Woodson mulls over whether rest is best

Woodson mulls over whether rest is best

Andrew Theodorakis/New York Daily News

Carmelo Anthony says his body has been feeling good as of late, coming off an injury-plagued season.

ATLANTA With eight minutes to go in the fourth quarter and his Knicks down by 18 points in Cleveland, Mike Woodson was all set to put Carmelo Anthony back into the game. After all, thats normally how his rotation works.

Then common sense took over.

I just said, No, because Im thinking about down the road and this is seven games in 11 days for us and maybe they are tired, Woodson said. But thats not an excuse.

No, its just the reality of winding down a condensed 66-game lockout season.

The Knicks will be playing their eighth game in 13 days Sunday afternoon here against the Hawks, and it might be time to start getting key players some rest, even if Woodson has talked about using the final three games to build momentum heading into the playoffs.

The Knicks are in a fight for seventh place, looking at a first-round series against most likely Miami. With the Bulls magic number to clinch the No. 1 seed at one, the Heat is virtually locked into the No. 2 seed. Although the Knicks still have to get Amare Stoudemire playing at some semblance of a high level, and on the same page with Carmelo Anthony, they cant afford to be running on fumes when they start the postseason in Miami or Chicago next weekend.

Its a tough call for Woodson, who could enhance his chances of getting a long-term deal if the Knicks have success in the playoffs. They are 15-6 in his 21 ga mes as head coach, but he has not been given an extension. Part of him wants to keep his foot on the gas pedal as the Knicks close out the season against the Clippers at the Garden on Wednesday and the Bobcats in Charlotte on Thursday.

But hes also coming to the end of a more grueling season than the standard 82-game schedule. More than a few playoff teams have started to give players games off in order to regain their legs and get refreshed mentally for the postseason. But in the Knicks case, Stoudemire has just returned from a 28-day absence and looked rusty when he played against the Cavs for the first time since injuring his back on March 24.

Ive got to get Amare back to where he needs to be, Woodson said. Sure, theres some rust there. I mean, the guy has been out a while. These next three games, thats all we have. Were going to have to keep pushing.

But how much can he push Anthony, his most important player, and Tyson Chandler, his top defender?

Ive been on teams where guys have rested and it just destroys what momentum you have going into the playoff season, Woodson said. And Ive seen it the other way. I dont want to rest guys. I want guys to stay ready to play. I want them to feel good about themselves when they step out on that floor for the first playoff game.

Until Friday, when he scored only 12 points, Anthony had been carrying the Knicks with his best overall play since coming to New York. In a torrid nine-game stretch to open April, he averaged 32 points. He could use a game or two off, although he isnt lobbying for a break.

I dont make those decisions, he said. I know my body. Ive been feeling good as of late. If its time where I need to take some time off to get ready for the playoffs, I think its something that will be discussed. But right now, I dont think so.

Chandler, however, sounds as if hell ask to sit out a game or two, possibly starting against the Hawks, who will probably play the Celtics in the first round.

The most important thing is that I feel great going into the playoffs, he said. Whats important right now is everybodys bodies feeling all right. Its more important to rest and get healthy and that we feel right for the playoffs. But Im going to talk to Coach and see what he thinks.