Hall of Famer Chris Mullin said the Amar’e Stoudemire-Carmelo Anthony dynamic is the overriding key to the Knicks season, but said he believes the Heat have widened the gap.
Mullin, in role as NBA dignitary promoting the Canada series, sat courtside Friday night in Montreal for the Knicks’ exhibition loss to the Raptors. The Brooklynite said the Knicks’ age issue is nowhere as vital as Anthony and Stoudemire learning to play together.
“Age is a factor for sure,” Mullin told The Post. “But I think Rasheed [Wallace], Kurt [Thomas], Jason Kidd and Marcus Camby, they’re pieces on the outside — support. It’s going to get back to Carmelo and Amar’e and how well they play together. How well they incorporate the other players with them. That’s what it’s going to come down to.’’
The two combined for 42 points in the 19-point loss but did their best work when the other one was out of the game.
“Can they function well together, inside-out, in transition, defensively and on the boards while incorporating the other guys,’’ Mulliin said. “if they do that, they should be OK. But that hasn’t happened.’’
Can they dethrone the Heat?
“Miami is defending champions and they got better,” Mullin said. “It’s a long way off. Rashard [Lewis] has been well-rested and will be much-improved. Ray Allen is one of the fittest guys in the league. Mike Miller had to have that breakout game. Ray may do that every night.’’