With the Knicks set to play their first exhibition game inside the United States against the Boston Celtics Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden, they may turn to a foreigner at center.
Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni is strongly considering giving the start to 7-foot-1, 250-pound Russian Timofey Mozgov.
“We’re trying to look at everybody in different spots, but that’s one we definitely want to look at,” D’Antoni told reporters Monday after practice. “I don’t know, do you really want him to go up against Shaq first time around? You’ve got to be able to find him on Thursday.”
O’Neal may or may not play depending on if the Celtics choose to utilize the 38-year-old veteran in the second night of back-to-backs.
Ronny Turiaf started at center in the first two preseason games in Milan and Paris, but managed only 3 of 4 shooting in 41 minutes.
Mozgov, who has a soft touch around the basket and is very agile, made 6 of 9 shots, while grabbing seven rebounds and blocking five shots. He also committed 10 fouls, but D’Antoni said he wasn’t worried about that.
