Decision time
Carmelo Anthony has to battle between the siren song of facing LeBron James and the juggernaut Cavaliers and thinking about his longterm health.
Anthony has been listed as questionable for Wednesday’s game against Cleveland (187) because of a sprained right ankle. The Knicks star said he may not know whether he will be able to play until closer to game time.
Anthony sprained his ankle late in the third quarter Monday night against to the Magic, getting entangled with center Robin Lopez. He played on, but took just two shots in the fourth quarter of the defeat, saying he wanted to be “a facilitator.’’
After sitting out most of practice Tuesday, Anthony said, “It’s a little sore. We’ll see what happens. I had treatment this morn ing, last night. It’s around the clock. It could’ve been worse. At this point, I didn’t run today, so I don’t know. I probably won’t know until game time tomorrow. I don’t know how to explain [how it happened], but Robin did it.’’
Anthony — who has missed just one game this season, because of strep throat — and James are close friends, and have a rivalry dating to their highschool days.
Surging Lance Thomas or Derrick Williams would start in Anthony’s place, coach Derek Fisher said.
“I really don’t like missing those games,’’ Anthony said. “Of course [because of LeBron]. I think it’s more that and my competitive nature starts coming out. And we’ve been playing some good basketball, too. That’s a game I wouldn’t want to sit out. I don’t want to risk it. We do have three games in four nights coming up. It’s not about that one game.’’
After the Cavaliers, the Knicks have a backtoback with the Hawks and Celtics on Saturday and Sunday and host Detroit on Tuesday.
At 31 years old and coming off major knee surgery, Anthony has to be cognizant of making sure he’s not overdoing things that could be detrimental to his future.
“I felt that a long time ago, not when I turned 30,’’ Anthony said. “The more games, the more minutes, the more years you play, you’re going to have those feelings. A lot of times now it’s the mental part of the game. You got to get yourself going mentally. You got to get yourself going physically. Some days is going to be mental days and you’re mental is going to be there more than your physical some days so it’s a balance with that.”