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Andrea Bargnani is in midseason form for the New York Knicks and the regular season doesn’t even start until Wednesday. He is not in playing shape, but he is already back to his regular mishaps as it was announced Sunday that Bargnani will miss the first three games of the season for the Knicks because of an injury.
Bargnani is dealing with a troublesome hamstring injury, and has not played since the preseason opener October 8th when he scored eight points in 19 minutes against the Boston Celtics.
The three games Bargnani will miss is the season and home opener Wednesday against the Chicago Bulls, a visit to LeBron James for the Cleveland Cavaliers home opener, then a game back at Madison Square Garden against the re-branded Charlotte Hornets. With the timetable given, the game Bargnani will be returning for is the fourth game of the season at home against the Washington Wizards. Betting on Bargnani to be able to return for the fourth game of the season is not a smart investment though, as the Knicks seem to ready to give him as much time as he needs.
"“I wouldn’t necessarily like to put him in that position where without some quality practice time, put him into a game situation,” said Derek Fisher when asked about the Bargnani prognosis. “That’s why hamstrings are problematic, because one day you’re feeling better, but all it takes is a little bit of a tug and it sets you back.”"
Fisher would later add, “It’s about trying to make sure he’s healthy before he goes out and it’s not something that he has to kind of question once he’s out on the court.”
Unlike last season, the Knicks do have some depth at their power forward and center positions. Jason Smith looks like he will take over the starting spot Bargnani was fighting for. Off the bench, the Knicks still have Amar’e Stoudemire, Quincy Acy, Cole Aldrich and potentially Travis Wear, who many reports believe will be a member of the Knicks opening night in favor of Travis Outlaw, who will be released or traded.
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While you never wish an injury upon a player, this is one that could help the Knicks in the early going of the season. Fisher now has one less person to worry about giving minutes to, and a player whose playing style is hard to mesh with some of the other players Fisher has at his disposal.
Once he returns it will be a challenge for Fisher to find Bargnani playing time, especially is the team gets off to a hot start without him. But that is a bridge Fisher and the Knicks will cross when they need to. For now, Fisher will roll with what he is as Bargnani attempts to recover from a troublesome injury.