Initial reports of Amare Stoudemire’s knee injury stated that he would be out for 2-3 weeks missing only the preseason and maybe one or two season games but it appears things may be worse. Read more after the jump.
According to Frank Isola of the NYDN
Amar’e Stoudemire is seeking a second opinion to determine the severity of the left knee injury that could keep the Knicks power forward sidelined for the first month of the NBA regular season.
Stoudemire is consulting with Phoenix Suns orthopedic surgeon Dr. Thomas Carter, according to a Suns source. Carter performed microfracture surgery on Stoudemire’s left knee in 2005, when he played for Phoenix. It is customary, and in some cases encouraged by teams, that players get a second opinion from an independent physician.
The Knicks will play 15 games in a month with nine of those games on the road. With Amare out options at the front line becomes very thin. Woodson could either start Kurt Thomas or move Carmelo Anthony to the four spot, I prefer the latter but Woodson seems hesitant about putting Melo in the PF position. It is also unclear if center Tyson Chandler will be ready for the Knicks season opener against the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday. Chandler however says he’s absolutely certain he will play after an MRI showed his knee injury was only a bruised bone. Chandlers backup Marcus Camby is still recovering from a calf injury.
Injury is of course plaguing the Knicks and with the oldest bench in the NBA it’s unlikely they’ll hold up throughout the season. Still I think their chances are pretty favorable to finish above the .500 mark.
