PARIS -- One reason the Knicks brass believes this will be a bigger, better season is the upgrade at point guard with the summer signing of free agent Raymond Felton.

But Felton took a step backwards yesterday in the Knicks' 106-100 loss to Minnesota. He committed five turnovers and scored just four points on 1-of-6 shooting -- a very Chris Duhon-like performance. Felton had three turnovers in the preseason opener in Milan.

"Raymond's just trying to go too fast, driving it too deep, too fast," coach Mike D'Antoni said.

The worst part is Timberwolves point guard Luke Ridnour, the Knicks' top choice in free agency, looked a lot crisper. Ridnour had 11 points, eight rebounds, two assists and just one turnover in 31 minutes. Ridnour would not accept the Knicks' two-year offer as team president Donnie Walsh wanted to keep cap flexibility in 2012 to possibly sign Chris Paul. Felton signed a two-year deal.

Felton said he is struggling with all the new faces.

"I have to let things happen itself," Felton said. "It's all about trying to get used to everyone else. That's what I'm doing. I'm getting accustomed to everybody going to a new team."

After a hellacious stomach ache Felton said, "man, that is some good eating!"

He washed it down with a a tray of select pastries, and stashed a few treats for the nine hour flight home.

misterearl wrote:We ain't talkin bout practice

VMart - it will take at least 30 games for guys to get acquainted in authentic game conditions

Now I'm not going to go nuts about a couple of preseason games, but there are red flags. First game was sloppy and the the 2nd game was much better in that regard. However the 2nd game we were beaten on the glass so badly it was like we were playing 5 shooting guards. Roger Mason was the leading rebounder.

I have no problems with us losing preseason games and playing 100 different lineups, etc. Thats cool. Rebounding is a fundamental skill and just as important as things like shooting, passing and tying your sneakers.

If we are getting beat on the boards every night the makeup of this roster needs to be changed.

Childs2Dudley wrote:Cool story but he looks exactly the same he always has in his career.

Looks like they are saying he is 15 + overweight after all

crzymdups wrote:

fishmike wrote:

misterearl wrote:We ain't talkin bout practice

VMart - it will take at least 30 games for guys to get acquainted in authentic game conditions

it shouldnt... not for nothing but when the Nets added Jason Kidd they went from like 25 wins to 50 wins and started winning right out of the gate.

Now I'm not going to go nuts about a couple of preseason games, but there are red flags. First game was sloppy and the the 2nd game was much better in that regard. However the 2nd game we were beaten on the glass so badly it was like we were playing 5 shooting guards. Roger Mason was the leading rebounder.

I have no problems with us losing preseason games and playing 100 different lineups, etc. Thats cool. Rebounding is a fundamental skill and just as important as things like shooting, passing and tying your sneakers.

If we are getting beat on the boards every night the makeup of this roster needs to be changed.

Kidd is on a different level than Felton.

I was high on Felton, but I wish he'd come into camp in better shape.

I understand D'Antoni wants to limit Amar'e's minutes in pre-season, but maybe it's time to start playing Felton 30-35minutes a night to get him into game shape.

I ust read the article by Alan Hahn, on the homepage, and he said people within' the Bobcats organization declared that Felton always came to training camp out of shape and he usually works his way up throughout the preseason. Unfortunately, that may work in your early 20s, but as you get older, that stuff just doesn't fly with your body. That's the type of stuff that leads to nagging injuries which cause missed games throughout the season. Just ask Eddie Curry about that.

Felton has to stop that shizat man.

Vmart wrote:I think a lot of us said he would have to learn the offense and it will take time. I'll give everyone on the team the benefit of the doubt. Many new faces on the team it will take time. I was hoping for things to come together sooner it looks like it will take the entire training camp and a good portion of the season before they put anything consistent together.

No doubt this is accurate...but...the rookies came to camp early they and Chandler, Walker and Douglas worked all summer. Definitely show it. Walker might be finding his rhythm at the new weight...if that stroke he showed last year is real He can tide us over if Will's shot is not falling.

As for Felton, Rondo just blew by him and TD too though Rondo traveled at the end of the game trying to penetrate as TD turned him over. Actually until Pierce hit his shot the last 3 possesions by each squad resulted in TO's ...not exactly playoff ball? Or Rautins Fields and TD clicking defensively?