With Rasheed Wallace’s sore left foot becoming a bigger issue, the Knicks’ need for Amar’e Stoudemire has grown. Thursday will be a huge day as Stoudemire will participate in the Erie Bayhawks’ practice for the second time, to be conducted at the Westchester facility.
Stoudemire rested his sore left knee Wednesday, but how it goes Thursday with the Knicks’ D-League affiliate could determine whether there’s any possible chance of suiting up at the end of the homestand Sunday vs. Minnesota. Stoudemire said he has no date set on his season debut and reported his knee being “sore’’ after his initial practice Tuesday.
“It’s always a concern,’’ coach Mike Woodson said of the soreness before the Knicks’ 100-86 victory over the Nets at the Garden. “It could be because he hasn’t been on the floor — the first day of cutting and banging and moving around. That’s probably expected. We’ll see how he feels [today].
“This is a rest day for him. [Today] will be another heavy day for him. That was the plan — go hard [Tuesday] and take it easy [Wednesday] and go back at it [today] again and see how he feels after that.”
Woodson said he still liked what he saw from Stoudemire on Tuesday from a defensive standpoint.
“I thought he looked pretty good in terms of withstanding some of the banging and being able to get up and down,’’ Woodson said. “That’s going to be the major test — being able to cut and move laterally and trying to play defense. I’m not too concerned about offense. He’s got to be able to withstand trying to defend low-post players and guys coming at him off the dribble. That’s going to be the true test.’’
A source told The Post on Nov. 30 that Stoudemire’s goal was to come back “around Christmas.’’ After the Knicks play Christmas Day in Los Angeles, they face the Suns on Dec. 26 — which could be the perfect time for Stoudemire to make his debut, at his old stomping grounds.
“I don’t want to put him in position to fail,’’ Woodson said. “When he says he’s ready, I’ll trust that and play him.’’
Meanwhile, Wallace, the Knicks’ best defensive big man off the bench, is wearing a boot on his left foot and missed his third straight game last night against the Nets with a sore foot. Woodson isn’t sure when he’ll be back. Wallace has said he reaggravated an old injury.
* Raymond Felton’s shooting struggles vs. the Nets continued. He is now 10-of-46 in the three games after going 4-of-15 Wednesday night. But he didn’t play badly, as he had four assists — all to Tyson Chandler at the rim — and didn’t commit a turnover. Felton committed 12 turnovers in the first two Nets games. … Center Marcus Camby told The Post earlier this week he should be back tomorrow against the Bulls. Camby missed his 10th straight game.