Cassell Promises to Energize Sprewell
By CHRIS BROUSSARD


am Cassell said that he and all of New York saw a conservative, watered-down version of Latrell Sprewell over the past five years. The slashing and dunking that made Sprewell one of the N.B.A.'s most exciting players for Golden State gave way to pull-up jumpers and spot-up 3-pointers when he played for the Knicks.

But Cassell claims to know what the antidote and the fountain of youth is for the 33-year-old Sprewell now that he is with the Timberwolves: him.

"I'm going to get Spree playing like he used to play before he came to the Knicks," Cassell said last night at Madison Square Garden before participating in the 11th All-Star Classic to benefit Wheelchair Charities. "I'm going to have him high-energy and enthusiastic. I'm going to have him running the court, dunking, high-fiving, chest-banging. New York has never seen Spree the way I'm going to have him. I'm going to have him right."

Cassell and Sprewell are two of the main components in the Timberwolves' renovation this summer. Along with center Michael Olowokandi, they are supposed to get Minnesota out of the first round of the playoffs for the first time.

The Timberwolves, with Kevin Garnett and Wally Szczerbiak also in the starting lineup, should be improved. But in the Western Conference, which includes the Los Angeles Lakers, the San Antonio Spurs, the Sacramento Kings and the Dallas Mavericks, Minnesota will still be hard pressed to earn home-court advantage for its first-round playoff matchup.

"L.A. is the favorite right now, but I think we can play with anybody," Cassell said. "We're stacked all the way around. We've got rebounders and we've got shooters. We've got the pieces now, so we'll see."

Cassell's hopes could be realized if his prediction about Sprewell comes true. Last season, his worst since his rookie year, 1992-93, Sprewell averaged 16.4 points on 40.3 percent shooting for the Knicks.

Before the Knicks traded him to Minnesota in July in a three-team deal that brought Keith Van Horn to New York, Sprewell vowed to return to form in 2003-4. Now that he is once again playing shooting guard on a contender, many league analysts and coaches say they believe he will.

In six seasons with Golden State, Sprewell averaged 20.1 points. He averaged 17.9 for the Knicks.

Though he is a shoot-first point guard, Cassell has been known to bring out the best in his teammates. As a rookie with the Nets, Van Horn played some of the best ball of his career with Cassell running the show.

Cassell, who helped guide the Nets to the playoffs in 1997-98, loved Van Horn's game, and Van Horn responded well to Cassell's confidence. Cassell says he thinks Van Horn will have success with the Knicks if he finds that type of support.

"If they spoon-feed Keith Van Horn here, he could be good," Cassell said.

Cassell is a bigger fan of Nick Van Exel, who went from Dallas to Golden State in a deal that sent Antawn Jamison to the Mavericks. Asked if he was surprised the Knicks traded Sprewell, their most popular player, Cassell replied, "The Knicks need Nick Van Exel right now."

Van Exel-McDyess Reunion?

Nick Van Exel and Antonio McDyess, one-time teammates in Denver, talk often about being reunited on the Knicks.

"Me and Antonio think about it all the time," said Van Exel, who also played in last night's game. "But that's all we can do is think about it right now."

Van Exel is not excited about playing for Golden State. He said he had yet to speak with anyone in the Warriors' organization since being traded on Aug. 18 (the Warriors waived the requirement that he pass a team physical before the trade was ratified).

Van Exel said he had not asked the Warriors to trade him, but when asked if he would be satisfied with Golden State, he said, "I'd love to play for the Knicks."

There has been talk of Van Exel joining the Knicks for nearly three years, but a trade is unlikely.

O'Neal and Artest Differ

Jermaine O'Neal said weeks ago that he would not have re-signed with the Indiana Pacers if he had known that Isiah Thomas would not remain the coach. But the Pacers' other star, Ron Artest, did not take Thomas's recent firing so hard.

"We got knocked out in the first round of the playoffs both years, so nobody's job should be safe when you're not winning," Artest said. "It's about winning and it's no hard feelings. You just weren't getting the job done and you've got to deal with it. I feel like it if I was to get traded or even dropped from the team, if I didn't win a championship, there's no hard feelings."

As for O'Neal's anger, Artest said he was not worried. Artest even implied that he was the team's most valuable player.

"I couldn't care less what anyone thinks," he said. "I couldn't care less who would've re-signed, truthfully. I'm here to do a job and I go out every night and try to do my job. I know when I wasn't playing last year, we lost a lot of games, and when anybody else on the team wasn't playing, we still found a way to win."

Marbury: Keith will fail here



By MITCH LAWRENCE
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

In Knick-land, Latrell Sprewell is out and Keith Van Horn is in - in for the shock of his pro basketball life, according to his former Nets teammate, Stephon Marbury.
"I don't see it working here for Keith," Marbury said bluntly at the Garden last night before he played in the 11th All-Star Classic to benefit Wheelchair Charities. "It's a whole other world here.

"I don't see Keith playing here long. I don't think he'll want to play here long. He's been put in this situation... . The atmosphere and the team is not suitable for him."

Why not?

"You've got to be way tougher than Keith is to play in New York," said Marbury, the Lincoln High legend who played two-plus seasons in Jersey with Van Horn before being shipped to Phoenix for Jason Kidd.

"You've got to be gritty," Marbury added before scoring 35 points for the New York Stars, who lost to the NBA Stars, 149-131. "You've got to be a grinder. Sprewell fits that description. Michael Jordan fits that description. So does Tim Duncan and Allen Iverson. But Keith is not a player who fits that description. I'm just being honest."

Marbury said he doesn't want to see Van Horn fail or be booed. But the latter is entirely possible because he came over in exchange for the Knicks' most popular player.

"It's not just following Sprewell that'll be tough for Keith," Marbury said. "It's just the way you've got to come out on the court from the jump. When you play here, you've got to come out and dominate from the start.

"I hope it works out for Keith. But based on the past, his numbers don't show him being a dominant player. He's a talented player, but he's not a threat like Sprewell."

Has Starbury won a title yet? Cassel has! He still trying to tell everyone that KVH must play like Mewell. That like saying Stockton should play like him.

Where is all this love for KVH coming from. See NYK fans you do one thing that no other teams fans do you stick up for your boys no matter what. KVH will be a fine player for the KNicks its not his fault that he got traded for Spree or for that matter Layden wanted him on the team. To boo KVH is not right he didn't ask to come to the Knicks. So when he has an off night I hope you guys remember that. As for Marbury KVH has been to the finals where has Marbury gone lately. I liked what Cassell had to say he makes sense and his analysis is right on the KNicks do need NVE they have needed him for the last three years. If the KNicks can move Ward, Knight and Spoon for him They should do it in a heart beat. Have NVE and Williams play back up to him is perfect senario for the Knicks and as soon as NVE's contract runs out Williams can take over the point and if he is willing to come over Vujanic can back Williams up. It would make for a perfect balnce in the team. With NVE the Knicks make the playoffs easily.

We all know that although talented Marbury is not the sharpest tool in the shed. He needs to worry about his team in pheonix, and why teams like the Nets and the wolves got much better since he left?

well leave it to SAM I AM to make sense! I must say I agree with most of all the previous posts here on this subject. MARbury is wondering how KVH is playing in the Gahden and not he! What a baby.

As for KVH he will be his usual self for NY, which if Dice is back will be enough. Remember if Dice is playing, KVH is the 3RD OPTION!! He can excel at that. Realistically he is more suited to be the 3rd option than Spree is.

As for NVE, layden can redeem himelf by getting NVE here now. Trade them Ward Harrington and the riights to Vujanic for NVE now!

NVE
H20
DICE
KVH
KT
Lampe
Sweets
Spoon
Anderson
Fwill
Vranes IR
Eisley
Doleac


A team that could do some damage in the East THIS YEAR!

But on the flip, our biggest weakness during our bad boyz era (which I also still look upon fondly), was that we had a shortage of guys who could shoot...If we had ONE Houston on that 93-94 squad, it would have been a done deal (yes, even with Jordan in 93)...

I'm just saying you need both. Bruisers and snipers.

Posted by kNYks342:

You Guys are CRAZY! I totally agree with Marbury...KVH is not a NY type playa therefore i also feel he will not be effective.If its one thing NY likes to see (besides talent) its heart. Thats why NY loved Oakley Starks and Sprewell...Houston is even starting to show some heart....KVH is as soft as butter and he will not succeed here until he forgets about everything steps on the court and gives it his all...and shows it...Marbury is right...you guys will see...we nned some more playas like marbury on this team...we were succesful when we were looked upon as one of the more physical teams in the league...with oakley, mason, dudley ( he sucked but he banged), even freaking ewing...we will never win with a soft jump shooting team...KVH SUCKS Layden Sucks.....and the Knicks will suck until we get rid of dolan and layden
DAMN we're screwed

AMEN.

True....SO True.

Those 1990's teams just get more fonder with age. Dam we played ugly games back then, winning ugly. No lead was safe.

What teams do you guys like that you wish could be the knicks?

Marbury's comments could become bulletin board material for "THE BUCKS"

*YAWN*