Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni expects Ronny Turiaf and Bill Walker to return to the rotation tonight in Memphis, but the coach said Chauncey Billups isn’t as ready.
“I think maybe Chauncey is the furthest away,” D’Antoni said yesterday. “But he could play. So I don’t know. I think Ronny’s pretty well there. Bill’s probably a go.”
Billups has missed four games with a bruised quad, and he sounds likely to miss a fifth tonight. The point guard did not practice yesterday, just doing some shooting. He’s listed as questionable.
As for Turiaf, he’s missed three games with a sore knee, while Walker has missed two with a sore knee.
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It’s been seven games since Amar’e Stoudemire
received his most recent — and 15th — technical foul of the season. He says he’s become more acclimated to how little time he has to react.
“We’re just trying to play smart,” he said. “It takes time to get used to the quick whistles. I’m starting to somewhat get used to it now.
“The whistles are extremely quick, man. It’s almost tough to have a reaction after a bad play. Whether you’re upset at yourself or the official, you really can’t react. It makes it tough on you.”
If Stoudemire receives another technical foul this season, he’ll be suspended for a game.
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D’Antoni on the Grizzlies tonight: “Memphis is playing as well as anybody right now. … They’ve put it together.”
Indeed, the Grizzlies have won nine of 12, with their last three wins coming against the Spurs, Mavericks and Thunder.
“Memphis is playing well,” Stoudemire said. “A couple of tough games that they won over the past week.”
D’Antoni further admitted that the two-game road trip against the Grizzlies and Mavericks (in Dallas tomorrow) “will be a big test for us. This will be a hard road trip.”