As Knicks Add Wins, Minutes Mount, Too

D’Antoni is acutely aware of the minutes and the potential costs later in the season, when the mileage starts to accrue. At practice Tuesday, D’Antoni said he would like to trim his top players’ minutes slightly.

“I would love to cut some minutes off our guys,” D’Antoni said. “They’re playing a little bit too many minutes now, but we’ve got to win also. It’s a little bit of a balancing act. I’m trying to find ways I can shave minutes off.

“If we were in a deadlock for one of the top four spots, then I would be concerned about it, but we’re trying to make the playoffs, and that’s where we’re at.”
Felton and Stoudemire are welcoming the cutback, but Felton said he would feel comfortable playing 40 minutes a game.

Chris Duhon, Felton’s predecessor as the Knicks’ point guard, started capably his first year with the organization, hit a wall because of the heavy minutes and never recovered. But Felton is proving that he is a step above Duhon.

In Charlotte last season, Felton split time with D. J. Augustin, then one of the league’s better backup point guards. Toney Douglas is Felton’s primary backup with the Knicks, but Douglas is more equipped to play off the ball.

The rookie Andy Rautins is the team’s only other possible point guard. Rautins has made only two cameo appearances, but D’Antoni is hesitant to send him to the N.B.A. Development League because of the team’s lack of depth at the position.

The Knicks are perusing the league for backup candidates and have held multiple discussions with the Minnesota Timberwolves concerning Sebastian Telfair, according to an executive involved in the discussions. The Timberwolves will probably not make a move until they gauge the health of Jonny Flynn, their young point guard who recently returned from a hip injury.