MONTREAL — Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni acknowledged tonight’s preseason finale vs. Toronto at Bell Center could decide who makes up his nine or 10-man rotation for Wednesday’s opening night in Toronto.
“It’s always important — in terms of a last look,” D’Antoni said. “I don’t want to put too much importance on it. But if I’m a player trying to get minutes, even how I walk on the bus is important.”
D’Antoni said following the loss to the Sixers Tuesday rookie Landry Fields had solidified a spot as a reserve. Toney Douglas, who has a sore shoulder and might sit out tonight, has clinched a major bench role and even could supplant Wilson Chandler as starting shooting guard.
Ronny Turiaf is solidified as backup center. The ninth spot appears to be a battle between Billy Walker, who has been productive from the 3-point line (43.5 percent) on a team in need of shooters, and veteran Roger Mason, who has shot brutally (24.2 percent).
The mystery is Anthony Randolph, who could find himself out of the rotation with another bad outing tonight. D’Antoni said Randolph probably will be in the mix, but in a minor role. He could be the 10th man on nights D’Antoni plays 10.
D’Antoni has said the opening-night starting five will be Timofey Mozgov at center, Amar’e Stoudemire at power forward, Danilo Gallinari at small forward, Chandler at shooting guard and Raymond Felton at point guard. Nevertheless, D’Antoni loves the Douglas-Felton combo and hasn’t ruled it out completely as a starting backcourt.
*
Apparently, Isiah Thomas isn’t calling the shots from behind the scenes. The Garden confirmed The Post’s Phil Mushnick‘s report that Gus Johnson, a close friend of Thomas, won’t be returning as the team’s radio play-by-play man. Sources said he will be replaced by veteran Mike Crispino, who has been Johnson’s backup. The versatile Crispino has worked for the Nets, Celtics, St. John’s, the Giants and Jets in the past.
Sources also said Johnson and the Knicks couldn’t agree on a new contract. The Garden felt Johnson, who recently became the voice of the 2011 Madden football video game, spread himself too thin and wanted to do less games for the same money.
The excitable Johnson is an ally of Thomas, who attended his summer party at a nightclub to announce his Madden gig.
*
The Raptors have never played in Montreal before, and neither have the Knicks. D’Antoni said he has never even visited the city. The game is a sellout. . . . A handful of Knicks — Fields, Andy Rautins, Patrick Ewing Jr. and Turiaf — attended last night’s Devils-Canadiens game at Bell Center.