Amare Stoudemire to Begin the Season on Sideline

New York Knicks starting power forward Amare Stoudemire will begin the 2012-13 regualr season sidelined for approximately three weeks due to a ruptured popliteal cyst behind his left knee.

The left knee is the exact one which the six-time all-star had micro fracture surgery on during 2005 when he missed almost the entire season while a member of the Phoenix Suns. An MRI which Stoudemire had a few days ago to examine a bone bruise which he suffered in practice on October 10 revealed the cyst and now the Knicks will have to begin their season minus their second leading scorer from a season ago.

The Knicks beginning part of their schedule is very tough and includes an opening night match with their cross-city rivals the Brooklyn Nets on November 1 in Brooklyn, their home opener versus the defending champion Miami Heat, two huge games with the up and coming Eastern Conference powerhouse Philadelphia 76ers on November 4 and 5 and then versus the Dallas Mavericks who will be sans their own all-star power forward Dirk Nowitzki due to knee issues on November 9.

With Stoudemire out of the line up for the initial few weeks of the season it will be likely to see Carmelo Anthony moving over to the four position with a mixture of Steve Novak and J.R. Smith logging minutes at small forward while Iman Shumpert and Ronnie Brewer occupy the shooting guard minutes.

This is could be a huge setback for the Knicks who need to get off to a good start with the Atlantic Division being arguably the most competitive division in the Eastern Conference and possibly the NBA.