D'Antoni says Curry will play in Knicks' next game
Photo credit: Newsday/CRAIG RUTTLE | Eddy Curry of the Knicks listens to a question during an interview on Media Day at the MSG training center. (September 28, 2009)
Eddy Curry
Knicks 93, Trail Blazers 84
GREENBURGH, N.Y. - Unless he slips on a banana peel in the next day or so, Eddy Curry will return to the Knicks' rotation Friday in New Orleans, coach Mike D'Antoni said Wednesday.
Curry practiced with the team Wednesday for the first time since his last appearance in a game, a six-minute, two-point, three-turnover, two-foul cameo against the Lakers on Nov. 24. Curry injured his left knee in that game and has been absent ever since.
He banged with Jared Jeffries and Jordan Hill in practice and declared himself ready to go. Curry's eyes widened with delight when he was informed that D'Antoni told reporters he planned to play the 6-11 center against the Hornets.
"He told you guys that?" Curry said. "That means a lot. That means he thinks I'm not going to mess us up."
Yes, the Knicks (7-15) actually have something good going that could get messed up. They have won three in a row as D'Antoni has settled on a more stable rotation that went only eight deep in Monday's 93-84 win over the Blazers.
"I was all over the board," D'Antoni said about his early-season lineups. "We got the breath knocked out of us, got hit in the stomach. Now I just feel like this is what we kind of looked at before the season. This is how it should be. Back kind of on path."
Said Curry: "With them winning without me, in the back of my mind I just don't want to slow them down. I don't think I will. But I want to play. I definitely feel I can help them. I think I can make us that much better. Just looking for an opportunity."
Curry has played in four games this season - all from Nov. 18-24 - and is averaging 5.3 points and 2.5 rebounds. Baby steps: It's one more game than he played all of last season as he battled injuries and conditioning issues.
Now Curry is lighter and feeling good physically. The Knicks, who are owned by Cablevision, which also owns Newsday, would love for Curry to prove he has more trade value than a potted plant. That's only going to happen if he plays.
"I'm definitely at that point where I'm feeling 100 percent better than I have in a long time," he said. "All I'm thinking about is basketball. Getting on the court, earning some minutes, and staying out there as long as possible."
