HARTFORD, Conn. — Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni made good on his promise to switch Wilson Chandler to power forward last night and insert a more traditional shooting guard into the starting lineup.
But his decision still was surprising, because he placed second-year point guard Toney Douglas with Raymond Felton against the Celtics.
Not known for his shooting, Douglas is viewed as the backup point guard. Douglas shot horribly (0 of 7, 0 of 3 from 3-point line) and finished with five points and five assists in 28 minutes.
For the second half, D’Antoni gave the Celtics a completely different look. Chandler went back to shooting guard, and he played Anthony Randolph at power forward and Ronny Turiaf at center. Chandler will resume at shooting guard tonight versus the Wizards, D’Antoni said, with Turiaf back at center.
D’Antoni admitted he’s not looking at Douglas as the team’s starting shooting guard, but he wanted to see the Douglas-Felton combination — as it makes the Knicks quick and tenacious defensively.
“It was good to see them together, but Toney needs to make a shot every month or so,” D’Antoni said.
“They haven’t played together much,” D’Antoni said. “I just want to look at it. Toney can play off the ball some. And Raymond can guard the 2. It gives us more speed.”
Chandler, ironically, lasted just 2:15 at power forward before picking up two fouls and having to come out. There is new emphasis on moving Chandler from shooting guard to power forward and Amar’e Stoudemire to center. (Stoudemire sat out last night to rest, but will be back tonight vs. Washington.)
D’Antoni said Chandler is probably best at power forward but said after last night’s loss he will start tonight vs. Washington at the No. 2 spot. Ronny Turiaf will start at center.
“He’s very strong and guards the 4 well,” D’Antoni said of Chandler. “It’s probably his best spot.”
Chandler admitted he prefers power forward over shooting guard.
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Stoudemire said he will sit out one segment of this week’s Nets-76ers back-to-back — probably in Philadelphia Wednesday.
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Eddy Curry
said he’s happy to have ex-Knick Anthony Mason
working out with him in the weight room, though they have yet to get onto the court.
“I’m trying to get with him. I’ve got a lot of respect for him, and it’s good to be around that experience,” Curry said. “I’ve been around the league, but he really knows his way around the league.”
Mason is working out with Curry in an unofficial capacity.