ORLANDO – Eddy Curry has a new, live-in chef but also has the same old problem – a weight problem.
Curry hired a chef from Detroit two weeks ago before his latest ankle sprain put him out four straight games. But the in-house cook can only do so much.
Before Curry – who’s the center of Isiah Thomas’ flawed rebuilding plan – played his second game back from injury last night in Orlando, the 6-foot-11 pivot who weighs an estimated 300 pounds is still far from being in condition.
Curry won’t reveal his actual weight, but coach Larry Brown indicated it is significantly above the 285 pounds he played at during his breakout season last year in Chicago, before the Bulls shut him down with an irregular heartbeat.
Asked if he was under 300 pounds, Curry nodded yes, unconvincingly.
“He’s just out of shape,” Brown said. “I think we’re all well aware. He hasn’t gotten to play, practice. [Tuesday was the first full practice in a long time.”
Actually, it had been nearly two weeks and he’s back to square one. Brown said it’s not unusual, but most players are able to remain in some semblance of shape despite missing time.
Curry, who has missed nine games total, doesn’t lead the league in strong metabolism. One reason the Bulls gave up on him was a fear he didn’t work hard enough to keep in tip-top condition.
Brown says Curry has been behind the 8-ball from the outset, reporting four days into training camp because the trade took time to become official.
“He does cardio every day,” Brown said. “He’s been hurt. He didn’t play for seven months, then he missed all of training camp. The bottom line is he’s behind the whole time. He’s trying. He stays after, gets on the bike. Anything he can do to get his heart rate up. But it’s not basketball shape.
“Obviously we made a trade to get him for the long haul,” Brown added. “He’s 22 years old [actually he turned 23 on Dec. 5]. When we traded for him, the hope was to play 35, 40 minutes a game. That’s our goal, to get him to that point.”
The Knicks have paid handsomely for the chance to make Curry realize his immense potential. It’s no longer about giving up Michael Sweetney and their starting small forward Tim Thomas. The draft picks now loom large.
The Knicks would be seeded second in the lottery if the season ended today, but the Bulls will get that pick. In 2007, the Bulls get a chance to swap picks if the Knicks finish in the lottery again.
Meanwhile, Curry, who’s averaging 24 minutes, admitted he’s changed his eating habits with the new chef. In his latest absence, Curry supposedly lost two pounds. Brown said he’s been losing “a pound a week.”
“I hired a chef before I got hurt,” Curry said. “He’s put me on a schedule. It’s a lot of the same foods. It’s all about he schedule. I was eating at the wrong time, late night. I’m not doing that anymore. I didn’t want to come back and be heavy.”
Brown didn’t feel comfortable enough starting Curry last night, as he stuck with Jerome James.
“I kept him out on the court the other night when he was really tired,” said Brown, who played Curry 16 minutes against the Nets in his return Tuesday.
“I’m trying to tell him, just run the floor, rebound the ball, try to defend. When you get tired, let me know, but go as hard as you can for as long as you can.”
Brown knows how devastating Curry can be if he’s in shape.
“We keep bringing up the Chicago tape [last season],” Brown said. “He’ll get better. One of the biggest things he can do is run the floor and post up early, but when you’re not in a game shape …when you’re tired, you’re not going to be fast and quick.”