Hooped Up

The last thing Eddy Curry needs is time away from fat camp and that’s exactly what happened. Curry reported to camp out of shape (surprise), throwing up in his first practice and now has some kind of bacterial infection probably caused by his allergy to exercise. And you thought Baron Davis needed Jenny Craig.

“Eddy Curry missed yesterday’s first two practices of training camp and could be out for the weeklong training camp here after being felled by a bacterial infection Monday night in the team hotel, Knicks officials said. Curry was taken to Saratoga Hospital for evaluation yesterday. The Knicks won’t know if he’ll participate this week until later today. Curry, diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat three years ago, had a high fever and vomited most of Monday night. Mike D’Antoni’s speedball offense may not suit Curry anyhow. Curry came into camp in mediocre shape and is no lock to be the starter.”

New York Post

New York Knicks center Eddy Curry will have arthroscopic surgery on his right knee, ending his disappointing season.Curry will have a piece of torn cartilage removed next week, the Knicks said Friday. Recovery time is expected to be four to six weeks.

Curry struggled playing alongside Zach Randolph and averaged 13.2 points, a huge drop from the career-best 19.5 from last season. He played well during a recent three-game stretch when Randolph was out, averaging 20.7 points, but was injured late in the first half of a 101-97 loss to Detroit on March 7.

Curry finished the game but his knee began to swell the next day and he missed three games. Curry was hoping the knee would respond to treatment so he could put off surgery until the summer and avoid ending his season early for the second time in four years.
Yahoo

Multiple sources told ESPN.com that talks with the Indiana Pacers regarding a Carter-for-Jermaine O’Neal swap were dormant, but not dead, after the Nets spent nearly a week devoting their attention to the Kidd deal with Dallas. Another source said there had been preliminary discussions on a three-way trade that would include, among other things, Carter going to the New York Knicks, Eddy Curry to Miami and the expiring contracts of Jason Williams and Ricky Davis to New Jersey. Speaking with writers at the team’s headquarters Tuesday, Thorn was asked if the continued delays in the Kidd trade — first agreed to last Wednesday but not completed until Tuesday — had impacted him on other trade fronts.

ESPN.com

Queens native and Rockets point guard Rafer Alston knocked the Knicks point guards before last night’s game, saying they are the reason the big-man tandem of Eddy Curry Eddy Curry and Zach Randolph is not working. Alston and Coney Island’s Stephon Marbury are former playground rivals from adjoining boroughs. Alston took special glee late in the first quarter last night when he stripped Marbury at halfcourt and went in for a layup. Alston smiled devilishly all the way downcourt. On the next timeout, Alston patted Marbury on his rear.

NY Post

An angry Zach Randolph denied he’s held Eddy Curry back this season and believes the two can still play together. Despite the Knicks looking like a more cohesive unit without Randolph in their tight battle in San Antonio, Isiah Thomas played it safe and returned the controversial power forward back into the starting lineup last night vs. the Rockets. It didn’t work as the Knicks got off to a 20-9 deficit before Randolph was removed. Randolph had six turnovers but posted 18 points and a career-high 22 rebounds in the 103-91 loss.

NY Post

Before the game, Zach Randolph said he was “shocked” when Isiah Thomas informed him during the morning stretch that he wouldn’t be starting. Asked if he would try to play his way back in, Randolph uttered an expletive and said, “I ain’t played my way out of it.” Even so, Randolph wound up only one rebound shy of his usual double-double, recording 22 points and nine rebounds in 33:07. Crawford had 29 points and eight assists, Lee 11 points and 14 rebounds, and Robinson 16 points - but no assists - in 25:51. Richardson was 3-for-12 from the field, including three air balls, for eight points in 36:29.

NY Newsday

Knicks center Eddy Curry woke up with a stiff back this morning and did not participate in the morning shootaround. The Knicks still say he should play but who knows. They also said Quentin Richardson would play many times and he did not. Curry’s sore back goes along with the sense he’s hitting the wall. He’s also missing Jamal Crawford too much.”

New York Post