| Newsbreakers |
|
|
| Eddy Curry returned to practice after missing some time due to a bacterial infection, and he said that he fully anticipates being the clubs starting center on opening night, according to the NY Daily News. |
Our View: Curry will obviously need to work on his conditioning after this illness. If Zach Randolph ends up at power forward that will means that David Lee will be forced to come off the bench. |
|
|
|
| Jerome James sustained a slight strain in his left quadriceps Saturday, according to the AP. He sat out the final 15 minutes of the team’s last scrimmage.
|
Our View: The team would like him to retire in order to clear the $12.8 million he is supposed to earn over the next two seasons, but he refuses to let that money go. The team did not speculate how much time he may miss due to the injury. |
|
|
|
| Coach Mike D'Antoni praised Nate Robinson during his first week of practice with the Knicks, according to the AP. D'Antoni said, "I’m really surprised with him and how good he is. He can play a lot of systems, but I do think that the way we want to play an open court, that will benefit him as much or more than anybody."
|
Our View: Robinson set new career-highs in points (12.7), rebounds (3.1), and assists (2.9) last season, and the point guard is worth a late-round pick in deeper leagues after D'Antoni's comments, who likes to run a fast-paced offense. |
|
|
|
| When asked about the point guard situation, Knicks president Donnie Walsh mentioned Chris Duhon, Nate Robinson and Mardy Collins without saying anything about Stephon Marbury, according to the NY Post. When someone called him on it, he said he's viewing Marbury as someone who can play three positions: point, shooting guard and small forward. |
Our View: This is an indication that Starbury is auditioning for a sixth man role. He has looked great in camp thus far and still could be worth a late-round flyer. |
|
|
|
| Eddy Curry, who is dealing with a bacterial infection, returned to Saratoga Hospital yesterday to receive IV fluids, according to the NY Post. His chances of playing in the first two preseason games are all but over. "We're really worried about him," president Donnie Walsh said. |
Our View: With Curry's problems and Jared Jeffries' recovery from broken fibula, David Lee is now the favorite to start at center for the Knicks early in the season. |
|
|
|
| Jared Jeffries is expected to miss 6-8 weeks after fracturing his left fibula during Thursday's practice, according to the AP. |
Our View: Jeffries contributed very little during his first two campaigns in New York, but was expected to have a larger role under new coach Mike D’Antoni because of his ability to play all three positions in the frontcourt.
|
|
|
|
| Stephon Marbury has looked good in camp despite playing on the second team so far, according to Newsday. "I just know he's a really, really good player," coach Mike D'Antoni said. "Like I said before, if you're doing everything right and you're playing hard and you're really good, how can you not be a contributor and someone important on the team? I think we're leaving it there right now." There is no question that Marbury showed up at camp in terrific shape. |
Our View: Marbury has been his usual self - shooting well and making crisp passes leading the break. D'Antoni likes to play his best shooters and there's no doubt Marbury is superior to Duhon in that department. Still, D'Antoni has called Duhon a steal and has ran him exclusively on the first team opposite Jamal Crawford. |
|
|
|
| David Lee is likely to get a contract extension by the October 31st deadline, according to the New York Post. The same source also claims he has an early edge on Eddy Curry for the starting center position. |
Our View: Lee can run the floor, and is a better rebounder, passer and decision-maker than Curry. His athleticism is a natural fit for coach Mike D'Antoni's transition offense. Assuming he wins the job, Lee could be destined for a breakout campaign. |
|
|
|
| Allan Houston sat out the scrimmage Tuesday night during the second practice of the opening day of training camp according to the AP. The Knicks are not pushing the vet as coach Mike D’Antoni and president Donnie Walsh say Houston will be given most of the month to prove that, at 37 and with a history of knee trouble, he can handle the running involved in D’Antoni’s system. "To give it a fair chance under my situation, it’s probably not even smart to go out and do everything, especially the first week,” Houston said after practicing Wednesday morning. “As the season goes on, yeah, I’m going to be able to probably do everything, but two-a-days is a whole different ballgame than when you practice during the season. So this is really just getting used to doing this again.”
|
Our View: “It’s uncanny how he shoots the basketball,” D’Antoni said. “It’s ridiculous. Everything that goes up, you know it’s going in.” If Houston sticks, D’Antoni said he can envision him coming off the bench as a “game changer” or a “role player in certain situations.” He is probably not worth risking a selection on but if he sticks he is worth watching if it is threes that you are seeking. |
|
|
|
| The NY Post indicates that Eddy Curry could miss all of training camp due to his bacterial infection. |
Our View: He is not in good physical shape to begin with, and is not well-suited for new coach Mike D'Antoni's fast-paced offense. The source notes he is not a lock to be the Knicks' starting center. |
|
|
|
| Jerome James is practicing with the Knicks and does not intend to retire, according to the Bergen Record. |
Our View: The team would like him to retire in order to clear the $12.8 million he is supposed to earn over the next two seasons, but he refuses to let that money go. He does not merit fantasy consideration. |
|
|
|
| Danilo Gallinari is suffering from a bulging disk in his back and not sciatica as was previously circulating, according to the Bergen Record. |
Our View: The team will remain cautious with him, to prevent the ailment from getting worse and manifesting into a larger problem. As of now, it appears he has a slim chance to crack the Knicks' rotation at forward, as he still needs to get up to speed and get into playing shape. He could potentially end up in the Developmental League. |
|
|
|
