Amar’e Stoudemire Is Less Than 80% Healthy, Questionable For New Years Day

Amar’e Stoudemire has scrimmaged on consecutive days for the first time since his Oct. 31 left knee debridement but there is no guarantee that he will suit up for the Knicks on New Year’s Day. After practice on Monday, the Knicks listed Stoudemire as questionable for Tuesday’s game against Portland. Mike Woodson said Stoudemire’s status will depend on how his surgically-repaired left knee responds Tuesday. If he feels soreness in his knee, the coach said, “we’ll have to back off.” The Knicks had hoped that Stoudemire would return for their Jan. 1 game against the Blazers. But Stoudemire said on Sunday that his knee was less than 80 percent healthy. He reported feeling soreness and a lack of explosion. He did not speak to reporters on Monday. The coach added that Stoudemire has to work on defensive positioning and grasping the team’s terminology on defense. Woodson doesn’t expect Stoudemire to play “big” minutes when he returns. via Ian Begley, ESPN New York