GREENBURGH, N. MENS NIKE AIR MAX 87 SHOES BLACK/WHITE/YELLOW .Y. -- J.R. Smith is recovering from knee surgery, then faces an NBA suspension when he returns. Amare Stoudemire is recovering from knee surgery -- yes, thats three in the last year -- and faces a restriction on his minutes when he returns. The New York Knicks have the NBAs leading scorer in Carmelo Anthony, but after that there are questions about whos going to put the ball in the basket until their second- and third-leading scorers get back. They downplayed those concerns Tuesday after their first practice of the season. "Weve just got to be patient until we get those guys back, and then when they get back, theyre going to fit right in," coach Mike Woodson said. Smith was the NBAs Sixth Man of the Year last season after averaging a career-best 18.1 points. Though he apparently experienced knee pain since early in the season, he waited until well after it was finished to have patella tendon surgery and an arthroscopy on his left knee to repair a tear in the lateral meniscus. He said Monday the delay until mid-July was in part family related, that he felt it was more important to focus on getting his new contract done first. The Knicks said at the time the expected recovery time was 12-16 weeks, and along the way five more games have been tacked on to his absence when the NBA suspended him for violating the anti-drug program. Hell sit out the first five games hes physically able to play. The Knicks already planned to be cautious with Stoudemire this season after he played in just 29 games last season because of a pair of surgeries, one on each knee. Then he underwent another procedure on his left knee this summer, and though he was able to do some shooting Tuesday, the Knicks dont know when hell be ready for game action. Woodson said the former All-Star will play very limited minutes at the start, and its doubtful hell play more than about 25 a game at any point. Add the 14.2 points he averaged, and the Knicks are missing 32 per game from their top two reserves on last seasons 54-win team. "I think guys just have to do their part, making shots, and when their time comes just contribute everything that they have," Anthony said. "Well see what happens. Until J.R. gets back, until Amare gets back, we have enough guys that can score the basketball." He mentioned Andrea Bargnani, the former No. 1 overall pick the Knicks acquired from Toronto in July. But the Italian forward-centre played in just 66 games the last two seasons, his scoring nose-diving from a career-high 21.4 points per game in 2010-11 to just 12.7 last season. The Knicks think hell regain his form and provide outside shooting that will keep double-teams away from Anthony. "The main thing is winning, because in Toronto we didnt go to the playoffs for five straight years so Im starving for winning and get back to the playoffs," Bargnani said. "So its all about the team. I can score the ball, thats what I do, so I hope my scoring skills can help the team." New York also signed Metta World Peace, but he hadnt even averaged in double figures for two straight seasons before rebounding with 12.4 points per game last season. Still, Woodson thinks this team has enough options that it can be more balanced than the 2012-13 squad that set an NBA record with 891 3-pointers but often became stagnant when the outside shots werent falling. He said Anthony, Bargnani, World Peace and eventually Stoudemire can all play in the post. "It gives us a better threat this year," Woodson said, "where we dont have to always live on the perimeter and be able to explore mismatches, which is kind of nice." AIR MAX 95 WOMENS NIKE SHOES GREY/PINK/WHITE .J. -- With the New Jersey Devils fighting for a playoff spot, Jon Merrill picked the perfect time to score his first NHL goal. MENS NIKE AIR MAX 1 HYPERFUSE SHOES GREY WHITE PINK . -- The Detroit Lions made it crystal clear to Golden Tate that he was their top target in free agency. COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The past 27 days have been humiliating for Steve Mason. Thats what made Tuesday night even sweeter. James Wisniewski had the last of Columbus three shootout goals and Mason made several big stops in his first appearance after being benched for 12 games to help the Blue Jackets beat the Vancouver Canucks 2-1. "Its not fun sitting on the bench," Mason said. "But sometimes its what you need to really refine things and to feel good again." Mason, playing for the first time since Nov. 15, shut out the Canucks for two periods and finished with 30 saves. The 2008-09 Calder Trophy winner stopped one of the two shooters he faced in the shootout while Mark Letestu, Rick Nash and Wisniewski all found the net against Roberto Luongo. "I didnt really have that much pressure on me," said Wisniewski, now 3 of 6 in shootouts. "With Nasher and Letestu scoring in front of me and them missing one, I was either going to score to win or Mase had to save to win. Youre a little bit looser going out to the shootout knowing you dont have to score." Mason, who missed three minutes of the third period due to cramping in his leg, was very good all night. In the second period, he made big stops on consecutive hard shots by Kevin Bieksa and Dan Hamhuis. Late in the period, Mason sprawled on the ice to smother a shot by Alexandre Burrows. Mason came in 3-12-1 with a 3.63 goals-against average and .875 save percentage. Journeyman Curtis Sanford had won the No. 1 spot by going 5-4-3 with a 2.45 goals-against average and .909 save percentage, but he had given up 16 goals in his last four games. It was time for the 23-year-old Mason to step back into action. "Its been a long time since I played. Ive been hard on myself," he said. "Theres probably nobody harder on me than I am. I expect a lot better. Tonight was a good performance. Over the last three or four weeeks I think Ive matured a lot in a lot of ways. MENS/WOMENS NIKE AIR MAX 90 KNIT SHOES FLUORESCENT GREEN/PINK/BLUE/YELLOW. " Still, the Canucks, who got a goal from Maxim Lapierre midway through the third period, nearly won in overtime when Chris Higgins slap shot trickled through Masons pads. All that kept it from crossing the goal line was rookie defenceman John Moores right skate as he held off a forward trying to get at the loose puck. "It was kind of a weird play," Moore said. "I felt something hit the back of my leg, turned around and took a look and saw the puck kind of slowly going toward the goal. Fortunately enough I was able to kind of stop it and let Mase corral it in time." The Canucks had won four in a row, nine of 10 and their last five on the road. Still, they came up short against the team with the worst record in the NHL. "In my mind, thats a much better team than their record indicates," Vancouver coach Alain Vigneault said. "You can say it many times, but there are no easy games in this league. There might be a perception that were going to step on the ice and win it very easily. You dont win games easily in this league. Tonight was another example." Jeff Carter had a power-play goal -- the Blue Jackets came in last in the league with a man advantage -- for an early 1-0 lead. In the shootout, Letestu scored on a forehand before Mason stopped Cody Hodgson. After Nash faked a backhand and scored high on the stick side past Luongo, Burrows buried a shot against Mason. Wisniewski then slipped the puck past Luongos outstretched left leg for the winner. And that made a winner of Mason. "Im just going to take it day by day," he said. "Im not sure when Im going to play again, but whenever it is Im going to make sure Im ready again." NOTES: Columbus improved to 8-5-2 when scoring the first goal. ... Hamhuis was held scoreless. He needs one for 200 career points. ... Luongo made 29 saves. cheap nfl jerseys cheap jerseys ' ' '
