Charles Barkley also chimed in on what is wrong with the Knicks, from Iannazzone: “Charles Barkley wasn’t going to let an opportunity to take down the Knicks pass. He said they had the wrong pregame mindset last night, presumably the whole funeral concept. “It’s the first round of the playoffs…you don’t celebrate winning the first round,” Barkley said. “They are supposed to win this series.” As far as basketball itself, Barkley put the Knicks in the class of the Thunder – two teams who lost two straight after being up Game 2 – and not in a good way: “You saw the weakness of the two teams – the Knicks and Oklahoma City…you don’t live by jumpers, you die by jumpers.”
George Karl was irked by Mark Jackson’s comments about dirty play, from Benjamin Hochman of The Denver Post: “We don’t like each other, we shouldn’t like each other, there’s pain and anguish to every win and loss. Competitive spirit. I’m just trying to figure out what movie he’s watching, because it’s not the one I’m watching.” Asked if he takes the allegations personally, Karl said, “Not when I think it doesn’t exist.” Karl then pointed out that the Warriors have been extremely physical, possibly even dirty. “If there’s a scorecard and we’re in a boxing fight right now, they’re winning the fight,” Karl said. “OK, we won a round (here and there), but I’m going to tell you, I’ll go to any arbiter now and show the dirty shots – they’re winning. Some of them are really good at the things they do. Andrew Bogut started it, the Green kid (Draymond) is really good at it and Festus (Ezeli) is pretty good too.”
Andray Blatche said the Nets are better than the Bulls, from Stefan Bondy of Daily News: “Belief is important. Talk is cheap. The Nets have always walked along that thin line. So why stop in the playoffs? There’s no doubt in our mind we are the better team,” Andray Blatche said Wednesday, a day before Game 6 against the Bulls. “We’re just in a hole.” When the Nets step on the United Center court Thursday, they’ll be one loss from elimination, one heartbreak away from a disappointing inaugural campaign in the outer borough. But trailing the Bulls hasn’t sapped Brooklyn’s public confidence, which has been swollen from the time players declared their championship aspirations in training camp.”
J.R Smith is no longer talking anymore trash, from Frank Isola of Daily News: “The Knicks’ decision to arrive for work on Wednesday dressed in all black could go down as the all-time NBA fashion faux pas. “We was going to a funeral, man,” J.R. Smith said, “but it looks like we got buried.” … With his one-game ban lifted, Smith missed his first 10 shots Wednesday night and ended up 3-for-14 in a game that was ugly in every way imaginable. The Celtics forced the series back to Boston with a 92-86 Game 5 victory, and as the two rivals passed each other on the way to the locker room, there were words and shoves exchanged. “Just bickering,” Smith said. “Acting like a bunch of school girls.”… “We’ve got to go home, eat our humble pie and play Game 6,” Smith said. And Smith is leaving his funeral attire home. “I’m done with this black stuff, man,” he said. “I’m a superstitious person. I’m going back to my own routine.”
Amare Stoudemire might soon practice, from Iannazzone: “Amar’e Stoudemire hasn’t been cleared for contact practice yet, but Mike Woodson sounded as if it would happen in the coming days. Stoudemire, who had surgery on his right knee on March 11, had an intense workout with running and cutting Tuesday. He has said he would be ready to play in the second round of the playoffs. Woodson said if Stoudemire can get through some contact work he could play. “Provided he doesn’t have any setbacks, he’s looking pretty good,” Woodson said before Game 5 Wednesday night against the Celtics. “Contact, that’s what he needs more than anything. If we can do that and there’s no setbacks then we’ll evaluate it and see where he is and maybe he can play. We’ll see.”
Dwight Howard will not need surgery on his shoulder, according to ESPN: “Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard will not need surgery to repair the torn labrum in his right shoulder, the team said in a statement. Howard, who will become an unrestricted free agent this offseason, was examined on Wednesday by Dr. James Tibone of the Kerlan Jobe Orthopaedic Group. “I’m going to do whatever I can to get myself right this offseason,” Howard said at his exit interview Tuesday. “Last year, I didn’t have the opportunity to get in the gym once before the season. I didn’t have the opportunity to grow and develop as a player, but that’s something I’m looking forward to.” Howard spent last summer away from basketball while he rehabbed from back surgery. His shoulder was first injured in a Jan. 4 game against the Los Angeles Clippers, forcing him to miss a total of six games.”
