KNICK NOTES
You can take the candy away from Frank Williams to get him in better shape but you can’t teach point-guard poise.
In his two games since being activated, he’s looked so much more in control than he did in November. Williams didn’t commit a turnover in 12 minutes Sunday in Sacramento, dishing out three assists. He has six assists in 25 minutes.
“It’s very encouraging,” Williams said. “I’m getting positive feedback on what I’m doing on the floor. It’s really unlimited.”
It’s easy to understand why NBA scouts touted him highly entering the draft. Don Chaney likes his ability to penetrate and his timing in feeding teammates off pick-and-rolls.
Now it’s time for Chaney to back up his Williams praise. When Charlie Ward is eligible for activation from the injured list for Sunday’s game in Minnesota, Knicks brass has a decision to make about Williams.
“I hope so, but you never know,” Williams said of remaining on the active roster. “My main thing is getting in the lane and finding open guys.”
Lavor Postell, their benchwarming swingman stuck at the Knicks’ deepest position, might be the better choice for IL. Chaney said he hadn’t decided, but Chaney is sure how much he misses Ward.
“[Ward’s] a big-play guy, we have to learn to win without him,” Chaney said.
Chaney said late Friday night that Ward’s improvement from an abdominal strain – an unpredictable injury – was quicker than expected. The indication was that Ward could be ready before the five-game minimum injury-list stay.
“If he had come to me at shootaround, come to me earlier in the day, we would’ve thought about it and maybe made a different decision,” Chaney said.
In damage-control mode Sunday, Chaney tried to change his story, saying he didn’t think Ward would be ready for “at least four more games.” As Chaney spoke, Ward worked on a stationary bicycle to stay in shape.
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The Knicks were out-rebounded 49.5-39.3 during their four-game Western losing streak.
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Latrell Sprewell, during the four-game Western losing streak, shot 26 of 69 (37.7 percent) with 12 turnovers. He and the Knicks face his buddy Byron Scott and the Nets tomorrow for the first time since the coach’s Sprewell potshots last week.
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Despite 2-for-21 clunkfest Sunday from 3-point line at ARCO Arena, Knicks still lead league in 3-point shooting (38.9 pct.).