Knicks forward Amar’e Stoudemire said though the Miami Heat are the team to beat in the Eastern Conference, they aren’t the kings of the NBA.
“The Miami Heat are the guys. [The Heat] are the team to beat, they’re the Eastern Conference champions,” Stoudemire said. “I think Dallas is really on the throne and Miami is trying to climb the throne but it’s too high for them to get up there.”
Stoudemire, who handed out presents to children at Harlem with The Brotherhood/Sister Sol and his foundation, said the Knicks are an “up and coming” team in the East, but are still chasing the Heat.
“We’re not there yet, we have a lot of room to improve,” Stoudemire said. “We know how good we can be. The potential is pretty much doing what you haven’t done yet and to keep striving for greatness. I think we can be really, really good.”
The vision Stoudemire had for the Knicks when he signed with the team two summers ago is finally coming to fruition, with a roster filled with “great” players.
“We have some great rookies, now we have some great veteran players with Carmelo [Anthony}, Tyson [Chandler], myself, Baron [Davis] and Mike Bibby,” Stoudemire said. “What we’re trying to do is build a championship-caliber team and I feel like we are on the right track.”
The signing of Chandler to play center takes the pressure off of Stoudemire, who led the Knicks in rebounding last year.
“[Chandler] is going to help a lot. I’m back to my natural position of power forward and I can use my quickness and strength to my advantage,” Stoudemire said. “When I was playing center I was at a disadvantage because guys are 300 pounds and taller.”
Stoudemire also declared himself in perfect health and downplayed any concern about his body holding up over a lockout-shortened season.
“There’s nothing to it [the 66-game schedule]. The only thing you can do is take care of yourself, stay in the weight room and recover as soon as you can,” Stoudemire said.
* The Knicks cut training-camp invitees small forward Devin Green and center Chris Hunter, bringing the roster to 14 players, one below the maximum. … Wednesday’s preseason finale against the Nets was the highest-rated exhibition game for the MSG Network since 2004.