Knicks 'zzone

Mike Woodson didn’t minimize the importance of Tuesday night’s Game 2 for the Knicks.

“This is a major game for us tonight,” Woodson said. “We don’t want to go to Indiana down two games. So this is a major, major game for our ball club.

Yet, Woodson said he’s telling his team to not feel any pressure down 0-1 against Indiana in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Woodson isn’t getting...

The Knicks already were going to be well-represented at All-Star Weekend with Carmelo Anthony starting in the game and Tyson Chandler selected as a reserve.

Now Steve Novak and James White will be joining the festivities in Houston.

As expected, Novak was selected to compete in the three-point shootout during All-Star Saturday night. White will be in the dunk contest.

Novak led...

Steve Novak never says anything to stir up things, but he drilled Nate Robinson after the little Bulls guard mocked him.

After Robinson hit a pair of jumpers in the second quarter, he did the discount double-check that Novak has made his signature move following a big three-pointer.

Novak wasn’t too happy about that and uncharacteristically retaliated with a biting remark.

“It...

Carmelo Anthony went through shootaround and will test his sprained left ankle before the game. Right now he’s a game-time decision against the Nets.

“He’s moving around pretty good so we’ll see,” Mike Woodson said. “He still hasn’t indicated that he’s going to play. So he’s going to wait. I think he’s going to come out and warm up and see how he feels.”

The Knicks won’t have Rasheed...

Jeremy Lin makes his MSG return tomorrow night with the Rockets in what should be another interesting night at the Garden.

Lin was tremendous last season, one of the greatest sports stories ever. But his departure led to feelings of anger, sadness, indifference and in some cases relief.

Right now, the Knicks look much better off for not matching the Rockets’ three-year, $25.1 million...

Second-year Milwaukee Bucks forward Tobias Harris expects to have a host of family members in Dix Hills watching him Wednesday night as he starts against the Knicks -- his favorite team growing up.

Harris, 20, starred at Half Hollow Hills West and Long Island Lutheran before spending a year at the University of Tennessee.

He is improving in his second year as an NBA player. Harris heads...

GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- Sometimes traveling is not a bad thing in basketball. And, now that Mike D’Antoni has journeyed to the other coast to coach the Los Angeles Lakers, a couple of his former associates with the Knicks offered their thoughts after practice Monday:

Head coach Mike Woodson:

“Very excited for him. I really am. I think he’s a guy that’s meant to be a coach. He’s done great...

1. Depth

Having Jason Kidd, J.R. Smith, Marcus Camby, Steve Novak, Iman Shumpert (when healthy), Rasheed Wallace and Kurt Thomas means you have depth and the already injury-plagued Knicks may need it.

2. Leadership

Letting Jeremy Lin go wasn’t a popular decision, but the Knicks improved at point guard with more polished and respected players Raymond Felton, Jason Kidd and Pablo...

Apparently, the NBA general managers don’t think that highly of the Knicks or their offseason moves.

In the annual NBA.com GM Poll, none of the 30 GMS picked the Knicks to win the Eastern Conference title and they were picked to finish behind the Celtics in the Atlantic Division. The Nets and Knicks each had four votes for who is the best team in the Atlantic.

Carmelo Anthony finished...

Amar’e Stoudemire and J.R. Smith returned to practice today, but another familiar face was missing.

Steve Novak didn’t practice. The Knicks called it a recovery day. Mike Woodson said Novak was “fatigued” from playing 38 minutes in Saturday’s OT preseason win over the Celtics.

“We gave Novak the day off,” Woodson said. “He was a little tired from the other night, all the minutes that...