Mike Woodson Was Asked to Limit Amar’e Stoudemire’s Minutes

Team doctors have ordered New York Knicks head coach to keep forward Amar’e Stoudemire’s minutes to around 20 or so per game, as he rounds back into shape following knee surgery. Per the NY Daily News: “Coming off his best game since his return from October knee surgery, Stoudemire will have limited minutes in Thursday’s game in Indianapolis. The Knicks forward played a season-high 27 minutes against the Celtics Monday, but Woodson said that was too much. ‘I just got word that I needed to back off because I shouldn’t have done that,’ Woodson said. ‘So his minutes will still be on restriction. Probably around (20 minutes) … somewhere in that area there. No more than 22 or 23 minutes.’ Since he returned on Jan. 1 from surgery to repair his left knee, Stoudemire had been averaging just over 18 minutes until getting extended minutes in Monday’s game. He played over 27 minutes and had 13 points and two rebounds. ‘I don’t feel as if it’s a setback at all,” said Stoudemire, who said he felt fine after practice Wednesday. ‘I feel great. I just think we’re taking a precautionary route to just make sure that everything remains continuing to improve. I think that’s about it really. No setbacks, no re-injury, anything like that. I feel great.'”