Knicks Get Their Big Man Back in the Big Easy
Dec 11 2009 2:17PM
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The Knicks get their big man back tonight in the form of Eddy Curry.
Is Eddy Curry 100 percent healthy?
"'Im definitely at that point," he said following practice at MSG Training Center on Wednesday. "I'm feeling 100 percent. I'm feeling better than I've felt in a long time. All I'm thinking about is basketball and getting on the court and earning some minutes."
Barring any unforeseen setbacks after Thursday's practice, Curry will be back in the Knicks lineup when they begin a three-game road trip against Emeka Okafor and the New Orleans Hornets on Friday night.
Curry has missed eight games since tweaking his right knee against the Lakers on Nov. 24. He was in uniform during the Knicks 93-84 win over the Blazers on Monday but never got off the bench after Coach Mike DAntoni decided he wanted the big man to practice some more before adding him to the rotation.
Following Wednesday's session, the Knicks center said he felt better than he has all season.
"I felt better today than when I was out there before," said Curry, who missed the entire preseason and the first 10 games of the season. "Every second I'm off the court I'm putting in extra work so I can make myself that much better when I get out there."
Curry said his conditioning was good enough to play against the Blazers, but D'Antoni was only going to put him in if it was a blowout either way. It appeared the game was headed in that direction before Portland made a late run after the Knicks entered the fourth quarter with a 23-point lead.
"Coach felt I wasnt ready, and maybe I wasn't," Curry said. "I definitely needed some practice in. It feels good to be able to get out here. Practice just helps you build confidence I think. The more I get out here and practice the more confidence I build."
D'Antoni has played just eight players over the previous two games but confirmed that Curry will be added to the rotation when he returns. The Knicks are in the early playoff hunt after winning three in a row and four of their last five games after getting off to the worst start in franchise history at 1-9.
Curry said Monday that he doesn't want to ruin the teams chemistry and affect the flow of the game upon his return. D'Antoni, who intends on playing Curry for sure, doesn't think that should be his concern right now.
"That's my job," D'Antoni said. "He shouldn't have to worry about that."
Curry, who is averaging 5.3 points, 2.5 minutes and 11.5 minutes in four games this season, responded by saying, "That means a lot. That means he doesnt think I'm going to mess things up."
"'Im definitely at that point," he said following practice at MSG Training Center on Wednesday. "I'm feeling 100 percent. I'm feeling better than I've felt in a long time. All I'm thinking about is basketball and getting on the court and earning some minutes."
Barring any unforeseen setbacks after Thursday's practice, Curry will be back in the Knicks lineup when they begin a three-game road trip against Emeka Okafor and the New Orleans Hornets on Friday night.
Curry has missed eight games since tweaking his right knee against the Lakers on Nov. 24. He was in uniform during the Knicks 93-84 win over the Blazers on Monday but never got off the bench after Coach Mike DAntoni decided he wanted the big man to practice some more before adding him to the rotation.
Following Wednesday's session, the Knicks center said he felt better than he has all season.
"I felt better today than when I was out there before," said Curry, who missed the entire preseason and the first 10 games of the season. "Every second I'm off the court I'm putting in extra work so I can make myself that much better when I get out there."
Curry said his conditioning was good enough to play against the Blazers, but D'Antoni was only going to put him in if it was a blowout either way. It appeared the game was headed in that direction before Portland made a late run after the Knicks entered the fourth quarter with a 23-point lead.
"Coach felt I wasnt ready, and maybe I wasn't," Curry said. "I definitely needed some practice in. It feels good to be able to get out here. Practice just helps you build confidence I think. The more I get out here and practice the more confidence I build."
D'Antoni has played just eight players over the previous two games but confirmed that Curry will be added to the rotation when he returns. The Knicks are in the early playoff hunt after winning three in a row and four of their last five games after getting off to the worst start in franchise history at 1-9.
Curry said Monday that he doesn't want to ruin the teams chemistry and affect the flow of the game upon his return. D'Antoni, who intends on playing Curry for sure, doesn't think that should be his concern right now.
"That's my job," D'Antoni said. "He shouldn't have to worry about that."
Curry, who is averaging 5.3 points, 2.5 minutes and 11.5 minutes in four games this season, responded by saying, "That means a lot. That means he doesnt think I'm going to mess things up."
