Knicks will reportedly start Metta World Peace over Andrea Bargnani

According to a published report from Marc Berman of the New York Post, Knicks head coach Mike Woodson is going to turn to Metta World Peace in the starting lineup when New York takes the court against the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday.

When asked about the potential to start World Peace for Wednesday, star forward Carmelo Anthony was quoted as saying “that’s what (he)’s going with” and it was a poorly kept secret leading up to the end of training camp. It’s important to note that Woodson hasn’t released an official starting lineup to this point, but he did make some interesting comments with regard to Carmelo playing the power forward spot (where he would suit up if Bargnani wasn’t starting):

"“We’ve been successful with Melo playing a lot of four’’ Woodson said. “We haven’t experimented a whole lot with him playing three until this exhibition season. I just feel like I didn’t want to go away from it a lot with him playing the four spot, but I have options. When I do go away from it. I can go big with Andrea.’’"

That certainly sounds like a man who’s made a decision, and the fact that he “can go big with Andrea” indicates it more so as an option later in the game. To be honest, I don’t think this matters in the grand scheme, as both players will see significant time. With that said, it is undeniable that New York was better with Anthony at the 4 last season (no matter what he thinks about it), and a semi-washed up Metta World Peace isn’t really a downgrade from what Bargnani showed in Toronto last season.

Stay tuned for the official word as tip-off approaches, but it would be a surprise if we saw Bargnani on the court to kick things off.