THAT WOOD’ HELP: Amar’e Stoudemire talks with Mike Woodson before entering the game Tuesday night. In a stab at former coach Mike D’Antoni, Stoudemire says Woodson is the first coach to teach him defense. (Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post)
Amar’e Stoudemire must prove he can be a force, despite his knee woes — especially on defense.
Yesterday Stoudemire said he is willing to change, now that he finally has the proper teacher in Mike Woodson and not Mike D’Antoni.
As we all know, the only “D’’ in D’Antoni is in his last name.
“Just having a defensive coach for the first time in my career is going to help. I’ve never been taught defense in my whole career,’’ Stoudemire said after Knicks practice, the day after his return in a 105-100 loss to the Trail Blazers.
That is a major slam on D’Antoni, but it’s more than that.
That is Stoudemire realizing a change has to be made after 10 years of his career. He is finally being held accountable for his defense by Woodson.
It’s on Amar’e now, and he knows it.
“To now have a coach that actually teaches defense and teaches strategies and knows positioning and posture, and how to guard different plays, it’s going to be helpful,” Stoudemire said. “And I’m taking it as a challenge and I’m going to accept the challenge and to improve as a player.’’
Like everything in Woodson’s world, winning starts with defense. Stoudemire vowed to change the way he does business. Stoudemire worked hard in practice to get into the proper defensive positioning, intently following Woodson’s instructions while making more than his share of mistakes.
Missing the first 30 games of the season can re-ignite the emotional flame. And Stoudemire has come to the realization he had better change his game or else because things are different, starting with the fact this is Carmelo Anthony’s team.
Woodson said this about Stoudemire’s defensive shortcomings: “When we double out of the post we have to have certain rotations. He’s lacking in that area because he hadn’t been able to practice. We have to keep working and get him up to speed. It’s not just him, it’s everybody.’’
The Knicks’ defense has slipped mightily since that 18-5 start. The last thing Woodson needs is for Stoudemire to join the band and play putrid defense like he did on Tuesday night.
Now that Stoudemire is being taught the proper way to play defense, it’s about desire. Will Stoudemire put in the effort to make himself better? Does he have the defensive will to improve?
The same could be said of the Knicks. They’ve taken the easy way out lately and that is why they have lost five of the last eight. They started the season 10-0 at home, but have lost three of their last four Garden games and it is because they haven’t put forth the effort on defense.
In many ways, tonight’s matchup against the Spurs at the Garden is a crossroads game for the Knicks. Do they want to become just another inconsistent NBA team? Or do they have the defensive desire and will to be an elite team in the East. It’s up to them.
Does Stoudemire, who started the Knicks on this franchise turnaround, really want his Knicks final chapter to be that not only he couldn’t play with Carmelo, but he couldn’t play any defense when the Knicks desperately needed his help down low?
Stoudemire has the opportunity to write a positive ending to it all by meshing with Anthony on offense and improving his defense. He looked determined yesterday to make the necessary changes to become more of an all-around player and it started with that heady film session with Woodson.
There are no excuses, once the rust is removed.
“That’s the goal,’’ Stoudemire said. “I surely hope so that my talents can uplift the team and get us over the hump.’’
The Knicks were 21-9 without Stoudemire. It’s up to him to make the Knicks even better and it starts with his defense. He finally has the coaching. Going forward, don’t blame D’Antoni.
It’s on Amar’e now.
kevin.kernan@nypost.com