Curtsy Head coach Tom Thibodeau is glad to have it Landry Shamet back in the squad after the veteran winger recovered from the shoulder injury he sustained during pre-season with the team. Thibodeau praised Shamet for his leadership and ability to play multiple positions, saying the 27-year-old had a “great” training camp and deserves a spot on the roster once he’s healthy.
“He was there, he took part in big games” said Thibodeau (Twitter video link). “He knows very well how to outplay people. When it comes to three-point shooting, he can handle (or play off) the ball.”
After officially signing with the Knicks on Monday, Shamet was active for the club’s game against Toronto, making a brief appearance in the fourth quarter with 84 seconds left and New York leading by 16 points. He made a 13-foot throw on his first possession to give the Knicks their final points of the night.
“I was so excited today, man, I’ve been chomping at the bit for a while.” According to Peter Botte of the New York Post, Shamet said after the win. “It just felt good to be back in the building, getting dressed, being with the guys, working out a game plan and being a teammate. I’m just grateful that I felt good coming into the game at the end and kind of saw the first one come into the game.”
Here’s more from the Eastern Conference:
- Injured networks guards Cam Thomas And Ziaire Williams are close to their respective returns, according to Brian Lewis of the New York Post, who says both players took part in a 5-on-5 game on Monday. “It seems like they are getting closer.” Head coach Jordi Fernandez said. Thomas (left hamstring strain) has been out since November 25th, while Williams (left knee sprain) has not played since December 1st.
- dollar guard Damian Lillard He missed Monday’s game due to illness, but the calf problem that sidelined him Saturday has improved, tweets Eric Nehm of The Athletic. “He’s doing much better” Head coach Doc Rivers said. “I expect he might be ready (for Thursday’s game against Brooklyn), but then he gets sick.” Rivers, jokingly referring to Lillard’s illness, Giannis Antetokounmpoand other Bucks like the “Vegas flu,” made it clear Monday that the virus began circulating before the NBA Cup semifinals. “About a week before Vegas (this illness) got into the disease chain, but it happens.” Rivers said.
- With Lillard and Antetokounmpo unavailable on Monday against Chicago, dollar forward Chris Middleton looked like his old All-Star self for the second straight year, scoring a team-best 21 points on 9 of 15 shooting in just 23 minutes, leading the club to a comfortable 21-point victory. Jim Owczarski of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has the story.
- Coby White.414 FG% and .358 3PT% are his lowest marks since his rookie year, and he has particularly struggled recently, shooting 27.8% on three-pointers since November 27th. But that Bulls According to Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times, the guard isn’t using ankle and groin injuries as an excuse, tweets KC Johnson of the Chicago Sports Network, and his teammates aren’t worried about him. “There are ups and downs in an NBA season” Zach LaVine said on Monday. “We’ll all be fine.”
