NBA

Knicks’ Chandler hoping to play tonight vs. Celtics

UP OFF THE FLOOR? Knicks center Tyson Chandler, who has missed six games with neck and knee problems, hopes to play tonight in Boston, but won’t risk re-injury — even to help beat the Celtics. (
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BOSTON — Discretion is the better part of valor. Prevention is better than cure. The second mouse gets the cheese.

Sometimes, caution is the way to go.

So the Knicks have listed Tyson Chandler as “questionable” tonight against the Celtics in Boston. Chandler has missed the last six games, primarily because of a bulging disk in his neck, although he also has battled a bone bruise in his left knee.

No determination will be made until after the morning workout, coach Mike Woodson said, but Chandler will play if he says he can.

The knee, Chandler said yesterday, is fine. The neck, not so much. Despite longing to return, he admitted he doesn’t want to rush back and make matters worse, although “there’s definitely a chance” he will play tonight.

“That’s what I have to be smarter with. It’s tough watching games. It’s a little better right now since we’re winning, but it’s really tough watching my teammates fighting and not being able to be out there,” Chandler said. “All of me wants to be out there obviously, but then again I’ve got to be smart for my teammates at the same time.”

Chandler, who only shot yesterday at practice before a light one-on-one workout with Chris Copeland during which he consulted with the medical staff, was asked what he needs to see and feel before determining he is ready.

“I need to not go into a spasm whenever I’m in a vulnerable position, whether reaching to block a shot or in a defensive stance. Right now, it’s still a little sore. Hopefully, [today] go through shoot-around,” Chandler said.

“I can feel it a little bit, but I’m not worried about just a little pain. It’s more so I don’t want to be back in a predicament where I come back and then I’m out for a week or so,” added Chandler, who injured his neck March 13 when he banged with Denver’s Kenneth Faried. “When I’m back I want to be back.”

There are all those caution flags again. Kenyon Martin has proved to be a most competent fill-in, averaging 12.2 points and 9.0 rebounds in six starts. Plus, Boston will be without Kevin Garnett and the Knicks play tomorrow night, too.

“[Chandler is] still questionable. We’ll just play it by ear and see how he feels [today] and he’ll let us know,” Woodson said, explaining Chandler’s day yesterday consisted of “no running … he shot a little bit. That’s the first step. That’s good.”

Chandler was expected to accompany the Knicks, winners of four straight, to Boston. And if Chandler determines he is fine and free of pain and anxiety, that’s fine with the coach. Woodson does not need to see Chandler running or practicing before using him.

“Not with him. No. It’s not like he’ll be laboring in terms of being able to run, so if he says he’s ready to go and his neck feels fine, we’ll play him,” Woodson said.

But Chandler wants to be certain all is well. There is a little segment of the season called the playoffs which is, you know, sort of important and everyone wants him ready, even if another win over the Celtics in Boston would be good for the Knicks’ psyche.

“The way it looks, there’s a possibility we could play [the Celtics] in the first round,” Woodson said. “That’s a team that you can’t take lightly. They’re playoff-driven. They won a title and they know what it’s like to be deep into the playoffs. So we’ll have our hands full if that’s the team that we have to play.”

Woodson said he thinks Boston will be a playoff pest for anyone, even if coach Doc Rivers doesn’t have point guard Rajon Rondo.

“Absolutely I do. Yes,” Woodson said. “Because of the way Doc has them playing. They play hard. Offensively they share it. They know who their go-to guys are. They’ll be a good playoff team.”