Felton steps up without Amar'e

February 14

New York Post

 

"This coming Friday starts All-Star weekend. For Raymond Felton, this past Friday started what became a big weekend.
Without Amar'e Stoudemire and his sprained right big toe, Felton was the Knicks' story of the weekend. After losing to the Lakers on Friday, Felton declared the Knicks were upset by the Carmelo Anthony rumors, saying "it's starting to really get on my nerves."
On Saturday, when coach Mike D'Antoni informed the point guard that Stoudemire was out against the Nets, Felton -- a Knicks co-captain -- gathered his teammates before the game and informed them it was time to pick it up.
"I did it on my own. Being a leader, being a captain, that's what I had to do," Felton said. "Just told everybody we've got to be mentally prepared, mentally ready to get this win tonight. Everybody's got to step up."
Felton, who was snubbed for the All-Star Game, had a decent enough performance in the Knicks' 105-95 win over the Nets, delivering 13 points, 11 assists and five rebounds. While the starting point guard only shot 4-for-13, turned the ball over six times and wasn't even the best point guard on the court, thanks to Devin Harris' 22-point effort, Felton was still solid.
As was his leadership.
"Raymond hinted at it a lot [Saturday night]," Landry Fields said. "He said Amar'e's out, so we have to step up. Do it defensively and do it together."
Said Felton: "We had to come out and be ready to play. I'm very proud of everybody.""