KNICK NOTES
Some Knicks didn’t know what Jeff Van Gundy was all worked up about yesterday at Purchase. He was ticked the Knicks didn’t have the same focus during practice as they had before Game 1’s 92-88 victory over the Raptors.
But some of the players figured it was the coach’s way of making sure the Knicks aren’t complacent after taking a 1-0 lead in the first-round series, with Game 2 on tap tonight at 8:00 at the Garden.
“He was disappointed in how we were playing,” Latrell Sprewell said. “As a coach sitting on the side, you see things as a coach you don’t see when you’re on the court playing. In his opinion, he didn’t think we were going as hard. I really couldn’t tell. He sees things we can’t.”
Marcus Camby agreed.
“He wants to make sure we’re not getting too confident and cocky and we’re not riding on our high horse,” Camby said. “Guys are edgy and just want to play. Guys are focused but you know how he is. If it’s not perfect, he’s going to complain. He’s never happy. He’s always angry. He’s just trying to get us motivated.”
Van Gundy indicated the extra day of practice went to waste, saying “nothing got done” but wouldn’t elaborate.
*
Sprewell feels Vince Carter can be held to 3-for-20 shooting again if the Knicks play with the same defensive ferocity as Sunday.
“I think it’s possible but it’s not going to be easy,” Sprewell said. “I have to do my job, be energetic on the floor, my legs have got to be there. Hopefully I’ll be feeling great.”
Sprewell credits “40 percent” of his success on Carter Sunday on “filmwork.” Sprewell also said when he was at Golden State guarding Michael Jordan and then-Sacramento King Mitch Richmond was a tougher chore than Carter.
Sprewell is surprised reporters continue to ask him about his transformation into a more unselfish player, as he showed again Sunday, making the extra swing pass to Larry Johnson for the game-winning 3-pointer with 42.4 seconds left.
It’s been that way all season, with Spree averaging 4.0 assists. He had four Sunday, too.
“When I was at Golden State, I had to score more,” Sprewell said. “I probably didn’t pass as much then. This team, we have too many different guys who can score. It’s not necessary for me to go out and put up 25 shots a night.”
Toronto nearly stole Game 1 partly because it shot 8 of 16 from the 3-point line.
“I don’t think they got enough credit for that,” Sprewell said. “We’ve got to close out better on the perimeter.”
