KNICK NOTES AUBURN HILLS – Turns out Latrell Sprewell and Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy do agree on something. Although the Knicks are swimming along without Patrick Ewing with a 2-0 record, Sprewell told The Post that the club needs their starting center to be a title contender.
“We need the Big Fella,” said Sprewell, whose 19-point second-half explosion Wednesday against the Bulls provided the Knicks with their second victory. “That was proven last year against San Antonio. We needed him healthy.”
Less than two weeks ago, San Antonio’s David Robinson indicated to New York writers he wasn’t sure if Ewing’s presence would’ve made a difference because it may not have allowed Marcus Camby, Sprewell or Allan Houston to perform up to maximum levels.
And there is a strong sentiment around New York that the Knicks are a more dynamic, better team without Ewing.
“That’s their opinion and I’m not going to laugh at it but I happen to disagree,” Sprewell said. “The evidence is the Finals, when we’re going up against two guys like that [Robinson and Tim Duncan], we needed his size and experience.”
Earlier this week, Ewing, battling Achilles tendinitis, participated in “light running drills” for the first time since last season’s Eastern Conference finals when he tore his Achilles tendon. While it’s probably a longshot, it’s no longer crazy to predict a return for early December, even late November.
Van Gundy indicated in The Post that Ewing will miss at least the first 18 games, which brings the calendar to Dec. 5. Ewing has told at least one confident that he might not be back until January, but that conversation occurred three weeks ago. *Knick executive Ed Tapscott is being moved farther and farther from the action. The Knicks hired Sedric Toney to be director of player personnel, which was Tapscott’s role under former GM Ernie Grunfeld. Toney, 37, a former guard, played four seasons in the NBA, including one with the Knicks (1987-88). Tapscott, the VP of Player Personnel who was passed over for the GM job in August after holding the interim position, has been shifted to VP of Player Development so he could work out of his home in Washington.
