Allanfan20 wrote:We bash our medical staff all the time but we should thank them now. From Shumpert to Melo to Felton to getting Tyson, KMart and Pablo back. I haven't got the slightest idea of how Kidd is feeling but he's playing OK too. It looks like Amar'e is almost ready to go as well.

Yet, there we see Rose on the bench for the Bulls. We should be proud.

our medical staff has been much improved from what I have heard and read (in recent years.) They have a fairly new woman in charge (I think she came the same year as walsh) and the whole MSG medical facility was given a major upgrade.

Coach's report: Chandler still not there yet

In Games 1 and 2, Tyson Chandler has only averaged 21 minutes, totaling a combined three points and 10 rebounds.

Clearly, the starting center is still not himself, and on Wednesday, Mike Woodson shed some light on his All-Star center's situation.

"There's no doubt he was rusty in Game 1 and we expected that because he hadn't played, and his energy level was really low," he said during a media conference call on Wednesday. "I thought he was much better in last night's game in terms of movement and his pop, but he's still not there yet. He's lost some weight during this ordeal and we've got to get him back up to speed. I think as each game comes, he'll improve and get where we expect him to be and be the Tyson that he's been all season."

On a positive note, in the limited time Chandler has played, he's been effective setting screens, freeing up Carmelo Anthony and J.R. Smith for jump shots, and Raymond Felton for drives through the lane. But Chandler's best movement has been around the perimeter. Inside against the Celtics' physical frontline, he's been a non-factor. In fact, he doesn't have a single converted dish from Felton. During the regular season, they ran one of the best pick-and-rolls in the NBA.

Kenyon Martin has been a savior, as he's averaging three blocks and 10 rebounds in the series so far. There's been some speculation that if Amar'e Stoudemire returns in the semifinals (Woodson has ruled him out in the first round), it could affect Martin's minutes. But the coach, during an ESPN New York 98.7 FM radio appearance on Wednesday, said, "No, not at all." He said that Stoudemire could play down low, while Martin's defensive versatility would allow him to guard multiple positions.

Woodson said that Stoudemire would resume his spot in the rotation once he recovers from a right knee injury.

"Amar'e's a big piece to this puzzle," he said. "What he did for us before he went down was valuable to our team because he anchors the second unit, especially from a low-post offensive standpoint. And you need that in the playoffs."

I love Kenyon Martin and everything he brings to our game, which is simply amazing. But we need to keep monitoring his minutes because any he plays he does at a high level, jumping all around and knocking guys around. This is why getting DPOY Chandler is so important.

Chandler showed some signs in last game, and hopefully we get more signs as he goes back to the intense defensive player he is and a sure bucket when we use him the right way on offense.

http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/knicks/post/_/id/42533/kidd-martin-saved-our-season

CHANDLER'S CONDITIONING: Chandler, who's minutes went up from 20 in Game 1 to 22 in Game 2, said his wind is getting better and expects to play more on Friday night.

"I think coach is just kind of monitoring me right now ... seeing how active I am," the starting center said. "When I start to taper down, he brings me out. He's doing an excellent job of rotating me and Kenyon. I hope to play a little more in Game 3 because I feel like I'm going to play a little better."

Woodson said Chandler is still regaining his strength after losing a "little weight." Anthony suggested Chandler had been battling an illness.

"In Game 1, he said he felt a little bit weak," Melo said. "I think that was from being sick over the past couple of weeks. It looked like he's back."

Notebook: Chandler's improved health

BOSTON -- After playing 20 minutes and then 22 in Games 1 and 2, a playing time progression seemed likely in Game 3 for the New York Knicks' Tyson Chandler, who recently had been battling conditioning issues since overcoming the flu.

The upward climb continued on Friday night, as the starting center played 30 minutes and collected his most points (six) and rebounds (eight) in a game in the series, including two alley-oop finishes.

"I felt better," he said afterward. "I was moving around a lot better. I was able to play for longer stretches. My timing with my teammates, my communication out there was a lot better."

A surging Tyson is great news for a team looking to close out a series and get ready for a tougher opponent. Keep improving, Ty!

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Prigioni's relentless approach sets tone

BOSTON -- Game 3 is just hours in the books, the Knicks comfortably up 3-0, but Pablo Prigioni is still putting in work.

Back at the team hotel, the Knicks starting point guard isn't laying low. He's working with Dave Hancock, the team's director of training and conditioning, to make sure his right ankle, which was recently sprained, feels even better.

Mind you, on Friday night, Prigioni played 30 minutes, and he had one of his best games as a Knick, finishing with nine points (three 3-pointers) and a career-high five steals.

Prigioni's relentlessness defines him. Off the court, he keeps to a strict diet and gets at least eight hours of sleep every night. He brought that determination to his ankle recovery, going beyond most players' routines. How he was able to quickly bounce back, missing only Game 1, surprised some of his teammates, including Steve Novak.

"He worked literally three, four times a day in the morning, early in the day and late at night doing treatments with Dave Hancock, our trainer," Novak told ESPNNewYork.com. "Every time we were at practice, [Prigioni] was in there working. He was coming back for sessions at night, he was going to [Hancock's] house for sessions, so how quickly he got back is not typical."

On Friday night, Prigioni wasn't even 100 percent healthy. He said he was at 85 percent.

"Pablo's been unbelievable," J.R. Smith said. "I mean, the transition he's made into the NBA has helped us. He's getting steals and scrambling and making shots."

The way Prigioni keeps his body in check is the same way he keeps his opponents in check. After Avery Bradley scored 15 points in Game 1, Prigioni has limited him to eight points combined in Games 2 and 3 since then.

"He's really aggressive on the defensive end," Iman Shumpert said. "He's always trying to get us a new opportunity with a quick steal or a quick offensive rebound."

After the game, Carmelo Anthony said that Prigioni set the defensive tone for the Knicks, who had their best first half in the series, holding the Celtics to 31 points.

Shumpert (three steals) and the rest of the team followed suit. In fact, while they had 14 steals and only 11 turnovers, the Celtics had only six steals and 17 turnovers.

"I think we were pretty active today, all the guards," Prigioni said. "We got a lot of steals and, of course, we frustrated the opponent."

Prigioni also frustrated the Celtics with his extra burst off of pick-and-rolls and quick-release 3-point shooting. An overlooked element of his game is how he's adjusted to the speed of NBA play since he became the starting point guard. The faster pace he's been playing has boosted the Knicks' transition game.

"I think I'm adjusting finally," Prigioni said. "At the end of the season, I feel more comfortable with the rhythm, with this basketball."

This is Prigioni's first NBA playoff run, and he said that the only way he'll enjoy it is if the team continues to play well and wins. Of course, he'll be a big reason for that.

Prigioni is a proven champion internationally. Its great to have players dedicated and professional like him. He was huge last night.