As Mark Jackson left the loser’s locker room at Conseco Field House Friday, he was asked how much of the Knicks’ dreadful 2-4 start could be attributed to Marcus Camby’s absence.
“No excuse, no excuse, no excuse,” Jackson said.
“Too convenient,” added Jeff Van Gundy. “We could still play defense.”
Perhaps, but the whole scheme is altered when Camby is in the game, in the middle, being a shot-altering, if not shotblocking presence. That is why the Knicks franchise prayed that yesterday’s doctor’s appointment with Dr. Norman Scott brought only the best news.
Camby was to have his walking boot that he’s been wearing since before the season opener removed.
Camby said he needed a couple of days of conditioning before feeling ready to be on the court with the guys.
Usually the eternal optimist, Camby wouldn’t even make a guess on when he thinks he’ll take the opening tip for the Knicks. Remember he missed all of preseason -save for six minutes -so his rust is thick and his conditioning is a major concern. The last thing the Knicks want is for the fragile Camby to come back and injure something else because he’s not in game shape. So Camby could be one to two weeks away, even if things go well.
Meanwhile, Van Gundy seems to be growing impatient with starting center Felton Spencer, who is regressing instead of impressing. Spencer played just 33 seconds in the second half in the regrettable loss to the Pacers. It’s difficult to send out a player who represents absolutely no offensive threat, though Spencer’s primary role is to keep Clarence Weatherspoon and Othella Harrington out of foul trouble.
The Knicks’ fortunes will take a decided upturn once the athletic Camby is back as the club faced last night at the Garden another frontcourt-heavy team in the Warriors. All was beautiful for the Knicks in their season’s finest first half Friday against the Pacers. They quieted Conseco Field House, built a 20-point lead midway through the second quarter off a 19-2 splurge and took a 15-point bulge into intermission.
Then they collapsed and allowed 58 points in the second half, letting the Pacers shoot 62 percent. Without Camby patrolling the middle, the Pacers drove to the hoop without impunity.
For just the third time in a decade, the Knicks choked on a 20-point lead in the 103-95 defeat. “If you play defense in this league, you can win in this league,” Van Gundy said. “If you don’t, you won’t. Everybody knows it; players, coaches, they know it. The willingness to do it is the hard part because it is hard work.”
Maybe Camby, when he gets back, changes everything. For now, they still must, as Van Gundy puts it, “hold down the fort.”
