Earlier tonight we took a look at the latest out of the Nets organization, so it only makes sense to round up what’s happening with the other team in New York. We’ll examine some notes on the 2-1 Knicks below:
- As expected, the Knicks and Iman Shumpert failed to reach an agreement on a rookie scale extension before the October 31st deadline passed, but the fourth-year guard is focused on helping New York win in the present rather than looking toward free agency next summer, as Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com transcribes. “I can’t think about [free agency]. We make the playoffs and I do what I’m supposed to do, things will happen,” said Shumpert. “I’m worried about winning games. Like I’ve said, that was the worst year of my life last year and I don’t ever want to feel that again.“
- After a tough 2013/14 campaign of his own, Carmelo Anthony has sympathy for Kobe Bryant‘s situation as stud player surrounded by a lackluster supporting cast, writes Fred Kerber of the New York Post. “It’s tough. Nobody wants to go through situations like that,” Anthony said. “I know Kobe. He’s going to do what he has to do to compete and win basketball games. Is it going to be hard? Yeah, it’s going to be hard. But in his eyes, I don’t think anything is impossible.“
- ‘Melo had positive remarks for the directions that the Knicks organization is heading, notes Scott Cacciola of the New York Times. Although the All-Star forward wouldn’t specifically identify any personnel changes he was particularly fond of, he has a sense that this season will end better than last year’s disastrous campaign. “From Day 1 last year, the energy was just not right,” Anthony said, “We looked at that, and the organization looked at that, and made some great changes in that direction… I’m not talking about no players, man. I’m just talking about as a whole.”