Coming into this season, I had the New York Knicks taking a step backward in my Sheridan Hoops preview column. But not this far back. New York is tied for the second-worst record in the Eastern Conference with a 3-8 mark and J.R. Smith, arguably the team’s second best player, is in crisis mode. “They say it’s too early to panic,” Smith said after Wednesday’s hard-fought overtime loss to Indiana, the team’s sixth straight home setback. “Me personally, I panic. I don’t
Not much is going well in New York — for the Knicks or the Nets. Both are at the bottom of the Atlantic Division, both have been underwhelming to an alarming degree, and both have been hit hard by injuries to key players. (Much more on that in this column from Monday — before the Nets lost at home to the surging Portland Trail Blazers). Michael Scotto covers both teams for SheridanHoops. In this podcast with Fox Sports Radio he lays
Before the season began, Carmelo Anthony told the New York Observer he plans to become a free agent this summer. With every additional loss, that statement hovers over the Knicks like a dark cloud in a tornado zone, with the threat of the ultimate catastrophe – a lightning bolt and whirlwind that would destroy everything. “I think everybody in the NBA dreams to be a free agent at least one time in their career,” Anthony said at the time. “It’s like
It’s now or never for Deron Williams to prove he is worthy of being the $100 million face of the Brooklyn Nets. Is Williams still an elite point guard? Is he a winner? Or is he the reason his coaches are sent packing and his teams don’t quite measure up? Despite a blockbuster trade to acquire Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, who have championship rings and 25 combined All-Star selections, it is Williams who holds the key to Brooklyn’s title hopes. Consider this: Brooklyn
BROOKLYN — The Nets’ blockbuster move to acquire Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Jason Terry stole headlines, but it says here the bench unit will be the steal of the summer at the season’s conclusion. Garnett is the team’s elder statesman, ranking sixth all-time with 47,801 minutes played over 19 seasons. Paul Pierce, Garnett’s counterpart, will be 36 when the season starts. However, Brooklyn boasts the league’s only bench unit with four double-digit scorers and one double-digit rebounder from last season. [Read