THREE TO GET READY: The Knicks’ big-three — Amar’e Stoudemire (left to right), Tyson Chandler and Carmelo Anthony — share a laugh as Chandler dribbles around at the team’s Media Day yesterday in Greenburgh, N.Y. (Anthony J. Causi)
No NBA team is older than the Knicks. And coach Mike Woodson said yesterday he’s not sure any team in the league is better than them either.
Unfazed by their age and the potential of breaking down physically as they have done in the first round of the playoffs the past two springs, Woodson believes the Knicks have as good a chance as anyone to win the NBA championship. That includes the defending champion Heat. Woodson said he learned from his experience coaching the Hawks that a good, young team isn’t quite good enough to win it all.
“Young guys aren’t winning an NBA title,’’ Woodson said yesterday during Media Day. “I’ve experienced that now taking a young team, that Hawks team. Yes, [the Hawks] improved and got better, but were we going to take the next step to win a title? No we weren’t. I think [the Knicks have] as legitimate a shot as anybody in the NBA to reach that goal. A lot of good things have to happen: No. 1 staying healthy and guys buying into the system. But I like the makeup of our ballclub in terms of the veterans.’’
The Knicks haven’t won a title since 1973 or a playoff series since 2001. Their offseason additions included Jason Kidd, 39, Marcus Camby, 38, Kurt Thomas, who will turn 40 this week, Pablo Prigioni, 35, and Rasheed Wallace, 38.
Woodson bragged his interim success last season (18-6) came about through being the fourth-ranked defensive club in that span.
“That puts you in position to win a lot of games,’’ Woodson said. “That’s why we had the short success we had. To add veteran guys who are defensive-minded, battle-tested, that have won, will be huge as we try to win the NBA title.We have to position ourselves to win the division to secure one of the top four spots where we can host the first round, then from there try to win an NBA title.’’
General manager Glen Grunwald doesn’t see a rocking chair for his club, only a rocking Garden. The Mavericks won the 2010 title with an average age of 30.4. The Heat’s average age last season was 28.3.
“We think we’re not old, but we’re more experienced and better,’’ Grunwald said. “You mention the age of our team, the team that won the championship a couple of years ago was over 30. We have excellent veterans.”
Woodson said the three frontcourt stars, Amar’e Stoudemire, Carmelo Anthony and Tyson Chandler, are late in their primes and required experience surrounding them before the Knicks’ window to win a title closes. That’s one factor in Jeremy Lin, 24, now being a Rocket and 28-year-old Raymond Felton the new starting point guard.
“We felt we needed veteran guys around those guys. There aren’t young teams winning NBA titles,” Woodson said. “If we can stay healthy … I think we got a shot. … We have number of ways we can play. A lot of guys don’t have to play a lot of big minutes. That’s the beauty.’’
Chandler agreed.
“We got a lot of players,’’ he said. “We got the dogs.’’
Woodson wants less reliance on Anthony and Stoudemire. The Knicks are deep at every position and even can hold their own at shooting guard despite Iman Shumpert’s uncertain return date from ACL knee surgery. He could be back in December, but January is possible, too. The lone starting slot open for competition during training camp is shooting guard as J.R. Smith and Ronnie Brewer (knee), who should be practicing in 2 ½ weeks after meniscus surgery, will compete.
Camby, who will back up Chandler, said the team reminds him of the Knicks’ 1999 Finals club.
“Sky’s the limit,’’ Camby said. “I like the depth we have. Hopefully with Rasheed [Wallace], our frontcourt will be the deepest in the league. I see a lot of similarities of this team and team we had back in ’99 when we had a lot of older vets in Patrick [Ewing], Larry [Johnson], Chris Dudley, Herb Williams.’’
Asked if they will compete for a title, Anthony said: “I think so. With the team we have right now, we have guards, point guards, guys who can shoot, we have big men, we have veterans, guys who know how to play the game. As a team on paper, we have the wealth.’’