Knicks' depth doesn't count at finish
Mike D'Antoni of the New York Knicks looks on against the New Jersey Nets. (Feb. 4, 2012) Credit: Jim McIsaac
Mike D'Antoni said with the Knicks' depth they "have an answer for everything," But there are still some things he needs to figure out about his rotation.
"It's the last five minutes of the game or six minutes of the game that is the toughest," D'Antoni said. "Who do you finish with? That's when you have to make the hard decisions. Some players will have to understand that either they didn't have it or it wasn't the right match up or this is the way we're going to go."
Jeremy Lin, Carmelo Anthony, Amar'e Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler will finish most nights. D'Antoni could use rookie Iman Shumpert or Jared Jeffries if he needs defense or Baron Davis if he needs another ballhandler or J.R. Smith or Steve Novak for shooting. Shumpert, who had 12 points and three steals in his return after missing three games with left-knee tendinitis, was on the floor at the end Wednesday night.
D'Antoni also said whatever rotation he settles on, he might not shorten in the playoffs. "I don't think so because there's no drop off," D'Antoni said. "I don't know that my 10th or 11th guy is not better than my third guy.''
Chandler to miss time?
Chandler said he would consider missing time if his injured left wrist continues to limit him, but D'Antoni doesn't want to think about that. "I told him not to tell me he's hurt, I don't want to hear it," he said. "That's one guy that's pretty irreplaceable. We'll watch it, but I'll watch it through the doctors and make sure he's OK. If he does need time he can take it."
Eyeing trade deadline
The NBA trade deadline is March 15, but you could start seeing some movement now. Players signed as free agents this season can be dealt starting today. The Knicks will look to upgrade, but they have had numerous changes already and want to see how everyone fits.
Marlins steal Lin's thunder
Lin didn't make Sports Illustrated's cover three weeks in a row, but a derivation of his name and impact did. The cover features ex-Met shortstop Jose Reyes and Miami manager Ozzie Guillen with the headline "Marlinsanity?"
