Coming off his most gritty showing as a Knick Friday in Detroit, Glen Rice said he doesn’t plan to be a bench player the rest of the season.
“I’m sure there will be another time I will get an opportunity to start, said Rice. “I’m just biding my time.”
Perhaps Rice’s 18-point explosion in 23 minutes against the Pistons will turn out to be the turning point to his roller-coaster season. Rice said his left foot felt better yesterday than it had in a while. Rice said the Canadian shock-wave therapy is starting to work.
Rice participated in the entire practice yesterday, expects to play today when the Knicks host the Pacers and seems on track for a big showing in his date with Phil Jackson and the Lakers on Super Bowl Sunday.
“[The foot] was a little sore, but it feels better than it has in a while,” Rice said. “I think it’s helped a little bit. As each day goes by, I definitely feel it will be an improvement. There was a point there I was getting really frustrated. But this morning I got up and walked a little smoother. There’s encouragement.”
Rice joined the Knicks Friday morning in Detroit after flying in from Toronto. Rice was in severe discomfort because he had just received the last of his three painful shock-wave treatments. Nobody expected the hobbled Rice to play but he decided at game-time to suit up. And the Knicks needed him early when Allan Houston and Latrell Sprewell got into foul trouble in the opening minutes.
Shockingly, despite playing in just his third full game in three weeks, his shots were exact, from the low post and perimeter. “I try not to lose my timing,” Rice said. “One of the things I do a lot when I’m not shooting or able to practice, I sit back and meditate about the shot going in. It has helped me over the years.”
As far as the Laker game, Rice said, “That game’s a ways away. That’s going to be a big game for us, but I’m just trying to stay focused on the game (today).”
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The Knicks were surprised when Detroit coach George Irvine put ex-Knick John Wallace on a red-hot Houston late in the third quarter to try to quiet him. Wallace was not known for his defense as a Knick ,yet held down Houston. “I thought Allan was going to light him up, to be honest, and John’s my guy,” Marcus Camby said.
Jeff Van Gundy, also surprised, congratulated Wallace in the Knick locker room after the game.
“[Wallace] did a good job,” Van Gundy said. Irvine said he would use Wallace to stop Houston again . . . Camby, whose right eye is blurry from Danny Ferry’s poke, visited a eye specialist after yesterday’s practice to make sure his pink-eye condition has not worsened.
