http://www.northjersey.com/sports/pro_sports/basketball/knicks/Speedy_rookie_could_be_Knicks_backup_point_guard.html

Speedy rookie could be Knicks' backup PG
Friday, October 2, 2009
Last updated: Friday October 2, 2009, 7:05 AM
BY STEVE ADAMEK
The Record
STAFF WRITER
0 Comments SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — One point guard after another, the Knicks wined them, dined them and even worked out some of them this summer: Jason Kidd, Andre Miller, Ramon Sessions, Jason Williams, Jamaal Tinsley, plus a whole bunch of potential draftees.

About the only one they missed, it seemed, was Bob Cousy.

They ended up with none of them in their quest to find someone to keep Chris Duhon from melting away like the Wicked Witch of the West this season — yet think they found a solution, anyhow.

Toney Douglas, the 6-foot-2 Florida State product picked next-to-last in the first round, has impressed enough in training camp so far that coach Mike D'Antoni thinks he could be Duhon's caddie, pending what he shows in the preseason.

In fact, Douglas appears far more likely to crack the rotation than the player the Knicks chose 21 spots ahead of him, big man Jordan Hill, who entered camp with a foot injury and far more competition in front of him than Douglas.

"He's quick as a cat," D'Antoni said of Douglas. "He makes good decisions with the ball. Probably the knock on him, why he went 29th, is that [people] didn't know if he's a point guard or not. He's showing that he has the ability to run the team. And that's huge."

"He's shown us that he can play," Duhon said.

Douglas also has the unbridled confidence the Knicks seem to like in their players, confidence Douglas insists he strengthened working for more than a month pre-camp following a sub-par summer league.

"That's the main thing for me, always feel confident," he said.

Especially in his defense, which earned him ACC Defensive Player of the Year honors last season and has D'Antoni thinking of pairing him with Nate Robinson in a backcourt to harass opposing guards.

Robinson remains another candidate to back up Duhon, although he's demonstrated a lack of pure point guard chops his first four seasons. Two free agents with brief NBA experience, Gabe Pruitt (Celtics) and Sun Yue (Lakers) are also possibilities, but Douglas has stepped up early.

The 6-foot-10 Hill, meanwhile, has shown some flashes, particularly with a Kurt Thomas-like catch-and-shoot jumper. Yet, David Lee, Al Harrington, Jared Jeffries, Darko Milicic and even Eddy Curry (if healthy) sit in front of him on the depth chart.

"[He's] almost like going from an 88 mile per hour fastball to 110," D'Antoni said. "It's going to take him time to adjust."

Douglas, on the other hand, has played at "120 miles an hour," D'Antoni said. "He's very intriguing. I think the guy can contribute right away."

DOLAN, CURRY IN TOWN: Knicks owner James L. Dolan watched Thursday night's scrimmage at Skidmore College, but did not speak to reporters.

Curry also returned from New York, where he had blood that resulted from his torn right calf muscle drained. He isn't expected to return to practice until next week.

E-mail: adamek@northjersey.com

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — One point guard after another, the Knicks wined them, dined them and even worked out some of them this summer: Jason Kidd, Andre Miller, Ramon Sessions, Jason Williams, Jamaal Tinsley, plus a whole bunch of potential draftees.

About the only one they missed, it seemed, was Bob Cousy.

They ended up with none of them in their quest to find someone to keep Chris Duhon from melting away like the Wicked Witch of the West this season — yet think they found a solution, anyhow.

Toney Douglas, the 6-foot-2 Florida State product picked next-to-last in the first round, has impressed enough in training camp so far that coach Mike D'Antoni thinks he could be Duhon's caddie, pending what he shows in the preseason.

In fact, Douglas appears far more likely to crack the rotation than the player the Knicks chose 21 spots ahead of him, big man Jordan Hill, who entered camp with a foot injury and far more competition in front of him than Douglas.

"He's quick as a cat," D'Antoni said of Douglas. "He makes good decisions with the ball. Probably the knock on him, why he went 29th, is that [people] didn't know if he's a point guard or not. He's showing that he has the ability to run the team. And that's huge."

"He's shown us that he can play," Duhon said.

Douglas also has the unbridled confidence the Knicks seem to like in their players, confidence Douglas insists he strengthened working for more than a month pre-camp following a sub-par summer league.

"That's the main thing for me, always feel confident," he said.

Especially in his defense, which earned him ACC Defensive Player of the Year honors last season and has D'Antoni thinking of pairing him with Nate Robinson in a backcourt to harass opposing guards.

Robinson remains another candidate to back up Duhon, although he's demonstrated a lack of pure point guard chops his first four seasons. Two free agents with brief NBA experience, Gabe Pruitt (Celtics) and Sun Yue (Lakers) are also possibilities, but Douglas has stepped up early.

The 6-foot-10 Hill, meanwhile, has shown some flashes, particularly with a Kurt Thomas-like catch-and-shoot jumper. Yet, David Lee, Al Harrington, Jared Jeffries, Darko Milicic and even Eddy Curry (if healthy) sit in front of him on the depth chart.

"[He's] almost like going from an 88 mile per hour fastball to 110," D'Antoni said. "It's going to take him time to adjust."

Douglas, on the other hand, has played at "120 miles an hour," D'Antoni said. "He's very intriguing. I think the guy can contribute right away."

DOLAN, CURRY IN TOWN: Knicks owner James L. Dolan watched Thursday night's scrimmage at Skidmore College, but did not speak to reporters.

Curry also returned from New York, where he had blood that resulted from his torn right calf muscle drained. He isn't expected to return to practice until next week.

Talk is cheap.

Posted by Cosmic:

Posted by JrZyHuStLa:

Talk is cheap.

Mark my words. Just in case they're wrong LOL.

Douglas will be better than Hill.
As much as Lee was better than Frye.

Douglas, fellas, is our diamond in the rough.

I'm not saying he's going to be bad. I'm just sick of Knick hype. I can honestly say we haven't drafted a stud since Ewing. Yes, Lee and Nate are good, but they aren't the franchise impact kind of guys.

Posted by JrZyHuStLa:

I'm not saying he's going to be bad. I'm just sick of Knick hype.

+1. Don't sing it. Bring it.

However, to be fair:

1) at least it hype from what is an actual basketball team as opposed to the daytime soap opera / talk show we've been subjected to with the previous regime.
2) a good number of dudes probably won't be here next season anyway so expectations shouldn't be too high. Whatever we get this season is a bonus, IMO.

I will wait and see with Douglas. I like the pick, but I need to see what he does against real competition before I am even willing to annoint him our backup pg. It, however, is good that MDA seems to like.

Forget the silly talk about draft position. Toney Douglas is not important because of where he was selected.

Toney Douglas is important to the Knicks because he brings the attributes of responsibility - as taught through his highly supportive family. He brings the tenacity of competing against his taller older brother Harry (NFL) and playing in one of the toughest college conferences - The ACC. Florida State did not have much else, yet Toney led the way.

Toney Douglas brings the tangibles and the intangibles that teams covet. Quality of character. Adaptability to challenges. A fierce work ethic and the drive to compete - and win.

Forget the comparisons to any other player. Forget imagining how many minutes he will earn in October. Forget the all defensive awards and the college scoring average. Why? What the Knicks have been desperate for are LEADERS.

Toney Douglas is a leader.

Posted by K22:

Posted by Cosmic:

Posted by JrZyHuStLa:

Talk is cheap.

Mark my words. Just in case they're wrong LOL.

Douglas will be better than Hill.
As much as Lee was better than Frye.

Douglas, fellas, is our diamond in the rough.

I think so too. Someone told me his game is kinda like KJ's.... is that true?

BTW, who was the last GREAT point guard we've had? Derek Harper? Sugar Ray?

Mark Jackson before he actually reached his prime.

Harper was a really great player but we got guys like him and Cheeks far past their prime.

Michael Ray wasn't a great point -- he was a big guard who could handle the ball and pass but he wasn't any type of true point guard. Tyreke Evan's is Michael Ray Richardson in my view.

I think he can play the point. He looks to be a really good passer that can find and hit the open guys. And he can obviously shoot the ball & defend. The thing that concerns me a little at this point is his penetration. He's more of a east to west type of penetrator right now - so much so that you almost get the feeling that on an uncontested one-on-nobody/Douglas all by himelf, he'd be more comfortable pulling up for a 10 footer than finishing with a layup. That's exaggerating it but you get the idea...We need to see him take the ball all the way to the basket either to finish himself or to set up guys right at the basket. Need to see more north to south and need to see him get a lot deeper in the lane. As an NBA PG he'll need to get to those spots to be fully effective - operating within the 10' area, 5' area, and closer...At the conclusion of summer league, there were a lot of good signs with him I felt (which is why I thought MDA was a little off base to say he flat out wasn't good -- glad to see that he actually retracted those words now and admitted he shouldn't have said that), but that still could be a little bit of an issue with his game that needs to improve. We'll have to see starting Sunday...Sounds like D'Antoni's really done a complete 180 on him though. Glad to hear that they've been working with him and that he's listening and applying the stuff Mike & his coaches have asked him to do. Hopefully getting much deeper on his drives was one of those things..

[Edited by - finestrg on 10-02-2009 12:02 PM]

I agree "talk is cheap". But this is that time of year where you can dream that all your rookies are diamonds in the rough, all your veterans are going to have their best year ever and the coaching and team chemistry are going to make the the whole greater then the sum of the parts. The preseason hype happens in every sport every year - I personally enjoy it. Hopefully some of it will happen and reality won't hit too hard.

Posted by JrZyHuStLa:

Don't get me wrong. I want him to be great. I want him to be that diamond in the rough.

But I'm just trying to use a practical approach here. You can't blame me after what we've seen for the last 10 years.

I agree 100% and am on your page. Even Gallo who MDA is touting as great and "the best shooter I have ever seen." Lets see him win NBA games and I will care. Until then its just media fodder that produces luke warm interest for guys like us. Like you though I hope like hell they are studs.. but till they prove I am a what you see is what you get kinda guy.

Posted by NYKBocker:

MDA is trying to set a mindset and is building up morale and confidence. Would the nay sayers like it better if he said they all stink.

Instilling confidence into players is a huge part of potential success. But to the fans, it doesn't mean much. We want to see results on the court because we are the paying customers.