Knicks at Bobcats
THE STORY: The New York Knicks have had their roster picked apart in the media, with the glaring weakness being at the point guard position. It looks like that is about to get a major upgrade. Baron Davis practiced with the team Monday for the first time since signing in December. “Made a lot of mistakes, was very rusty, I couldn’t play,” Davis said when describing the practice. Still, he is expected to join the team at some point during a four-game road trip that begins Tuesday at the Charlotte Bobcats. Davis, who is recovering from surgery to repair a herniated disc in his back, understands the expectations in New York. “But I’m up for the challenge,” he said. On Tuesday, the Knicks will likely be trying to snap a six-game slide without Davis. The Bobcats have dropped four in a row and are one of only two teams in the East yet to reach four victories.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, MSG (New York), SportSouth (Charlotte)
ABOUT THE KNICKS (6-10): New York is hoping the addition of Davis will help superstars Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire, each of whom are struggling from the floor. Anthony’s 40.4 shooting percentage would be the lowest of his career in a single season while Stoudemire is putting up 17.5 points - the lowest mark since his rookie year and nearly eight points south of his 2010-11 average. Rumors cropped up Monday that the Knicks would be willing to part with Stoudemire in a trade for Orlando center Dwight Howard.
ABOUT THE BOBCATS (3-14): One of Charlotte’s three wins came at Madison Square Garden on Jan 4, a 118-110 triumph that marked the team’s highest scoring total of the season. The Bobcats have dropped 10 of 11 since, averaging 87.5 points along the way. Boris Diaw and Gerald Henderson combined for 51 points and were 22 of 28 from the floor in the Jan. 4 meeting. New York got some revenge five days later, holding the Bobcats to 41.5 percent in a 91-87 victory, though Henderson (7 of 16) and Diaw (8 of 12) still put up decent numbers.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Anthony has torched the Bobcats for 28.2 points on 51.2 percent shooting over 15 career games.
2. Charlotte point guard D.J. Augustin (toe) is unlikely to play Tuesday.
3. New York has taken five of the last seven in the series.