Raymond Felton said during last year’s training camp he had a giant chip on his shoulder. He backed his bravado with a respectable return to New York that hushed the Jeremy Lin fans.
But as Felton and the Knicks disintegrated in the second round last May, with the Knicks starting point guard failing to a hit a field goal in the nightmare Game 6 in Indiana, Felton said a new chip has grown.
“The chip is still there,’’ said Felton, who got outplayed by Indiana’s George Hill. “It’s a bitter taste in my mouth the way the season ended last year. The chip is still there. If anything, it’s another chip. It’s now on the other shoulder. I’m still coming out with the same attitude, still with a lot to prove.’’
Indeed, Felton does have more to prove. While he has said since July he will become a bigger leader off the court this season, Felton also must prove he can excel in a traditional backcourt on the hardwood — with a shooting guard. Felton also must handle quicker point guards on defense better than he did in 2012-13.
Though coach Mike Woodson is yet to formally name his starting lineup for Wednesday’s preseason opener in Providence against the Celtics, he is expected to go with a Felton-Iman Shumpert backcourt if the
Georgia Tech product’s right shoulder feels OK. Shumpert, after sitting out contact drills for three straight days, participated in Monday’s scrimmage, but needed an hour of shoulder therapy afterward.
The Felton-Shumpert duo played together just 11 times as a backcourt tandem last season. Woodson found Felton’s best play occurred when he started alongside either point guard Jason Kidd or Pablo Prigioni. Felton and Shumpert didn’t have much chemistry.
“I had enough time with Shump, I know the way he likes to play,’’ Felton said. “He likes to play like me, aggressive, loves to play defense and likes to push the ball on offense. I don’t think we need too much time with one another.’’
Woodson said he won’t use a two-point-guard alignment at the onset because the Knicks will be loaded at shooting guard once J.R. Smith returns from suspension, likely for the season’s sixth game.
Shumpert and rookie Tim Hardaway Jr. are the other two shooting guards. The Knicks coach still will give the two point guards a look during stretches.
“Even when I played with JKidd and Pablo, I handled the point and still handled the ball,’’ Felton said. “I don’t feel like a two guard. It did feel good to run up and down the court a couple of times and not have the ball in my hand. It will be fun to do that again this year.’’
Woodson needs Shumpert to become a better ballhandler and decision-maker. No one is more critical of Shumpert’s offensive repertoire than Woodson. Shumpert regained his 3-point shot late last season, but lacked in other areas.
“It’s just to be complete,’’ Woodson said. “He’s got to improve his overall to complete [his] game. Defensively he’s erratic at times, but I love his energy. Offensively, he’s still trying to find his way. That’s what it’s like with a lot of young guys. He hasn’t had a lot of reps in this league, he really hasn’t.
“The more he plays, the more he will figure out the subtle things — how to run a team when you got the basketball in your hand,’’ Woodson added. “How to play pick-and-roll basketball. How to play without the ball. There’s a lot of things he has to figure out at this level.’’
Felton admits he puts his off-court leadership on the back burner last season in respect to Kidd. Felton told The Post before camp he hoped a captaincy was in the cards.
“That’s my job this year — I have to step up in that leadership role,’’ Felton said. “I took a step back last year out of respect for my team. Guys hadn’t played with me before. I’ll try to step back in that role of being vocal.
“He’s got to be more of a leader,.’’ Woodson said. “Point guards catch a lot of crap on everybody’s team because we expect so much from them. Ray performed great for us last season. He’s got to be more vocal and show more of a leadership role more than ever with Kidd gone now.’’