D'Antoni happy in New York
If Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni is struggling with second thoughts about turning down the Bulls and missing the chance to work with dynamic point guard Derrick Rose, he did a good job of hiding it Tuesday.
"That night when I made that decision, it felt good and it still does," D'Antoni said before facing the Bulls at the United Center.
"I'm glad I did it, but at the same time I hope everybody knows it's not a slight to Chicago. I was just lucky to have the choice and had to make one or the other."
D'Antoni had great success during five seasons in Phoenix but was set free by the Suns last May, then pursued by both the Bulls and the Knicks. He chose New York and its offer of $24 million over four seasons.
About a week after D'Antoni accepted the Knicks job, he was on stage at the NBA draft lottery and watched the Bulls luck into the No. 1 pick.
"Besides cussing a couple times and saying, 'Oh shoot?' " D'Antoni said when asked for his thoughts that night. "It just happens. You get resigned to the fact that it could happen. But it's a long process and a long road. So far, so good.
"I'm just really happy with the guys I have in that locker room, and they're battling every night. I don't have regrets."
Duhon works the room: Chris Duhon ventured into the enemy locker room to check in with his old teammates before Tuesday's game. Following four years with the Bulls, Duhon jumped to the Knicks as a free agent and is having the best season of his career.
"It was weird coming in a different locker room," he said. "But it was good to see those guys."
Duhon spent a long time in the training room before the game, but he wasn't feeling any effects of playing all 48 minutes in Sunday's win over Detroit. Duhon didn't leave the floor against the Bulls until the 2:07 mark of the third quarter.
"I stretch more now. I've got to stay loose," he said. "I think you just have a different confidence out there knowing that you're the guy and they want you out there all the time.
"So you play with a different swagger and you play with a different confidence."
Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni claimed to be a huge advocate of adding the former Duke point guard.
"I was out running crazy for it," D'Antoni said. "I always liked him in Phoenix and hearing what Coach K (Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski) had to say, he just raved about the kid. And he's right. I was definitely on that bandwagon."
Bull horns: Vice president-elect Joe Biden watched Tuesday's game from the owner's suite. - Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni on center Eddy Curry, who has been out all season with a knee injury: "He'll be great in the system. He's faster than a lot of guys I've coached. There's no doubt if he gets himself ready and able, he'll be good for us."