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Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
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Saturday / November 23.

By JEREMY WOO

Special to ZAGSBLOG

FORT WAYNE, IN. —  As one of the most sought-after guard prospects in the 2014 class, naturally JaQuan Lyle has some tough recruiting decisions to make.

As his senior season approaches, he’s finally started on them.

The 6-foot-5 Lyle out of Evansville (IN) Bosse has finalized his list at seven schools — Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Louisville, Ohio State, Tennessee and UCLA. An adept scorer and smooth combo guard who went off for 44 points here for Spiece Indy Heat Saturday, Lyle will soon take the next step in his recruitment process.

“I take my SAT on June 8,” Lyle told SNY.tv. “After that I’m going to start planning my official visits. Everyone’s recruiting me pretty equally, everybody’s hard on me right now.”

NEW YORKCarmelo Anthony’s shoulder is barking.

He is shooting horribly.

His team is facing a younger, bigger and more physical team.

And the Knicks are now down 1-0 in their Eastern Conference playoff series after the Indiana Pacers stole Game 1, 102-95 at Madison Square Garden.

But Melo says there’s no cause for alarm.

“This was the first game,” Anthony said after shooting 10-of-28 for 27 points.

By JOSH NEWMAN
Special to ZAGSBLOG

Lance Stephenson NEW YORK – Still just 22 years old, it has taken Indiana Pacers guard Lance Stephenson a little while to get acclimated to the NBA, but this, his third year in the league has been a bit of a revelation. The former Lincoln High School star, born and bred in the Coney Island section of Brooklyn, has matured to the point where his head coach has certainly taken notice.

“I just talked to him about his family, he’s got his mind in the right place,” New Jersey native Frank Vogel said Sunday before Stephenson scored 11 points to go along with 13 rebounds as the Pacers beat the Knicks, 102-95, in Game 1 of their best-of-seven Eastern Conference Semifinals series. “He told everybody ‘no’ for tickets so it wouldn’t be a distraction.”

“It’s just something about these lights, something about this atmosphere,” said Stephenson, who won four PSAL championships at Madison Square Garden as a Railsplitter. “It’s always been a special place to me and a place I always look forward to playing.”

NEW YORK — The Knicks could get both Steve Novak and Amar’e Stoudemire back for Game 3 on Saturday in Indianapolis.

Novak (back spasms) is out for Game 1 and possibly Game 2 and said he’d be “disappointed” if he can’t at least suit up for Game 3.

Stoudemire (right knee debridement) is out for the first two games but is targeting a Game 3 comeback. He hasn’t played since March 7.

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