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nycballer · 10-09-2008, 10:35 AM

Chris Duhon struggles for Knicks, Stephon Marbury impresses off bench
By FRANK ISOLA
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

Moczulski/AP

Wilson Chandler goes to hoop on Jermaine O'Neal of Raptors, but Knicks come up short as Mike D'Antoni puts stamp on team in preseason opener.

Harbus for News

Chris Duhon shootd 1-for-7 with seven turnovers, six assists and 10 rebounds.
TORONTO - No one is asking Chris Duhon to become Steve Nash, the maestro of Mike D'Antoni's up-tempo offense in Phoenix. But the Knicks also can't have him throwing the ball away and missing open shots as he did Wednesday night.

Duhon was a starter who played like a backup in his preseason debut. The free agent signee shot 1-for-7 with seven turnovers, six assists and 10 rebounds in a 113-111 loss to the Raptors.

"I take full responsibility for my turnovers," Duhon said. "I'm thinking way too much. It's a new system and new guys. I'm still learning the strengths and weaknesses of the guys. That's going to come with time. When the season starts I'll be more comfortable with it."

Duhon is expected to be the Knicks' opening night point guard, but Stephon Marbury and Nate Robinson looked more confident and were more effective on the court. Marbury, playing for the first time in nine months, came off the bench and had 10points, five turnovers and three assists. Robinson scored 16 points, including a second-half dunk.

Overall, D'Antoni was happy with his team's effort and he was encouraged by the combination of David Lee and Zach Randolph, who combined for 41 points and 22 rebounds. Wilson Chandler added 15 points in 24 minutes. But the Knicks also committed 20 turnovers and shot just 8-for-34 on threes, including an 0-for-12 in the first half.

D'Antoni didn't mention it, but his team looked terribly soft on defense. Toronto shot 49.4% and made 10 of 20 three-pointers. Also, the Raptors, playing the second night of a back-to-back, went with a lineup of Roko Ukic, Will Solomon, Jason Kapono, Jamario Moon and Kris Humphries over the last three minutes. Meanwhile, D'Antoni stuck with four starters - Jamal Crawford, Lee, Randolph and Duhon, with Robinson.

"I think we'll learn just how to make the easy play," D'Antoni said. "We just saw some good individual performances. I thought we shared the ball, especially in the first half. We had 29 assists and that's where we want to be."

DANI FAN: Raptors forward Andrea Bargnani believes that fellow countryman Danilo Gallinari compares favorably to Hedo Turkoglu, the Magic's versatile power forward who can also play shooting guard. "He can do everything," said Bargnani, the Raptors' former No. 1 pick. "In Italy he always played small forward. I think he can play big forward."

Gallinari, the Knicks' first-round pick, remains sidelined with a sore back.

"It's too bad that (Danilo) is not ready," said Maurizio Gherardini, the Raptors' VP of Basketball Operations who is also from Italy. "He needs the preseason to get another taste of the league after playing just one game in the summer league. But I saw the warmup today. He looked pretty good. He's got everything - talent, size - to be a great addition to this team."

ALLAN WRENCH: Allan Houston was pulled from the lineup Wednesday morning due to continued soreness in his right quad. D'Antoni is willing to give Houston every opportunity to make the club, but Houston is clearly battling the odds.

"I don't have any expectations," D'Antoni said. "We'll just see what happens. We still have another two or three weeks to evaluate."

THEY LIKE MIKE: D'Antoni's connection to the Raptors' front office goes back nearly 20 years, to when he coached in Italy and his boss was Gherardini, who works under Raptors president Bryan Colangelo. Colangelo gave D'Antoni his big break in Phoenix following D'Antoni's brief and unsuccessful run as coach of the Denver Nuggets.

Gherardini could emerge as a possible GM candidate in New York. Team president Donnie Walsh is not ruling out adding another executive to his staff. Walsh and Colangelo met before Wednesday night's game.

fyodor · 10-09-2008, 01:52 PM

duhon is a career backup at best..i see no advantage to starting him over steph if steph is willing to play dantoni's style and pass the ball and give some effort..
pissing off steph when he has a good attitude, or downplaying his willingness to play team ball doesnt help his trade value, and it doesnt help his performance should we keep him this year..

i dunnowhy duhon is starting..

eastflatknick · 10-09-2008, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fyodor

duhon is a career backup at best..i see no advantage to starting him over steph if steph is willing to play dantoni's style and pass the ball and give some effort..
pissing off steph when he has a good attitude, or downplaying his willingness to play team ball doesnt help his trade value, and it doesnt help his performance should we keep him this year..

i dunnowhy duhon is starting..

I think there is some value in not starting Marbury this game...or even opening night. It was kinda a way for D'Antoni to pull rank and see if marbury fell in line.

But I agree with you. From a basketball standpoint, if he did fall in line, and he is playing better and earned the starting spot, he should get it.

The fact though that he is starting off on the bench, and I think he will eventually be the starter at this rate, is kinda good for him...This would be the first time in his entire life he had to earn the starting spot.

nycballer · 10-09-2008, 02:17 PM

I think Marbury, like Zach and Curry, will be gone as soon as a suitable offer is made. I especially think this holds true for Marbury given his contract.

Just a week ago people were grabbing their pitch-forks demanding Zach and Marbury be dumped.

Now look. They both have proved that they can be productive and their value has increased.

Seems like Walsh is conducting good business.

PLAYA 2U · 10-09-2008, 03:13 PM

Or was Isiah just allowing his boys to get paid under his watch without performing correctly.

mAAAbs · 10-09-2008, 04:45 PM

Duhon has always been a spotty outside shooter. Marbury should be starting come Oct. 29th.

fyodor · 10-09-2008, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eastflatknick

I think there is some value in not starting Marbury this game...or even opening night. It was kinda a way for D'Antoni to pull rank and see if marbury fell in line.

But I agree with you. From a basketball standpoint, if he did fall in line, and he is playing better and earned the starting spot, he should get it.

The fact though that he is starting off on the bench, and I think he will eventually be the starter at this rate, is kinda good for him...This would be the first time in his entire life he had to earn the starting spot.

thats a good pt that its kinda dantoni's way of showing that he's now running the show and putting steph in his place a little bit..
but i hope he doesnt labor the point and only plays this game for a little while..b/c steph is a still-active volcano and the molten lava is always just inches beneath the surface

PLAYA 2U · 10-09-2008, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fyodor

thats a good pt that its kinda dantoni's way of showing that he's now running the show and putting steph in his place a little bit..
but i hope he doesnt labor the point and only plays this game for a little while..b/c steph is a still-active volcano and the molten lava is always just inches beneath the surface

Yea this is the only coach that has put stephon in his place since the kid has been playing organized basketball.

Highschool with tiny morton, college with bobby cremins and a nimber of NBA coaches who didn't have the juice card to deal with him.

eastflatknick · 10-09-2008, 11:31 PM

I'll throw you a bone here playa...You could even say that any coach, including Larry (I hate myself) couldn't do the same with isiah as the boss.

PLAYA 2U · 10-10-2008, 06:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eastflatknick

I'll throw you a bone here playa...You could even say that any coach, including Larry (I hate myself) couldn't do the same with isiah as the boss.

How soon you forget about LB + Pat Croce in philly.

10-09-2008, 10:35 AM	#1 (permalink)
nycballer Superstar Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 3,265	As starter Duhon doesn't get point Chris Duhon struggles for Knicks, Stephon Marbury impresses off bench By FRANK ISOLA DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER Moczulski/AP Wilson Chandler goes to hoop on Jermaine O'Neal of Raptors, but Knicks come up short as Mike D'Antoni puts stamp on team in preseason opener. Harbus for News Chris Duhon shootd 1-for-7 with seven turnovers, six assists and 10 rebounds. TORONTO - No one is asking Chris Duhon to become Steve Nash, the maestro of Mike D'Antoni's up-tempo offense in Phoenix. But the Knicks also can't have him throwing the ball away and missing open shots as he did Wednesday night. Duhon was a starter who played like a backup in his preseason debut. The free agent signee shot 1-for-7 with seven turnovers, six assists and 10 rebounds in a 113-111 loss to the Raptors. "I take full responsibility for my turnovers," Duhon said. "I'm thinking way too much. It's a new system and new guys. I'm still learning the strengths and weaknesses of the guys. That's going to come with time. When the season starts I'll be more comfortable with it." Duhon is expected to be the Knicks' opening night point guard, but Stephon Marbury and Nate Robinson looked more confident and were more effective on the court. Marbury, playing for the first time in nine months, came off the bench and had 10points, five turnovers and three assists. Robinson scored 16 points, including a second-half dunk. Overall, D'Antoni was happy with his team's effort and he was encouraged by the combination of David Lee and Zach Randolph, who combined for 41 points and 22 rebounds. Wilson Chandler added 15 points in 24 minutes. But the Knicks also committed 20 turnovers and shot just 8-for-34 on threes, including an 0-for-12 in the first half. D'Antoni didn't mention it, but his team looked terribly soft on defense. Toronto shot 49.4% and made 10 of 20 three-pointers. Also, the Raptors, playing the second night of a back-to-back, went with a lineup of Roko Ukic, Will Solomon, Jason Kapono, Jamario Moon and Kris Humphries over the last three minutes. Meanwhile, D'Antoni stuck with four starters - Jamal Crawford, Lee, Randolph and Duhon, with Robinson. "I think we'll learn just how to make the easy play," D'Antoni said. "We just saw some good individual performances. I thought we shared the ball, especially in the first half. We had 29 assists and that's where we want to be." DANI FAN: Raptors forward Andrea Bargnani believes that fellow countryman Danilo Gallinari compares favorably to Hedo Turkoglu, the Magic's versatile power forward who can also play shooting guard. "He can do everything," said Bargnani, the Raptors' former No. 1 pick. "In Italy he always played small forward. I think he can play big forward." Gallinari, the Knicks' first-round pick, remains sidelined with a sore back. "It's too bad that (Danilo) is not ready," said Maurizio Gherardini, the Raptors' VP of Basketball Operations who is also from Italy. "He needs the preseason to get another taste of the league after playing just one game in the summer league. But I saw the warmup today. He looked pretty good. He's got everything - talent, size - to be a great addition to this team." ALLAN WRENCH: Allan Houston was pulled from the lineup Wednesday morning due to continued soreness in his right quad. D'Antoni is willing to give Houston every opportunity to make the club, but Houston is clearly battling the odds. "I don't have any expectations," D'Antoni said. "We'll just see what happens. We still have another two or three weeks to evaluate." THEY LIKE MIKE: D'Antoni's connection to the Raptors' front office goes back nearly 20 years, to when he coached in Italy and his boss was Gherardini, who works under Raptors president Bryan Colangelo. Colangelo gave D'Antoni his big break in Phoenix following D'Antoni's brief and unsuccessful run as coach of the Denver Nuggets. Gherardini could emerge as a possible GM candidate in New York. Team president Donnie Walsh is not ruling out adding another executive to his staff. Walsh and Colangelo met before Wednesday night's game.

10-09-2008, 03:13 PM	#5 (permalink)
PLAYA 2U Hall of Famer Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 7,690	Or was Isiah just allowing his boys to get paid under his watch without performing correctly. __________________ When the head coach has proven that he's only capable of coaching a certain way, with a certain type of players, then the head coach should come after the players.

10-09-2008, 04:45 PM	#6 (permalink)
mAAAbs Superstar Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 1,259	Duhon has always been a spotty outside shooter. Marbury should be starting come Oct. 29th. __________________

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10-09-2008, 01:52 PM	#2 (permalink)
fyodor Superstar Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 1,357	duhon is a career backup at best..i see no advantage to starting him over steph if steph is willing to play dantoni's style and pass the ball and give some effort.. pissing off steph when he has a good attitude, or downplaying his willingness to play team ball doesnt help his trade value, and it doesnt help his performance should we keep him this year.. i dunnowhy duhon is starting..

10-09-2008, 02:17 PM	#4 (permalink)
nycballer Superstar Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 3,265	I think Marbury, like Zach and Curry, will be gone as soon as a suitable offer is made. I especially think this holds true for Marbury given his contract. Just a week ago people were grabbing their pitch-forks demanding Zach and Marbury be dumped. Now look. They both have proved that they can be productive and their value has increased. Seems like Walsh is conducting good business.

10-09-2008, 11:31 PM	#9 (permalink)
eastflatknick Administrator Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 6,690	I'll throw you a bone here playa...You could even say that any coach, including Larry (I hate myself) couldn't do the same with isiah as the boss.

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