LOS ANGELES — Eddy Curry is so enthusiastic these days, the Knicks center volunteered to defend a certain Lakers guard tonight at Staples Center.
“I’m so happy to be back, doesn’t matter to me,” Curry said. “I’ll guard Kobe [Bryant].”
Curry has gotten lighter, but not that light. Curry’s emotion got the best of him Sunday against Boston when he pushed down Rajon Rondo to the floor, drawing a flagrant 1 foul. The league reviews all flagrant 1s, so there’s a small chance Curry could face a suspension tonight.
Coach Mike D’Antoni will pass on Curry’s offer to guard Bryant. Perhaps next season LeBron James will check Bryant for the Knicks. For tonight, Larry Hughes has the assignment as the Knicks (3-10) face the defending-champion Lakers (10-3) to kick off their three-game Western swing.
The Knicks spent as much time in practice yesterday at the Clippers’ facility working on getting Curry more involved than on defending Kobe. It’s obvious the Knicks’ focus has shifted to increasing Curry’s trade value as they aspire to move his long-term pact. In fact, D’Antoni feels it’s almost a waste of time devising a defense for Bryant.
“You don’t have a stopper for Kobe,” D’Antoni said. “When Kobe doesn’t score, it’s because he’s off that night. I’m telling you, it’s not the defense.”
Sill in his late prime, Bryant, 31, is only getting better, claims D’Antoni. As Bryant once said, “I’m chasing perfection.”
Bryant’s contract expires after next season — when the Knicks conceivably could still have cap space — and owner Jerry Buss was quoted yesterday as saying he will try to keep him.
Bryant, who can opt out after this season, is eligible to sign a three-year, $91 million extension.
“We certainly hope so,” Buss said.
Ex-Knicks president Isiah Thomas and James Dolan flew to Bryant’s home in Newport Beach, Calif., when Bryant was last a free agent but had only the $5 million mid-level exception to offer.
“He’s always on top of it,” said D’Antoni, who coached Bryant on the U.S. Olympic Team. “He’s always trying new angles. His work ethic is probably better than anyone I’ve ever seen. He’s going to improve, getting smarter with age. He’ll keep getting to be a better basketball player — more efficient as he goes on.”
With Ron Artest on board, the Lakers are favored to repeat.
“It would be hard to say that we’ve been successful unless we won,” Buss said. “We’re a mature team and our goal is to win it this year. And next, and next.”
In their last meeting, Kobe rang up a Garden record 61 points last February. Bryant is averaging 29.8 Points and captured his 23rd Player of the Week award yesterday.
After a scintillating 10-point debut, Curry struggled the past two games (he’s averaging 6.3 ppg and shooting 40 percent) but his passion — always a knock — is evident in his miniature form.
“I’ve never been a rah-rah player,” Curry said. “I’m trying to change it. Just trying to play with emotion, change it up, bring some fire.”
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Tracy McGrady, who has been linked to the Knicks because of his expiring contract, returned to Rockets practice yesterday for the first time since February’s microfracture knee surgery. The Knicks would be willing to offer Houston two or three of their expiring contracts.