NBA

ARTEST BELIEVES WALSH ULTIMATELY WILL FIX KNICKS KNICK NOTES

HOUSTON – Rockets forward Ron Artest wishes Donnie Walsh had been named to lead the Knicks 10 years ago, then he would’ve fulfilled his career-long dream of being a Knick.

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“It’s going to work,” the Queensbridge product said before missing last night’s game vs. the Knicks with an ankle sprain. “If anyone’s going to make it happen, if anybody can turn it around, Donnie Walsh can do it. Maybe they’re 10 years too late, back in 1999. But he’s there now and he’s a great person.”

Knicks brass passed over Artest in the 1999 draft, choosing Frederic Weis in arguably the worst decision in Knick draft history. Though Walsh is here, he’s not expected to vie for Artest’s services after going through a lot with him in Indiana.

Isiah Thomas tried to trade for Artest in the summer of 2007, but the Kings ultimately dealt him to the Rockets this summer for virtually nothing. “I’m a big fan of Isiah Thomas,” Artest said. “I’m probably his No. 1 fan.”

Artest feels he has a chance to win a title with Houston, but still has his heart in New York. “I’m a hardcore New York fan,” Artest said. “When we play against New York, I want to smash them. But when they play against other teams, I’m always rooting for them.”

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While the coaching staff is not putting a timetable on it, people close to Danilo Gallinari, who returned to practice Friday, are hopeful he might be back within two weeks. The best news is he feels a lot better than when he made his first comeback attempt late in preseason and doesn’t have a weight problem to deal with like Eddy Curry does.

Gallinari hasn’t played since the second game. “The pain is a little different,” Gallinari said. “It’s not like the first time when I came back. It’s better now than before.” . . .

Currry told D’Antoni he could not dress because his other knee – the right one – was now bothering him from overcompensation. Curry had made his season debut Thursday in Dallas but played just 2:38 and was a minus-9. It was either knee pain or the Yao Ming flu.

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Walsh was shocked to get an e-mail form the Blazers threatening that any club that signs released Darius Miles could be sued by Portland. If another team signs Miles, it directly affects the Blazers’ payment to their former player.

Walsh has a law degree. “I’ve never seen anything like that,” he said. “Because of the reaction, you know it’s unusual.”

Memphis re-signed Miles anyway. Walsh said Miles was not one of the players he was interested in.