Last night, Knicks guard J.R. Smith weighed in on a wide range of topics including Jeremy Lin, his new contract, and his chemistry with star Carmelo Anthony. Here’s more out of Madison Square Garden and other notes from the Atlantic Division..
- Keith Schlosser of Knicks Journal takes a look at the Knicks roster, currently at 19 players, and wonders where rumored free agent target Kenyon Martin would fit in. Martin is reportedly the Knicks’ top target of the remaining free agents but the forward is refusing to play for the veteran’s minimum.
- In a Q&A session conducted by Bob Ryan (video link), Celtics head coach Doc Rivers said that recently-acquired guard Courtney Lee will “probably” be in the starting lineup to kick off the season. Rivers also weighed in on the new-look Lakers and downplayed the advantage that they might have in a Finals showdown.
- Hakeem Olajuwon says that he agreed to help the Knicks this summer as a favor to coach Mike Woodson, writes Nate Taylor of the New York Times. Woodson and Olajuwon were teammates with the Rockets from 1988 to 1990 and the older Woodson helped the center mature.