EDDY RX: 2 WEEKS ON SHELF

October 9, 2007 -- COLUMBIA, S.C. - The Knicks' season did not implode yesterday. Eddy Curry - who injured his shoulder Friday during a drill - is expected to be back for the opener in Cleveland on Nov. 2.

An MRI revealed Curry has a torn labrum in his right shoulder, and the team indicated he'll be out about two weeks.

That means he could miss five of their seven exhibition games, including last night's preseason-opening 101-92 victory over the Sixers at the University of South Carolina campus. But that's nothing compared to what might have been.

"I think it's definitely good news," Curry said at the morning shoot-around. "Going in, we were just hoping the rotator cuff was healthy. It was. It was unharmed, so it's definitely good news."

The Knicks won't set a timetable until today, after team orthopedist Dr. Answorth Allen studies the MRI. The Knicks want to confirm that local doctors didn't miss anything and that surgery is not required - their belief now.

"If this is going to be a long-term thing, yeah [it hurts]," coach Isiah Thomas said. "But if [he's] going to miss a couple of weeks and we're going to fall apart in a couple of weeks, then we shouldn't be doing this."

Curry claimed it was "very realistic" he could be ready next Wednesday in Boston, but that's a big stretch. It's not his decision. The Knicks' medical staff plan to be extra cautious, especially in the wake of rushing back David Lee and Quentin Richardson last season and allowing Jamal Crawford to play with a stress fracture.

Zach Randolph made a sharp debut last night with 17 points on 7-of-8 shooting. But he may not see much time with Curry.

"He's got to get right," Randolph said of Curry. "That's the most important thing. He's not going to be out for no month. We definitely want to get chemistry ... but it's preseason."


source : nypost.com