Too old? Too good.
Mike Woodson believes the Knicks’ decision to stock up with aging veterans in the offseason to become the NBA’s most elderly club has proven the right decision.
Despite the “early-bird special’’ jokes, the Knicks won the Atlantic Division, netted the second seed in the Eastern Conference, posted their best record (54-28) since 1996-97 and lead their best-of-seven series 1-0 over Boston. Jason Kidd, 40, and Kenyon Martin, 36, were the best defenders on the floor in Saturday’s historic eight-point fourth quarter.
“When we first started this, the GM Glen Grunwald, James Dolan the owner and I had discussions on how we would build this team,’’ Woodson said. “We were all on the same page and mindset we probably need to bring some veteran guys who can still play and help us.
“We were able to do all these things thanks to ownership allowing us and field these guys who would be serious about winning a title,’’ Woodson said. “I’m happy with the guys we chose, absolutely.
“I was looking for defensive-minded guys. When you go down the line, Rasheed [Wallace], [Marcus] Camby, Kurt [Thomas], Kenyon and now Pablo [Prigioni], who has learned his way through the league, all those guys have been known to defend. I was looking for guys with a defensive attitude with a little edge about them.’’
Not all the signings worked out perfectly, however, but enough made some contributions, as Woodson pointed out.
Wallace, 38, retired last week after playing a solid 21 games, helping them to an 18-5 start. Thomas, 40, was waived earlier this month after a stress fracture felled him, but not before he ignited the 13-game winning streak with his heroic Utah performance on one leg with the team depleted.
The only ancient signee who bombed completely was Camby, 39, who played just 24 games because of season-long plantar fasciitis. He is suiting up now, but Woodson indicated newly signed center Earl Barron is ahead of him on the depth chart.
“Having Kidd and Kenyon on the floor at the same time brought us some stability from a defensive standpoint,’’ he said. “They make winning plays. That’s the whole reason they were added to the team.’’
Camby has two years left on the pact, though the last year is partially guaranteed.
Woodson said the Knicks wouldn’t have won Game 1 without the defense of Martin/Kidd.
* Woodson said if rehabbing Amar’e Stoudemire returns in the second round, he is assured a rotation spot. That likely means rookie Chris Copeland falls out.
* “When he’s going to play, I don’t know at this point,’’ Woodson said. “If he’s able to get back, he’ll be back in the rotation ready to play. I would expect him to do what he was doing before he left, play positive minutes before he got hurt last time. It adds one more good, great piece to the puzzle.’’
* Like in Miami last playoffs, Steve Novak didn’t get untracked in Game 1. He played 5:22 and didn’t take a shot.