Patrick Ewing was back in the starting lineup last night. Larry Johnson was back in the starting lineup last night. Marcus Camby, perhaps their most dynamic player this season, was still on the bench.
And it didn’t exactly sit well with Camby, the outspoken big man who admitted he was “a little annoyed” about the circumstances. Camby has kept it low about his return to the bench since his return from a knee injury but last night he couldn’t hold back. It seemed he was particularly offended by LJ grabbing back his power forward spot so soon.
“You got guys coming back hurt, coming back into the starting lineup,” said Camby, who collected 12 points and nine rebounds in just 28 minutes in the Knicks’ 85-78 win over the Sixers. “I came back and I’m still on the bench. Of course, minutes are going to be scarce. It’s all about sacrifice.
“I’m a little bit [annoyed], it’s not a real big deal but guys have been playing well,” said Camby, the opening-night starting center who was suffering from tendinitis in his knee and missed three games. “Taking guys’ roles and putting them on the bench is crazy.”
Ewing had seven points, all from the line, and 10 rebounds in 30 minutes. Johnson had 12 points and six boards in 33 minutes.
Camby admitted Ewing “deserved to start” but didn’t mention Johnson. “I just want to play,” Camby said. “I would love to start, don’t get me wrong. But coming off the bench is something I’m used to since I’ve been here. I have no choice [but to make sacrifices]. It’s always in the back of my mind. I never want to rehash what went on last year with minutes but I don’t think that’s going to be happening.”
Told Van Gundy planned to use Camby and Ewing together at times, the former UMass star said, “You never know what he’s going to do. He said the same thing about going with the big guards in the backcourt and it never happened.”