Mike Woodson will not announce the Knicks’ starting five until Wednesday’s season-opening game against the Bucks, but Amar’e Stoudemire will be available to come off the bench.
Stoudemire, who underwent his third knee surgery in less than a year this summer, made his preseason debut on Friday and said he had no setbacks.
“I feel good so far,” Stoudemire said after Monday’s practice. “No setbacks, progress is going well, so that’s a good sign for me.”
Stoudemire, 30, looked sharp in his debut, scoring six points on 3-of-4 shooting from the field in 12 minutes of action against Charlotte.
Stoudemire said he supports Woodson’s plan to platoon his reserve power forwards — Stoudemire and Kenyon Martin — by resting them in alternating games. The limited playing time may help him stay upright after playing in just 76 games over the past two seasons.
“Yeah, it’s fine with me. I think we’re on the same feel as far as trying to recover from injuries, so whatever it takes for us to prolong our career and be ready for the postseason, I think that’s the approach,” Stoudemire said. “We’re just taking a strategic approach about this season and make sure we’re ready for longevity.
“This is like training camp for me at this point. Just continue to get in shape, continue to get my strength and my rhythm back. The last preseason game was a great indication of how I feel and where I’m at as far as my skill-set, which I felt was pretty good. Just going to continue to build on that.”
Woodson, who used several different lineups during Monday’s scrimmages, said it will take several games into the season to figure out his rotation.
With Iman Shumpert limited on Monday with general soreness, the coach said he had a hard time evaluating what lineups he may use on Wednesday.
In addition to determining one of the starting forward spots between Andrea Bargnani and Metta World Peace, Woodson said he is also weighing whether he will start Shumpert or J.R. Smith, when last season’s Sixth Man of the Year Award winner returns from a five-game suspension.
“I think we experimented a lot during exhibition season by trying to evaluate young talent, versus last year we already pretty much had a set team, a set rotation throughout camp,” Woodson said. “It’s different and a little unique in that way.”
The Knicks announced they have exercised their fourth-year contract option on Shumpert, who is entering his third season. … Tim Hardaway Jr. missed practice with an upper respiratory infection, while Martin was excused to attend his induction ceremony at the University of Cincinnati’s Hall of Fame.