"Amar'e Stoudemire called Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni "an offensive genius'' and implored his teammates yesterday to buy into the coach's famed speed-ball system.

As the Knicks bad luck would have it, the player needing to change most was absent during yesterday's offensive-intensive practice. The slumping Carmelo Anthony was excused because of "a family issue'' but will be available tonight against the Bucks and tomorrow for the big showdown against his old club, the Nuggets, in a rare, lockout-inspired Garden back-to-back."