Amar’e Stoudemire’s first Knicks season didn’t end the way he planned, with his back hurt and his team swept out of the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs by the Celtics with yesterday’s 101-89 loss in Game 4 at Madison Square Garden.
The star big man made good on his boast to bring the Knicks back, but he could not bring them a playoff win. Stoudemire — who the Knicks originally did not expect to be able to play yesterday — overcame a slow start to finish with 19 points and 12 rebounds, but shot 5-of-20, had five turnovers and clearly was hurting.
“We wanted to do more in the postseason. It’s been ups and downs, but the year has been great,” Stoudemire said. “We achieved our goal of making postseason. Again, we wanted to do more and go further, but the ‘Knicks are back’ statement is definitely true and the league knows it.”
After suffering through a seven-point, 2-of-8 night in Game 3, Stoudemire started slowly again, missing his first nine shots before hitting a prayer right before intermission, when the Knicks trailed 55-38. Stoudemire bounced back in the second half with 13 points and five rebounds to help lead the Knicks back from a 23-point deficit to within four before they eventually ran out of gas.
“Just determination. The back was still tight, very sore, but the determination and a will to win just fueled me to a better second half,” Stoudemire said.
Stoudemire led a young team before the trading deadline and then subjugated his ego to co-exist with Carmelo Anthony after it.
“Amar’e started the year out the way he ended it — all heart,” Mike D’Antoni said. “He was a bit behind physically, but he gave it his all. He was unbelievable as a leader and a person.
“[Despite coaching him in Phoenix], I didn’t realize how good he’d be in tough situations. When we were 3-8, he could’ve gone south on us.
“When he had a bunch of rookies playing, and encouraging them and giving them his muscles, his strength and his will to win . . . you can’t imagine that. That’s what we try to do, teamwork, and he exemplifies that.”
Though D’Antoni gushed about Stoudemire, it was noteworthy that Stoudemire brushed off questions about his coach’s status and passed up an opportunity to offer an endorsement.
“Coach has been great my whole career. I played with him in Phoenix and in New York. He’s definitely a good friend,” Stoudemire said. “But again, our goal is to come back better as players, and I’m pretty sure Coach D’Antoni would love for us to get better in the offseason, so that’s what we’re going to try to do.”
brian.lewis@nypost.com