Melo a game-time decision against Magic
Carmelo Anthony celebrates a basket in the second half against the Philadelphia 76ers. (Jan. 11, 2012) Credit: Jim McIsaac
GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- After a discouraging loss to Oklahoma City on Saturday night, the Knicks are somewhat in limbo as they wait for their superstar forward to return to action.
Carmelo Anthony and his sprained right ankle remain questionable for Monday's matinee against Orlando, which comes into town having won three straight. Anthony did not do much in practice Sunday but said his ankle is coming along. He's going to make another game-time decision.
"It's sore," Anthony said. "But if I can go, I'm going to go. It's time to get going right now."
Without Anthony, the Knicks' offensive identity looks out of whack. Mike D'Antoni said the team still is feeling its way with a fluctuating corps of starters, including rookie point guard Iman Shumpert. D'Antoni focused on the Knicks' 20 turnovers as a reason for their 104-92 loss to the Thunder. The Knicks are 25th in the league at 16.2 turnovers per game.
"That's killing us right now," D'Antoni said. "That's not being familiar with what we're doing and each other. Rookie running the point, there's a lot of little things that we need to work through."
Amar'e Stoudemire struggled trying to replace Anthony's offense, going 7-for-19 from the field for 14 points. He had five turnovers and zero free-throw attempts. Stoudemire scored six points against Memphis on Thursday and his numbers are down from a year ago.
The easy explanation would be to point to the frontcourt addition of center Tyson Chandler, but D'Antoni doesn't believe the two can't coexist productively.
"We have to get the relationship right. It shouldn't be that big of a problem," D'Antoni said. "Everybody can play with everybody."
Having Chandler should pay some dividends on the defensive end as the Knicks try to match up with Orlando's Dwight Howard, who had 45 points and 23 rebounds against Golden State on Thursday. Howard shot 21-for-39 from the free-throw line, breaking Wilt Chamberlain's NBA record of 34 free-throw attempts set in February 1962. Howard leads the NBA with 12.1 free throws per game.
D'Antoni admitted there's no easy way to handle the 6-11 center. "Got to throw the kitchen sink at him," he said. "Can't rely on just one thing. He's too good."
The Knicks would like to have Anthony back as a comparable answer.
"Watching yesterday's game really pushed me to get back out there on the court," Anthony said. "It looks like we're not having much fun out there."
