Hobbled Andrea Bargnani travels with Knicks family for Thanksgiving
Knicks center Andrea Bargnani, right, fouls Boston Celtics center Jared Sullinger during the first quarter of a preseason game on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2014, in Hartford, Conn. Credit: AP / Jessica Hill
Andrea Bargnani is on the trip, but Derek Fisher made it sound as though the Italian forward won't be taking part in many team activities other than Thanksgiving dinner.
After missing the first 13 games with a right hamstring strain, Bargnani was set to make his season debut Saturday, but he suffered a strained right calf in practice a day earlier. Now he remains on hold and might not practice with the team this week.
"I don't know if it's possible," Fisher said Monday night.
"I just think we have to see how this week progresses. It was important that he still remains close to our group, especially with Thanksgiving being this week. We just thought even if he wasn't going to be able to play, to still be among the guys was important for us."
The Knicks are scheduled to practice Tuesday in Dallas, where they play Wednesday night. They're not expected to practice fully on Thanksgiving Day in Oklahoma City.
"Being out is always frustrating and I can't wait to be back," Bargnani said. "I feel better, keep working hard. Every day try to do something else."
Phil's L.A. story
Knicks president Phil Jackson is spending Thanksgiving in Los Angeles with family. He said that was his plan in September. But Jackson, who was filmed by TMZ while grocery shopping in L.A. last week, apparently didn't like that the trip has been viewed or portrayed as a vacation and responded on Twitter, saying he went home early for a doctor's appointment.
Jackson's tweet read: "In spite of news of vaca, the reason to trip to LA allowed for medical checkups -- all negative and thankful today."
Buzzer-beaters
MSG Network will air "Carmelo Anthony: Made in NY," a 30-minute special about his free-agency tour last summer with footage from his stops in Chicago, Houston, Dallas and Los Angeles. It premieres after the Dec. 2 Knicks-Nets game . . . Asked what he remembers about playing in Houston, Fisher answered, "Success."
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
