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I interject that November is peeping around the corner. In basketball land, the lullaby of training camp has blown into town and the cradle is rocking. It will take some time to see how the rotation-bough will break. A healthy dose of pre-season experimentation is also in order. Thankfully, as we know, the coach has the chutzpah and the say-so.
David Fizdale was adamant contract & seniority won't influence the Knicks' starting lineup.
— Mike Vorkunov (@MikeVorkunov) September 26, 2018
“No one is promised a starting position. I got freedom to do what I want to do from my bosses over there. So it’s open. Don’t matter if you make a lot of money or you make a little money." pic.twitter.com/TIKKBzFmU6
Of course some folks are going to postulate. That’s the best part!
Early stab at opening night lineup: Burke, Hardaway, Hezonja, Thomas, Kanter. ...Kevin Knox can certainly change minds in preseason. https://t.co/AngGzcI4Qc
— Stefan Bondy (@SBondyNYDN) September 26, 2018
My early stab is Frank Ntilikina, Tim Hardaway Jr., Mario Hezonja, Kevin Knox and Lance Thomas. At the very least I hope we get a chance to see 7 or 8 minutes of that group a few times in pre-season. Call me crazy.
Another note from Bondy...
Yesterday before the first practice, David Fizdale had players perform breathing exercises to calm their nerves. Very Zen-like.
— Stefan Bondy (@SBondyNYDN) September 26, 2018
Yea that is weird. Why would they do that? Did they do it twice today? We must know! I mean: breathing? Who breathes? Nobody I ever heard of.
Anyway, somebody a lot of people never heard of- until the Knicks drafted him- seems to be making a good impression on coach.
David Fizdale says Mitchell Robinson has been playing well in workouts/practices and asking ‘great questions’ to Knicks coaches about plays and technique. “I just feel like this kid is going to take off in this kind of structure,” Fizdale said. pic.twitter.com/Z90SwfYw7c
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) September 26, 2018
Not gonna lie- everyone seems to be making good impressions on the coach. Thankfully it all seems to be coming from a good place. The players seem to genuinely want to show and prove. They also say the types of things that make you feel like they know they’ll need to do it together. Five fingers making a fist and all that.
Another tweet courtesy of Begonias...
When asked about it, David Fizdale mentions cohesion among players and playing defense with an edge as some of the things you should expect to see from the Knicks this season: pic.twitter.com/005e0PrXg1
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) September 27, 2018
Enes Kanter reiterated that Kristaps Porzingis has been very involved in camp.
“He’s so engaged. He’s jumping & pumped up for us & he’s not even playing. That shows how much he loves this team, how much he cares about this team. To see an All-Star guy cheering for you, it just gives you extra motivation.” - @Enes_Kanter on @kporzee at Training Camp pic.twitter.com/zMA2w3anc3
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) September 26, 2018
Knuckle up, Enes. Kristaps will inhale your minutes in due time. Until then have a gander at the fellas in action. More news as it flutters by.
Uno...
The Knicks back at it again for day 2 of training camp (with some video of Fizdale teaching too). pic.twitter.com/HSZeqva2Xx
— Mike Vorkunov (@MikeVorkunov) September 26, 2018
Dos...
Some Knicks practice footage including David Fizdale addressing his players, a few possessions of a scrimmage and Kevin Knox and Mario Hezonja shooting after practice: pic.twitter.com/IMNPRMME2f
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) September 26, 2018
Adios.