Antonio McDyess poses with new Met Kazuo Matsui before the game.

"Frank has signs of being really ready to play," said Don Chaney in his post-game remarks, "I just want consistency. I want him to play this way every single night." He went on to remark that Frank needs to demonstrate a higher concentration and understanding of the game. Though Williams has been breaking out of his shell this season, his consistency, though good for a second-year player, has been wobbly at times. He is, however, regarded as the best point-guard on the roster in terms of speed and ability to penetrate and distribute the ball.

McDyess rode an exercise bike at halftime to keep his knee loose. This could be regarded as simple intelligence on the part of McDyess, or a sign that his knee will not hold up throughout a grueling season. His knee was reported to have become inflamed following the 0-5 West Coast dreadfulness that we all hope to put behind us. McDyess crashed into the stands again during the game, and remarked afterward that his doctors claim to be on the verge of having heart attacks every time he does this.

Dikembe Mutombo reasserted his greatness again, combining with McDyess down the stretch to instigate a defensive stand that stopped the Nuggets cold.

Regardless of any potentialities regarding his knee, Chaney asserted that McDyess would start again when the Knicks face the Wizards on Sunday night, much to the chagrin of the Knicks’ most reliable and consistent starter, Kurt Thomas, who has commented that he would regard being relegated to the bench as some kind of insult to his skill and dedication. Since attaining a starting role with the Knicks, Kurt Thomas has missed only five games (including Saturday night’s), and spent two years playing out of position at the Center spot. Some would argue that he deserves to start; others would make the case that his presence off the bench will make the Knicks a better team.

Whatever the ego-clash at power forward means for the Knicks internally, externally it’s obvious that having two all-star potential players in that position can only be a boon for a Knicks team that spent the last two seasons with the smallest, weakest, most inefficient starting frontcourt in the league.

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