CHICAGO — Amar’e Stoudemire appeared to take exception to J.R. Smith’s recent remarks the Knicks aren’t showing enough “heart’’ during this free fall that continued with Sunday’s 109-90 blowout loss to the Bulls.
Stoudemire indicated the controversial Smith perhaps isn’t one to judge character.
“You have to look at yourself in the mirror before we make statements,’’ Stoudemire said when asked about the comments. “We got to make sure you’re playing hard first. You take care of yourself and then everyone else will follow suit. Until you do it yourself, then you can lead by example.’’
Stoudemire, who had a solid game with 14 points on 7 of 8 shooting before fouling out, was the voice of the locker room in his first two seasons, but that has changed with his more limited role amid injury woes. In fact, when Stoudemire spoke up on an early-season West Coast trip, he got chastised by Mike Woodson. Stoudemire had criticized the team for lacking ball movement. It’s an issue still plaguing the club.
Stoudemire made an interesting reference Sunday when asked about ball movement after the Knicks registered just 17 assists on 35 made field goals, compared to the Bulls’ 30 on 39 field goals.
“I’ve been saying it for years’’ Stoudemire said. “But it seems when I say it, it’s not the problem. Defense is the problem. It’s a double-edged sword.’’
Stoudemire’s availability for the remainder of the season will be of interest as the Knicks are close to being out of the playoff race and there may be a movement to rest him more. As much as they would like to trade his expiring contract this summer, it will be a challenge.
Stoudemire sat out Friday’s game against Golden State because it was the second half of a back-to-back. Stoudemire is looking to stick more to the preseason plan of not playing on consecutive nights. Woodson said Stoudemire also is experiencing knee pain but Stoudemire denied it.
Stoudemire said he “probably’’ will try to play Monday in Detroit but wouldn’t commit.
“I feel great,’’ he said. “But we started the year off, the plan was not to play back-to-backs at all. That went down the drain. I want to stay on track to what we set at the start of the year.’’
Stoudemire’s big second quarter sparked the Knicks to whittle a 25-point deficit to nine points late in the first half. It propelled Woodson to start Stoudemire in the second half.
Stoudemire had made his season’s first start last Monday. Sunday, he didn’t get in until the club was already down 15.
“I’m not sure what’s going to happen when I go into games,’’ Stoudemire said. “I’m not sure about my minutes or whether I’ll be in the starting lineup. I’m just trying to be productive in the time I’m out there.’’