New York Knicks Team Preview 2010-2011
By Jon Pastuszek
Mon, 10/11/2010 - 11:39pm
Key additions:
Anthony Randolph, Kelenna Azubuike and Ronny Turiaf (via trade with Golden State); Amare Stoudemire, Raymond Felton, Timofey Mozgov, Roger Mason Jr. (free-agency), Landry Fields (NBA Draft)
Key subtractions:
David Lee (via trade with Golden State), Al Harrington and Chris Duhon (free-agency); Sergio Rodriguez (left NBA to go back to Spain)
Danilo Gallinari
Though Knicks fans are likely still frustrated from “The Decision,” they’ll probably, perhaps begrudgingly, take the consolation prize: a sense of optimism; not only about this year, but about things to come.
First, there’s the addition of Stoudemire, one the League’s most lethal offensive weapons, a devastating combination of grace, power and goggles. He’s a better player than Lee and a reunion with Mike D’Antoni will put him in a system that’s geared to his strengths.
Felton, though not an All-Star, is exactly three-gazillion times better than Chris Duhon, and should serve as a potentially very good pick-and-roll partner with STAT. Just where Felton ends up on the Eastern Conference point-guard spectrum will depend on whether can maintain his career high percentages from the three point line from last year and if D’Antoni doesn’t run him into the ground by the All-Star break. The latter, given coach’s previous history with Duhon, is particularly something to keep an eye on.
The Knicks will also be quite deep. The Lee trade netted Turiaf and Azubuike, two useful players who fit needs, and Randolph, a player who depending on you talk to, is either an X-Man mutant with potentially dangerous powers, or just merely another exotic, yet ineffective player with no discernable skill or position. Don Nelson kept him under tight wraps in Golden State, but on a team an already thin frontcourt rotation, Randolph’s current unknown quantities potential should make itself known by around January. Young Toney Douglas showed flashes last year, Mozgov showed flashes this summer in Turkey, and Mason Jr. showed flashes three years ago in Washington. And if you’re into Bill Walker, the Knicks for once will have some serious lineup options to throw out there.
Timofey Mozgov
Yet, despite all that cool stuff, the Knicks will have some problems this year. Foremost, they’ll have to figure out a way to rebound the ball consistently. Despite slapping up some sweet double-doubles from time to time, Amar'e has never been a good night in, night out rebounder. The team’s other bigs, Turiaf and Randolph are not exactly Karl Malone, either. Add in that Danilo Gallinari and Wilson Chandler are allergic to the painted area and you should expect the Knicks to get outrebounded on way more than the odd night.
That depth that was mentioned previously may also turn out to be irrelevant, since D’Antoni has favored seven or eight man rotations in his years in Phoenix and New York. Knowing he has a lot of players, will he go into this season with a more open mind or will he continue his history of trusting only a handful of guys?
The Knicks are undoubtedly better than they’ve been in a while: they have a legit superstar, a solid point-guard and are deeper than last year at almost every position. Until more big-name help arrives, the Knicks are vying for a Playoff seed as high as sixth. Not the position Knicks people were hoping to be in this time last year, but it’s a position that’s better than anything else that’s happened this decade.
Predicted Record: 42 - 40 (2009-10 Record: 29-53, 11th in East)
Preseason Roster
7 Kelenna Azubuike G-F 6-5 Kentucky
21 Wilson Chandler G-F 6-8 DePaul
34 Eddy Curry C 7-0 Thornwood HS (IL)
23 Toney Douglas G 6-2 Florida State
20 Patrick Ewing Jr. F 6-8 Georgetown R
2 Raymond Felton G 6-1 North Carolina
6 Landry Fields G-F 6-7 Stanford R
8 Danilo Gallinari F 6-10 Milan, Italy
18 Roger Mason Jr. G 6-5 Virginia
25 Timofey Mozgov C 7-1 St. Petersburg, Russia R
4 Anthony Randolph F 6-11 Louisiana State
11 Andy Rautins G 6-4 Syracuse R
1 Amar'e StoudemireF-C 6-10 Cypress Creek (Orlando, FL)
14 Ronny Turiaf C-F 6-10 Gonzaga
5 Bill Walker G-F 6-6 Kansas State
3 Shawne Williams F 6-9 Memphis Jon Pastuszek also writes at NiuBBall.com a dedicated to providing in-depth coverage and analysis of all things basketball and China.
Anthony Randolph, Kelenna Azubuike and Ronny Turiaf (via trade with Golden State); Amare Stoudemire, Raymond Felton, Timofey Mozgov, Roger Mason Jr. (free-agency), Landry Fields (NBA Draft)
Key subtractions:
David Lee (via trade with Golden State), Al Harrington and Chris Duhon (free-agency); Sergio Rodriguez (left NBA to go back to Spain)
Danilo GallinariThough Knicks fans are likely still frustrated from “The Decision,” they’ll probably, perhaps begrudgingly, take the consolation prize: a sense of optimism; not only about this year, but about things to come.
First, there’s the addition of Stoudemire, one the League’s most lethal offensive weapons, a devastating combination of grace, power and goggles. He’s a better player than Lee and a reunion with Mike D’Antoni will put him in a system that’s geared to his strengths.
Felton, though not an All-Star, is exactly three-gazillion times better than Chris Duhon, and should serve as a potentially very good pick-and-roll partner with STAT. Just where Felton ends up on the Eastern Conference point-guard spectrum will depend on whether can maintain his career high percentages from the three point line from last year and if D’Antoni doesn’t run him into the ground by the All-Star break. The latter, given coach’s previous history with Duhon, is particularly something to keep an eye on.
The Knicks will also be quite deep. The Lee trade netted Turiaf and Azubuike, two useful players who fit needs, and Randolph, a player who depending on you talk to, is either an X-Man mutant with potentially dangerous powers, or just merely another exotic, yet ineffective player with no discernable skill or position. Don Nelson kept him under tight wraps in Golden State, but on a team an already thin frontcourt rotation, Randolph’s current unknown quantities potential should make itself known by around January. Young Toney Douglas showed flashes last year, Mozgov showed flashes this summer in Turkey, and Mason Jr. showed flashes three years ago in Washington. And if you’re into Bill Walker, the Knicks for once will have some serious lineup options to throw out there.
Timofey MozgovYet, despite all that cool stuff, the Knicks will have some problems this year. Foremost, they’ll have to figure out a way to rebound the ball consistently. Despite slapping up some sweet double-doubles from time to time, Amar'e has never been a good night in, night out rebounder. The team’s other bigs, Turiaf and Randolph are not exactly Karl Malone, either. Add in that Danilo Gallinari and Wilson Chandler are allergic to the painted area and you should expect the Knicks to get outrebounded on way more than the odd night.
That depth that was mentioned previously may also turn out to be irrelevant, since D’Antoni has favored seven or eight man rotations in his years in Phoenix and New York. Knowing he has a lot of players, will he go into this season with a more open mind or will he continue his history of trusting only a handful of guys?
The Knicks are undoubtedly better than they’ve been in a while: they have a legit superstar, a solid point-guard and are deeper than last year at almost every position. Until more big-name help arrives, the Knicks are vying for a Playoff seed as high as sixth. Not the position Knicks people were hoping to be in this time last year, but it’s a position that’s better than anything else that’s happened this decade.
Predicted Record: 42 - 40 (2009-10 Record: 29-53, 11th in East)
Preseason Roster
7 Kelenna Azubuike G-F 6-5 Kentucky
21 Wilson Chandler G-F 6-8 DePaul
34 Eddy Curry C 7-0 Thornwood HS (IL)
23 Toney Douglas G 6-2 Florida State
20 Patrick Ewing Jr. F 6-8 Georgetown R
2 Raymond Felton G 6-1 North Carolina
6 Landry Fields G-F 6-7 Stanford R
8 Danilo Gallinari F 6-10 Milan, Italy
18 Roger Mason Jr. G 6-5 Virginia
25 Timofey Mozgov C 7-1 St. Petersburg, Russia R
4 Anthony Randolph F 6-11 Louisiana State
11 Andy Rautins G 6-4 Syracuse R
1 Amar'e StoudemireF-C 6-10 Cypress Creek (Orlando, FL)
14 Ronny Turiaf C-F 6-10 Gonzaga
5 Bill Walker G-F 6-6 Kansas State
3 Shawne Williams F 6-9 Memphis Jon Pastuszek also writes at NiuBBall.com a dedicated to providing in-depth coverage and analysis of all things basketball and China.
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