KNICKS MAKING EARLY EFFORTS TO IMPROVE

Thursday, September 28, 2006
BY DAVID WALDSTEIN
Star-Ledger Staff

NEW YORK -- Even though training camp doesn't officially begin until Tuesday, the Knicks have already started work at their Westchester practice facility, and have been hard at it for several days.

And a good thing, too. Considering they won only 23 games last year, they need all the practice they can get.

Guard Nate Robinson, who is about to enter his second year, has been up there for almost two weeks, and said there is a "fresh" atmosphere under new head coach Isiah Thomas. Without Larry Brown constantly hounding them, and with all the turmoil of last year supposedly behind them, it's as if the 2005-06 season were just a bad dream.

"It's a relief," Robinson said yesterday at the NBA Store in Manhattan, where he was helping promote a new video game. "It's a new season and all that stuff is behind us, and we can start off fresh. Last season didn't even happen. New year, new coach. It's exciting."

Robinson went down the roster of players who have joined him for the "informal" workouts under the watchful eye of Thomas.

Robinson said newcomer Jared Jeffries, along with Jerome James, Jamal Crawford, Malik Rose, Quentin Richardson, Channing Frye, David Lee, and rookies Renaldo Balkman and Mardy Collins, have all been there, and Stephon Marbury is expected today.

"Isiah told us to get up there early and get to work before training camp," Robinson said. "There's been a lot of guys up there -- a lot of guys -- and they're taking it serious."

Marbury, coming off his worst season as a pro, has been on a whirlwind nationwide tour promoting his $15 Starbury basketball shoes. Mo Taylor is also expected to join the crew today, although he is trying to negotiate a buyout of the final year of his contract because he is unlikely to get any minutes this year.

Practices don't officially begin until Tuesday, after Monday's media day, when Thomas will speak publicly, and union rules prohibit formal workouts before training camp officially opens. However, the practice of requesting that players come in early voluntarily is common.

New year, new coach. It's exciting.

Nate... thats EVERY year my man

Posted by fishmike:

New year, new coach. It's exciting.

Nate... thats EVERY year my man

Sometimes multiple times per year.

Wouldn't say JJ1 is exactly an intimidator.

quote:
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Originally posted by NYK3:

WHERE THE HELL IS CURRY??

My thoughts exactly!

I thought he was like everyone else who lives in chicago and pays to have tim grover say; "He is improving his strenght and agility".

Nate is like a chicken, every experience is new cause he can't remember the day before.

By Rose, I meant Malik Rose, not Jalen.

As long as Steph, Francis and Curry are in shape and ready, I don't think it will hurt anything if they aren't in as early as some of the other guys. Steph is supposed to be there soon and he also has shown up at summerleague, so it's not like he's not putting in an effort to support the younger guys and show some leadership.

I think we can expect that Curry, Frye, Jared, Lee and James will be able to deter enough shots to be effective. We won't likely lead the league in rejections, but I think we'll still be a better interior defensive team. With more minutes and more consistency these guys should have a better chance to jell and that will only help our defense.

the bottom line is that David Lee and Channing Frye were the two guys to work out at the facility most of the summer. Jared and the rookies were there for a while. Eddy showed up yesterday and was typical Eddie. No one has seen Francis yet. Will be interesting to see what happens. Today is physicals and next week it all starts.

Well, if Eddie has been working out in Chicago with Mark A, like everyone says he has, then this shouldn't be the issue.