A fasting Carmelo Anthony is still better than virtually everybody else out there. So Knicks coach Mike Woodson said yesterday he has no problem with his All-Star forward opting for a fast that would make most laymen cringe.
“We have medical doctors and nutritionists who handle all of that. I don’t get into players,” Woodson said after practice yesterday, before the Knicks departed for a one-game road trip to London to face the Pistons on Thursday. “I just expect when players step on the practice floor and into a game they’re ready to play. So I don’t get into players and what they eat and don’t eat.”
So Ring Dings and beers all around.
“It’s not a big thing,” Woodson said. “It’s a big thing to you guys but it’s not a big thing to me. I take Melo fasting or not Melo fasting. It doesn’t matter to me.”
Woodson said he was unaware Anthony was fasting. Anthony revealed his dietary move after Sunday’s 100-87 victory over the Hornets.
“I just got wind of it,” Woodson said. “Melo’s playing great. I’m not concerned what Melo eats as long as he’s ready to play. He’s going to eat the right foods and do all the necessary things to be ready to play basketball. I’ve got that much faith when it comes to that.”
Steve Novak said some players (“I did”) knew of Anthony’s fast: “He didn’t look thinner but I think in the locker room, we were aware that he was doing the fast. I’m not completely familiar with exactly what it is but I guess if he can keep scoring 30, 40 points per night he can keep fasting all he wants.”
Amar’e Stoudemire was one who did not know — strange, because diet talk gets around.
“Everyone knew about my vegan diet and it just kind of spread,” Stoudemire said. “I think Coach Woodson’s on a diet now, Carmelo went on a diet. I guess they saw the inspiration from my vegan diet and they wanted to take it upon themselves to stay healthy.”
* The Knicks were expected to arrive across the pond this morning. Today will feature an optional workout and tomorrow will contain a full-blown session. The players seemed excited to cultivate a new fan base.
“We look forward to going to London and playing somewhere we don’t usually get to,” Novak said. “A lot of fans are going to see us who don’t usually get to.”
With just one game — the Knicks play again Monday against the Nets after London — Woodson hopes to use the time as a bonding session, almost like a mini-training camp. “It helps tremendously. Some of these guys are a little bit beat-up,” Woodson said of playing one game in seven days. “It gives us a chance to spend a little time together. This team is pretty close anyway.
“That was the whole reason for taking the trip when the commissioner asked us, would we do it? It just gives us an opportunity for me and the players to bond.”