Funny thing about super-teams. If one of the role players gets hurt, you’re have an issue. If two are hurt, you are in trouble. If two role players and a star go down? Major problems. And the Knicks have major problems.
Amar’e Stoudemire will miss the Knicks’ game in Sacramento versus the Kings Saturday night with a sprained ankle, according to the New York Post. Stoudemire tweaked it on Thursday versus the Lakers when he got tangled up with an opponent and rolled it. He finished that game, but of course the ankle swells afterwards and then hurts like a sonofagun, so this isn’t surprising. The Knicks need Stoudemire, though, on a losing streak and struggling mightily with offense. Stoudemire’s offense has been impacted by having Carmelo Anthony run point forward, with his usage significantly down as well as his production.
Without Stoudemire, expect for the game to turn into a pretty sluggish affair, though it may speed up the Knicks a bit. DeMarcus Cousins could have a big night if Tyson Chandler is otherwise occupied with keeping Chuck Hayes off the glass.
Either way, without Iman Shumpert and Baron Davis, the Knicks, a painfully thin team, will be even thinner without their best/second-best player. More shots for Melo, though!