via NYDailyNews.com
Anthony Randolph was the big name coming from the Warriors in the David Lee sign-and-trade. But he hasn't played big enough to merit a start tomorrow in Hartford against the Celtics.
The Knicks will sit power forward Amar'e Stoudemire for precautionary reasons, and the lineup shuffle will have Randolph still on the bench, trying to cling to a rotation spot.
With the Knicks playing back-to-back games this weekend, finishing on Sunday at home versus Washington, the medical staff is being overly protective of Stoudemire, who next week celebrates his five-year anniversary since having microfracture left knee surgery.
Stoudemire said yesterday he's "in the best shape of his career."
The power-forward fill-in would figure to be Randolph, the high-flying, 21-year-old key asset supposed to make Knicks fan forget fan favorite Lee, who is averaging 15 points and 10 boards during preseason for Golden State. But after Wednesday's terrible outing versus the Celtics, Randolph is invoking memories of Kenny "Sky" Walker, the No. 5 overall draft pick in 1986 who had a disappointing career with the Knicks.
Coach Mike D'Antoni said Timofey Mozgov would start again at center, Wilson Chandler will move to power forward and either Roger Mason or rookie Landry Fields will start at shooting guard.
D'Antoni said there will be no politics regarding minutes. If Randolph doesn't produce, he will fade from the rotation. The Knicks also got back in the Lee trade Kelenna Azubuike, who hasn't been cleared to practice, and Ronny Turiaf, whose offensive game is so unreliable, he's losing his bid to start at center.
"He doesn't have a real big name," D'Antoni said of Randolph. "He's got big potential, but he hasn't done a whole lot.
"This is a project," D'Antoni said. "It's not something that might happen tomorrow. It might be something that happens in one month, two months, one year, two years. He's 21 years old. You can't lose sight of that. I'm sure he wants it to be tomorrow. We want it to be tomorrow."
Read more: HERE
With the Knicks playing back-to-back games this weekend, finishing on Sunday at home versus Washington, the medical staff is being overly protective of Stoudemire, who next week celebrates his five-year anniversary since having microfracture left knee surgery.
Anthony J. Causi
ROUGH START: Anthony Randolph, who came to the Knicks in the David Lee trade, had five turnovers in the Knicks' 104-101 loss to the Celtics Wednesday night at the Garden.
The power-forward fill-in would figure to be Randolph, the high-flying, 21-year-old key asset supposed to make Knicks fan forget fan favorite Lee, who is averaging 15 points and 10 boards during preseason for Golden State. But after Wednesday's terrible outing versus the Celtics, Randolph is invoking memories of Kenny "Sky" Walker, the No. 5 overall draft pick in 1986 who had a disappointing career with the Knicks.
Coach Mike D'Antoni said Timofey Mozgov would start again at center, Wilson Chandler will move to power forward and either Roger Mason or rookie Landry Fields will start at shooting guard.
D'Antoni said there will be no politics regarding minutes. If Randolph doesn't produce, he will fade from the rotation. The Knicks also got back in the Lee trade Kelenna Azubuike, who hasn't been cleared to practice, and Ronny Turiaf, whose offensive game is so unreliable, he's losing his bid to start at center.
"He doesn't have a real big name," D'Antoni said of Randolph. "He's got big potential, but he hasn't done a whole lot.
"This is a project," D'Antoni said. "It's not something that might happen tomorrow. It might be something that happens in one month, two months, one year, two years. He's 21 years old. You can't lose sight of that. I'm sure he wants it to be tomorrow. We want it to be tomorrow."
Read more: HERE
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