYPost] Knicks’ new offense revealed: It’s not Phil Jackson’s triangle
    (Friday, October 21, 2016 11:49:04 PM)

    As Knicks center Willy Hernangomez corralled a rebound in Brooklyn on Thursday, he fed a short outlet to Justin Holiday in the backcourt and then took a couple of slow steps upcourt. Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek flew out of his seat and stomped his shoes against the court. The message: Faster! The biggest thing about…

  • [NYPost] Ron Baker makes Knicks roster over Chasson Randle
    (Friday, October 21, 2016 10:24:05 AM)

    The Knicks are down to their final 15-man roster after deciding not to roll the dice on young point guard Chasson Randle, while keeping Ron Baker. Randle, a summer league standout who is sidelined with a fractured orbital bone, was among Friday’s final cuts. As expected, journeyman big man Lou Amundson and guard J.P. Tokoto…

  • [ESPN] NBA credits MJ with assist in labor talks
    (Friday, October 21, 2016 5:11:57 PM)

    NBA credits MJ with assist in labor talks

  • [ESPN] Uni Watch: Knicks will celebrate 70th anniversary with jersey patch
    (Friday, October 21, 2016 12:42:36 PM)

    Uni Watch: Knicks will celebrate 70th anniversary with jersey patch

  • [NYDN] Knicks dump Lou Amundson as part of final roster cuts
    (Friday, October 21, 2016 11:44:07 AM)

    The Knicks trimmed their roster to the league’s maximum by cutting five players Friday, including Lou Amundson and Chasson Randle.

  • [NYDN] Knicks rookie’s first NY trip was like a scene from ‘Home Alone’
    (Friday, October 21, 2016 7:00:50 AM)

    Mindaugas Kuzminskas, who is from Lithuania, was blown away by the size of the buildings in New York.

  • [NYTimes] W.N.B.A. Admits Officials Made Critical Error Late in Game 5 of Finals
    (Friday, October 21, 2016 7:18:58 PM)

    Officials missed a shot clock violation by the Sparks with 1:14 left in the deciding Game 5 Thursday, when Los Angeles beat the Minnesota Lynx, 77-76.

  • [SNY Knicks] GEICO SportsNite: Knicks make final cuts
    (Saturday, October 22, 2016 12:24:16 AM)

  • [SNY Knicks] TheKnicksBlog Podcast: Runnin’ with Rose
    (Friday, October 21, 2016 4:51:03 PM)

    TheKnicksBlog Podcast: Runnin’ with Rose

  • [SNY Knicks] Knicks make roster cuts
    (Friday, October 21, 2016 4:47:15 PM)

    Knicks make roster cuts

  • [SNY Knicks] Predicting the Knicks’ final roster cuts
    (Friday, October 21, 2016 9:25:41 AM)

    After concluding the preseason with a 4-2 record, the Knicks will look to carry similar momentum with them as the regular campaign begins. They’ll have to do so with fewer men, however, as roster cuts are now looming in the days that follow.

    • 2017 Knicks Roundtable: The Opening Day Roster

    If you’re the GM, the roster is Melo, Noah, Rose, Porzingis, Lee, O’Quinn, Hernangomez, Jennings, Lance, and which 6 players?

    Kurylo: I’m going with Ndour, Randle, Baker, Kuzminskas, *sigh* Justin Holiday, and *sigh* Plumlee. Yes I would leave veterans Amundson and Sasha at the door. But then again I don’t see the Knicks seriously competing for the playoffs this year. So my thinking they should get as many young guys in the hopes 1 or 2 develop that they can use in the future. BTW I don’t put Cleanthony Early on the list of young hopefuls. He hasn’t shown to be able to score efficiently in the NBA or the D-League.

    Honestly I like both Randle and Baker, and can see both sticking around the NBA at least as bench contributors. And yes I realize that Randle, Baker, and Holiday give the Knicks essentially 5 SGs, when the team really needs PGs. Randle is sized like a PG, but really is a SG. From his draft profile:

    Charged with being the first offensive option for the Cardinal, Randle often had the ball in his hands in the frontcourt. He was an efficient scorer as he posted a 55% effective field goal percentage, but he struggled to create for his teammates at a high rate. He had only 2.4 assists per 40 minutes pace adjusted last season and posted an unimpressive -2.24 pure point ratio, one of the lowest rates among point guard prospects in our database. Randle struggled to find open teammates on drives which caused him to turn the ball over in traffic. When he did try to distribute, he wasn’t able to find the proper pace and placement on his passes to allow his teammates the ability to catch and create. He will need to improve his passing skills significantly to complement his scoring skills and become a serious draft prospect.

    Nonetheless I didn’t build this roster, so don’t blame me when the Knicks are suffering from lack of depth at the one. They’ll still need a PG a year from now, but maybe they’ll have some depth at SG.

    Plugh: The remaining six I’d like to see are Randle, Baker, Kuzminskas, Holiday, Plumlee and I’m a little torn between Ndour and Sasha. That’s a shocker since I hope Sasha never, ever plays. In truth, I never want him on the team, but I’m so concerned with guard depth I’d almost rather have him on the bench being a Euro-buddy and performing mop up duty than carrying another forward who won’t get many minutes in the end.

    I like Ndour’s game a lot. It’s noteworthy that Real Madrid started to go away from Hernangomez during the middle of last year’s ACB season, after they signed Ndour. The coach liked to stretch the floor and, at least in theory, Ndour is better at that than Willy. He’s active and athletic and he has dreadlocks.

    I confess to enjoying Sasha’s pestering of opposing players. I like when he acts indignant that the other guy elbowed him in the face, after a solid five minutes of grabbing, humping, and underarm tickling. I suppose in the end Ndour is a better choice, but I’m mainly ambivalent. Flip a coin.

    Kurylo: Since Mr. Plugh and I have the same roster (if he chooses Ndour), I give 0% chance this actually occurs. In fact I fully expect Sasha and Amundson to be on the roster, and I give 50% chance that someone else makes the top 15 that I wouldn’t consider like Inglis. Because Knicks.

    Plugh: weeps dramatically

    Bryan Gibberman: I’m going to include Sasha even though I wouldn’t keep him to be realistic. To be fair, the guard that drives us all nuts is easier to take when he’s making three-pointers. That leaves me five to play with. I’ll fill out the bottom of the roster with Baker, Randle, Ndour, Kuzminskas and Justin Holiday. I have to give Phil some credit here — he’s found some legitimately interesting young pieces that have positive traits and attributes you’d look for in NBA players. Losing one of them to keep Lou Amundson would be a crime and I’m going to give him the benefit of the doubt that they’re smart about who they keep.

    Knicks Morning News (2016.10.21)

  • [NYPost] Knicks’ cuts coming soon: Which players are on the bubble?
    (Friday, October 21, 2016 12:01:35 AM)

    The clues are in as Knicks’ cuts could come as soon as Friday when they look to get to down to a 15-man roster. The Knicks had 18 players at training camp — not including the recent deals of Cleanthony Early and Damien Ingles, both of whom were signed to gain their D-League rights so…

  • [NYPost] The ‘unknown’: Will Derrick Rose be ready for Knicks’ opener?
    (Thursday, October 20, 2016 9:04:03 PM)

    The preseason is over. The trial is over. Next stop is Cleveland for the season opener after the Knicks played just one exhibition game with their new star point guard Derrick Rose. With Rose at his new Manhattan digs watching on television, the Knicks ended their preseason with a victory over the rebuilding Nets, 116-111,…

  • [NYPost] Knicks close out preseason with a win over Nets
    (Thursday, October 20, 2016 6:40:05 PM)

    The preseason mercifully came to an end for both the Knicks and Nets Thursday night in Brooklyn. And in a game that almost, kind of felt like a regular season game, the Knicks pulled away in the third and held on in the fourth to beat the Nets 116-111 at Barclays Center. The Knicks (4-2)…

  • [NYPost] Parents would like Derrick Rose to show a little shame
    (Thursday, October 20, 2016 4:50:19 PM)

    When the verdict was read in the civil suit absolving Derrick Rose of sexual assault on Wednesday, Rose “kept his head down and hands clasped.” Good. If only he could keep his head down a little longer, my son won’t ask why we have to turn off the radio whenever 1010 WINS mentions him. For…

  • [NYPost] Knicks great Walt Frazier sums up what this team lacks in a word
    (Thursday, October 20, 2016 1:30:03 PM)

    This could take awhile. The Knicks are starting the season with uncharacteristically high expectations following the offseason additions of Joakim Noah, Derrick Rose, Courtney Lee and Brandon Jennings. But when asked for his Knicks preseason observations, Walt “Clyde” Frazier began with what the team has lacked. “You want to start with the worries? Defense. Defense….

  • [NYPost] Carmelo Anthony a mentor to one of NBA’s testiest young stars
    (Thursday, October 20, 2016 9:52:39 AM)

    Carmelo Anthony calls DeMarcus Cousins “my little brother.” Anthony clearly has been a good mentor to Knicks teammate Kristaps Porzingis, but who knew his leadership would be felt most by his Olympics teammate Cousins, the Sacramento Kings center and one of the NBA’s flakiest stars? Cousins said during Tuesday’s preseason ESPN telecast that Anthony’s presence…

  • [NY Newsday] Jeremy Lin’s 24 points not enough as Nets drop preseason finale to Knicks
    (Thursday, October 20, 2016 11:37:42 PM)

    Jeremy Lin scored 13 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter as the Nets cut a 12-point Knicks lead to three in the final minute, but they couldn’t get over the hump, falling short in a 116-111 loss Thursday night at Barclays Center. So the Nets closed their preseason with a 1-5 record, losing five straight after an opening win over Detroit.

  • [NY Newsday] Knicks’ Jeff Hornacek expects to see Derrick Rose Friday
    (Thursday, October 20, 2016 11:31:07 PM)

    Derrick Rose’s crash course with Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek will begin again Friday at the team’s Westchester training center. Rose was not on hand Thursday night as the Knicks finished the preseason with a 116-111 win over the Nets at the Barclays Center.

  • [SNY Knicks] Knicks top turnover-prone Nets in exhibition, 116-111
    (Thursday, October 20, 2016 10:21:33 PM)

    The Knicks captalize on 24 Nets turnovers in a 116-111 win in Brooklyn.

  • [SNY Knicks] Kuzminskas making quite the first impression for Knicks
    (Thursday, October 20, 2016 1:05:10 PM)

    Mindaugas Kuzminskas has been making a great first impression for the Knicks so far this preseason.

  • [SNY Knicks] Kristaps Porzingis was dominant Wednesday night
    (Thursday, October 20, 2016 9:45:40 AM)

    Kristaps Porzingis scored a team-high 20 points as the Knicks beat the Celtics Wednesday night.

  • [NYTimes] Sparks 77, Lynx 76 | Los Angeles wins series, 3-2: With 3.1 Seconds Left, Los Angeles Sparks Seize W.N.B.A. Title
    (Friday, October 21, 2016 3:46:53 AM)

    Nneka Ogwumike hit a short jumper to lift the Sparks past the Minnesota Lynx. It was the first title for Candace Parker, who finished with 28 points and 12 rebounds.

  • [NYTimes] On College Basketball: Louisville’s Rick Pitino Claims Dominion, Except When Scandal Hits
    (Friday, October 21, 2016 1:56:43 AM)

    Like any successful coach, Pitino has an obsessive attention to detail. Still, he insists, he had no knowledge of a staff member providing Louisville basketball recruits with stripteases and sex.

  • [NYTimes] N.C.A.A. Charges Louisville’s Rick Pitino With Rules Violations in Sex Scandal
    (Thursday, October 20, 2016 3:37:09 PM)

    The charges against the coach and other staff in the men’s basketball program were related to a scandal in which a university employee provided prostitutes to players and recruits.

  • [NYDN] Derrick Rose has a lot of catching up to do with Knicks
    (Thursday, October 20, 2016 8:06:44 PM)

    How Rose’s two-week absence plays out the first month of the season remains to be seen.

  • [NYDN] Derrick Rose trial jurors snap pics with Knicks guard, attorney
    (Thursday, October 20, 2016 9:18:38 AM)

    Jurors wasted no time getting chummy with Derrick Rose after they cleared him and two of his friends Wednesday afternoon.

  • [ESPN] Friday’s Knicks News: Preseason ends with win over Nets
    (Friday, October 21, 2016 5:16:34 AM)

    Friday’s Knicks News: Preseason ends with win over Nets

  • [ESPN] Ultimate Standings: Knicks’ high prices doom ranking
    (Thursday, October 20, 2016 10:33:19 AM)

    Ultimate Standings: Knicks’ high prices doom ranking

  • [ESPN] Knicks’ Hornacek: Rose will have to ‘learn by fire’
    (Thursday, October 20, 2016 8:29:27 PM)

    Knicks’ Hornacek: Rose will have to ‘learn by fire’

    • Knicks Morning News (2016.10.20)

  • [ESPN] Thursday’s Knicks News: Courtney Lee pacing himself for long regular season
    (Thursday, October 20, 2016 5:14:26 AM)

    Thursday’s Knicks News: Courtney Lee pacing himself for long regular season

  • [ESPN] Jury finds Knicks’ Rose not liable in civil lawsuit
    (Wednesday, October 19, 2016 4:33:06 PM)

    Jury finds Knicks’ Rose not liable in civil lawsuit

  • [ESPN] Hornacek: Rose can now focus on basketball
    (Wednesday, October 19, 2016 1:49:24 PM)

    Hornacek: Rose can now focus on basketball

  • [NYDN] Joakim Noah calls Derrick Rose’s civil trial a ‘distraction’
    (Wednesday, October 19, 2016 9:26:27 PM)

    Noah ripped the motive of the woman who accused Derrick Rose of rape.

  • [NYDN] Kristaps Porzingis scores 20 points in Knicks preseason win
    (Wednesday, October 19, 2016 8:17:44 PM)

    Two-way star Kristaps Porzingis continued his impressive preseason.

  • [NYDN] Knicks guard Derrick Rose found not liable in civil rape trial
    (Wednesday, October 19, 2016 4:59:58 PM)

    Rose and his co-defendants Randall Hampton and Ryan Allen vehemently denied the woman’s claims.

  • [NYDN] Knicks glad Derrick Rose can now put civil rape trial behind him
    (Wednesday, October 19, 2016 4:33:45 PM)

    Derrick Rose now has to answer to the demands of running a basketball team.

  • [NYDN] Derrick Rose trial jurors snap pics with Knicks guard, attorney
    (Wednesday, October 19, 2016 1:51:20 PM)

    Jurors wasted no time getting chummy with Derrick Rose after they cleared him and two of his friends Wednesday afternoon.

  • [NYDN] J.R. Smith: I was never racist toward Jeremy Lin on Knicks
    (Wednesday, October 19, 2016 11:43:07 AM)

    J.R. Smith took to Twitter to defend himself against a suggestion that he ever was racist toward former Knicks teammate Jeremy Lin.

  • [NYDN] Carmelo feels ‘very limited,’ but change is slowly happening
    (Wednesday, October 19, 2016 8:26:24 AM)

    Carmelo Anthony wants the police to be better. But he understands why they fall short.

  • [NYPost] Joakim Noah: Derrick Rose accuser ‘just trying to make money’
    (Wednesday, October 19, 2016 8:08:57 PM)

    BOSTON — Joakim Noah, Derrick Rose’s buddy and former Bulls teammate, went on the offensive after Rose was cleared in his rape civil trial, saying the accuser was a gold digger. “It’s a blessing to have him come back — it’s great the truth came out,’’ Noah said after the Knicks’ 121-96 preseason victory over…

  • [NYPost] Kristaps Porzingis does it all in showing off his range
    (Wednesday, October 19, 2016 7:37:29 PM)

    BOSTON – Let the Kristaps Porzingis hype continue. Two days after Carmelo Anthony said the expectations for Porzingis are too high, the 7-foot-3 Latvian dominated, scoring 16 of his 20 points in the first half as the Knicks battered the depleted Celtics 121-96 in a preseason game at TD Garden on Wednesday. Porzingis was a…

  • [NYPost] Sordid trial’s over: Now we’ll see if Derrick Rose can help Knicks
    (Wednesday, October 19, 2016 6:23:05 PM)

    This always had the feel of an icy, bottom-line business decision anyway. The Knicks have been in the market for a legit point guard for years, for decades, and Derrick Rose was available. Rose was looking for a place to start over, the clock already ticking for him to prove he’s still worthy of a…

  • [NYPost] J.R. Smith fights ‘racist’ rumors: I ‘stood up for’ Jeremy Lin
    (Wednesday, October 19, 2016 5:01:32 PM)

    J.R. Smith wasn’t about to let this egregious rumor spread. An hour after Jeremy Lin appeared on CBS Radio’s “Boomer & Carton” show and addressed a rumor about Smith not “accepting him as a ballplayer” because of his race, the recently signed Cavaliers guard took to Twitter to dispel any allegations he discriminated against his former Knicks…

  • [NYPost] Jury clears Derrick Rose in gang-rape lawsuit
    (Wednesday, October 19, 2016 12:31:37 PM)

    LOS ANGELES — Jurors took less than four hours to clear New York Knicks guard Derrick Rose and two pals of gang rape claims in a civil lawsuit brought by a former girlfriend of the NBA star. After nearly three weeks of often graphic testimony, the six women and two men rejected the 30-year-old accuser’s…

  • [NYPost] A look at Lithuanian forward’s fight into packed Knicks rotation
    (Wednesday, October 19, 2016 11:11:16 AM)

    BOSTON — Mindaugas Kuzminskas isn’t at the point of lying about his age, but he’s close. The Knicks’ happy-go-lucky Lithuanian small forward, nicknamed “Cheese’’ because of an ever-present smile, turned 27 Wednesday. A rookie at 27. “Right now I feel like a woman about my age,’’ Kuzminskas told The Post before scoring eight points in…

  • [NYPost] Derrick Rose won’t play in Knicks preseason
    (Wednesday, October 19, 2016 8:45:43 AM)

    BOSTON – Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek said Derrick Rose is “itching to play basketball,” but the point guard’s first game won’t be until the season opener Tuesday in Cleveland. Rose was cleared Wednesday by a jury of all claims in the civil sexual assault lawsuit brought against him by a former girlfriend in Los Angeles. Rose…

  • [NYPost] Why Knicks are first stage of an ‘experiment’ this season
    (Wednesday, October 19, 2016 8:22:51 AM)

    Call this year’s Knicks an “experiment.” That’s what TNT analyst Kenny Smith is saying about these new-look Knicks. An experiment indeed, masterminded by team president Phil Jackson, with success based on a lot of ifs: If newly acquired All-Stars Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah can stay healthy, if sophomore power forward Kristaps Porzingis can take the…

  • [NY Newsday] Derrick Rose verdict: Knicks point guard found not liable in civil sex assault trial
    (Wednesday, October 19, 2016 11:42:52 PM)

    Jurors cleared NBA star Derrick Rose and two friends Wednesday in a lawsuit that accused them of gang raping his ex-girlfriend when she was incapacitated from drugs or alcohol.

  • [NY Newsday] Knicks’ Courtney Lee plays it patiently in preseason
    (Wednesday, October 19, 2016 10:05:00 PM)

    Courtney Lee is pacing himself for a long NBA regular season, so he’s not stressing over what had been a very quiet preseason.

  • [NY Newsday] J.R. Smith denies he was racist toward former Knicks teammate Jeremy Lin
    (Wednesday, October 19, 2016 4:36:00 PM)

    J.R. Smith vehemently denied the implication that he was racist toward Jeremy Lin during their tenure on the Knicks, responding to a question posed to Lin on WFAN’s “Boomer & Carton Show” on Wednesday morning.

  • [NYTimes] Jury Clears Knicks’ Derrick Rose of Liability in Rape Suit
    (Thursday, October 20, 2016 2:12:56 AM)

    A jury on Wednesday found in favor of the Knicks guard and two of his friends in a federal civil suit filed by a woman who had accused them of rape.

  • [NYTimes] Trade Sports Cards? He Paints Them
    (Wednesday, October 19, 2016 6:13:38 PM)

    Jonas Wood, whose show of portraits at the Anton Kern Gallery in Chelsea runs through Oct. 29, finds inspiration in the unlikeliest corners of the sports world.

  • [NYTimes] Sparks’ Candace Parker Ignores Slights, Heeding Pat Summitt’s Lessons
    (Thursday, October 20, 2016 12:42:34 AM)

    Parker, left off the roster for the Rio Olympics and absent from the all-W.N.B.A. teams, has kept the focus instilled by Summitt, her college coach.

  • [NYTimes] Ex-N.B.A. Star Amar’e Stoudemire Rises as an Art Connoisseur
    (Wednesday, October 19, 2016 9:02:21 PM)

    The former Knick collects art, advises pro basketball players and was tapped by Sotheby’s to be a liaison to high net-worth athletes.

  • [SNY Knicks] Porzingis scores 20 as Knicks top Celtics, 122-96
    (Wednesday, October 19, 2016 10:05:04 PM)

    Kristaps Porzingis scored 20 points as the Knicks beat the Celtics, 122-96, Wednesday night in Boston.

  • [SNY Knicks] Carmelo not playing Wednesday night in order to rest
    (Wednesday, October 19, 2016 6:11:12 PM)

    Knicks F Carmelo Anthony will not play Wednesday night against the Celtics in order for him to rest.

  • [SNY Knicks] Rose cleared of sexual assualt charges by jury in civil suit
    (Wednesday, October 19, 2016 4:42:52 PM)

    Jurors have cleared NBA star Derrick Rose and two friends in a lawsuit that accused them of gang raping his ex-girlfriend when she was incapacitated from drugs or alcohol.

  • [SNY Knicks] Knicks exercise Porzingis’ 2017-18 option
    (Wednesday, October 19, 2016 2:39:25 PM)

    The Knicks have exercised the 2017-18 team option on Kristaps Porzingis’ rookie contract, reports Ian Begley of ESPN New York.

  • [SNY Knicks] Rose to miss rest of Knicks’ preseason
    (Wednesday, October 19, 2016 1:23:37 PM)

    Knicks guard Derrick Rose will not play in the team’s final two preseason games, head coach Jeff Hornacek told reporters Wednesday.

  • [SNY Knicks] Consent key to Derrick Rose case
    (Wednesday, October 19, 2016 11:45:19 AM)

    Consent, and whether or not it was given, seems to be the major key to the Derrick Rose case.

  • [SNY Knicks] Lee has had an underwhelming preseason thus far
    (Wednesday, October 19, 2016 8:29:11 AM)

    Through an early 2-2 start to the preseason, there has been plenty to be excited about for the Knicks. Carmelo Anthony looks to be in decent enough shape, Kristaps Porzingis appears to be steadily maturing from his rookie year, Brandon Jennings is building chemistry with his teammates, and there are spirited position battles as guys fight for spots and minutes in the rotation.

    • Knicks Morning News (2016.10.19)

  • [NYTimes] Jury Hears Closing Arguments in Derrick Rose Case
    (Wednesday, October 19, 2016 2:33:48 AM)

    A woman who has sued Rose and two others is not just seeking a payday, her lawyer said.

  • [NYTimes] On College Football: Big 12’s Stasis Preserves a Broader Status Quo
    (Tuesday, October 18, 2016 7:27:04 PM)

    The Big 12 Conference’s decision not to expand from 10 teams had an impact even on programs that weren’t bidding for membership, like Middle Tennessee State.

  • [NYDN] Kaepernick talked to Melo before anthem protest began
    (Tuesday, October 18, 2016 8:18:03 PM)

    Carmelo Anthony has a message for Colin Kaepernick: Don’t give up the fight!

  • [NYDN] Derrick Rose will start in Knicks opener… on one condition
    (Tuesday, October 18, 2016 8:13:18 PM)

    Derrick Rose’s legal troubles won’t keep him out of the starting lineup assuming the Knicks point guard is able to do this one thing.

  • [NYDN] Atty. call Derrick Rose, pals ‘sexual deviants’ as case closes
    (Tuesday, October 18, 2016 7:35:43 PM)

    Lawyers for a California woman accusing Derrick Rose and his friends of gang rape closed their case Tuesday.

  • [NYDN] Charles Barkley says he knows the key to the Knicks’ season
    (Tuesday, October 18, 2016 4:14:47 PM)

    Charles Barkley was optimistic when asked about the Knicks Tuesday night.

  • [NYDN] Knicks, Jeff Hornacek get no love from NBA’s GMs
    (Tuesday, October 18, 2016 8:21:12 AM)

    In the annual survey released Tuesday by NBA.com, zero GMs picked the Knicks to finish in the top 4 of the Eastern Conference.

  • [NY Newsday] Derrick Rose rape trial lawyers call accuser a liar in closing argument
    (Tuesday, October 18, 2016 9:09:00 PM)

    Lawyers for Derrick Rose and two friends say the woman accusing them of rape is a liar trying to trick jurors with her tears.

  • [NY Newsday] Charles Barkley believes a healthy Joakim Noah a key to Knicks’ playoff hopes
    (Tuesday, October 18, 2016 6:30:00 PM)

    If Joakim Noah can stay healthy — and that’s a big if, considering his history — he could very well be the key to making the Knicks a playoff team, Charles Barkley said Tuesday.

  • [NY Newsday] Derrick Rose likely to start in Knicks’ season opener against Cavs
    (Tuesday, October 18, 2016 3:57:00 PM)

    Derrick Rose has been away from the Knicks for two weeks, but if he can get a few practices in before the start of the regular season he likely will start opening night in Cleveland.

  • [SNY Knicks] GEICO SportsNite: The absence of Derrick Rose
    (Tuesday, October 18, 2016 11:54:49 PM)

  • [SNY Knicks] Early officially re-signs with Knicks, expects to start season in D-League
    (Tuesday, October 18, 2016 2:20:02 PM)

    The Knicks have re-signed their 2014 second round pick Cleanthony Early, who is expected to start the season with the team’s D-League affiliate in Westchester.

  • [SNY Knicks] Several Knicks players recognized in survey of GMs
    (Tuesday, October 18, 2016 2:15:33 PM)

    Several Knicks players, including Carmelo Anthony, Kristaps Porzingis and more, were recognized in the annual general manager survey.

  • [SNY Knicks] Anthony fighting for increased salaries, ‘rebranding’ in D-League
    (Tuesday, October 18, 2016 12:00:40 PM)

    Interesting and insightful words from Carmelo Anthony, who also serves as the Vice President of the NBA’s Players Association when asked about the NBA’s Development League.

  • [SNY Knicks] Melo acting as mentor, understands pressure put on Porzingis
    (Tuesday, October 18, 2016 9:07:53 AM)

    Forward Kristaps Porzingis had a strong rookie season with the Knicks, but Carmelo Anthony hopes fans and media alike give the budding star room to improve in his sophomore season, according to ESPN New York’s Ian Begley

  • [ESPN] Wednesday’s Knicks News: Noah key to the season says Barkley
    (Wednesday, October 19, 2016 5:26:42 AM)

    Wednesday’s Knicks News: Noah key to the season says Barkley

  • [ESPN] Jury to begin deliberations in D. Rose rape case
    (Tuesday, October 18, 2016 8:57:16 PM)

    Jury to begin deliberations in D. Rose rape case

  • [ESPN] Stuart Goldfarb, Carmelo Anthony’s business partner, on the duo’s tech connection
    (Tuesday, October 18, 2016 9:00:58 AM)

    Stuart Goldfarb, Carmelo Anthony’s business partner, on the duo’s tech connection

  • [NYPost] Derrick Rose verdict won’t end fiasco for Knicks’ new coach
    (Tuesday, October 18, 2016 8:37:34 PM)

    This was going to be a hard enough job anyway. Jeff Hornacek already was going to have to deal with the massaging of egos, with the development of Kristaps Porzingis, with the aging of Carmelo Anthony, with the natural wariness a new coach and a new approach always brings a new locker room. He already…

  • [NYPost] Rose’s lawyer points to potential money woes, calls rape accuser ‘a liar’
    (Tuesday, October 18, 2016 7:32:43 PM)

    LOS ANGELES — Race played a major role at the close of the Derrick Rose sex attack trial Tuesday — as the NBA star’s lawyer said the woman accusing him of gang rape used ugly stereotypes about young black men acting like “sexual deviants” to try and prove her $21.5 million civil case. “Those adjectives…

  • [NYPost] Charles Barkley refuses to BS about these Knicks risks
    (Tuesday, October 18, 2016 6:43:43 PM)

    A new coach and a host of new players have done little to alter what NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley thinks of the Nets. “I can say the Nets are the second best team in New York,” Barkley said before being honored at the 26th Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame Awards on Tuesday…

  • [NYPost] Carmelo’s protest warning to Kaepernick: You’d be ‘f–ked’
    (Tuesday, October 18, 2016 4:16:53 PM)

    Carmelo Anthony is committed to going the distance with his social activism efforts, and he strongly advises Colin Kaepernick to do the same. In a sit-down interview with ESPN’s Howard Bryant published Tuesday, the 32-year-old Knicks forward detailed the conversation he had with Kaepernick the very night the quarterback’s decision to sit for the national anthem before…

  • [NYPost] Hornacek hedges on Game 1 lineup with Derrick Rose in limbo
    (Tuesday, October 18, 2016 1:15:46 PM)

    Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek acknowledged it won’t be “ideal” going into the regular season without having played their starting five, and he hedged ever so slightly on Derrick Rose starting in one week on opening night in Cleveland. There’s diminishing hope Rose will be ready to play in either Wednesday’s preseason game in Boston or…

  • [NYPost] Rose rape accuser breaks down during final testimony
    (Tuesday, October 18, 2016 10:30:45 AM)

    LOS ANGELES — Derrick Rose’s accuser broke into tears after she took the witness stand for the last time Tuesday ahead of jury deliberations in her $21.5 million civil rape case, testifying that she’d always resisted the NBA star’s requests for orgies. “Did you ever have group sex with Mr. Rose prior to Aug. 26,…

  • [NYPost] NBA GMs pay revamped Knicks a big compliment
    (Tuesday, October 18, 2016 7:29:36 AM)

    Most improved team? The Knicks only can go up after the last two seasons of horror under Knicks president Phil Jackson, and the NBA’s general managers agree. In the annual GM poll, the Knicks finished third in voting for most-improved team for 2016-17, receiving 10 percent of the vote. Minnesota, under new coach Tom Thibodeau,…