Knicks can bank on Penny By FRANK ISOLA DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER Friday, April 9th, 2004 Penny Hardaway is five knee surgeries removed from his days as an All-Star and Nike pitchman, appearing in commercials opposite Tyra Banks and a puppet named Li'l Penny. Even then, Hardaway was preparing for his role as a supporting player. Now, at 32 and with 11 NBA seasons under his achy knees, Hardaway understands his limitations. But the veteran swingman also believes he can do more. In fact, with Allan Houston's status for the playoffs uncertain, Hardaway wants to speak with Lenny Wilkens about becoming more involved in the offense. "I hope even when Allan comes back I have a bigger role," Hardaway said after the Knicks clinched a playoff spot on Wednesday. "I'm not a selfish type of player, but I feel like I still have enough ability. "I was hoping that that was going to be my role when I first got here: come in and they'd run plays for me right away like the Pacers do for Al Harrington. I thought that would be my role. I want that to be my role when the playoffs start: come off the bench and they go right to me." In the Knicks' 96-82 win over the Bulls Wednesday night, Hardaway had his best night since joining the Knicks in the Stephon Marbury trade in January. He scored 21 points on 8-for-14 shooting and had seven rebounds. "This wasn't a game where I was just lucky," he said. "I got a lot of opportunities. Normally, I get five or six shots but tonight I tried to make myself assertive. I feel that with the playoffs coming up hopefully they'll look to me in the post." Hardaway was encouraged that Wilkens ran more plays for him in the post and is hoping that trend continues. Hardaway, a former first team All-NBA point guard, can play three positions. At 6-7 he also can create mismatches, particularly in the post. Hardaway is averaging 9.6 points in 41 games with the Knicks, far below his career average of 16.9. Eight years ago, Hardaway averaged 21.7 points for the Orlando Magic. Although Hardaway is no longer as athletic as he once was, he believes his skill level is still high and that given more minutes and shots, he will produce. "My game has changed only because I haven't had the freedom to be the same basketball player again," he said. "I went to Phoenix and they made Jason Kidd and myself the marquee guys but after they traded Jason and brought Stephon Marbury in, that ended very quickly. I really felt like my game hasn't changed that much, except for the fact that Orlando was my team. And the team wanted to see me score but that changed when I went to Phoenix and now in New York. "It's more Allan Houston, Stephon and Tim Thomas. I still feel like I have a lot to give. But it's tough when you're not the marquee guy. I don't think it's a question of 'I can't do it.' It's being put in a situation where I have the chance to do it." Houston is sidelined with a sore left knee and is hoping to be back for Game 1 of the playoffs in nine days. The Knicks are preparing as if Houston will not be available. Houston's two replacements, Hardaway and Shandon Anderson, both have NBA Finals experience. "We understand how to play the game," Hardaway said. "You're going to get guys who are more athletic that can jump higher, but they don't know how to think the game." --

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