First Summer League Game

[irish2u2]

I didn't get a chance to see the game against Memphis (we lost 90-86) but from the boxscore several things popped out.

Toney Douglas shot poorly (2-13) but he had 11 assists, 0 turnovers and 2 steals. Jordan Hill was 6-14 and had 8 boards in his debut. Morris Almond led the Knicks shooting 7-12 for 17 points and 3-6 from beyond the arc.

We got beat on the boards 45-35 and shot 36% while the Grizzlies shot 46%. Our rookie lottery pick (Hill) outplayed their lottery pick (Thabeet) which is good. The big difference for the Grizzlies was 2nd year player Darrell Arthur who had 22 points on 8-15 shooting. Tskitishvili had 12 points for us and hit 3-5 from beyond the arc. He also had 3 blocked shots as did Sene.

For the Knicks Blake Ahern had an awful game shooting (1-8) but 6'9 Illinois rookie forward Warren Carter had a decent game with 7 points and 3 boards in 14 and half minutes. Joe Crawford looked pretty good too as did starter Ron Howard, the 6'5 swingman from Valpariso, who had 11 points and 8 boards. We had just 10 turnovers for the game. Korlolev, Noel, Singleton, Ewing (out for the summer league) and Wink Adams did not play.

Basically the 3 guys we are most interested in for the summer played well. Toney Douglas can shoot (he shot 45% at FSU but had to carry their offense) and certainly his playmaking looked outstanding. Jordan Hill is still not in real good playing condition but he did well and he went against the 7'3 Thabeet and the 7'2 Hamed Haddadi. Morris Almond can shoot. ; )

We play again tomorrow afternoon (4pm EDT) against Detroit.

Anybody who saw the game on MSG please tell us your impressions.

[ironman95]

I just TIVO'ed all the games, but I live in North Carolina, so they may be blacked out. I hope not. I will see soon, as I have the first one on the schedule soon at 2AM. I was interested in Morris Almond during that draft, so my interest is piqued on how he does. Also as the draft unfolded before me, Jordan Hill stood out as #8 came around. I would have preferred Tyreke Evans, but so be it. I think Tyreke Evans will be Rookie of The Year this year. The Kings are loaded with guards, and why not along with Kenny Thomas insist on Kellenna Azubuike in any trade with them. He would be better than Almond. The TMac for Curry/Mobley is a no-brainer as far as I am concerned, even if TMac never plays again. Boozer in a sign and trade for Lee and Mobley is intriguing, but not sure he really fits in. An improvement in image as he is at least a "secondary" star, which we do not have currently, although Gallinari or Chandler might emerge. I don't know much about Douglas but from what you say, Bill, and other things I have read, if he can really play defense, I like it. Eleven assists tonight is a good start too. Main thing is he and Hill both seem to have attitude towards defense and toughness. I hope that plays out. Seems to me that there may not be much room on the team for Hughes, Harrington and Jeffries if we want to see what the young "potential" studs can do. My starting lineup right now with no personnel moves is Duhon, Chandler, Gallinari(or Harrington, Lee and Darko. Off the bench Harrington(or Gallo) Douglas, Hill, Nate, with maybe Hughes and Curry(if he can do more than waddle and cause offensive fouls). Almond can be our "Eddie House". That is how I see it so far. I see Sene and Crawford as long shots, probably Curry also.

[kgooglog]

I am really pissed off that I missed the game, as I thought NY started today, July 15th. This Tskitishvili guy I recall, was a pretty high draft pick by Minnesota(?), perhaps a lotto pick, and somehow never got it together in the pros. My memory is bad when it comes to him, but wasn't he alledgedly a 7 foot plus guy who could play SF?

I like Douglas' game in terms of dishing out that many assist without a TO. I couldn't care less if he went 2-13. His assists and steals are what is important and he obviously has PG n his mind.

It's good to hear that J-Hill had a nice game and going up against Thabeet is a major challenge. Hill sounds like he held his own against the UConn giant and I read that Walsh had Hill rated above Hasheem in the pre-draft rankings. If Lee is signed for the qualifying offer or signed and eventually traded, it sounds like we have a keeper in Hill.

Hopefully this Almond kid can keep shooting and we can simply waive Joe Crawford, for a guy who can light it up. Alas, we still have not made the Curry/Mobley trade...

[irish2u2]

Iron/Ken

Azuibuike is with Golden State but I get your point. He's a guy I have liked for awhile though the Almond kid has a sweet, sweet stroke. I concur with your starting lineup but I do think (hope? ; ) that we can somehow turn the huge negative of Eddy Curry into something positive.

Utah doesn't need/want Lee so a Boozer trade is highly unlikely. They feel good enough about Paul Millsap to put Boozer on the market and Lee and Milsapp are very similar players.

On Toney Douglas his shooting isn't great but it is better than he showed. Tyreke Evans scored 25 points his first game but they came off drives and the foul line. He missed every jumper he took but I know he can hit jump shots. On the other hand Blake Griffin hit almost every shot he took. ; )

The leadership, toughness and team first attitude is why Walsh drafted Douglas though he can score and will. Jordan Hill admits himself he is not in game shape and apparently it shows. Now that he has an idea of the demands and expectations I expect a much more explosive player come October.

I like Joe Crawford. It was his baby brother who two hand dunked in LeBron's face during that Nike camp where the videos were confiscated. Crawford is a good sized, athletic player who is pretty good on defense and pretty ordinary on offense. There is a place for players like that in the NBA especially with a defensively challenged team like the Knicks.

The Curry Trade...dare we dream? ; )

[garyd]

...the replay can be seen at 8:00PM on NBA TV channel. It also is played on that channel at other times.

All 5 Knicks games are delayed a day, so they must have some agreement with the MSG network.

[daglazer]

I did watch the game on MSG. Here are my thoughts:

Douglas wass the MOST impressive player for the Knicks. He ran the team extremely well and looked to create for others. He missed 3 desperation heaves with the shot clock or the quarter ending. That made his numbers look worse. He was extremely disruptive defensively. When he got open and his feet set, he made his two shots. He drove the lane a few times and got rejected every time. With a little experience, he will learn to better avoid that problem. Douglas is a good shooter, particularly from mid-range. He looks to be a steal at #29. He could easily be a very good pass first PG.

Jordan Hill played very tentative in the 1st half. He was much better in the 2nd half. He needs to improve his footwork on his post up opportunities and on the pick and roll. They were interviewing D'Antoni when Hill took and airballed a jump shot and D'Antoni shouted out, "Jordan, what are you doing" Hill is a strong rebounder Who will eventually be a double digit rebounder. He has one polished move, which is a turnaround fadeaway into the lane from the left block. He also likes to use the hook shot. He needs to develop a post move toward the basket to create space for himself. He showed nice timing and I can see him being a threat as a shot blocker. He needs work on offense. He was solid defensively on Thabeet.

Almond can shoot when his feet are set. When he tried to create his shot, he had trouble. Could be a situational shooter off the bench.

Sene looked heavy and showed no game on offense.

Tskitishvili was very impressive. He can really shoot and block shots. He is a lousy rebounder and got rushed around on defense. Still, he opened up spacing on offense when he played. Showed a quick release as well on his shot. I would give him an invite to camp as he is much improved from when he last played for us in the summer.

[jbnewyork162]

I saw the game on MSG this morning(July 15th) on a replay. Tskitishvilli did ok and for the record, Irish, he was taken high that draft by the Denver nuggets.

Morris Almond can shoot and I think he should be retained and unlike the horrible summer league signing of Anthony Roberson last summer this guy is no fluke when it comes to automatic shot. Almond was never given the time of day in Utah where they crave shooters so its curious on how someone with an allan Houston type type stroke, at least rated out of college , and from what little i saw of him this morning, that he was not picked up by San Antonio or even Charlotte or New Orleans to play in their summer league as all are looking for a shooting 2 guard.

That Ahern guy played like Roberson played after he got signed. He sucks and could barely make a B team if you rated how his one game against the Grizzlies went. But its more thaan that. you can gauge a person's Bball IQ based upon many different factors and he doesnt have at least an immeditae future on anybodies' team from what i saw with that in mind.

Ewing Jr and Yaroslav Koralev didnt play.

Toney Douglad reminds me of what good Charlie Ward used to bring to the team when the Garden was rocking and he has from what seems to be outstanding PG pass first attributes and plays well without the ball.

Jordan Hill did better than Thabeet who on second look, is either going to take an extremely long amount of time to amonut to anything close to Dikembe Mutombo or has all the making of Michael Olowakandi written all over him mixed with Kwame Brown(bust). I am not inspired at all by Thabeet's play. Anyway, Jordan Hill looked winded but not because of weight issues like Curry but because Lute Olsen fast break is different than D'antoni style of fast break but he should be well along by October i think.

The biggest thing I was impressed by, and you really had to be watching the MSG telecast to see this but, Gallinari continues to impress me with the approach he has to the game. He stated he didnt come into this league to be an ok mediocre type player, so by Walsh and Coach Mike asking him and Chandler to step up to show next summer's free gaents the future is bright he said he steps up to that challenge and that he wants to be responsible for chaampionship ball here in NY again. Last summer league he said after post game analysis, that " he is too young not to work on everything", when a sportcaster asked him what he needed to improve upon.

All in all, it wasnt as talented as last years summer league with Nate and a snippet of Gallo and stuff but it was cool. Noboddy jumped off the screen in real game analysis but i liked Almond and Douglas the most.

-Jason

[irish2u2]

Some great and informed comments from those who saw the game. Many, many thanks.

[axios]

thabeet= bust
looking foward to see if Almond can play D
Douglas will be a player, he is a tough kid
Looking to see how Hill plays as he gets his wind and more comfortable.