Marcus Camby hasn’t given up hope of playing in Brooklyn Thursday in the Knicks’ season opener against the Nets, but he may have a better shot at riding a wave at Coney Island today.
Camby, who hasn’t practiced in nearly four weeks with a calf strain, took the Garden court yesterday in a heavy white wrap to participate in their light workout that mostly was a walkthrough.
However, Camby said he wouldn’t be ready to practice for real and scrimmage until tomorrow — which would mark a four-week layoff. Two full practices may not be enough for Camby to make his Knicks debut of his second stint. The Knicks have been extremely conservative with Camby because they don’t want the strain to linger.
“I’m hoping to get out there this week, get a couple of practices under my belt and try to get ready for this opener.,” Camby said. “I’m excited to get back out there. I want to play if possible but I know I haven’t really been out there. I’m shooting to get out there Thursday.’’
Most likely, the Knicks will be without Camby and go with a still-deep frontcourt of Tyson Chandler, Kurt Thomas, Rasheed Wallace and training-camp sensation Chris Copeland. Even without Camby and Ama’re Stoudemire, who is out indefinitely, the Knicks aren’t dead.
Camby said when the club is at full strength, “We have one of the deepest frontcourts in this league. When Tyson, STAT come off the court, we have confidence in myself, Sheed. It’s the luxury we have this year.’’
* Carmelo Anthony spent the Olympic Games as teammates with the Thunder’s trio of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden, who was dealt to the Rockets in a blockbuster Saturday night. Anthony wondered if Oklahoma City has lost its championship mettle.
“It’s just sad to see that trio of OKC break up, escpecially for me to have spent time with them this summer and see how close they are,’’ Anthony said. “That’s a big piece.” … Losing Harden is losing a big piece of that team and what they had going on there. I don’t know how [Kevin] Martin is going to fit in. We shall see but Harden is definitely losing a big piece.’’… Chandler, who missed practice yesterday with his left-knee bone bruise, said he is on target to return to practice today — if there is one.