Get the Knicks out of walking boots and away from the infirmary, off their crutches, canes and walkers. Scratch the need for bandages, pain killers and medications and they could compete for a title.
Who says so? Well, coach Mike Woodson for starters.
On the eve of the first meeting of the season with two-time world champion Miami, Woodson claimed his battered, bruised and now coughing and sniffling Knicks could hang with the Heat if healthy. He thought so before the season, he thinks so now.
“Absolutely and I still believe that, if we could ever get back whole,” Woodson said after a makeshift group of Knicks did whatever it could Wednesday at the team’s practice facility where the bunch was so beat up and sick, there was no formal workout.
“It’s been tough in terms of going out on a night-in and night-out basis and competing. I’m not taking anything away from the players who have been consistently in uniform for us, but it’s hard to judge our team,” Woodson said.
Until recently, any judge would have given a thumbs down. But the Knicks won two of three games in Texas, beating San Antonio and Dallas, then came home to outlast Detroit Tuesday. It wasn’t pretty, but it was a victory. And now the Knicks face the Heat with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and assorted headaches.
“Until somebody dethrones them, they’re the world champions,” Woodson said. “Anytime LeBron and Bosh and Wade suit it up, they give their team an opportunity to win. … The challenge is just trying to keep those three [in check] and not let guys like Ray Allen and [Shane] Battier have big nights.”
The Heat didn’t become two-time champs by taking anyone lightly. Miami has a rare road two-fer, playing the Knicks Thursday and the Nets Friday.
“It’s going to be tough. Both teams are playing better,” James told reporters after the 27-8 Heat stomped New Orleans Tuesday. “We recognize that. I watch every game, every night. So I understand the Knicks are playing much better than they were, especially on that Texas road trip.”
And there’s always something about Knicks-Heat games that just makes you want to get on the floor and grab Alonzo Mourning’s leg.
“When the Heat comes to town, records are out the window,” said Wade. “I don’t care if a team has lost six in a row, we’re going to get their best. It was a little surprising early on that they struggled as much as they did. Of late, they’ve got some good wins and they’re really trying to find themselves a little bit. It’s the right time for them to really get it together because we come to town.”
The Knicks feel they can’t get too amped and must continue doing what has worked lately, namely playing with energy, defense and not getting caught up in the opponent or the opponent’s shoelaces.
“Miami’s a pretty consistent team with what they do. They’ve been playing together for a while. We know we can match up with them. We just got to do the things we know we can do,” said Iman Shumpert. “It’s just another game we got to focus on.”
But there needs to be major focus.
“Miami’s the world champions,” Woodson said. “I still expect guys to play at a high level, it doesn’t matter who we play… so we’ll be kind of interested to see where we are as a ball club based on who plays.”
Who will play? Well, Tyson Chandler is still suffering an upper respiratory infection. He couldn’t even make it to practice Wednesday and is a game-time decision, along with Kenyon Martin, Andrea Bargnani, Cole Aldrich (all sick) and Beno Udrih (knee). Metta World Peace (knee) and Pablo Prigioni (toe) remain out.