By MARC BERMAN

PORTLAND – The new Italian Stallion Era begins. In a landmark moment, Danilo Gallinari will make his first start tonight three weeks after his return. “I think it is time,” Mike D’Antoni said. “It could be one day, one week, the rest of the season.”

The lineup shake up severe as the Knicks hit the Rose City. Gallinari and Wilson Chandler, their future, are in. Quentin Richardson and Jared Jeffries have been removed.

D’Antoni cited Gallinari being the top plus-minus player on the team and this way his back gets loose from the outset. But this is more symbolic. Gallinari and Chandler, who moves to shooting guard, are the two 2010 pieces Donnie Walsh hopes LeBron James wants to play with.

D’Antoni wouldn’t guarantee Gallinari will play the second night of the back-to-back, but said it was likely he’ll play in L.A. Gallinari had originally been banned from back-to-backs.

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