Which Knicks will start?
by Seth on Oct 20, 2009 9:19 AM EDT
in News
27 comments
Mike D'Antoni's been a bit cryptic with his lineup intentions this preseason, probably because he truly has yet to pick a starting five. Nonetheless, the coach continues to drop hints, which may be wearing thin with players and fans alike. Jonathan Abrams of The Times spoke to the coach, and heard the following about Danilo Gallinari:
"I probably would like to start him, but this is kind of his rookie year and we’ll go through some stuff and we’ll see," D’Antoni said. "But I think eventually, he will be a starter because he’s that good."
Like I said, cryptic. I'd guess that D'Antoni, like the rest of us, was initially more than willing to have Gallo start from the outset. The youngster hasn't exactly hit the ground running in preseason, though, so the transition may be more gradual. I don't see this as a good thing or a bad thing. It just is.
More than willing to assume Gallinari's starting role is Al Harrington. With Gallo, Wilson Chandler, and Jared Jeffries all commanding attention, Harrington seemed like a candidate for a benching. I just don't see D'Antoni benching his leading scorer, though, and neither does Al. From Frank Isola of the Daily News:
When Harrington was asked about being a sixth man yesterday at the practice facility in Greenburgh, he smiled and told reporters in a non-confrontational tone: "If that's what he wants me to be I can adjust to whatever. I play basketball. And I do it well.
"I don't think it's going to happen. Don't you think I'm a starter? Then write it."
See? That falls well short of "a rift", or whatever it is that they have in Golden State, but it's still a bit of uneasiness. Uncertainty weighs on the players, and it'll all be simpler when guys understand their roles. Thankfully, the preseason is nearing its close, and the team should be more or less set within the next week. D'Antoni favors a short rotation, so you can expect 7 or 8 players to get ample minutes. Nonetheless, the notion of starting still bears some sort of symbolic importance. One also needs to strike the right balance of energy and stability in the starting unit and each five thereafter. That said, who's your five and why? Share in the comments, and provide reasons in haiku form if you dare.
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Starting 5
Gonna keep saying this until MDA listens: Start Al at the 2!!!! He plays like a 2 (he’s one of the worst rebounding PFs in the NBA). He shoots like a 2. He handles like a 2. And he’d be a mismatch nightmare at both ends as a 2. And it’s not like we’re starting Reggie Miller, or even Michael Redd, at the 2. Just because a guy is 6-9 doesn’t automatically mean he should play in the front court!!!!!!!!!
by AtlKnicksFan on Oct 20, 2009 10:30 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I am so with you there.
Harrington is a 6’9" 260 pound shooting guard. Chandler is an inch shorter and 30 pounds lighter but he’s a better power forward. But can Harrington defend the 2?
by fuhry on Oct 20, 2009 10:32 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Nope, he can't.
"I'll probably go get lifted right now with Greg. Hey, and come back tomorrow and try to get another win."
-Renaldo
by solanumbrella on Oct 20, 2009 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He alongside Stephen Jackson
SMOTHERED Dirk Nowitzki in the playoffs a few years back. He’s a motivational-type player. He is physically equipped to guard 4s and could guard 3s somewhat. I just don’t see him defending the likes of Ray Allen, Courtney Lee, or Lou Williams. Hell, I think he’s too slow to even defend Jarret Jack (and we’re just talking our division). Now, if you look at the power forwards in our conference, anyone would have a hard time defending our division; Garnett, Brand, Bosh and especially Jianlian, but if you take a look at our roster in search of a player who could guard these players the best, you’d find Harrington. He weighs about the same as Garnett and Brand and outweighs Bosh and Jianlian handily.
It’s just logistics when you look at our roster.
"I'll probably go get lifted right now with Greg. Hey, and come back tomorrow and try to get another win."
-Renaldo
by solanumbrella on Oct 20, 2009 12:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It wouldn't be that different from Duhon & Robinson
Robinson would probably guard most 1’s and Duhon will guard the 2’s.
by Kaanon on Oct 20, 2009 3:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
my starting five.
I’m having a hard time with this – probably D’antoni is as well…..I would really like to see Douglas/N8/Gallo/Lee/Darko… but I doubt that’s going to happen. Maybe later in the year….
I think Gallo needs to be on the floor without Harrington so that he can feel more like he NEEDS to score. I like bringing Harrington off the bench instead of Nate. I think that’s because of N8’s newfound defensive intensity.
So I’d say… Duhon/N8/Gallo/Chandler/Lee. It’s a small lineup, but even though Harrington is bigger and heavier than Chandler I think Chandler is a better 4.
But… I don’t think D’antoni will do that. I think he’ll go with Duhon-Jeffries-Harrington-Chandler-Lee.
Then he’ll bring N8 in for Jeffries and Darko in for Chandler.
Duhon-N8-Harrington-Lee-Darko
Then he’ll bring in Gallo for Harrington and Douglas for Duhon….
Douglas-N8-Gallo-Lee-Darko (there’s my lineup!)
Then bring back Jeffries for Lee:
Douglas-N8-Gallo-Jeffries-Darko
Then Duhon, Harrington and Chandler for Douglas, N8 and Gallo…
Duhon-Harrington-Chandler-Jeffires-Darko
Finally, Lee back in for Darko.
by fuhry on Oct 20, 2009 10:46 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
forgot to haiku
I’m going to haiku about my preferred 5:
Douglas-Robinson-Gallinari-Lee-Milicic
Defend One And Five
Let The Young Guys Sink Or Swim
Two, Three, Four Score More
by fuhry on Oct 20, 2009 3:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
My starting five
pg – duhon
sg – robinson
sf – harrington
pf – lee
c – milicic or jeffries (matchup dependent)
the haiku:
duhon moves the ball
but harrington throws up bricks
forty-one wins? no.
"Those who fear disorder more than injustice inevitably produce more of both." -- Rev. William Coffin
by dcrockett17 on Oct 20, 2009 12:01 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Provided that Wil can suppress his desire to shoot 3s...
Du
Wil
Gallo
Al
Lee
Nate and Darko should be first off the pine
"But when he saw it, he just put his hands up and they couldn’t give it to him. It just fell to the ground, I-I don’t, you know … So, that showed me he had great experience..." - Jeff Van Gundy
by Anthony Bonner's Subpoena on Oct 20, 2009 12:08 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
du
nate dawg
gallo
wilchan
dlee
although i’d really love to put Lee back at the 4, but Darko just hasn’t shown he deserves to be a starter yet. hopefully.
defense is worthless
only one guy can rebound
we shoot up like fiends
by pmsjerk on Oct 20, 2009 12:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
starting don’t matter
play it based on the match-ups
refrigerator
by gbaked on Oct 20, 2009 1:15 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
my own
Duhon
Chandler (no threes, plz)
Harrington
Lee
Darko/Jeffries
if he wants to start
darko should grow a mustache
d’antoni will nut
by Seth on Oct 20, 2009 1:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
first 5
1-duhon
2-chandler
3-al
4-jeffries
5-lee
leefense must improve
gallo salami
nate will rack up T’s
by omnipotence on Oct 20, 2009 1:54 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
haiku
correction:
leefense must improve
gallinari salami
nate will rack up T’s
5
7
5
by omnipotence on Oct 20, 2009 2:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
1 – Nate
2 – Hughes (Blah. It was between him and Chandler. Coin flip.)
3 – Gallinari
4 – Lee
5 – Darko
I don’t have a haiku.
by Lu Galasso on Oct 20, 2009 2:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
duhon
duhon
nate
chandler
lee
jeffries
nate for the pressure
chandler should be dunking more
jeffries plays good d
by tz88 on Oct 20, 2009 2:18 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
playoffs?...PLAYOFFS?
PG- Duhon
SG- Chandler
SF- Harrington
PF- Lee
C- Milicic
Lots of bricks, so what?
Nate & Gallo will spark shit
Jefferies is a douche
by Chris Child's Fist on Oct 20, 2009 2:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Duhon
Chandler
Harrington
Lee
Jeffries
Run the pick and roll
is what offense we’ll extol;
take it to the hole.
pause.
"I'll probably go get lifted right now with Greg. Hey, and come back tomorrow and try to get another win."
-Renaldo
by solanumbrella on Oct 20, 2009 3:51 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
short rotation
I know it has been discussed before, but I still think that the short rotation is a serious mistake in D’Antoni’s high paced ball. It leads to burnt out players who get injured.
I would so much rather see him play 9, 10, or even 11 players every night. Let fresh legs come in. Keep everyone involved in the game, and don’t wear your players down.
If there are guys on the team that you wouldn’t put on the floor, then they shouldn’t be on the team
by NYERinSF on Oct 20, 2009 5:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
with hill and hughes around
i wouldn’t be surprised to see 9 or 10 guys get burn. just not a lot.
by Seth on Oct 20, 2009 5:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
and that is reasonable
But – if you only play 7 or 8 and someone gets injured, then you have to take someone off the bench who may not have played at all in weeks or even a month and suddenly they have to play 15 -20 minutes.
Even if he has only been playing 5 or 7 minutes, it will be a lot easier to get in the flow
by NYERinSF on Oct 20, 2009 7:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
duhon, wil, gallo, al, dlee
will the eight seed loom
if fortuitously bounced
april basketball?
by Rodger Sherman on Oct 20, 2009 5:54 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
FStart Gallinari! Please...
D’Antoni wasted a #8 pick on his friends son,we know it he know’s it,he would never admit it though. Gallinari would be waived by any other team in the league ,he is a 1st round bust D’Antoni is just to arrogant to admit it. Gallinari is a mediocre talent at best! SG: Larry
PG: Toney
SF: Al
PF: David
C: Darko
6th Men: Nate/Wilson/Duhon/Danilo/Jefferies
by Flash Dinero on Oct 23, 2009 5:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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