Amar'e Stoudemire to practice Saturday
Knicks' Amar'e Stoudemire warms up before their game against the Milwaukee Bucks. (April 11, 2012) Credit: AP
Amar'e Stoudemire is a step closer to rejoining his teammates on the court.
Knicks interim coach Mike Woodson said before Friday night's game that his center will practice Saturday, an encouraging sign for Stoudemire, who missed his 10th straight game because of a bulging disc in his back.
But during the team's morning shootaround, Woodson cautioned that he won't feel comfortable until the doctors deem Stoudemire ready to play.
"He seemed to feel pretty good today so we'll take it another step [Saturday] and see where he is," Woodson said. " . . . But again, it's still day-to- day as far as I'm concerned.''
Melo: Not about money
Asked about Dwyane Wade's recent comment that athletes should be compensated for playing in the Olympics, Carmelo Anthony said he'll gladly play for free. "And it's London," he said with a smile. "Who don't want to go to London?"
Keep working
Unlike former coach Mike D'Antoni, Woodson is a firm believer in game-day shootarounds. "I've always had shootarounds,'' he said. " . . . In my early days in Atlanta, my rookies hated me because they didn't get any days off. None."
Around the rim
Jeremy Lin (knee) had his stitches removed but won't be back "anytime soon," Woodson said . . . Jared Jeffries said on ESPN Radio that he prefers to face the Bulls in the playoffs because Derrick Rose has been in and out of the lineup. "Whenever you can have an MVP candidate or former MVP player be out on the team, I think that's what you've got to go for," he said.
