Knicks coach Mike Woodson downplayed the possibility of Amar’e Stoudemire being on a fast track to play in Game 4 against the Heat on Sunday with a bandaged left hand.
Stoudemire has not been allowed to do any basketball activity since Tuesday’s surgery as his hand heals from his bout with a fire-extinguisher’s glass case on Monday. Stoudemire did not attend yesterday’s morning shootaround and watched last night’s 87-70 Game 3 loss to the Heat from the bench wearing a sling on his left arm.
Stoudemire said he was still shooting to play Sunday but the Knicks have him listed as doubtful and the club has extremely low expectations of him returning at all in the first round series against the Heat.
“I know there’s been talk, but it’s going to be the doctor’s decision there,’’ Woodson said. “He just had his hand worked on. They haven’t said anything about him playing Sunday.’’
Stoudemire called his chances “great,’’ but added he “wasn’t totally sure.’’ Stoudemire also promised he wouldn’t miss a game after injuring his back March 24 and wound up sitting out 13 straight contests.
* It was a great 24 hours for Heat president Pat Riley, who was on the floor for Wednesday night’s Bruce Springsteen show in Newark and then watched Miami clock his former team last night.
Riley, who coached the Knicks from 1991-95, is a noted Springsteen fanatic.
* Tyson Chandler received a congratulatory phone call Wednesday from former coach Mike D’Antoni for winning the Defensive Player of the Year Award.
“We had a good conversation,’’ Chandler said.
Chandler and D’Antoni likely will team up in the London Olympics as the Knicks center has become a favorite to be named to Team USA. D’Antoni was in Las Vegas last week meeting with Team USA’s coaching staff.“It’s such a great honor,’’ Chandler said. “It was definitely my two biggest goals after wanting to chase another ring. It’s all I wanted my entire career is to win.’’ I’ve never been stat-driven. A lot of times I fell under the radar but it didn’t bother me as long as I felt true to myself.’’
Chandler is the first Knicks player to win the defensive award. The Knicks had not won a single postseason award since John Starks took Sixth Man of the Year in 1995-96.
Chandler is the first Knicks player to win the defensive award. The Knicks had not won a single postseason award since John Starks took Sixth Man of the Year in 1995-96.
More plaudits are on the way, as Chandler probably will be named to one of the three All-NBA teams.
Chandler said he’s all but over the flu that nearly knocked him out of Game 1.
“I feel a lot better,’’ Chandler said. “I feel like myself now. Being home helps in the comfort of my own bed. Game 1, I was nothing. I was just barely walking. Game 2, I felt a lot better. I still didn’t feel myself, but a lot better. Nobody’s 100 percent now but I’m close to 100 as I’m going to be.’’