WEST POINT — It’s enough to want to make you tear up your thigh, get a cortisone shot, limp onto the court and hit a couple jumpers.
The Captain — no, not Derek Jeter but the Knicks’ captain, Willis Reed — watched Knicks training-camp practice Wednesday, a symbol of where the franchise has been and where the current group wants to go.
“His presence here means a lot because I know what he was able to accomplish here, I know all the things and the work that he put in as a New York Knick,” Carmelo Anthony said. “He is the heart of the New York Knick organization for what he was able to do back then, and still be here to give that knowledge to us and for us to learn from that.”
As a reminder, the Knicks gathered Monday to watch an ESPN documentary, “When the Garden Was Eden,” about the glory years of the franchise, which included Reed’s unforgettable Game 7 appearance that sparked the 1969-70 NBA championship win over the Lakers. Walt Frazier put up the fantasy numbers, but Reed’s inspirational presence through injury was the catalyst.
“I heard they showed a film of some of my expert basketball playing,” Reed said with a smile. “I didn’t see the movie. I want to see it, though. They kind of made me … the main guy — but I really wasn’t.”
They got to play hard and play defense, and I think they will. I really believe if everybody stays fairly healthy — Amar’e [Stoudemire] obviously is important — I think they will make it.
- Willis Reed
Still, Reed, more than four decades later, serves as the symbol of that team. It’s a coach’s dream moment: overcoming adversity, taking one for the team — and winning a title. The documentary brought it back.
“It meant a great deal to each of us,” coach Derek Fisher said. “It helped a lot of us to understand the love affair between the city and the Knicks and how far back it goes.
“For our team, it just helped us to relate what goes into being a team, how special the relationships and the bonds are. … We hope to even scratch the surface of what those guys accomplished.”
While that won’t come this season, Reed believes the Knicks have steered their ship back on course, and the chief reason is former teammate Phil Jackson. So the playoffs are distinctly possible.
“The one thing I believe is that if anybody can change the fate of the New York Knicks, I think Phil will do it,” said Reed, who admitted he thought Jackson’s many ties to Los Angeles would have prevented his return to New York. “He’s had a remarkable career.”
But Jackson and Fisher won’t be scoring, rebounding or blocking shots.
“I believe they have enough talent,” Reed said of the roster. “They got to play hard and play defense, and I think they will. I really believe if everybody stays fairly healthy — Amar’e [Stoudemire] obviously is important — I think they will make it.”
Led by Anthony, whose return after a free-agency dabble was the right thing to do, Reed said.
“He had work undone and I think he enjoyed visiting other places, but I never thought he would actually leave,” Reed said. “I really would have been upset [and] surprised,” he said.
“He has been a great Knick … He’s a great offensive player. I love watching him play, score. I know that he can do a lot more and I think he will do more. I think it is his team and he wanted to do the thing he set out to do here, and that’s win a championship.”
But first, make the playoffs — which Reed forecasts for his old team.
“The East is not as strong as the West,” he said. “Because of that, they have a shot to definitely get to the playoffs.”
The first step before limping onto the court for the title game.