DETROIT – Not even an injury to Carmelo Anthony will get Amar’e Stoudemire in the Knicks starting lineup Wednesday night.
Coach Mike Woodson said before the game that Anthony would be out for the Knicks against the Pistons. He was initially a “game-time decision.”
Anthony did not attend the shootaround this morning and was at the team hotel receiving reatment for what the Knicks are calling a stiff and sore right knee. Woodson said Wednesday there’s buildup of fluid in the area. It could be a simple bone bruise. Anthony said the stiffness is in the back of the knee.
“From the MRI he has some fluid build-up which is causing the stiffness,” Woodson said. “Rest will probably be the best thing for him. If he says coach I need to sit down and rest a game or two then I am going to grant that. Absolutely.”
Little-used Kurt Thomas will be getting the start over Stoudemire.
Woodson continues to try to reinvent the wheel but he also has to make sure Stoudemire doesn’t go over the 30-minute mark imposed by the team medical staff as he did in Cleveland on Monday by 1:55.
“You guys are so caught up into who starts,’’ Woodson said this morning at The Palace. “I’m not. Our last few games, when James White went out, it was an 8-8 game (in Cleveland. We brought Amar’e and J.R. (Smith) in and it went ballistic (in Cleveland).’’
The Cavaliers opened up a double-digit lead.
“That’s not what’s hurting us,’’ Woodson added. “We just got to get consistency from ever body when they’re playing o n the floor. When the next unit comes in, their defense has to override their offense. It’s not doing that right now. That’s why we got down the other night. ‘’
Woodson has also been starting James White since last Friday, putting Jason Kidd to the bench. The lineup Wednesday likely will look like Raymond Felton, Iman Shumpert, White, Thomas and Tyson Chandler – not much offense at all.
Stoudemire didn’t criticize the move and indicated he has no choice but to accept Woodson’s strategic maneuver. He has yet to start this season after returning Jan. 1 from knee debridement surgery. He’s on a 30-minute cap to save his surgically repaired knees.
“It doesn’t matter to me,’’ Stoudemire said. “Whatever the coaching staff thinks best fits or whatever the thought process is, I have to agree to it. And just play and will us to a win.’’
Asked how his knees responded to Monday’s season-high 31:55 of action, Stoudemire said, “I felt great. The response from that as far as my body felt, there was no reaction at all.’’
Stoudemire rescued the Knicks on Monday after Anthony hobbled off with a knee injury in the second quarter, leading the team from 22 points down to a win over the Cavaliers. Stoudemire had 22 points and six rebounds in the comeback.