KNICK NOTES
ORLANDO – Jeff Van Gundy has grown tired of hearing that the second game on back-to-back nights is physically treacherous.
Van Gundy was asked before last night’s game against Orlando if he thought that would effect the club. The Knicks’ starters had to play the final six minutes Thursday night because the Wizards trimmed a 21-point deficit to six points. The Knicks have been a terrible back-to-back team this season, going 5-11 on second nights.
“I don’t think it matters physically,” Van Gundy said. “It may matter mentally to the players because they think they’re tired.
“This back-to-back thing in the NBA has grown in epic proportions. Mentally, if you just say the word, you can’t practice the next day after back-to-backs, you can’t move, you can’t speak. You can barely muster up enough energy to breathe. That’s where mentally they have them convinced it’s harder than it is.
“They would feel better going into tonight’s game if we had a blowout, but physically playing six more minutes 24 hours ago has no impact on them.”
With Chris Dudley and John Wallace going on the injured list Thursday and not being ineligible until next Friday against Toronto, Van Gundy said the Knicks will sign a practice player today out of the CBA.
Van Gundy said the Knicks are zeroing in on perimeter players who can be eligible for the playoffs – another indication that Dudley’s status is highly uncertain. Dudley said his bulging disk will not be 100 percent by playoff time.
The Knicks are looking at CBAers Silas Mills, Brandon Williams, Jimmy King, Jamel Thomas, Damian Owens, Kiwane Garris and Kebu Stewart.