Knicks coach Mike Woodson said what he meant and meant what he said on his radio show where he came to Carmelo Anthony’s defense over NBA officiating.
And so Friday, his wallet was $25,000 lighter.
The NBA’s Chief of Police, also known as Rod Thorn, President, Basketball Operations, announced Woodson was fined $25,000 “for public criticism of the officiating … during a radio interview on Thursday.”
Woodson complained that Anthony does not get star treatment from officials and simply does not get the calls other players of his caliber receive.
“I’m not going to shy away from that, either,” Woodson said.
Anthony, Raymond Felton and Kenyon Martin all performed the walk-through portion of practice Thursday but sat through the scrimmage. Felton, who has missed two games with a sore left hip and lower back, is listed as questionable for the game Saturday at Washington.
“Still day-to-day. Game-time decision if he decides to play,” Woodson said.
Regarding Martin, who has received medical clearance to play back-to-backs, Friday “was kind of a rest day for him,” Woodson said. “He logged in quite a few minutes on the back-to-back. They both got conditioning in. I just didn’t have them scrimmage.”
Both Metta World Peace and Tim Hardaway Jr. insisted the confrontation between the two in a timeout huddle — World Peace shoved the rookie — during the loss to Indiana was a teaching point and a “heat of the moment” thing.
“I just wanted to get everybody tougher. It’s important we stay tough. It’s important, through good, through bad that we stay tough,” World Peace said. “I’m going to start to be a little more vocal from that standpoint. … I want to make sure I’m bringing that energy, that aggressiveness.”
Which he was trying to impart on Hardaway.
“Everybody is panicking over that. It was the heat of the moment, two teammates just trying to talk things out and everyone is trying to calm everyone down,” Hardaway said. “If the camera was on … longer in the huddle, you’ll see him apologizing to myself and the team. That’s what he’s all about. He’s a team player. He wants to do the best he can to help his team win.
“He got upset with the play before and he just told everybody just move on and that’s what we have to focus on.”
World Peace, whose knee has been twice drained recently, admitted the procedures are part of the price of playing.
“[The knee] was an issue sometimes. It fills up with liquid sometimes. You’ve got to get it drained. The doctors did a good job. Hopefully I can sustain it for a long period of time,” World Peace said. “Your body is going to do whatever it wants to do so you just never know, it’s all up to my body.”
Tyson Chandler (leg fracture) was expected to travel with the team to Washington but there still is no time frame for a return.
“It’s just good to get off the crutches. I get to travel with the team. … That’s a positive,” Chandler said. “Everything has been positive thus far, so just looking forward to keep making progress and trying to get back on the floor.
“No [date for running yet]. It’s kind of all about how the bone continues to heal. Everything has been positive. I haven’t had any setbacks.”