The dunk contest this year will look drastically different than past years, according to Hoopmixtape: ““This year’s event will feature the participants competing as a team – three players representing the Eastern Conference and three players representing the Western Conference – in an above-the-rim two-round format. “In a significant first in the event’s history, the competition will tip off with a Freestyle Round where the dunkers for each conference will have 90 seconds to showcase as many dunks as they want. At the conclusion of the Freestyle Round, the panel of judges will then choose a winner by voting “East” or “West.” “The winning conference will earn the advantage of deciding whether its dunkers will dunk first or second in the head-to-head battles that take place in the Battle Round. “The Battle Round will feature head-to-head matchups pitting East dunkers vs. West dunkers, with the judges choosing a winner for each battle. Upon losing a head-to-head battle, that dunker is then eliminated from the competition.”
Mike Woodson shared his thoughts on the coaching job he has done this season, from Ian Begley of ESPN NY: “”This year has been, for me, it’s been kind of a disaster from a coaching standpoint in trying to get players to compete and play at a high level,” Woodson said in an interview on ESPN New York 98.7 FM’s “The Stephen A. Smith and Ryan Ruocco Show.” “That’s the frustrating part about it, because I know we’re better than what we’ve shown and we’ve still got a chance.”… Woodson’s job security has been a hot topic throughout the season. The loss to the Trail Blazers — the Knicks’ third straight — brought a fresh round of media speculation surrounding his status. “I can’t concern myself with that. I really can’t,” Woodson told Smith and Ruocco. “It’s been out there, it’s buzzing. The media, they write it… “That’s not my concern. My concern is coming to work every day with my head held high, trying to figure out how I can get us out of this hole. It’s not worrying about if I’m going to have a job tomorrow. I don’t live my everyday life thinking about that. My job is thinking about X’s and O’s and trying to get guys to play at a high level and win games.”
- According to Begley’s article, some in the locker room are getting tired of Woodson’s antics: “Some Knicks players privately have grown tired of Woodson questioning the team’s effort after losses, sources told ESPNNewYork.com. Two league sources said some players expressed their frustration with Woodson to Knicks management after a loss to Brooklyn on Jan. 20.”
Raymond Felton couldn’t care less about what you think of him, according to Begley: ““That’s what happens when you’re a point guard. Things are going to get pointed you’re way. It is what it is. I can care less what those people say or what they think. I’m coming here, I’m fighting for my team, I’m going to give it my all every day,” Felton said after the New York Knicks’ 94-90 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers… “I’m human. I’m going to have mistakes, I’m going to have bad games. I’m not the only one in this league who has bad games, but it just seems like it gets [magnified] right now because we are having a losing season and we’re not playing well,” Felton said. “So they’ve got to point [the finger] at somebody. So it’s pointed at me. Or pointed at the point guard. So it is what it is. I can care less what people say. I’m a strong-minded person. They can say what they want, but they can’t dictate my life.”
Omer Asik may soon be back in action, according to Jason Friedman of Rockets.com: “Today’s workout marked the first time Asik has been able to participate in full contact drills since sustaining a thigh injury in early December that produced persistent swelling above his knee. The ailment has caused the 27-year-old center to miss Houston’s last 31 games, but his presence and performance in today’s practice produced hope that a return to game action could be on the horizon, provided there are no setbacks. “I felt really good to be back on the court and to be back with the team” Asik said following today’s workout. “It’s close to 100 percent. I feel much better. Hopefully I’ll get a little more practice and get back on the court. “It’s just day-to-day. Hopefully I’ll have full practice tomorrow and if I feel good, I’ll go from there.”… “It’s going to help our team out a lot,” said James Harden. “He was our starting center last year, he was top-3 in rebounding and defensively he’s one of the best bigs out there. “He’s very good. People forget about how good he is just because he’s been out but once he gets back he’s going to help our team get to another level.”
- We may not see JaVale McGee again this season, according to Wojnarowski: “Denver Nuggets center JaVale McGee could miss the rest of the season because of a stress fracture in his left leg, league sources told Yahoo Sports. McGee, 26, has been seeking further medical consultation on the injury, which hasn’t been able to heal properly this season, league sources said. A final decision on his status could come in the next several days. McGee had played five games for the Nuggets before the injury’s diagnosis in early November. McGee would be the third Nuggets player – including forward Danilo Gallinari and Nate Robinson – to be lost for the year. Gallinari and Robinson had surgeries to repair torn ACL ligaments.”
- Nick Young will miss at least two weeks due to a knee injury, according to Mark Medina of Daily News: “The Lakers’ most charismatic player just entered the revolving door inside their trainer’s room, putting a damper both on Nick Young’s boyish enthusiasm and an end to his prolific scoring. An MRI taken on Thursday shows Young has a non-displaced fracture and bone bruise in his left knee, keeping him sidelined for at least the next two weeks. To offset their depleting roster, the Lakers re-signed Shawne Williams to a 10-day contract after averaging 5.4 pts and 4.5 rebs for the Lakers in 32 games before being waived. Williams plans to fly to Philadelphia tonight to join the Lakers for their game Friday against the Sixers at Wells Fargo Center. Young will stay and travel with the team back to Los Angeles Saturday following a three-game trip.
James Park is the chief blogger of Sheridan Hoops. You can find him on twitter @SheridanBlog.
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