nycballer
10-18-2008, 09:49 AM
The Son Rose...up over Glen Davis
Patrick Ewing, Jr. heard his named called and the entire Knick bench erupted. A short while later, after a few nervous mistakes, Jamal Crawford went up to Ewing durng a timeout.
"You've got to get me at least one dunk tonight," Crawford said.
Almost immediately, Ewing came through.
The Legacy leaped up over Glen "Big Baby" Davis to slam home a rebound with 3:28 left in what became a 104-97 preseason win over the Celtics. The TD Banknorth Garden crowd let out a synchronous "oooh" and Ewing took us all back in time a moment when he landed and roared to the ceiling, just like Dad used to do it.
[Bloghost note: Looking for a YouTube video of it to share with those who didn't see the game, so post if you find one, Fixers!]
"It was good, man," Ewing Jr. said of his first taste of NBA action. "It was good."
It was somewhat of a surprise to Ewing, who, despite having about 20 friends and family members in the crowd (remember, he was born in Cambridge), didn't expect to play.
"Then Coach came down and called my name and I was like, ‘Oh, all right,’" Ewing said. "I didn’t have any time to be nervous because you’ve got to run and check in before it’s too late.”
Ewing, who is very popular among his teammates, was recieved with hugs and high-fives in the timeout following his impressive dunk. What is lost among his performance is a pair of free throws late to essentially seal the win. Ewing finished with four points, four rebounds, a steal and three turnovers in 9:46.
“I felt all right," he said afterward. "It takes some getting used to. I felt when I first got out there I was overanxious. That’s why I had quick turnovers and stuff. But it comes with repetition, I think. The more I get out there, hopefully, the more I’ll get used to it.”
The elder Ewing is in Jacksonville with the Orlando Magic, who play the Miami Heat in a preseason game there on Saturday. The son was expecting a call from the father at any minute. The two talk regularly and Ewing, Jr. says his father understands why his son hasn't played until now. Someone joked that perhaps the Hall of Fame dad put a call in to Donnie Walsh.
Earlier in the day, D'Antoni suggested various options for Ewing, Jr., including sending him to Europe for a year (the Knicks would retain his rights) or keeping him on the roster and having him get extensive minutes with the Knicks' D-League affiliate in Reno.
“We watch him every day and I think we’ve got a pretty good handle on who he is, which is good," D'Antoni said. "He’s impressive. I think he can make the league. Again, I’m not ready to say it’s going to work out here, I don’t know for sure. But I think there is some place for him at some time, whether it’s now or whether he has to go to Europe or the D-League. I don’t know 100 percent, but I do think he is a talented player.”
If Ewing Jr. goes to Reno, of course it means he made the team. D'Antoni even hinted that lottery pick Danilo Gallinari could wind up there for a short stint to get himself in game shape and play tons of minutes. Unlike Isiah Thomas, D'Antoni won't hesitate to use the D-League, especially with Jay Humphries coaching the team. Humphries was on D'Antoni's coaching staff in Phoenix last season and will be running D'Antoni's system.
* *
* - Wilson Chandler had some impressive minutes at the four going toe-to-toe with Kevin Garnett. He forced Garnett into a few turnovers, rebounded and defended him well. D'Antoni raved about Chandler after the game. For all of you who want to see him starting at the three over Q, the coaching staff loves Chandler more as a four. It wouldn't surprise me to see them use him as a four and Gallinari (when he's healthy) more at the three.
* - You can see this system isn't for everyone, even players you might think are perfectly suited for it. Stephon Marbury was a little more aggressive offensively tonight -- he shot only five field goals but got to the line nine times and finished with 12 points in 19:09 -- and Jamal Crawford continues to search for his rhythm while staying in the flow of the system. He took just four field goals (made three) and didn't take a single three-pointer. Very un-Crawford-like.
* - Speaking of people who just don't fit, Eddy Curry continues to look out of place as he cuts and spins from elbow to post and tries to be active. A few times D'Antoni allowed him to go straight to the block and post-up and Curry still didn't look comfortable. He missed all four field goal attempts he took and finished with three points and four rebounds in 20:10 (amazingly, 5-9 Nate Robinson outrebounded him by one in less time). D'Antoni won't completely give up on finding a way to get Curry involved, but once Gallinari and Jeffries return to the lineup, it will be awfully hard to find minutes for Big Eddy.
* - Donnie Walsh spent some time chatting with Danny Ainge during the pregame warmups. They shared a laugh, so perhaps Donnie asked if Ainge would consider a Garnett-for-Curry deal. By the way, the idea that the Celtics might be interested in bringing Marbury -- on a veteran's min contract as a free agent, not via trade -- in to back up Rajon Rondo (he sprained his ankle in the game by the way) was squashed by a few people I spoke with today at the Gah-den. Sam Cassell is there, though he seems more like an assistant coach at this point of his career.
* - K-Berg has practice tomorrow and Arthur Staple is at the open practice on Sunday. It's preview-writing time for me. Have a good weekend.
SOURCE: NEWSDAY
______________________
I wonder if Chandler eventually will start at PF what happens to David Lee? Will Lee shift to the 5 And Gallo eventually take over for Q at the 3? This seems like planning for the future to me with the end goal of shipping Zach, Curry out of town.
Patrick Ewing, Jr. heard his named called and the entire Knick bench erupted. A short while later, after a few nervous mistakes, Jamal Crawford went up to Ewing durng a timeout.
"You've got to get me at least one dunk tonight," Crawford said.
Almost immediately, Ewing came through.
The Legacy leaped up over Glen "Big Baby" Davis to slam home a rebound with 3:28 left in what became a 104-97 preseason win over the Celtics. The TD Banknorth Garden crowd let out a synchronous "oooh" and Ewing took us all back in time a moment when he landed and roared to the ceiling, just like Dad used to do it.
[Bloghost note: Looking for a YouTube video of it to share with those who didn't see the game, so post if you find one, Fixers!]
"It was good, man," Ewing Jr. said of his first taste of NBA action. "It was good."
It was somewhat of a surprise to Ewing, who, despite having about 20 friends and family members in the crowd (remember, he was born in Cambridge), didn't expect to play.
"Then Coach came down and called my name and I was like, ‘Oh, all right,’" Ewing said. "I didn’t have any time to be nervous because you’ve got to run and check in before it’s too late.”
Ewing, who is very popular among his teammates, was recieved with hugs and high-fives in the timeout following his impressive dunk. What is lost among his performance is a pair of free throws late to essentially seal the win. Ewing finished with four points, four rebounds, a steal and three turnovers in 9:46.
“I felt all right," he said afterward. "It takes some getting used to. I felt when I first got out there I was overanxious. That’s why I had quick turnovers and stuff. But it comes with repetition, I think. The more I get out there, hopefully, the more I’ll get used to it.”
The elder Ewing is in Jacksonville with the Orlando Magic, who play the Miami Heat in a preseason game there on Saturday. The son was expecting a call from the father at any minute. The two talk regularly and Ewing, Jr. says his father understands why his son hasn't played until now. Someone joked that perhaps the Hall of Fame dad put a call in to Donnie Walsh.
Earlier in the day, D'Antoni suggested various options for Ewing, Jr., including sending him to Europe for a year (the Knicks would retain his rights) or keeping him on the roster and having him get extensive minutes with the Knicks' D-League affiliate in Reno.
“We watch him every day and I think we’ve got a pretty good handle on who he is, which is good," D'Antoni said. "He’s impressive. I think he can make the league. Again, I’m not ready to say it’s going to work out here, I don’t know for sure. But I think there is some place for him at some time, whether it’s now or whether he has to go to Europe or the D-League. I don’t know 100 percent, but I do think he is a talented player.”
If Ewing Jr. goes to Reno, of course it means he made the team. D'Antoni even hinted that lottery pick Danilo Gallinari could wind up there for a short stint to get himself in game shape and play tons of minutes. Unlike Isiah Thomas, D'Antoni won't hesitate to use the D-League, especially with Jay Humphries coaching the team. Humphries was on D'Antoni's coaching staff in Phoenix last season and will be running D'Antoni's system.
* *
* - Wilson Chandler had some impressive minutes at the four going toe-to-toe with Kevin Garnett. He forced Garnett into a few turnovers, rebounded and defended him well. D'Antoni raved about Chandler after the game. For all of you who want to see him starting at the three over Q, the coaching staff loves Chandler more as a four. It wouldn't surprise me to see them use him as a four and Gallinari (when he's healthy) more at the three.
* - You can see this system isn't for everyone, even players you might think are perfectly suited for it. Stephon Marbury was a little more aggressive offensively tonight -- he shot only five field goals but got to the line nine times and finished with 12 points in 19:09 -- and Jamal Crawford continues to search for his rhythm while staying in the flow of the system. He took just four field goals (made three) and didn't take a single three-pointer. Very un-Crawford-like.
* - Speaking of people who just don't fit, Eddy Curry continues to look out of place as he cuts and spins from elbow to post and tries to be active. A few times D'Antoni allowed him to go straight to the block and post-up and Curry still didn't look comfortable. He missed all four field goal attempts he took and finished with three points and four rebounds in 20:10 (amazingly, 5-9 Nate Robinson outrebounded him by one in less time). D'Antoni won't completely give up on finding a way to get Curry involved, but once Gallinari and Jeffries return to the lineup, it will be awfully hard to find minutes for Big Eddy.
* - Donnie Walsh spent some time chatting with Danny Ainge during the pregame warmups. They shared a laugh, so perhaps Donnie asked if Ainge would consider a Garnett-for-Curry deal. By the way, the idea that the Celtics might be interested in bringing Marbury -- on a veteran's min contract as a free agent, not via trade -- in to back up Rajon Rondo (he sprained his ankle in the game by the way) was squashed by a few people I spoke with today at the Gah-den. Sam Cassell is there, though he seems more like an assistant coach at this point of his career.
* - K-Berg has practice tomorrow and Arthur Staple is at the open practice on Sunday. It's preview-writing time for me. Have a good weekend.
SOURCE: NEWSDAY
______________________
I wonder if Chandler eventually will start at PF what happens to David Lee? Will Lee shift to the 5 And Gallo eventually take over for Q at the 3? This seems like planning for the future to me with the end goal of shipping Zach, Curry out of town.