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Knicks Players Promise to ‘Figure It Out’

GREENBURGH, N.Y. — In their final defensive stand of the season, Carmelo
Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire planted their feet and swatted away
conventional wisdom — namely, the belief that they cannot thrive together.

The collected evidence against them is damning. The Knicks were ousted
Wednesday in the first round of the playoffs by the Miami Heat, who
dispatched them in five games. They were swept in the first round last spring
by the Boston Celtics.

Fifteen months after the blockbuster trade that brought Anthony to New York
and united him with Stoudemire, the Knicks are still in search of greatness,
or even consistency. They are 31-40 when both stars play, including a 1-7
record in the postseason.







The Knicks, who went 36-30 in this compressed season, are headed for a busy
and challenging off-season.

They are already moving to re-sign Coach Mike Woodson, who compiled an 18-6
regular-season record after replacing Mike D’Antoni. Woodson has the
enthusiastic support of his stars. A deal could be completed by next week.

The Knicks also seem committed to re-signing Jeremy Lin, their young point
guard sensation, who will be a restricted free agent. Woodson practically
guaranteed it.

“Will he back next year? Absolutely,” Woodson said. “He’s a big part of
our ball club.”


Woodson was less definitive about Lin returning as a starter, saying, “Only
time will tell.”


Lin, who revived the Knicks’ season in February and became an international
star, said he wanted to return to the team that gave him his N.B.A. break.



The Knicks will have to use their midlevel exception, worth $5 million, to
retain Lin (salary-cap rules will prevent rivals from offering more). Yet
once they do, the Knicks will have little flexibility to sign players for
anything more than the minimum. And they are almost certain to encounter a
new rule that effectively imposes a hard payroll cap at $74 million.

Salary-cap constraints could prevent the Knicks from retaining their other
top free agents, most notably Landry Fields, Steve Novak and J. R. Smith (if
he opts out of his contract).

Fields has the best chance of staying, as a restricted free agent with “
Early Bird Rights.” Smith is widely expected to opt out of his $2.5 million
deal, although he said he is undecided. The Knicks will be unable to match
any richer offers.

Then there is Novak, who is heading for his first big payday after leading
the league in 3-point shooting. Novak is unrestricted, with no Bird rights.
Assuming the Knicks use the midlevel exception for Lin, they will be left
only with the biannual exception, worth $1.96 million, which might not be
enough.

“All I know is how much I’ve enjoyed playing here and how much I would love
to be back,” said Novak, a fan favorite.


The various cap restrictions will make it nearly impossible to sign an impact
player, such as Steve Nash or Jason Kidd, unless he accepts a minimum salary.
Or the Knicks would have to cut loose Lin, to keep their midlevel exception.

As much as any personnel move, the need to blend the talents of Anthony and
Stoudemire will dominate the Knicks’ agenda in the months to come. They are
the franchise’s two highest-paid players — earning a combined $39.4 million
next season — and their two best scorers. They are under contract for three
more seasons, so the Knicks’ championship hopes are dependent on their
partnership blossoming.

“It definitely can work,” said Stoudemire, who contends the Knicks simply
need time and stability.

Indeed, the Knicks have had little of either commodity since Anthony and
Stoudemire became teammates.



原文新聞： http://ppt.cc/bMXt
翻譯來源： http://sports.163.com/12/0511/12/817OKPM700051CA1.html
           http://sports.163.com/12/0511/08/8177G5VJ00051CA1.html
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另外這是尼克宣佈這賽季結束的發佈會影片連結：

武僧 http://knicksnow.com/videos/1418/season-recap-woodson
甜瓜 http://knicksnow.com/videos/1419/season-recap-melo
阿罵 http://knicksnow.com/videos/1421/season-recap-stat
拳王 http://knicksnow.com/videos/1420/season-recap-chandler
書豪 http://knicksnow.com/videos/1422/season-recap-lin

此外看到的相關新聞
關於JR的
http://sports.163.com/12/0511/12/817MDIIV00051CA1.html
只是沒看到相關的外絮新聞，所以就沒貼了。

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另外面對武僧對瓜身材的問題

瓜有點不耐煩的回應說

"I think you guys looked at that a little bit too much, overanalyzed that,"
he said. "We all can come back in better shape, better condition.
"I'm not going against what coach Woodson said. But I felt like I was in
phenomenal shape, especially coming down the stretch, late March, April, the
whole month of April, even coming down to the playoffs."



原文新聞： http://ppt.cc/R7Q4
翻譯來源： http://nba.hupu.com/news/201205/79609.html


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