Don Chaney, citing Marcus Camby’s ailing foot, said the Knicks’ starting center may be pulled from the starting lineup tomorrow in Toronto or shut down for a brief period because he may have become “a liability.”

At the very least, Camby’s minutes will be cut, which he is not against and hoped would happen with Clarence Weatherspoon healthy. “He’s playing with a sore foot,” Chaney said. “That’s the decision we have to make with him: Is he a liability or not?”

Yesterday, a foul-plagued Camby had just six points and seven rebounds. Lacking explosiveness, his attempts at offensive rebounds resulted in fouls.

Camby said emphatically: “I’m playing.”