Carmelo Anthony Willing to Play Power Forward in Amar’e Stoudemire’s Absence

With STAT sidelined for the next few weeks, the New York Knicks may not have a choice but to slot Carmelo Anthony into the power forwad spot (which could turn into a blessing in disguise.) Melo says he’s ready for the role. From the NY Daily News: “The Knicks are one of the few teams that can be without a player of Amar’e Stoudemire’s caliber and still throw a lineup on the court featuring one of the NBA’s top power forwards. In fact, the case could be made that in today’s NBA, Carmelo Anthony is more effective at that position than Stoudemire, who is not expected to be available for the Nov. 1 season opener due to a knee injury. ‘It’s kind of a nightmare for a lot of (power forwards) in this league because he’s capable of doing so much offensively,’ Mike Woodson said. ‘He can come off screens, can run pick-and-rolls, isolation and post. There’s a variety of things he can do (against) bigger fours that have to guard him.’ Anthony returned to his alma mater on Monday for a preseason game against the Philadelphia 76ers and started at power forward. He scored 23 points in the Knicks’ 98-90 loss. Tyson Chandler was at center, of course, while Ronnie Brewer, making his Knicks’ debut, started at small forward. Depending on Stoudemire’s availability, that could be the starting front court on opening night against the Brooklyn Nets. ‘I’m pretty sure I’ll be there,’ Anthony said. ‘I don’t have no problem. I’ve played it last year. I played four-five the whole summer. I have no problem playing that position. It’s just a matter of us having guys at that position with Amar’e being healthy and things like that and Kurt Thomas and Rasheed (Wallace). So now I guess it’s back to the drawing board with me at the power forward position.'”