It was the news that we all expected once the All-Star Weekend concluded. Today, New York Knicks president Phil Jackson confirmed what we pretty much knew all along.
MELO RULED OUT FOR 4-6 MONTHS
Superstar Carmelo Anthony has now officially been put on the injured list for the remainder of the NBA season as he will undergo knee surgery,
With the Knicks certain to finish near the bottom of the Eastern Conference pile, the time is right for Anthony to sort his constant knee troubles once and for all before starting fresh, hopefully next season.
Via ESPN:
The team said on Wednesday that Anthony will undergo a procedure that “includes a left knee patella tendon debridement and repair.”
Jackson said he did not want to go into detail about Anthony’s surgery but that he likely will be sidelined several months before returning to the court.
“What we’re finding out from the medical is on court, it could be four to six months,” Jackson said in a news conference at the Knicks’ practice facility. “We can’t put it at a timetable until after the surgery. But that’s what they’re saying. They say it can be anywhere between four to six months for Carmelo to be back on the floor.”
“But we’re really confident he’ll heal well and he’ll be fine,” Jackson later added.
KD REGRETS COMMENTS OVER THE MEDIA
We know Oklahoma City Thunder star Kevin Durant to be a mildly spoken man and always happy to speak to the media.
During the All-Star break, that all changed and he said, amongst other things: “Y’all not my friends”.
It looks like that was just a one-off.
Via ESPN:
Asked about the job security of his coach, Scott Brooks, Durant said Saturday, “You guys really don’t know s—.” On Tuesday, Durant spoke with reporters for more than 11 minutes, even encouraging more questions.
“Let’s be real. Let’s look at the whole thing,” Durant said. “I’ve been in the league eight years. The media and myself have had a great relationship for eight years. And I said something, two days in a row I said something. Am I allowed to be upset one time? Am I allowed to be mad? Am I human? Do you look at me that way? Do you look at me as if I can’t say nothing wrong? We had great communication for eight years, and it’s still that way.”
Durant, who has been highly regarded for his humble, mild-mannered demeanor with the media, has shown a more outspoken, edgier side this season.
“I had a moment,” Durant said. “Everybody in life has moments. You had one for sure before, but it’s not broadcasted like mine. I was more so trying to take up for my teammates, my coach and other guys in the league that gets scrutinized and I don’t like. Maybe I should shut up about it. I had one moment. What made me more mad than anything I was told I bite the hand that feeds me. I don’t know what that means. I really don’t know what that means. I wish someone would explain it to me. But I don’t remember none of you guys being there when I was 8 years old and putting in that work, the nights when I’m in here putting in that work in. So I don’t really understand what that one means. But, hey, I gotta roll with it. That’s a part of it. I was told I shouldn’t cry ’cause everybody been through it. So I’m going to shut up.”
Durant explained on Tuesday that his reaction was more a defense of his team and coach than anything else.
“It’s more so just an attack on our team and our players and our coach and all that stuff,” Durant said. “It’s not going to fly with me. I really don’t like it. I’m not going to sit here and agree with you when you’re trying to bash my coach or one of my teammates or anything. That’s just who I am as a person. Like I said, we had a great relationship. We still have a great relationship, myself and the media. I had a moment. I hope we can get past it. But I’m sure everybody has those types of moments.”
“I’ll try to work on just being honest with you guys but at the same time being more respectable. I made a mistake.”
SWAGGY P: LIN SHOULD HAVE PASSED MORE
Pot, meet kettle.
Nick Young feels bad for Lakers teammate Jeremy Lin and the struggles he’s endured during his first season in Los Angeles.
Young thinks the point guard could have made his life a lot easier by passing instead of taking so many shots; Lin (who’s put up 10.2 points on 42.6 percent shooting, 4.6 assists and 2.7 turnovers in 25.5 minutes per game) attributes his ongoing nightmare to over-thinking on the court.
Per the LA Daily News:
“It’s tough. He’s expected to live up to ‘Linsanity,’” Lakers forward Nick Young said. “It’s a lot of pressure. But he can’t let everything get to him. Everything he does, he’s singled out more than anybody.” […] “I know it’s his contract year, but he could’ve focused on passing a little bit more,” Young said of Lin. “Especially when Kobe (Bryant) was out there, [Jeremy] needed to drop dimes.”Yet, Lin does not seem comfortable wearing purple and gold, offering a neutral perspective on how he hopes the trade deadline unfolds. […] “I want to be able to have fun and play wherever I am,” Lin said. “I can’t control what they do. If I’m here, I’ll definitely give it my all. If they trade me, I’ll definitely give it my all wherever I am.”
“There are times I will think too much and I lose a little bit of the aggressiveness. But I don’t think it’s a consistent thing,” Lin said. “This is a new system and the least amount of space I’ve played with on the floor. So I’m trying to adjust.” […] Nearly four months have passed with minimal progress. But Lin called it “too early” to analyze his pending free agency. Instead, Lin held out hope his circumstances will feature a happy ending.
