The Knicks had a 20-point lead midway through the fourth quarter last night, so their game against the Spurs was all but over.
It made sense to give Amar’e Stoudemire a few more minutes. It certainly has to be rare for a star like Stoudemire to enter a game in garbage time, but the Knicks’ comeback man checked back in with 6:04 to go, the outcome secure. That’s why it was such a good opportunity to get Stoudemire, playing in just his second game since returning from knee surgery, a few minutes of stress-free game action.
“[Coach Mike Woodson] asked me,” Stoudemire said after the Knicks’ 100-83 romp over San Antonio. “He’s like, ‘Do you want to play another four or five minutes?’ I said, ‘Absolutely.’ Just to get into a rhythm, just to get out there and be with the second unit and to close the game out.”
So that’s what Stoudemire, whom Woodson had said would be limited to 16 minutes as he worked off the rust, did. Stoudemire finished his night playing just under 21 minutes, scoring 10 points on 4-for-10 shooting — including backing in Boris Diaw and tossing in a short jump hook to extend the lead to 25. He also grabbed two rebounds.
After his rocky debut in Tuesday’s loss to the Blazers (six points, one rebound, 3-for-8 shooting), Stoudemire vowed to deliver a better performance last night. He still lacked explosiveness and had three of his 10 shots blocked.
Nevertheless, as Stoudemire later pointed out, he has played in three games (one in the preseason) since the playoffs last May. Some perspective and some patience are surely needed.
“I thought he made another step tonight,” Woodson said. “It’ll come. I’ve just got to help him more and he’s got to get in a little better shape.”
Added Carmelo Anthony, “He’s getting better and better.”
In his debut on Tuesday, Stoudemire received a standing ovation when he entered, and last night he again heard rousing cheers when he checked in with 6:30 to go in the first quarter, the Garden crowd clearly pulling for Stoudemire to recapture his game.
“I felt much more comfortable defensively,” he said. “Offensively is gonna come. That comes with just playing and repetition.”
What also may or may not come is a return to the starting lineup.
“It’s not my concern,” Stoudemire said with a shrug. “We played so well tonight. With the way things are going out there, we’re gonna stick with how it’s going so far. If we keep winning, then everybody’s happy.”