Your Turn, Toney Douglas

by Seth on Nov 2, 2009 11:38 AM EST in Miscellaneous Comment 6 comments

So, the word is in that Nate Robinson will miss up to two weeks with a sprained right ankle. The loss of Nate's off-the-bench boost will hurt, no doubt, but I see a silver lining on this cloud. If Mike D'Antoni sees things like I do, he'll hand Nate's minutes directly to Toney Douglas and tell him to live large with no regrets. The pace of Knicks basketball has been terribly underwhelming through their first three games. The guards aren't hounding ballhandlers and jumping passing lanes like they were in preseason, which puts a crimp in fast-break opportunities. On the other end, fear of the entry pass and the drive-and-kick seem contagious. New York could use a shot of gumption from the point guard spot.

It sounds silly to nominate a rookie for that role, but I've got borderline criminal confidence in Toney. He showed in preseason that his possession-busting defensive skills are 7SoL-friendly, and he's ballsy enough to make the big-time pass on offense. Moreover, Toney's strength and scoring ability should draw help and open up the arc for the Knick gunners to catch and pull in rhythm.

Toney will have his lumps. He's foul-prone and will likely turn the ball over more than we'd like. Those are the type of problems that get ironed out with experience, though. With Nate off his feet, what better time to get that experience than now? The moment is right to let Toney Douglas do what Toney Douglas do. I don't think he'll disappoint.

Your thoughts? Given his performance on Saturday, one could reasonably argue that Larry Hughes deserves the brunt of the back-up point guard minutes. I'd buy that, but I still think there's time for Toney. Anybody disagree?

Update, via Berman: "We're fine," D'Antoni said. "I wanted to play Toney anyway. Now that Larry is settled, we're pretty deep. We can overcome that."

Yes.

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bust a douglas

i’d have the boy starting. but that’s because i am NOT borderline criminally confident. i’m on the lam. move duhon to the back-up two spot. i mean the guy is almost a dead ringer for raja bell anyway. might as well have their bogus basketball styles do the same thing: wait for someone else to drive and hope they get to bang a three from the corner or the wing.

cus duhon and bell are not threats to drive and kick, much less drive and make a lay-up. let’s call it how we see it. duhon is a goose. he needs to wait on the perimeter.

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by stingy d on Nov 2, 2009 11:52 AM EST reply actions

Good.

Really, can’t hurt. Duhon has done nothing buy prove he’s at best a platoon PG type instead of a starter (getting 50 god damn minutes in OT games….)

DO WHAT JERRY HAIRSTON DO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by FreeBradshaw on Nov 2, 2009 1:00 PM EST reply actions

Toney

Definitely needs some minutes to get the jitters out. I don’t hate Duhon, but I don’t think he’s the answer as an on-court general. Maybe Toney is, maybe he isn’t, but he’s going to have some time to work on it in real games. It’s a difficult thing to establish – Toney’s a rookie and, it seems to me, a respectful kid. If he’s going to be the leader of this team on the court, it’ll take some time for him to establish that. He’s got to earn his teammates respect and trust out there. Hard job for a rookie that doesn’t come in highly heralded. He’s got to start with leadership on the defensive end. If he can do it, awesome. If he can’t, then you know you have to address the point guard position. But I’ve had a good feeling about a Douglas/Gallo anchored team since the draft. Hard to make that transition from established veterans. I hope D’antoni takes the lumps and the losses that might come with it, because what’s on the other side could be really good. I think Coach D gets it. DWTDD!!!

by fuhry on Nov 2, 2009 2:19 PM EST reply actions

Toney Douglas should get the time

but don’t underestimate the impact of the loss of Nate Robinson. Perhaps his teammates will step it up as they realize there is no one coming in to change the tempo of the game. Maybe now other players will penetrate and go to the hoop as a primary act as they did during the 76er come back.

Up to now, Nate has been the player willing to run the wings which opens the outlet passes from David Lee. But the great thing that bricklayer Hughes did was move the ball faster than Duhon does. Duhon never throws an outlet pass or a quick pass to move the ball forward. The only way the ball moves forward is by dribble or PNR. He could do better.

Anyway, if the Knicks don’t get a shellacking the next few games, perhaps Nate is an impediment. I don’t think so.

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by IGMKNICKS on Nov 2, 2009 2:27 PM EST reply actions

I haven't been able to figure out

Whether Nate helps the Knicks win or not. I like him as a person, he obviously has skills as a player, and I think he’s been bothering the opposing point guard pretty well. That’s the best thing I’ve seen him do this season, but you’re right, he is out there running and getting down the court quickly on offense. It will be interesting to see how they play without him.

by fuhry on Nov 2, 2009 2:34 PM EST up reply actions