SARATOGA SPRINGS — As predictable as Saratoga being the Mecca of horse racing every August, Knicks star-crossed center Eddy Curry pulled up lame last night at Skidmore College.
Curry’s comeback took a disheartening turn when he strained his right calf during the first scrimmage of training camp while battling for a rebound, jeopardizing his availability for the rest of the week and casting an early pall on Camp Saratoga.
Coach Mike D’Antoni said he hopes Curry will return to practice in two days, but the 317-pound center historically is a slow healer. After playing just three games for a total of 12 minutes last season while battling knee and weight problems, Curry arrived at camp 40 pounds lighter, but apparently not light enough.
“I’m definitely frustrated but not discouraged,” Curry said. “I don’t think it’s serious. I don’t think it’s anything to worry about too bad.”
After ripping a rebound from David Lee, Curry made an outlet pass and hobbled off the court as play continued. Curry was met by trainers on the sidelines. After a few minutes, he limped to the locker room, missing the final hour of scrimmage. Curry later emerged with his lower right leg bandaged. Curry had gotten through the morning practice unscathed, but it was a light session without scrimmages.
“He’ll be back in a couple of days, probably,” D’Antoni said. “It’s too bad. You go two-a-days, you risk guys not quite ready. I expect him to be back in a couple of days. He’ll be back.”
But missing these two-a-day sessions will set back Curry’s progress further. D’Antoni blamed last season’s nightmare year for Curry on him being bed-ridden in the hospital for the entire week of Camp Saratoga with a bacterial infection. Curry’s the one player who can’t afford to miss time.
It’s now a question of whether he’ll have enough practice time to be ready to play in the exhibition opener Sunday in Albany vs. the Nets.”I strained it. We don’t think it’s going to be too bad,” Curry said. “We’re going to take it day by day and see how it goes and get a lot of treatment. I was feeling it ever since Thursday. I’ve been able to play and not push off it too hard. (But) I went up for a rebound and just kind of pulled it.”
Despite his weight loss from an intensive offseason training program in Detroit, Curry still did not appear to be in NBA-game shape before the injury. But in the morning, Walsh seemed pleased.
“It’s the first time I saw him practice fully since I’ve been here,” Walsh said after the morning session.
Down to 317 pounds, Curry was still bending over, hands on knees, huffing and puffing during fastbreak drills in the morning, taking extra time before getting back in line.
“Camp will be good for him,” D’Antoni said after the morning session. “He needs to get down a little bit.”
A Curry transformation changes the complexion of what looks like another losing season. If Curry beats the odds and becomes a viable low-post center again as he turns 27 in December, he also can be another piece to attract LeBron James. But after what happened last night, that appears a pipe dream.
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D’Antoni told the players during Monday night’s meetings the goal is to be in the top 15 this season in defense, measured by effective field goal percentage (which includes 3-pointers). Last season, the Knicks ranked 28th out of 30.
Danilo Gallinari wore massive tape around his right hand during practice because of a cut, but his back — and 3-pointer — looked beautiful.