Despite returning a team that features at least four of its season-ending starters and finished the regular season as the Eastern Conference’s second seed, New York Knicks coach Mike Woodson insists his rotation is a work in progress nearing the NBA preseason.
That’s not an indictment of his old players, Woodson told Newsday, but rather a favorable nod to some of the additions the organization has made this off season.
Set to join mainstays Carmelo Anthony, Tyson Chandler, Raymond Felton and Iman Shumpert this season are newcomers Metta World Peace, Beno Udrih, Andrea Bargnani and rookie Tim Hardaway Jr. The Knicks also resigned key 2013 late season pickup Kenyon Martin.
“That’s what we use camp,” Woodson told Newsday. “I have no idea who’s going to start. Camp should be pretty competitive based on the talent, and that’s how it should be.”
While Woodson concedes Anthony, Chandler and Felton are, more or less, locked in as starters, that’s where the assurances end--- even in the case of Shumpert, who started all 45 game she played in last season after returning from off season knee surgery.
“You’ve got to go in and earn a spot,” Woodson added when asked about his third-year swingman. “That’s how I look at it.”
Given the versatility of his rotation, which will also feature a healthier Amar’e Stoudemire, Woodson figures to have the option of playing some unconventional lineups this season. In one scenario, the high-scoring Anthony figures to move to the power forward spot more often than usual.
The ten year veteran played there some last year and finished the year leading the league in scoring at 28.7 points per night.
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