Injured Melo Says He'll Rest When The Knicks Are Dead And Buried
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Carmelo Anthony says he'll put his damaged shoulder to the test until the Knicks are eliminated.
If they don't get a move on and get some help he could be shut down by Saturday.
Needing to win out and get a lot of help, the Knicks and Anthony will try to keep their playoff hopes alive when they take on the Atlantic Division-leading Raptors on Friday up in Toronto.
Anthony, who has played hurt much of the season, said there's no chance he won't play Friday and every day that matters going forward.
"I believe until they tell me we're out of it,'' Anthony said at the morning shootaround at Air Canada Centre. "What is the test going to do at this point? If they say it's really bad, I'm still not going to sit out. I'd rather to wait until it's all over.''
To qualify for the postseason, the Knicks have to go 4-0 while the Hawks cannot win more than one of their remaining four. Atlanta visits Brooklyn on Friday.
"It's been a hard week knowing what they're doing, watching (the Hawks) and knowing our situation,'' Anthony said. "It's been a hard week. It's a big challenge. We got to give it all at this point. No time for any mistakes or slippage."
Despite the right shoulder injury, which has at times limited what Anthony has been able to do on the court, he's averaging 27.5 points per game, shooting 45 percent from the floor and 40 percent from 3-point range, some of the best numbers of his prolific career.
"Before games it always feels the same,'' Anthony said. "It isn't until you start the games and are banging around. That's when it starts acting up.'
"Last year I tore my shoulder and labrum and rotator," he added. "This year it's not the same. The pain is different. It's more uncomfortable, trying to keep it warm throughout the game.''
The Knicks had won 12 of 15 to briefly grab hold of eighth place in the East, but back-to-back losses to Washington and Miami in their last two games put them in the precarious position they are now in.
"It is what it is,'' Anthony said. "We have to win all four games, and it's not a given if we win all four games we get in, but we have to do our part.''
You May Also Be Interested In These Stories
