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Amar'e Stoudemire is optimistic that he can be available to return from his right knee injury in the time for the Eastern Conference Semifinals should the New York Knicks advance.

“If everything goes great, then I’m willing to play, and sooner than later, hopefully, if everything continues to improve. So we’ll see,” Stoudemire said. “I’m doing pretty good, actually. I’m progressing well, for the most part. Everything is on schedule, for the most part, as far as the recovery.”

Stoudemire was sidelined for the first 30 games of the regular season following a debridement procedure on his left knee, which he had again on his right knee on March 11.

“It’s the same exact procedure, and it may take the same recovery time, depending on the body. The body is unpredictable. Hopefully it heals sooner than eight weeks. If not, then I just have to be patient,” Stoudemire said. “The blessing is that we have such a great team and they’re doing so extremely well in these playoffs so far.

"If we continue to win, that gives me more time to really heal up 100 percent. That’s kind of the blessing that we have right now.”

Via Peter Botte/New York Daily News

Melo says "NOOOOOOOOOO"

I honestly didn't even notice he wasn't playing in the 1st round, lol.

great news. we need more bigs if we face the pacers and heat in the future.

He was a non factor when he came back from his injury some months ago. Don't see why it matters. He should ride the bench until it's proven they need some wild cards. At the moment they don't, and the knicks could care less about bringing him back to the rotation.