The Knicks are now slated to open the 2012-13 NBA season on Friday at Madison Square Garden against the Miami Dream Team instead of on Thursday at the Barclays Center against the Nets.
While that may be a massive disappointment to basketball fans in the Big Apple, it could end up benefitting a couple of injured Knicks.
Centers Tyson Chandler (knee) and Marcus Camby (calf) have been banged up and could benefit from having no game Thursday. The Knicks will practice at their Westchester facility instead.
“I feel pretty good,” Chandler told reporters Wednesday. “Obviously not 100 percent, but I felt alright today.”
The reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year, Chandler banged knees with Nets forward Gerald Wallace during last Wednesday’s exhibition game at the Nassau Coliseum.
“Yeah, I think I’m going to be fine, played with contact today,” Chandler said. “Not as explosive as I normally am out there and fast, that kind of stuff, but good enough to give my team something and I feel good enough to protect myself.”
Chandler was able to make practice Tuesday and Wednesday despite the after-effects of Hurricane Sandy, but it wasn’t easy.
“It was a little difficult,” he said. “My building was swaying and my kids started getting scared, power going out all around us. Nothing worse than anybody else had to deal with. My heart goes out to those who really had to encounter some pretty tough things throughout this whole process.”
Camby, meantime, attended practice Wednesday after having to miss Tuesday because of Sandy.
“I had trees and power lines down,” Camby said. “I couldn’t even get out of my neighborhood. I’m out here in Westchester. It’s one of those circumstances where I couldn’t get here.”
But after practicing Wednesday, Camby expected to be ready for a potential game with the Nets Thursday, which was ultimately postponed by Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
“Today was like my first full day of practice,” Camby said. “I felt good for the most part.”
Said Knicks coach Mike Woodson: “It will be interesting to see how [Camby] feels [Thursday] and we’ll make some decisions from there.”
Photo: NY Post
