OKLAHOMA CITY — With injured Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony expected to miss tonight’s game against Oklahoma City and possibly Monday’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day matinee, they have a chance to return to the tenets of coach Mike D’Antoni’s ball-moving, up-tempo offense.
And Amar’e Stoudemire, who hasn’t been the same dominator since Anthony arrived, has a chance to become “The Man’’ again. Anthony is suffering from a sprained wrist and sprained ankle, and the Knicks offense is suffering, period.
Asked what the club could look like without Anthony tonight, Stoudemire said firmly, “We’re going to look like the Knicks. That’s what we’re going to look like.’’
Stoudemire and Anthony haven’t figured out how to play together — a touchy subject neither player likes to address.
“[Tonight’s] a big game for myself and the team,” he said. “We’re definitely going to come out ready to play and dominate from the start.’’
Thursday night in Memphis was Stoudemire’s statistical low point as a Knick. Stoudemire’s consecutive streak of 137 regular-season games in double figures — third-longest in the league — ended. He scored six points, making 1 of 7 shots during a foul-plagued night. Stoudemire’s lone field goal was a driving dunk. Stoudemire is a minus-24 this season — third-lowest on the club — and is shooting 42 percent. There has been no “MVP’’ chants this season.
On the surface, Anthony’s absence would appear to doom them against the well-rested 10-2 Western Conference leaders — a struggling Knicks offense about to struggle more without him. The Knicks (6-5), who got routed 94-83 in Memphis Thursday, have shot below 40 percent in their last three games. Their 41.8 team shooting percentage is fifth-worst in the league.
But don’t try telling the Knicks that. The innuendos flew all over the Sooner State at yesterday’s practice at Oklahoma City’s home arena that without Melo’s isolation tendencies, the offense can look more like the vibrant attack before last February’s Anthony trade.
Small forward Bill Walker, who will start in Anthony’s place, became combative about the suggestion the Knicks will struggle to score tonight against Kevin Durant’s club. “That’s how you feel?,’’ Walker said testily. “You feel it’s going to be worse without Carmelo? We’ll move the ball and see what happens.”
Ball movement was the day’s theme — something Anthony never majored in. Nobody questions Anthony is widely considered the game’s best fourth-quarter sniper, but sometimes his mates fall into a lull watching him go 1-on-1 during the first three quarters.
Stoudemire even reminisced yesterday about Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler and Shawne Williams. The prior two were shipped in the Anthony trade and Williams bolted for the Nets and is missed.
“That’s how we have to play regardless [if Carmelo is playing],’’ Stoudemire said. “We have to move the ball, get everyone involved . When you get everybody involved and create easy shots, percentages go up, you get a few easy baskets, guys are open. Defense can’t keep up with the ball. When the ball moves it’s hard for the defense to find the ball.’’