via NYDailynews.com
The starting center job is Ronny Turiaf's to lose, and that may just happen once the Knicks return to the United States.
"I'm definitely starting him this game," Mike D'Antoni said of Turiaf, who will be playing in front of family and friends here tomorrow against the Timberwolves. "Yes, I will do that."
D'Antoni made it clear that the competition for minutes at the center position is definitely open and that impressive rookie Timofey Mozgov continues to play his way into the team's plans for this season. D'Antoni was effusive in his praise for the 7-foot Russian, telling reporters Monday, "I'm trying to curb my enthusiasm."
Mozgov and third-year forward Anthony Randolph represent the future for the Knicks. Both give the club more versatility and scoring at center. Turiaf has experience, is a solid low post defender and therefore was given the start in Sunday's preseason win over Armani Jeans Milano in Milan almost by default.
But he's not a viewed as somebody who will play more than 20 to 25 minutes a night. In fact, if Turiaf is the starter on opening night it may be just because D'Antoni believes Mozgov and Randolph would be under less pressure in a reserve role.
D'Antoni added he may have "a revolving door" at center depending on the match-ups. But Turiaf, Mozgov and Randolph have seven more preseason games to earn the full-time starting job.
"It's open," D'Antoni said. "It might be open all year. I might change it up depending on who we play, how people develop and how our team develops. I don't know at the end of the day how our team will develop. We could have a revolving door a little bit. I can see it just being different week to week, month to month."
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