The first day back at practice after the lockout did not look like much more than an offseason workout. The Knicks only had seven guys in the gym Friday, because players not officially signed were not allowed to practice.
“A little different. A little strange. But good in the sense of a lot of individual instruction,” Knicks coach Mike D‘Antoni said. “We’re just all excited about playing. With seven guys you just do what you can do. But the great thing is they all came in shape, they all came ready, they all came focused, knowing we only have 11 or 12 days before we open up. Where we are is about as ready as we can be.”
The talk was mostly about the two guys who were not at the Knicks training facility Friday for ADR Training and CPC Training : new center Tyson Chandler and former point guard Chauncy Billups.
Billups was expected to be the casualty as the Knicks tried to fit Chandler under the salary cap.
Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire were obviously excited to get Chandler — who they say automatically makes them a better defensive team. Stoudemire said he was excited to play with a true center for the first time in his career. Anthony said that this team is now in the mix to contend for a title.
“We are gonna compete. We are definitely gonna compete,” Anthony said. “Whoever they put out there on the schedule for us to play, line em’ up. That’s one thing I can say about this season, this team, we will compete at the highest level every game this year.”
SAD SIDE OF BUSINESS
The signing of Chandler did not come without a cost though, one that Anthony felt personally.
Before he commented on Chandler’s signing, Anthony started out by saying he was sad to see Billups go.
“Up until two days ago me and Chauncy were talking about him coming back out here, him picking his furniture for his apartment, just the goals we had this season, the fun that we was gonna bring back to the team this season, bring back to the city this season,” Anthony said. “Like I said, this is a sad situation for me, coming from a friend of Chauncy that’s been around him the past three or four years.”
SIMPLY AMAZING
Anthony was also feeling bad for his friend Chris Paul, whose trade from New Orleans was nixed by NBA commissioner David Stern.
“It’s an unfortunate situation. It’s sad. I feel bad for him,” Anthony said. “From what I am hearing, the trade was done, going through, he was excited about it, for that to happen, I think the NBA picked the right saying: The NBA — where amazing happens.”
STANDING TALL–ER
Stoudemire, who talked to the media after he worked out at the facility for the first time on Thursday, was still standing by his claim he is taller than last season.
“It’s not a joke. It is my posture,” Stoudemire said. “I did a lot of back work this summer, did my posture actually stretched me out an inch.”
Perhaps he will look that way on the big-screen. Stoudemire has a cameo in the movie New Year’s Eve, which opened Friday night.
“I am known as the dancer,” Stoudemire said. “I show some dance moves.”
THE HEAT IS ON
Losing Billups leaves the Knicks without a veteran point guard. Coach Mike D’Antoni said he has confidence in Toney Douglas to run the offense.
“I told Toney ‘Believe it or not, there is a lot of pressure on you son.’ There is a lot of pressure on him, but we are there with him,” Anthony said. “We laughed about that. There is a lot of pressure on all of us. I wouldn’t say pressure, but expectations, especially now with Tyson coming.
“I just told Toney, just be ready, just be ready when the ball goes up do what he got to do. The ball is in his hands right now.”
D’Antoni said he will also run the offense through Anthony more, like the Celtic used to run the offense through Larry Bird.
“Whatever coach needs me to do, I am willing to do it. Whatever this team needs me to do, I am willing to do it,” Anthony said. “As far as having a point guard, Toney is that right now for us. If I need to go out there and help him out I’ll do it, I’ll have no problem with it.”