Maybe it was the symbolism of the Knicks’ battered training camp. Coach Mike Woodson showed up with a gash above his right eye that was covered in tape. It’s unclear how he did it because he wouldn’t say other than to joke he got into a fight. It was typical Knicks, being secretive even if it was just a harmless non-basketball accident.
“I’m not going to talk about it but you should see the other guy,’’ Woodson said jokingly before the Knicks’ 97-95 overtime victory over the Nets Wednesday night at Nassau Coliseum. “He’s pretty messed up, too.’’
* Barclays Center, the Nets new home in Brooklyn, has been billed as an arena built for basketball, and coach Avery Johnson said he doesn’t think that will change following yesterday’s announcement his team will be joined in Brooklyn by the Islanders in 2015
“I think it’s good,” Johnson said of sharing the building with the Islanders. “I’ve often used college football as an example. At the end of the day, we are the college football program. So even though a university has other sports, we are the major tenant. We’re the driving force.
“But, at the same time, the building needs to produce revenue. Now they’ve got 40 some odd more dates a year, and I think it’s great. But, at the end of the day, the focus of the whole Barclays Center project is Nets basketball. And then, from there, you can talk concerts and hockey and all that stuff. I think that’s what my thoughts are.”
* Magic Johnson said he believes the Knicks only have a chance at scaring Miami if Amar’e Stoudemire’s health improves dramatically.
“I think it’s going to come down to the health of Stoudemire and whether he can play a full season, and right now he’s out again,’’ Johnson said on a conference call to promote ESPN’ coverage that begins with Nov. 2’s Heat at Knicks game. “That’s a concern. And then my other concern is hopefully those other guys who they picked up who are also older, whether they can have — [Marcus]Camby can stay healthy, because we know he can block shots. But I see that he’s been hurt, as well.’’
Jeff Van Gundy, who will work the Heat-Knicks contest with Mike Breen, had a funny observation about the veteran-laden Knicks.
“I was thinking about how old the Knicks were,’’ Van Gundy said. “Camby and Kurt Thomas played there [in their first stint] when I was coaching there, and that’s like years ago.
Van Gundy, who coached the Knicks from 1996-2001, also pointed to the dynamic between Anthony and Stoudemire — something that hasn’t worked. The full training camp — their first together — never materialized because of Stoudemire injuries.
“How Anthony and Stoudemire fit together, whether they play at 3 and 4 or Anthony plays 4 and Stoudemire plays 5 when Chandler goes to the bench, they have to work that out where they share the ball, but keep their defensive intensity intact,’’ Van Gundy said. “I think it is going to be the critical point this year.’’
* Shooting guard James White left the game in the second quarter with a sore foot and will be reevaluated.
Woodson said he was to make cuts today and Mychel Thompson was expected to be one of them. But Thompson made one last stab as he came off the bench in White’s absence to pump in 13 points, making 3 of 7 3-pointers in his best outing. Nevertheless, Chris Copeland appears to have sewn up the 15th spot, unless White’s injury is serious.
* Keith Bogans and Jerry Stackhouse sat out.
Johnson said he is hopeful Bogans, who is expected to have a spot in the Nets’ rotation because of his strong perimeter defense and 3-point shooting ability, will be ready to face the Knicks in next Thursday’s season opener.
* Rasheed Wallace was on the Knicks’ bench, didn’t play but razzed the referees all night.
Woodson finally told him to pipe down. At one point, Wallace yelled, “I know you missed me.’’ … Former Mets shortstop Jose Reyes sat courtside.