How Amar’e Stoudemire’s balky back reacts to game competition when he is expected to return to the Knicks on Friday is unknown.
But, unlike a year ago, these Knicks have proven they can survive without their second- and third-best players. When Stoudemire and Chauncey Billups got hurt in the early stages of last year’s first-round series against the Celtics, the Knicks got overwhelmed by Boston in a sweep. The Knicks were short on depth after trading several pivotal pieces to the Nuggets to acquire Carmelo Anthony.
This year, the Knicks have proven they can thrive short-handed without Stoudemire and Jeremy Lin.
Like last year, it’s an offense that still relies on heavy scoring from Anthony, but the Knicks have now better pieces to fill in around him. With the exception of Landry Fields, the players the Knicks had to count on last year (Ronny Turiaf, Toney Douglas, Anthony Carter, Roger Mason, Jared Jeffries, Shawne Williams, Bill Walker) when Stoudemire was reduced to a shell of himself and Billups was out are now either off the team or have been reduced to bit roles. And at that point, the rookie wall Fields had hit was similar to the Great Wall of China, and he has now returned to the player he was at the start of last season.
The Knicks have a legitimate center, Tyson Chandler, who has anchored the Knicks defensive improvement and is a double-digit scorer thanks in large part to his offensive rebounding. Iman Shumpert is already gaining a reputation one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA, and at the very least Baron Davis (more on him later) gives the Knicks a veteran, calming presence at point guard. J.R. Smith and Steve Novak give the Knicks legitimate scoring threats off the bench. Jeffries can be the energy boost he was intended to be, as opposed to the player who chose to pass the ball, and have it stolen, instead of going up for a layup in a one-point game with four seconds left in Game 2 of last year’s series against Boston.
Anything Stoudemire is able to contribute would be a considered bonus, and coach Mike Woodson has said he is up to the task of integrating him back into the starting lineup (despite my objections!).
Over the coming weeks we will find that out and what these improvements mean. It can be as simple as saving the Knicks from the embarrassment of getting swept again or maybe giving their first-round opponent a scare or pulling a major upset or two. The problem is that unless they can make up three games with four left to play on the fading Magic, the Knicks will be saddled with the Heat or Bulls in the first round, each a more difficult matchup than last year’s Celtics.
But even without Stoudemire, these Knicks have proven capable of playing with the best teams in the league and have become nearly unbeatable at Madison Square Garden. It’s a feat in a season that has been plagued by injuries and coaching changes.
Anthony can carry this band of role players, how far is now the question.
Resting Baron
The one-year, $1.3 million contract the Knicks gave to Mike Bibby may not be a complete waste, after all.
Bibby started in place of sick Baron Davis on Wednesday night and had his best game of the season with eight points and eight assists in the win over the Nets. Bibby, who played under Woodson in Atlanta, would be fine as Davis’ backup in the playoffs, but to think he’s capable of starting would be foolish. After all, Sundiata Gaines did score 18 points against Bibby on Wednesday.
But with Davis also suffering from hamstring, knee, neck and back ailments, the Knicks should use this time to rest the veteran, and let Bibby start the rest of the season. This would give Davis at least 10 days off that he desperately needs and give Bibby some more time with the starters. And the Knicks have little to play for right now. They have very little chance of catching Orlando for the No. 6 seed and falling to No. 8 would actually be an advantage, because that would likely mean a matchup with the Bulls, opposed to the Heat.
The argument against this would be that Davis would then be starting the postseason rusty, but I would prefer that to broken, the state he has appeared to be in on a lot of nights.
No Bull
Chicago has shown a lot of tenacity to stay on top of the Eastern Conference despite reigning MVP Derrick Rose missing large patches of the season because of myriad injuries.
Chicago even beat Miami last week in a crucial game to help keep them there, despite Rose struggling badly. But the belief that Rose will be 100 percent by the playoffs is not seemingly a myth. His injuries seem more chronic than nagging, until he gets a few months to rest in the offseason.
There is no longer a question who is the better matchup for the Knicks, as the Heat present many more challenges. But the question is, how far can Chicago go with a hobbled Rose and a difficult matchup in the second round looming against the Celtics-Hawks winner?
Saving on Green
The Nets got some welcome news Wednesday when breakout forward Gerald Green said he would be willing to take a hometown discount to re-sign.
The Nets pulled Green out of the D-League, but that came only after a failed stint in the Chinese Basketball Association. As the Knicks broadcasters pointed out, Green was cut by the Foshan Dralions, who were in 14th place in the CBA, and came back to America at rock bottom in his career.
The Nets helped his resurrect his career and he seems to have a sense of loyalty, though it might be tested on the open market. But if he does move with the Nets to Brooklyn the high-flying 26-year-old could soon be a breakout star. His impressive run has largely been ignored because it’s come at the end of a bad season for New Jersey.