Knicks forwards Amar’e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony had a talk about how to coexist more productively, and they agreed neither has to take a back seat to the other. They both can excel.
“We have been talking, talked a little bit [Sunday] night, talked more this morning about how we both can dominate the game on both ends of the court,’’ Stoudemire said. “Carmelo’s a phenomenal player. He wants to win. It definitely will get better as a unit and as a team for sure.’’
After the Knicks’ sixth straight loss, to the Nuggets Saturday night in double overtime, Anthony went on a reflective rant, saying “maybe’’ he has to shoot less and get Stoudemire the ball more. Stoudemire’s scoring average is down to 17.6 points from last season’s 25.3.
Apparently, Stoudemire told Anthony he has to be himself, and yesterday Anthony discounted the notion he has to be more deferential.
“We talked, and we’re good,’’ Anthony said. “I got to play basketball. I can’t worry about what somebody else is thinking about me. That was the other day. There was a lot going on. We had lost six games. Maybe I was over-thinking a bit. Today’s a new day.’’
Anthony, shooting 35 percent over his past seven games, said he has no plans to sit out tonight’s game in Charlotte despite nursing a sprained wrist and sprained ankle. He said he cannot rest as a 6-10 Knicks team in crisis embarks on a four-games-in-five-nights road trip that also takes it to Cleveland, Miami and Houston.
“As a leader of this team, I don’t think I can sit out right now, with everything going on, losing games,’’ Anthony said. “If we were winning a couple of games, maybe, but we’re in a battle.’’
* Another TV report linked Stoudemire with center Dwight Howard in a trade. The report stated the Magic had inquired about Stoudemire and Chandler, who can’t be traded until March 1.
* The Knicks recalled rookie center Jerome Jordan and point guard Jeremy Lin from their D-League affiliate, Erie, to provide more bodies for scrimmages with Davis. Jordan did excellently in the two-game stint, averaging 18.0 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.0 blocks in 32 minutes, and Lin had a triple-double in his lone appearance.
* Jordan’s playing time won’t increase during the six-week absence of rookie forward Josh Harrellson, who suffered a broken wrist Saturday night. D’Antoni said Jared Jeffries’ minutes will go up and Anthony will play extra minutes at power forward.
“I hate to lose [Harrellson],’’ D’Antoni said. “I thought he was playing really well.’’
D’Antoni said Harrellson played with the broken wrist for a few minutes in overtime. “He’s tough and strong as hell,’’ D’Antoni said.