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http://espn.go.com/new-york/nba/story/_/id/8846244/new-york-knicks-record-talk-carmelo-anthony-chicago-bulls
NEW YORK -- In the wake of an incident between Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Garnett that resulted in Anthony's suspension, the Knicks recorded all in-game conversations between the forward and players around him Friday against the Bulls, a league source has confirmed.
Owner James Dolan ordered Madison Square Garden technicians to place two microphones on opposite ends of the court, a move league sources told ESPN The Magazine's Chris Broussard was put in place in order to protect Anthony.
NBA logo Tim Frank, the NBA's senior vice president of basketball communications, said the league has no issue with the Knicks' on-court audio recordings.
The Knicks were trying to ascertain whether other players were going overboard in their trash talking against Anthony, sources told Broussard.
It is not clear whether the recordings will continue, but sources tell Broussard that any move to paint them as Dolan "spying" on Anthony is "flat-out wrong."
Tim Frank, the NBA's senior vice president of basketball communications, said the league has no issue with the recordings.
"There are no prohibitions against having audio equipment in the arena," Frank said.
The Knicks declined to comment on the incident.
Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said Tuesday he was not aware of the recordings.
"It's not that big of a deal because there are mics everywhere now," Thibodeau said. "They're in players' uniforms. That's where the game is. You can't allow that stuff to get you distracted."
Thibodeau was asked about secrets in the huddle being revealed.
"We're prepared for that," Thibodeau said.
The Newark Star Ledger first reported Dolan's order to record Anthony's on-court conversations, as well as those around him.
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The newspaper reported that Dolan ordered the tapes to be sent directly to him. The Post reported that the microphones were in place for Sunday's home game against New Orleans as well.
Anthony confronted Garnett last Monday near the Celtics' bus after their game that night because he was upset over a verbal insult the Celtics' big man directed at him during the game.
"It's certain things that you just don't say to men, another man," Anthony said last week when asked what Garnett said to get under his skin. "I felt that he crossed the line."
Anthony was suspended one game by the NBA for confronting Garnett off the floor after the game.
Before the team left Monday night for its trip to London to play the Detroit Pistons on Thursday, Knicks coach Mike Woodson said he had no first-hand knowledge of the recordings.
"I heard about it, but I don't know about all of that, I don't know where it came from," Woodson said.
Woodson added he did not see any extra recording devices around the court Friday.
"Absolutely not. I'm distracted in other areas, and that's watching these guys run up and down the floor and play basketball," Woodson said. WHAT'S GOOD *****? What's REALLY good?!?!????!!! Ha HA! http://40.media.tumblr.com/d8e2daf9f3f37244cd05436bcdf05973/tumblr_mt4qibKq4c1rgam01o1_1280.png
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