Knicks89
Sixers67
Though an MRI showed Marcus Camby is suffering from plantar fasciaitis in his left foot and not anything more serious that would require surgery, the level of concern with the Knicks starting center continues to grow.
Camby did not play last night in their 89-67 preseason rout of the Sixers and now has been ruled out for the three-game Western trip vs. Utah, Phoenix and San Antonio.
“We hope that’s all he misses,” Jeff Van Gundy said, again indicating Camby’s status for the Oct. 30th season opener is in doubt.
Last night, Camby met at the Garden with foot specialist Dr. William Hamilton, who prescribed “rest” and told Camby he must wear a removable walking boot. He was also given an anti-inflammatory shot.
None of it sounds very good, as the Knicks’ chances of simply making the playoffs will be in jeopardy if Camby is touch-and-go all season. The fear before the MRI was Camby had perhaps a bone spur or torn ligament. “I’m frustrated,” Camby said. “I just want to play.”
At best, Camby will be back for the final two preseason games. The Knicks management is nervous, knowing what it went through last season with Glen Rice, whose plantar fasciaitis never went away.
Certainly, the Knicks will be more inclined to trade a point guard for a big man but as Van Gundy said recently, “There’s no quality out there.” The Knicks’ failure to gain the $4.5 million injury exception for Larry Johnson was a critical blow. Utah’s Greg Ostertag is available but how much of an upgrade he represents is questionable.
Felton Spencer, slimmed down from 330 pounds last season to 300 this year, started in place of Camby as the Knicks crushed the depleted Sixers, missing its five best players, including Dikembe Mutombo and Allen Iverson.
With the Knicks having lost their two best low-post options in each of the last two seasons in Patrick Ewing, LJ and now with Camby’s health in question, the Knicks desperately need Clarence Weatherspoon to establish position on the low block and score.
Weatherspoon shot 4 of 18 from the field in the first two preseason games before last night’s improvement (2-4, eight points, nine boards).
“He’s getting good shots,” Van Gundy said. “I think his conditioning [is a factor]. I played him a lot of minutes [Thursday vs. the Nets] on purpose – 21 minutes in the second half. He needs to score down there for us.”
Weatherspoon, the undersized power forward whom the Knicks made a five-year, $28 million investment during the summer, came to camp in mediocre shape. That may explain why he’s been able to get great position down low, but has no legs under him to make his little turnaround.
Weatherspoon, expected to come off the bench behind Kurt Thomas, is probably the team’s best low-post scorer. Thomas prefers to face the basket and is unable to establish low position like the wide-body Weatherspoon. Still, Spoon’s clangfests are proving Latrell Sprewell’s theory the team has no one to dump the ball to in the blocks, something he is very concerned about it.