Was that someone criticizing Jeremy Lin at Knicks camp? While Knicks coach Mike Woodson has run from the Lin issue, center Tyson Chandler was blunt, saying Lin was too “inexperienced’’ and their point-guard trio of Raymond Felton-Jason Kidd-Pablo Prigioni is an upgrade over last season’s Lin-Baron Davis-Mike Bibby troika.
“Baron was hurt and Jeremy was a young point guard who was just learning and figuring out an offense,” Chandler said. “It was nothing against them and it was definitely nothing against Baron.
“Jeremy was a young point guard who was inexperienced, who brought a great light to the organization. But as far as being able to run the offense and putting players in the right position he just wasn’t there. We got some veteran point guards that are capable of doing that.”
Chandler also took issue with Shaquille O’Neal, who on TNT named the NBA’s two best centers as Brook Lopez and Andrew Bynum. Dwight Howard wasn’t the only one slighted.
Chandler, reigning Defensive Player of the Year, called Shaq’s rankings “comical.’’
“I was watching SportsCenter this morning, eating breakfast in the team lounge, and was laughing at the whole thing,’’ Chandler said. “I honestly think it’s comical. I don’t care about rankings.
“That’s one individual’s point of view. I know where I’m at. I know what my value is. And I know I have to continue to get better.’’
During the Olympics, Chandler told The Post it was ‘ridiculous’’ the coaches voted him second-team All Defense and not first team after he won Defensive Player of the Year. This season should be Chandler’s best shot at making his first All-Star Team with Howard out West.
“That’s been my career,’’ Chandler said of being overlooked.
Chandler, who led the league in field-goal percentage with a club record 67.9 percent, vowed he’d become more versatile. Big-man guru Hakeem Olajuwon came to Westchester for a week last month to work with Chandler.
“It gave us a foundation to work on,’’ Chandler said. “Every move he gave me isn’t going to work for me but I can take pieces of it.
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Playing it safe with the NBA’s oldest team, Woodson cut short Amar’e Stoudemire’s scrimmaging Friday while Marcus Camby (sore calf) sat out practice. Woodson said Stoudemire “went down a little’’ but didn’t elaborate. Woodson did say Stoudemire is not injured. “We’re watching everybody closely making sure we keep healthy bodies around,’’ Woodson said. “I’ve got to be careful. I can’t run these guys into the ground.’’ … Rasheed Wallace also has not scrimmaged as he is being eased in slowly.
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Isiah Thomas said on Foxsports.com he’s “auditioned for the job’’ at ESPN as a studio analyst and hopes to be hired. Thomas said no Knicks comeback is imminent despite The Post reporting in early September owner James Dolan called a business meeting with Thomas at the Mandarin Hotel.
Thomas said his “preference” is ESPN. “Jim Dolan and I had lunch as we often do, and we are very good friends, and we talk from time to time,” he said. “I have great relationships with the organization, so I guess there was some speculation as there’s always been about me going back there. And that’s where it’s at.”