Amar'e cancels Knicks practice

[The Regime]

When Amar'e Stoudemire took one look at the Knicks' practice schedule for Thursday, he shook his head, requested a meeting with the coach - pronto - and, within minutes, the announcement came down that Stoudemire and his teammates were being given the day off.

 

"If nothing else," one player said, "we need a break from each other."

 

That was the scene inside the Knicks' locker room late Wednesday following the 111-99 loss to Orlando. The players are tired, frustrated and yet optimistic that a turnaround is in their future.

 

"These times are not going to last forever," Carmelo Anthony said.

 

The decision to cancel practice was the appropriate call by Mike D'Antoni, even if it came at the behest of Stoudemire, who admitted to being physically worn down. The Knicks are going through a difficult stretch in March, playing 18 games, including next Monday's asbestos make-up with Orlando. The physical toll is second only to the emotional beatdown the Knicks are experiencing from losing 10 of 17 games since acquiring Anthony and Chauncey Billups from Denver.

 

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/knicks/2011/03/25/2011-03-25_tired_knicks_cant_rest_easy.html?r=sports%2Fbasketball%2Fknicks&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+nydnrss%2Fsports%2Fbasketball%2Fknicks+%28Sports%2FBasketball%2FKnicks%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher

[Lkr]

if anything they need to practice defense

[JYD]

if anything they need to practice defense

They've been working on it the past few weeks in the limited practices they have. It's pretty difficult when you already are a poor defensive team to improve at all with new teammates without practice time. Pretty much impossible. They just need to give the effort every night on defense and they'll be fine.

 

I think it's definitely a good idea to give them a day off yesterday, their schedule is pretty brutal if you look at it for the next 2 weeks. They've gotta get these next two games too.

Edited March 25, 2011 by JYD

[Universe]

Allen Iverson approves.