MILWAUKEE — Mike Woodson backtracked Wednesday morning and clarified Amar’e Stoudemire may not be “out a while’’ after all, saying Stoudemire’s knee swelling has gone down and he could suit up Saturday against the Grizzlies.
Woodson revealed it was Stoudemire’s call not to make the trip to face the Bucks, not the medical staff’s, after he had played six games in nine nights.
Woodson and Stoudemire had conflicting views on his timetable Tuesday, when the coach said the knee-impaired power forward “will be out a while.’’ Stoudemire countered with a tweet in which said he’s “not injured.”
According to a source, Stoudemire was angry Woodson’s remark led to speculation he might require yet another surgery.
Woodson said the media got a little carried away with his remark, but took some responsibility, too.
“A blip on my part, he’s not injured,’’ Woodson said at the morning shootaround. “You guys kind of ran with that he’s going to be out. There’s a chance he could possibly play when we get home [Saturday], based on a conversation I had when we had treatment. He has logged some games in and not a whole lot of days to rest.”
Perhaps Woodson was judging from past experience with Stoudemire that he might need to rest more than just one game. Knee swelling is a symptom of chronic issues. Last March, after his first four-games-in-five-nights series, Stoudemire needed his second knee debridement surgery of the season.
But Woodson’s vagueness Tuesday with reporters put Stoudemire in a poor light, and the former All-Star wasn’t happy.
“After treatment, he said [the swelling] was kind of gone,’’ Woodson said. “I’m expecting him back when we get back to play on Saturday against Memphis. That’s a good thing.’’
Woodson has expressed regret over not calling a timeout in the final seconds of Monday’s loss to the Wizards.
Carmelo Anthony, however, gave a cryptic response Wednesday morning when asked whether he had regrets about hesitating in the backcourt on the Knicks’ final play.
Nobody could understand why, with 6.9 seconds left, Anthony paused, haltingly bringing the ball upcourt before speeding up. Only he understands, and he wasn’t sharing at the morning shootaround at BMO Harris Bradley Center.
“I won’t speak on that,’’ Anthony said. “I have my reasons I was hesitant. I won’t speak on that. That’s over with. I’ve moved on.’’
When pressed, Anthony said, “I have my own reasons for it. I won’t discuss that.’’