WE GOT a glimpse of what the Knicks can be this year, a team that when healthy has given Jeff Van Gundy reason to say this is the franchise’s “best shot” to win an NBA Championship since John Starks went 2 for 18 against the Rockets.
They ended the Trail Blazers six-game winning streak by beating Portland 98-88 at the Garden Thursday night. Then came from 15 points down in the first quarter to beat Pat Riley and the Heat, 94-80, yesterday at MSG. The Knicks looked like something special in these two games, a unique balance of speed, power and determination. They ran the floor, they were resilient on defense, they wore down the opposition and put them away in the fourth quarter.
Key to all of this was Marcus Camby, who has found a way to co-exist with Patrick Ewing on the same floor, giving the Knicks what Tim Duncan and David Robinson give the Spurs. Now that formula for success is in trouble after Camby landed awkwardly late in yesterday’s game and suffered a partial tear of the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. An MRI was taken last night, but the Knicks won’t reveal a full diagnosis until more tests are conducted today.
“Obviously, it’s disappointing news for Marcus,” said the Knicks’ team doctor, Norman Scott. “With hard work, I’m optimistic he will be back on the court soon.”
The Knicks can survive if Camby is out for a month. It could prove catastrophic if he is out for the rest of the season. Camby had scored 12 points and 9 rebounds before he flew to the basket with 6:28 to play and got bumped by the Heat’s P.J. Brown and Anthony Carter, causing Camby to land off-balance with his knee buckling under his weight.
While his statistical contributions may not be All-Star caliber, the intangibles that he gives the Knicks could be the difference between winning the NBA Finals and not getting there at all. We’ve seen these last two games that Camby’s presence has had a positive ripple effect on the team, including Ewing, who has played his best games of the season in beating the Blazers and the Heat.
With Camby slashing to the middle, Ewing is left open for his jump shot. With Camby attacking the glass, Ewing doesn’t have to carry the load by himself. With Camby running the floor, there is a flying dunk waiting to happen.
Outside of Latrell Sprewell, the most exciting Knick is Camby. He brought the Garden crowd to its feet with a dunk off a feed from Allan Houston that gave the Knicks a 58-57 lead with 4:44 left in the third quarter.
He was going hard to the basket again when he was injured. With the Knicks up 74-69, Camby was soaring for a lay-up when he was bumped by Brown and Carter. Camby’s right knee buckled awkwardly upon his landing, a frightening sight that hushed the sell-out crowd.
“It looked real bad,” Kurt Thomas said. “Real bad.”
A flagrant foul was called on Brown, who can’t seem to play the Knicks without drawing such a penalty.
“It’s not like I was trying to hurt anybody,” Brown said. “I think the referees were under a lot of pressure with this being a national TV and what has happened the last couple of years between the two teams. I really didn’t hit him that hard. It wasn’t a dirty play.”
After a quick examination by Scott, Camby gingerly limped off the court, leaving his teammates to hope for the best while fearing the worst.
“You never want to see anybody get hurt,” Houston said. “Your team or the other team. He said it doesn’t seem like it’s too bad, so we’re going to just keep praying for him and hoping that he gets back pretty soon.”
“Obviously, we’re concerned,” added Sprewell. “All we can do is hope for the best and that he’s not out to long. We’ve played well these last two games. It’s something that we want to continue.”
The Knicks are already a team that is usually beaten on the boards. Without Camby that liability will be further exploited by the opposition. His absence will also make things harder on Ewing, who will be asked to do more.
If it’s a short term absence, the Knicks can get by with Chris Dudley and extra minutes from Thomas. But with Larry Johnson also out indefinitely with a twisted foot, the Knicks will use the All-Star Game break to regroup.
“The guys who have been sitting are going to get a chance so they better be ready,” Van Gundy said. “If we only have nine there is no reason why we can’t give a heck of an effort with nine.”
For the short term, maybe. But if Camby is lost for the long-term it could mean the Knicks going from their best shot, to no shot at all.