IN THE CLEAR: George Hill (game-high 26 points) is pumped up during the Pacers’ 93-82 Game 4 victory over Tyson Chandler and the Knicks last night. Chandler said his critiques this week were not aimed at Carmelo Anthony. (Reuters)
INDIANAPOLIS — Knicks center Tyson Chandler emphatically said his critical comments after Saturday night’s game and after Sunday’s practice were not directed at Carmelo Anthony.
“I pulled Melo to the side. I’m a man of my words,’’ Chandler said. “None of the words were directed at him. I didn’t want him to take it like, that. I would never want to cause a problem with any of my teammates in the locker room. I wanted him to understand the comments were directed at the team. Most of the time I’m speaking about myself first. I didn’t want to add any extra pressure to his game.’’
After Game 3, Chandler said the club was “playing like individuals’’ and ripped the offense even more the following day when he said the Knicks were not passing enough and isolating too frequently.
Anthony responded Monday by saying he’d like to talk to Chandler. They did.
Chandler said he “wanted to clear it up.’’
“I wasn’t directing my comments at Carmelo Anthony,’’ Chandler added. “I was directing it at the Knicks. If I had a problem with Carmelo or anybody else, I’d discuss that closed doors, in-house.’’
* Iman Shumpert’s knee scare is over after he took an MRI exam yesterday that showed no structural damage and started last night in Game 4. He had a tough outing, going scoreless on 0-for-6 shooting, including four misses in the first quarter when the Knicks started off 2-of-14. Shumpert was held to just 16:13 of playing time.
“I decided to play him under 20, and it didn’t have to do with anything,’’ coach Mike Woodson said.
Shumpert didn’t attend the morning shootaround and the Knicks put his status as questionable while their team orthopedist, Answorth Allen, flew to Indianapolis to examine Shumpert’s surgically repaired left knee.
Woodson said there was concern yesterday morning because Shumpert’s soreness and swelling had not gone away when he awoke yesterday. By last night, Shumpert reported good news.
“We were just making sure, taking precaution,’’ Shumpert said. “I guess there’s still some swelling, but I feel a lot better.’’
Shumpert’s ACL, which he tore last April, was not a factor. He took two spills in the second half Saturday, one in the third quarter after getting fouled by George Hill. The other came in a scramble for a loose ball with Paul George.
Shumpert started at shooting guard — his preferred position — as Woodson finally elected to go with a big starting lineup.