With his skills, Randolph in good shape to help Knicks

Zach Randolph gives the Knicks yet another offensive weapon in the starting lineup, but team defense remains a concern. AP

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NEW YORK -- For Zach Randolph, conditioning is overrated.

Now wait, that didn't come from him. Don't start cursing NBA players as a bunch of bloated behemoths who haven't run a suicide since college. Don't demonize the lot of them for Jerome James.

No, that statement on Randolph's fitness is more of a personal observation. In fact, sitting in front of his locker at Madison Square Garden, Randolph was a bit puzzled when I asked him the question: When it comes to your game, does conditioning matter?

Come again?

Well, I repeated, you're not exactly known as a high flyer. So is the extensive reporting on your physical condition somewhat overrated?

"You know," Randolph said before pausing to ponder the question a little more. "I'm a player. No matter what, I can go out there and play."

The thing is, he's right. While Randolph will never win any Mr. Universe contests, the truth is the 6-foot-9, 251-going-on-281-pound power forward plays above the rim about as much as Andrew Golota punches above the belt. Randolph is a power player with finesse skills.

"Great timing," an Eastern Conference scout said when asked for an assessment of Randolph's abilities. "He's a tough rebounder, which they need, and the guy can score from anywhere."

That much is true. While the buzz here over the summer was how two wide loads like Randolph and Eddy Curry could coexist in the paint, Randolph has used the preseason to showcase his versatility. In the Knicks' preseason opener against Philadelphia, Randolph made his first four shots -- all from outside 12 feet. After struggling through the first quarter against Maccabi Tel Aviv on Thursday night, Randolph recovered nicely to finish with 15 points on 7-of-14 shooting.

"It's refreshing having him out there," Knicks guard Stephon Marbury said. "He's a difficult matchup."

Sure looks that way, though the adjustment period is far from over. Curry's shoulder injury will likely keep him out until the end of next week, meaning Randolph and Curry won't have much time during the preseason to develop their on-court chemistry. Marbury admitted that he has been overly concerned with feeding Randolph "at the beginning" of games; it will be crucial for the Knicks that Marbury run the offense effectively.

"This team has to share the ball. Bottom line," the scout said. "There are too many scorers out there."

Then there is the matter of defense.

"Randolph doesn't play any," the scout said. "Neither does Eddy."

Which means if Isiah Thomas is worth his salt as a coach, he is spending all his free time devising zone schemes and trapping defenses designed to take the defensive pressure off of his big men. Press more. Point Nate Robinson in the direction of the opposing point guard and tell him to cover that guy like a sweater. Utilize the defensive skills of Wilson Chandler and Jared Jeffries. Do something.

The growing consensus among NBA types is that the Knicks are a playoff team, albeit one that is likely to be in a dogfight for the last two postseason spots with four or five teams in the Eastern Conference. The talent is there. New York just has to find the right ways to use it.

Around the league

• Jason Kidd told SI.com on Thursday that he doesn't expect to play many minutes in the Nets' first few preseason games. Nets coach Lawrence Frank is hoping to give Kidd as much rest as possible after the point guard spent the summer with the U.S. national team. "But," Frank said, "whenever I say that, I always wind up playing him more."

• Isiah Thomas on the lukewarm reception he received from the Garden crowd Thursday: "I'm a big boy. I can handle it."

• Someone, anyone, please tell me how Allan Houston makes the Knicks' roster? The Knicks already have 15 guaranteed contracts and have to figure out what to do with impressive rookie Demetris Nichols. I understand Houston's loyalty to the team that paid him more than $100 million, but I'll never understand why he didn't want to go to Cleveland.

• Provided Nenad Krstic can stay healthy, he's in for a big season. The Nets' center, who is recovering from a torn left ACL, recently started contact drills and is looking impressive. Maybe it has something to do with the 15 pounds of muscle he put on in the offseason.

• Pacers coach Jim O'Brien didn't tell anyone he was OK with losing 50 games this season. He just didn't.