Doctor Lets Curry Return To Knicks Lineup

GREENBURGH, N.Y. - The Knicks considered themselves lucky when Eddy Curry was diagnosed with only a torn labrum in his right shoulder a week ago today. They got another pleasant surprise yesterday when their starting center was cleared to practice a week earlier than expected.

Curry was re-evaluated by the Knicks' orthopedist, Dr. Answorth Allen, who cleared him to resume contact drills today with a protective brace on the injured shoulder. Barring any setbacks, Curry said he plans to suit up Wednesday for a preseason game against the Celtics, and coach Isiah Thomas confirmed that Curry is expected back in the lineup.

"I'm back," Curry said after some light shooting and non-contact drills at the MSG Training Center. "Put that in bold print: 'I'm back.' "
Curry, who was injured when he banged into forward David Lee during training camp in Charleston, S.C., still has some hurdles to clear before the Knicks can completely exhale. Allen told Curry that his shoulder "should be back to normal, pretty much," with the caveat that he needs to remain injury-free for the next couple of weeks.

Curry will test out the brace, which serves as protective gear and also works the rotator cuff muscles during the normal basketball movement, for the first time today. Allen prescribed the brace for approximately two weeks, after which Curry either will switch to another brace or go brace-free.

"I'm very thrilled, because when I first got the MRI back, they told me, 'You've got a torn labrum and everybody responds differently,'" Curry said. "'This could be something that's minor, something that you get over real quick, or it could be a little longer.'"

Curry said the shoulder is pain-free but admitted feeling some instability in the joint when he widens his grip on bench-press exercises.

Thomas clearly was relieved by the news, but he didn't paint nearly as optimistic a picture with regard to backup center Jerome James. James continued to lumber around the practice court while gingerly attempting non-contact shooting drills, apparently with a severe case of knee tendinitis.

Asked if James might return Wednesday against the Celtics, Thomas couldn't hide a sarcastic grin when he responded, "I doubt that." Thomas quickly reiterated that James' injury is "legit" but refused to specify what is wrong.

"I don't know the medical terminology and all that stuff, but I know he hasn't been cleared by our doctors to get out on the floor and play," Thomas said. "It's a legit injury, and if it wasn't legit, my demeanor would be totally different."

source : newsday.com