HoopsHype.com Rumors

With Rasheed Wallace’s sore left foot becoming a bigger issue, the Knicks’ need for Amar’e Stoudemire has grown. Thursday will be a huge day as Stoudemire will participate in the Erie Bayhawks’ practice for the second time, to be conducted at the Westchester facility. Stoudemire rested his sore left knee Wednesday, but how it goes Thursday with the Knicks’ D-League affiliate could determine whether there’s any possible chance of suiting up at the end of the homestand Sunday vs. Minnesota. Stoudemire said he has no date set on his season debut and reported his knee being “sore’’ after his initial practice Tuesday. New York Post

New York Knicks, Amare Stoudemire, Rasheed Wallace, Injuries 

The Knicks have been doing it all season. Even in an MSG commercial shown before the game, you see Wallace tapping his head after he nails a three. “I’m just representing my man, Rasheed Wallace — three-to-the-dome," Anthony said. “It’s just three, nothing major." If it was a gun reference, as has been strongly suggested in references on the Internet, then you can bet it would be major, and the Knicks would have to stop using it. There is no place in an NBA game for glorifying guns. That would send the wrong message to everyone. When it comes to guns, it’s never a minor issue, as if some players need to be reminded how guns have sometimes tragically affected their lives, or the close calls some have been in when they’ve been around firearms. New York Daily News

New York Knicks, Rasheed Wallace 

Latrell Sprewell once famously said after a particularly poor performance on a Sunday afternoon, "I'm not a morning person." The game, it should be noted, began at noon and not 7 a.m. Maybe Rasheed Wallace isn't a morning person either because the 38-year-old lasted only 85 seconds before being ejected in the Knicks 106-99 victory over the Phoenix Suns. Wallace received two technical fouls, one for arguing a foul call and the other for screaming his signature phrase "Ball Don't Lie" when Goran Dragic missed the free throw. Wallace extended his NBA record of technical fouls to 317, including four with the Knicks. His Sunday was over late in the first quarter and just in time for the 1 p.m. NFL games. That was also the time that Carmelo Anthony was just getting starting. Apparently, Melo can ball at any hour. The Knicks forward scored 34 points on 11-for-27 shooting as the Knicks improved to 12-4 overall and 7-0 at the Garden. Under Mike Woodson, the Knicks are 18-1 at MSG. New York Daily News

New York Knicks, Rasheed Wallace, Carmelo Anthony 

You have to give Rasheed Wallace credit: He knows how to make an exit. The New York Knicks forward yelled at officials after being called for a foul on Phoenix Suns forward Luis Scola in their game at Madison Square Garden. Then he yelled at them again after Goran Dragic shot the technical free throw. Part of what he yelled was his signature "Ball don't lie". Wallace has been called for four technical fouls this season, but that doesn't lead the league. His teammate Carmelo Anthony and the Sacramento Kings' DeMarcus Cousins have five. Here's a clip of what Wallace had to say: USA Today

New York Knicks, Rasheed Wallace 

"I was always near a court," Wallace said. "I took two years off from the NBA. I didn't take two years off period. That is what a lot of people think." "I feel that I can [help this team]. But I am not one to rush it. Obviously, the wizard has a game plan and I am just one of the key ingredients." "He took two years away from the game and again, he didn't walk away from the game because he couldn't play," Woodson said. "We were able to handpick some guys that we thought could come in and help us. We were able to sit down and discuss what free agents were out there." Philadelphia Inquirer

New York Knicks, Rasheed Wallace 

Marc Berman: NBA says report Rasheed's jersey is ranked No.1 in sales on NBA store's website is inaccurate. Told it's search-engine nonsense. Twitter @NYPost_Berman

New York Knicks, Rasheed Wallace, Merchandising 

Rasheed Wallace had always been a Knicks fan since his college days at North Carolina. But that wasn't the only reason why the 38-year-old wanted to play in New York after a two-year retirement. He wanted to prove post play was still in. "I was just sitting back, watching the way that some of these guys that you call great post players not playing the post," he said a few weeks ago after practice one day. "So it's the passion to come back to show ya'll how post players really need to play in the post. Old-school basketball. Ya'll used to all this new young stuff, high flying and dunking. Nah, that's not basketball. There's terrible footwork by a lot of young guys out here. Let's go back to old-school basics." ESPN.com

New York Knicks, Rasheed Wallace 

Gary Parrish: "You better get that little bitch off me." -- Rasheed Wallace to the Grizz bench after scoring on Rudy Gay for the second straight time. Twitter

Memphis Grizzlies, New York Knicks, Rudy Gay, Rasheed Wallace 

So this gang will shoot straight. They agree Woodson had everything to do with Wallace's return. And they say Rasheed might be considering getting into coaching. "I know for a fact that's his aspiration," says Donaldson. "He loves to teach. I can see him as an NBA assistant. That's what it'll have to be for him." Yahoo! Sports

New York Knicks, Rasheed Wallace 

So why is he here, in an NBA locker room? "I got a call," Wallace says. Yahoo! Sports

New York Knicks, Rasheed Wallace 

And, sure enough, when asked if he missed the NBA during his retirement, Wallace quickly shot back, "Nah, not really." So then what was the worst part about retirement? "Ain't no worst part about retiring!" he blurts. "Believe me." Yahoo! Sports

New York Knicks, Rasheed Wallace 

Wallace is the last guy you'd expect to return to the court. "I'm surprised he's back playing," says one of his oldest friends, Bo Donaldson. "He said he was done. And usually with him, that's what it is." Yahoo! Sports

New York Knicks, Rasheed Wallace 

Rasheed is averaging "just" five points and three rebounds this season in his return to the NBA, but he's making that noise happen in only 10 minutes a contest. That is some solid per-minute production. Of course, Sheed is shooting more often per-minute than any rotation player on the Knicks outside of Carmelo Anthony (he's even shooting more frequently, per-minute, than J.R. Smith), managing a whopping 10.9 three-pointers attempted for every 36 minutes of play in spite of making just 18.8 percent of his looks from long range, while nailing just 40 percent of his shots overall. THIS IS NOT THE POINT. The point is that 38-year old Rasheed Wallace calls Orlando Magic guard Arron Afflalo "AFLAC" after he misses free throws. And that, with at least some of his traits, we're glad Rasheed Wallace will never change. Yahoo! Sports

New York Knicks, Orlando Magic, Rasheed Wallace, Arron Afflalo 

There are many ways to trash talk your opponent on the basketball court. The method chosen by Rasheed Wallace here is definitely one of my favorites. Sure, you can be mean, funny, vulgar, profane, or a combination of all of those. But in the NBA, where egos are often as big as guys’ salaries, simple and subtle non-recognition could dig the deepest of all. Arron Afflalo steps to the line for two free throws. After missing the first, Wallace can clearly be heard excitedly shouting, “Yeah, Aflac!” Not Afflalo. Aflac. NBCSports.com

New York Knicks, Orlando Magic, Rasheed Wallace, Arron Afflalo 

Rasheed Wallace was holding court late Monday night, not on the court but in the visitors locker room at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Always an adventure when Wallace starts to talk, he finished by explaining a gesture he made after hitting a three-point field goal. “Three to the head — bang, bang, bang,” Wallace said loudly. A few lockers away Marcus Camby shook his head and said with a smile, “Still [bleeping] crazy.” Bergen Record

New York Knicks, Rasheed Wallace 

“I’ve been practicing with guys for a while,” Wallace said, although that didn’t come until the final week. “I’m still getting used to Pablo. He likes that quick dump-off pass. I know the little things he likes to do as far as when it comes to pick-and-rolls. On defense we’re both talking. As far as the language barrier goes, you can still talk with hand signals. I’m not good on my Spanish and I know he’s not good with his English too much, but you can’t go wrong with hand signals.” Bergen Record

New York Knicks, Rasheed Wallace 

“I took off two years from the NBA,” Wallace said. “I didn’t take two years off, period.” Even before the injury-wracked Amar’e Stoudemire returns in mid-December, Woodson will face his first rotation conundrum Friday when the unbeaten Knicks host the Mavericks. Backup center Marcus Camby is expected back just as Wallace’s role looks ready to increase. Where that leaves minutes for Camby is unclear. Wallace hasn’t played in the first half yet. He got garbage time in the first two blowout wins, then entered late in the third quarter Monday with the Knicks already up by 20. He cemented his rotation status with 11 points in 13 minutes. “A lot of guys don’t realize he didn’t walk away from the game because he couldn’t play,” Woodson said. New York Post

New York Knicks, Rasheed Wallace 

Wallace may be the biggest surprise for the Knicks, who are 3-0 for the first time since 1999. Wallace has played in all three games after not stepping on the court during six exhibition games because he was not in shape. In only 21 minutes, Wallace has 16 points, 6 rebounds and 2 blocks. “I took two years off from the N.B.A.; I didn’t take two years off, period,” said Wallace, explaining that he was always near a basketball court in Chapel Hill, N.C. “That’s what a lot people think, but I didn’t.” New York Times

New York Knicks, Rasheed Wallace 

Steve Popper: Early Rasheed quote of the day: I mentioned the Prigioni give and go he ran was old school. He said, "And two old M---F---ers running it." Twitter @StevePopper

New York Knicks, Rasheed Wallace, Pablo Prigioni 

Tommy Beer: When asked about MSG crowd chanting his name, Sheed said: "It's better to get cheered than boo'ed here. I've been boo'ed plenty of times." Twitter @TommyBeer

New York Knicks, Rasheed Wallace