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Woodson says Lin will be back with Knicks, but not lock to start

May 10, 2012 , ι By HOWIE KUSSOY

Before the Heat ended any chance Jeremy Lin would return for the Knicks this season, the 24-year-old sensation spoke at Wednesday’s shootaround, saying he loved playing in New York, but he was unwilling to speculate about his future as a restricted free agent.
	 
“I don’t really want to guess,’’ Lin said. “You never know what happens in this business. Nobody really knows what’s going to happen.’’
	 
Well, Knicks coach Mike Woodson does.
	 
“Will he be back next season? Absolutely,” Woodson said of Lin on Thursday morning at the team’s practice center. “Jeremy’s a big part of our team. The future is very bright for him.”
	 
Lin will almost certainly be re-signed with all or part of the Knicks' $5 million mid-level exception. Due to Lin’s status under the Arenas Rule, the Knicks can match any offer made to him.
	 
Lin, who played in 35 games this season, has been out since March 24 due to a knee injury. He averaged 14.6 points and 6.2 assists in his sophomore season. Woodson said he did not know how large Lin's role would be next season, but he wanted him to spend the summer to help his game catch up to his fame.
	 
“Will he start? Only time will tell,” Woodson said. “He’s had some success in our league where he’s played at a high level and he’s done a lot of nice things for our ballclub.
	 
"There’s still room for growth. He’s still gotta learn the NBA game and what it's about and playing at a high level. There's no doubt in my mind that he's a smart enough player that he will get better in time but he needs the reps just like all young players. It didn’t happen overnight. He's still got a ways to go but I think this sumer will be a big start for him in terms of his growth and where he is with our ballclub.”
	 
Lin, who emerged playing under former coach Mike D’Antoni, played six games under Woodson before suffering the season-ending injury. According to sources, owner James Dolan has told Woodson he wants the coach to return next season, with the contract details being the final step.
	 
“I’ll have an opportunity to sit down with ownership: Mr. Dolan and [general manager] Glen [Grunwald]," Woodson said. “I definitely do want to come back. We’ll see how it turns out.’’

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VOTE: Which Knicks do you want back

May 10, 2012 , ι NYPOST.COM

The Knicks enter a crucial offseason with plenty of questions as they try to improve on another first-round playoff exit. Let us know which Knicks players and staff you want back next season.... Read on

The Knicks enter a crucial offseason with plenty of questions as they try to improve on another first-round playoff exit.
	 
Let us know which Knicks players and staff you want back next season.
	 
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Knicks' Lin won't play with knee at '85 percent'

May 09, 2012 , ι By MARC BERMAN

MIAMI — Jeremy Lin said he is only at 85 percent capacity and that’s the reason he was ruled out for the remainder of the Knicks’ first-round series against the Heat.Lin, who has an injured knee,... Read on

MIAMI — Jeremy Lin said he is only at 85 percent capacity and that’s the reason he was ruled out for the remainder of the Knicks’ first-round series against the Heat.
	 
Lin, who has an injured knee, spoke to reporters before the Knicks shootaround on Wednesday morning with the team preparing for Game 5 against the Heat facing a 3-1 deficit.
	 
“Last week I was able to go 80-85 percent and I just figured in a week I might be able to be 100,’’ Lin said. “There wasn’t anything to set it back, but just to get from 85 percent to 100 percent would have taken more time than I had thought.’’
	 
Lin has not played since March 24 and had surgery five weeks ago to repair a torn meniscus in his knee. He said Wednesday he was still unable to jump and cut the way he wanted.
	 
“It’s a matter of me really being able to cut and jump at 100 percent, not at 85, 90 percent,'' Lin said. "I could jump but I can’t really jump the way I want to. When I get to that point, I’ll be fine.’’
	 
Lin, 24, a restricted free agent the Knicks plan to re-sign, said the final decision came Monday during a series of jumping drills.
	 
“I tried to take off and it didn’t feel right,’’ Lin said. “I felt pain when I tried to take off. That will go away with time.’’
	 
Lin said he’ll be ready for the second round of the playoffs against the Pacers if the Knicks can make history and come back from a 3-0 series deficit. They trail the Heat 3-1 in their best-of-7 series.
	 
“Every single game I’m trying to figure out if I can play,’’ Lin said. “Every time after a game ends, the only thing I can think of is playing in the next one. They always say make the right decision, make sure the knee is 100 percent before I try to do something, especially the speed and physicality of the series.’’
	 
Mike Bibby, who filled in effectively on Sunday after Baron Davis suffered a season-ending knee injury in the third quarter of a 89-87 win, will start Wednesday night. Coach Mike Woodson said Toney Douglas will definitely see action as the first guard off the bench.
	 
“You have to be able to trust the knee and now there’s tightness and soreness,” Lin said. “You have to get that out to be 100 percent. We have to get out that stuff that doesn’t need to be there and make it pain-free.’’
	 
Lin said he has spoken to every veteran on the Knicks and their advice was not to rush back.
	 
Asked his level of disappointment, Lin said, “Watching every game for anybody who plays for a team and watching the team go without them is frustrating. But I had to get my knee right and make sure I don’t do anything worse.’’

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Knicks coach rules Lin out for rest of Heat series

May 08, 2012 , ι By MARC BERMAN

There will be no Linsanity unless the Knicks make it to the second round. Woodson ruled out Jeremy Lin not just for Wednesday's Game 5 in Miami but for the rest of the series if it continues. Woodson... Read on

There will be no Linsanity unless the Knicks make it to the second round.
	 
Woodson ruled out Jeremy Lin not just for Wednesday's Game 5 in Miami but for the rest of the series if it continues. Woodson said doctors have ruled it was too soon for him to return after undergoing surgery on his torn meniscus 5 1/2 weeks ago.
	 
"He will not play in the series,'' Woodson said after Tuesday's practice. "He's just not ready. They will let him know when he's ready and I"m sure he'll step up to the plate and say he's ready when that time comes. Right now he's not. He's not physically ready to play.''
	 
Woodson said after scrimmaging Monday, Lin only took shots. He did not talk to the media. Lin has not played since March 24 and the Knicks listed him as doubtful Monday despite Baron Davis season-ending knee injury. Game 6, if necessary is Friday. The Knicks trail the series 3-1.
	 
Carmelo Anthony said he spoke with Lin last week and told him not to rush, he'd rather see him healthy for next season and not try to come back at less than 100 percent.
	 
“I talked to Jeremy. We had a private conversation about it," Anthony said. "What we talked about, I’ll keep it between ourselves. My main thing is him just being healthy. If he’s not 100 percent healthy, there’s no need to come out here no matter how many minutes he’ll play. He hasn’t been playing. I want him to take care of himself.’’
	 
Woodson will start Mike Bibby at point guard Wednesday. Toney Douglas might play a backup role but Woodson also wants to spot J.R. Smith in a big backcourt to combat when the Heat go big with LeBron James or Dwyane Wade at point guard.
	 
"We are shorthanded but that's what it is,'' Woodson said.

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Win moves Woodson closer to Knicks job

May 08, 2012 , ι By MARC BERMAN

Knicks interim coach Mike Woodson snapping his seven-game playoff losing streak in Sunday’s win over the Miami Heat sweep has solidified his chances of returning, according to a source.
	 
After Glen Grunwald had the interim tag removed from his GM title two weeks ago, Grunwald said Woodson had done “a fantastic job’’ and The Post reported he was a shoo-in to return barring a playoff catastrophe. Woodson said Tuesday that no contract talks have taken place yet and anything along those lines will take place after the season.
	 
Though the Knicks fell behind 3-0 in the Heat series, it is hard to fault the coaching since the Knicks were rocked by injuries and illnesses from the get-go, including Tyson Chandler’s flu, Iman Shumpert’s series-ending torn ACL and Amar’e Stoudemire’s torn-up hand.
	 
Woodson and Knicks owner James Dolan met before Game 4, as they occasionally do, and a source said “there is nothing going on’’ between the Knicks and Phil Jackson.
	 
Woodson didn’t want to talk about his return Monday.
	 
“It’s not about Mike Woodson and my contract and where I go from here,’’ Woodson said. “I was given an opportunity to coach this team. I’m still coaching the team and the job is not done. When that time comes, I’m sure everybody will sit down and talk about my future but right now that’s not my concern. My concern is Game 5 and getting these guys ready to play.’’
	 
One person familiar with the situation said Game 4 showed “The players are still wanting to play hard for him.’’
	 
Woodson’s Hawks were swept in the second round by the Magic in 2010 in the most lopsided playoff sweep in NBA history. The Magic won by an aggregate 100 points in the four slaughters. In losing the first three games to Miami, Woodson had lost seven straight by 10 points or more.
	 
Woodson is proud of his work with Atlanta and took exception to any charge the Orlando sweep took away from his six-year Hawks reign, when he turned a laughingstock into a perennial playoff team.
	 
“I’ve lost some games in a row but I was also capable of taking a young team who had been to the playoffs to the second round,’’ Woodson said. “It counts for something. It’s not always the (playoff) games you lose in a row. We were pretty successful with that team and they’re still playing pretty good basketball.’’
	 
Woodson hasn’t given up on the series despite the 3-1 deficit as they try to become the first team in NBA history to rally from an 0-3 deficit. They will be massive underdogs with Game 5 back in Miami on Wednesday night.
	 
“I’ve always as coach looked at the big picture,’’ Woodson said. "The big picture was for us to go home and take care of business and win two games. We slipped and only won one. Now we go down there and try to take Game 5 and put pressure on them to come back here to New York. It would be great for our team, our players and fans.’’
	 
Woodson hasn’t been shy about dropping in his accomplishments since taking over for Mike D’Antoni March 14 and guiding the Knicks to an 18-6 finish.

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Knicks guard Davis has three tears in knee, career likely over

May 07, 2012 , ι By MARC BERMAN

An MRI exam revealed the horror of Knicks point guard Baron Davis' knee injury, suffered Sunday. Davis has a partial tear of the patella tendon and complete tear of the ACL and MCL. He will be out 12... Read on

An MRI exam revealed the horror of Knicks point guard Baron Davis' knee injury, suffered Sunday.
	 
Davis has a partial tear of the patella tendon and complete tear of the ACL and MCL. He will be out 12 months, meaning he will miss next season also.
	 
Davis is expected to have surgery this week, his career likely over. Davis talked about trying to come back next season but that's officially shot.
	 
Davis returned from a herniated disk in February and inherited the Knicks starting point guard position after Jeremy Lin's knee injury March 24.
	 
The Knicks signed Davis to a one-year contract for the veteran's minimum in December after he was an NBA amnesty waiver.
	 
Davis crumpled to the court in the third quarter Sunday on a fastbreak situation, his knee buckling. Fans chanted his name as he lay on the floor, and Davis eventually was carried off the court, smiling and pointing to the crowd, obviously touched.

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Knicks coach 'not counting' on Lin to play Game 5

May 07, 2012 , ι By MARC BERMAN

Knicks coach Mike Woodson attempted to take pressure off point guard phenom Jeremy Lin on Monday morning, saying he was “not counting on him to play’’ in Game 5 in Miami on Wednesday.
	 
Lin’s availability became even more crucial because starting point guard
	 Baron Davis suffered a series-ending knee injuryin Game 4’s 89-87 win at Madison Square Garden.
	 
The Knicks don’t have an official practice Monday but Woodson said Lin will have a 3-on-3 scrimmage this afternoon and again Tuesday before the team flies to Miami trailing the Heat 3-1.
	 
Woodson said he plans to start veteran Mike Bibby at point guard. Bibby, who played under Woodson in Atlanta, was solid Sunday after Davis went down.
	 
Woodson sounded apprehensive because Lin has not played since March 24 and had surgery on his torn meniscus five weeks ago. Woodson said he’d feel “more comfortable’’ if the Knicks had more practice time the past 10 days but said the doctors and Lin will make the decision. On Friday, Lin didn’t rule out Wednesday’s game as he is ahead of his six-week timetable.
	 
Woodson admitted Lin’s “not in great shape.’’
	 
“We’ll gauge it,’’ Woodson said on a conference call. “I’m not counting on Jeremy Lin to play. The guys I’m counting on are the ones who have been in uniform.’’
	 
“Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to have him in uniform, but if doctors say we’re taking a chance, I can’t be selfish,’’ Woodson said.
	 
Woodson also didn't think Amar'e Stoudemire was going to return for Game 4 from his hand surgery.
	 
“It’s going to be the doctors and Jeremy who makes that decision, it won’t be my decision,’’ Woodson said. “I’m going in as if he’s not going to play. That’s how I’m preparing.’’
	 
Woodson said he will have to use some of Toney Douglas, who has been out of the rotation in the playoffs and in the season’s stretch run. Woodson indicated if Lin plays, it would not be close to starter’s minutes.
	 
“You know as well as I know playoff basketball, you have to be at an all-time high,’’ Woodson said. “He hasn’t played in a while. I don’t know if it’s going to be a determining factor.’’
	 
Lin is a restricted free agent and the Knicks have eyes on re-signing him for their $5M mid-level exception or matching a competing offer in the offseason.

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Davis carted off court in Knicks win

May 06, 2012 , ι By MARC BERMAN

The Knicks won the game, but lost another guard. Baron Davis was carted off the court with 5:15 left in the third quarter after going down on a fast break in the Knicks’ 89-87 victory over the Heat.... Read on

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Knicks' Shumpert says he won't rush back from knee injury

May 06, 2012 , ι By MARC BERMAN

Knicks rookie Iman Shumpert was on the court before the potential elimination game talking to the media for the first time since tearing his ACL and meniscus in his left knee. He is out six to eight months and will miss virtually all of next year's training camp.
	 
Shumpert, who had a solid rookie year as their top defensive stopper on the perimeter, is not looking to beat the timetable. He realizes he'll be back late in camp at the earliest.
	 
"It's definitely going to set me back but I'm not worried,’’ Shumpert said. “I'll be able to pick it up. I'll figure it out. The biggest thing is just coming back healthy. Not trying to come back too early.''
	 
Shumpert’s initial stage of rehab is flexing his calf and knee muscles as he waits for the incisions to close.
	 
Asked about the events of the series in which Tyson Chandler got the flu, he blew out his knee and Stoudemire tore up his hand, Shumpert said, “When it rains it pours.’’
	 
Shumpert said the tendinitis in his knee that kept him out of a few games in midseason was unrelated. He injured the knee making a move on Mario Chalmers in Game 1 last Saturday.

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Knicks coach says Stoudemire will be 'game-time decision'

May 05, 2012 , ι By MARC BERMAN

Knicks coach Mike Woodson called Amar’e Stoudemire's playing status for Sunday's must-win Game 4 against the Miami Heat a “game-time decision’’ after Stoudemire practiced with the team. Woodson said he "hopes'' there’s a “pretty good’’ chance Stoudemire will play, but said it’s up to the doctors to clear him.
	 
“He’s probably going to be a game-time decision on Amar’e if he’s going to play or not,’’ Woodson said after today’s practice. “He did go through the scripted offense. We have to wait until tomorrow to see what happens.’’
	 
For what it's worth, the Knicks are officially listing Stoudemire as "doubtful-game-time decision." Asked his chances of playing, Woodson said, “I hope pretty good. He looked pretty good on the floor but it’s not my decision. It’s going to be the doctors’ decision.’’
	 
Tyson Chandler didn’t sound like he expected to see Stoudemire on the court tomorrow. The Knicks also didn’t scrimmage in today's practice, so Stoudemire couldn't test his hand in a game-like circumstance. He has not played since Monday night in Game 2, after which he punched a fire extinguisher, suffering a serious hand injury that required surgery.
	 
“He looked OK,’’ Chandler said. “But I don’t know. I don’t know what his hand feels like.’’
	 
Stoudemire didn’t talk to reporters. Woodson said he’d talk to Stoudemire if he is cleared, to see if he should start or not. However, Woodson said Steve Novak will not start tomorrow. Woodson wants Novak back in his comfort zone, coming off the bench.

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About the Author

MARC BERMAN Marc Berman has been covering the Knicks since 1998, after serving as Islanders beat writer for a year when he joined the Post. He’s also covered U.S. Open tennis, and authored "Living Without Ew: The Crash of the Post-Ewing Knicks." The APSE award winner and SUNY-Albany graduate covered Phil Jackson, Bill Musselman and George Karl as Albany Patroons beat writer.

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