nycballer
10-10-2008, 01:32 PM
October 10, 2008
Houston no, Nate go in Philly
Thursday, Allan Houston said he planned to dress and expected to play Friday night in Philadelphia. And he seemed excited about it.
Then Friday morning, after the pre-game shootaround, he said he's been told he's being "held" until Tuesday game at the Garden. And he didn't seem terribly excited about that.
Our theory at this point: This probably won't end the way he (and from the comments we've been getting, a lot of fans') wants it to, in uniform, playing a role for the only franchise with which he wanted to make a comeback.
He can still shoot it like nobody's business, but as Mike D'Antoni eventually admitted Friday, the sore right quad that's hampered Houston during training camp has actually been bothering him for a month.
Not a good sign.
DWe still think Houston may start the season in a suit, but keep working out in case a roster spot opens and he's able to play.
But even in the kind of role Eric Piatkowski played for D'Antoni in Phoenix, occasionally dressing, occasionally not, playing in only special circumstances as a hired gun (16 games last season, 11 the season before) ... doesn't look like it's going to happen.
But, of course, we've been wrong before.
***
Eddy Curry, D'Antoni also suggested, probably won't get his first run until Tuesday, as well, in order to get in two more practices and become a bit more familiar with the system.
***
Lord, does D'Antoni love Nate Robinson. Loves his energy, his enthusiasm, his athleticism, his skill-set.
"I"m trying to temper my enthusiasm," he said Friday, "but I love the guy."
So, of course, did Isiah Thomas.
The difference this season? D'Antoni's system will make better use of everything N8 has, particularly defensively, where Thomas almost never seemed to use him as the kind of fullcourt ballhawk he can be.
And in Thomas' pound-it-inside offense, Robinson had to, as he put it, "pick your spots."
Now, he acknowledged, there are more "spots" for him to do what he does best. And D'Antoni does plan to use him as the kind of defensive pest he can be.
But unless something changes, D'Antoni said Friday he plans to get all of that off the bench, using Robinson as a game-changer.
Which means if you're keeping score in the starting point guard race, it's Chris Duhon's job to lose. To Stephon Marbury. Period. Unless you belive Mardy Collins is more than a backup.
***
Knicks fans, of course, remember Don Chaney losing Antonio McDyess for the season by playing him in the fourth quarter of an already-decided 2002 preseason game.
That's a risk D'Antoni seems willing to take by playing his regulars as he would during the regular season, even late into the fourth quarter if the game isn't a blowout, because, "One of the things we have to do is develop our chemistry among guys," he said.
"When games are close, I want [them] to learn how to win, learn how to play good down the stretch. I've also got to find out who to go to, who not to go to, draw up some plays and see if they get it.
"There's a lot of things going on with building a team we're trying to judge right now."
SOURCE: Knick Knacks: Houston no, Nate go in Philly (http://njmg.typepad.com/knickknacks/2008/10/houston-no-nate.html)
Houston no, Nate go in Philly
Thursday, Allan Houston said he planned to dress and expected to play Friday night in Philadelphia. And he seemed excited about it.
Then Friday morning, after the pre-game shootaround, he said he's been told he's being "held" until Tuesday game at the Garden. And he didn't seem terribly excited about that.
Our theory at this point: This probably won't end the way he (and from the comments we've been getting, a lot of fans') wants it to, in uniform, playing a role for the only franchise with which he wanted to make a comeback.
He can still shoot it like nobody's business, but as Mike D'Antoni eventually admitted Friday, the sore right quad that's hampered Houston during training camp has actually been bothering him for a month.
Not a good sign.
DWe still think Houston may start the season in a suit, but keep working out in case a roster spot opens and he's able to play.
But even in the kind of role Eric Piatkowski played for D'Antoni in Phoenix, occasionally dressing, occasionally not, playing in only special circumstances as a hired gun (16 games last season, 11 the season before) ... doesn't look like it's going to happen.
But, of course, we've been wrong before.
***
Eddy Curry, D'Antoni also suggested, probably won't get his first run until Tuesday, as well, in order to get in two more practices and become a bit more familiar with the system.
***
Lord, does D'Antoni love Nate Robinson. Loves his energy, his enthusiasm, his athleticism, his skill-set.
"I"m trying to temper my enthusiasm," he said Friday, "but I love the guy."
So, of course, did Isiah Thomas.
The difference this season? D'Antoni's system will make better use of everything N8 has, particularly defensively, where Thomas almost never seemed to use him as the kind of fullcourt ballhawk he can be.
And in Thomas' pound-it-inside offense, Robinson had to, as he put it, "pick your spots."
Now, he acknowledged, there are more "spots" for him to do what he does best. And D'Antoni does plan to use him as the kind of defensive pest he can be.
But unless something changes, D'Antoni said Friday he plans to get all of that off the bench, using Robinson as a game-changer.
Which means if you're keeping score in the starting point guard race, it's Chris Duhon's job to lose. To Stephon Marbury. Period. Unless you belive Mardy Collins is more than a backup.
***
Knicks fans, of course, remember Don Chaney losing Antonio McDyess for the season by playing him in the fourth quarter of an already-decided 2002 preseason game.
That's a risk D'Antoni seems willing to take by playing his regulars as he would during the regular season, even late into the fourth quarter if the game isn't a blowout, because, "One of the things we have to do is develop our chemistry among guys," he said.
"When games are close, I want [them] to learn how to win, learn how to play good down the stretch. I've also got to find out who to go to, who not to go to, draw up some plays and see if they get it.
"There's a lot of things going on with building a team we're trying to judge right now."
SOURCE: Knick Knacks: Houston no, Nate go in Philly (http://njmg.typepad.com/knickknacks/2008/10/houston-no-nate.html)