Q: whats up Alan, why havent Donnie send Moz or Rautins to the D-League to open up a roster spot and get some vereran help out there?

A: I answer this question a lot and really don't have a good reply, at least not one I think is credible. But it's accurate: The Knicks just don't believe in the D-League. They are paying a player to be in the NBA and they feel he is better off working out with the team and being available to them. Rautins, for sure, should be in the D-League. This is like a lost year for him in many ways, but they feel he's getting educated by video sessions and team meetings and being on the bench, seeing the NBA game up front. I think he has a future because he's smart and he's a hard-worker. Opportunity will come.
Mozgov is different. He's really, really close. I think we're going to see him back on the court soon, especially with such a loose schedule in February and plenty of opportunity to practice. I've watched him in practice and his workouts and he really looks good. So many tools. Just raw and needs reps. They're working with him a lot so he's not being pushed aside at all.

Hahn should have also added that even when you send someone to the DLeague, they still count as a roster spot, so you can't really add anyone anyway.

Alan: Like I said above, Jim, I think Mozgov is getting closer to being a player they can go back to in the rotation. He's another one with confidence issues. What happened to him was, like you said, the speed of the game on defense got to him and then he started struggling to catch the ball, which made him extremely frustrated and down on himself. He's a very interesting athlete because he works extremely hard, he listens well and is eager to learn and he has high demands of himself. When he started hurting the team on the court, he got very down on himself. They've slowly built him back up and what I saw of him over the road trip in practice and working out on the side with Dan D'Antoni and Herb Williams was a player who was feeling better about himself and starting to get it. I've talked to all the coaches about him and they have high, high hopes for him. They think he has plenty there to help them in the future, if not the near future.

Q: Alan -- whats your best guess on the Knicks starting 5 come March 1st?

Alan:
PG-Billups
SG-Fields
SF-Carmelo
PF-Amar'e
C-Mozgov

nyk4ever wrote:it's evident that moz has a great attitude and really wants to improve his game and get back out on the court. i'm as big of a AR fan as there is, but you NEVER read stuff like this about him. i'd love to see him on the court, but if i were d'antoni i wouldn't put him out there either if he's not trying in practice.

True, so true. That's the difference between a man and a little girl. Mozgov is a man that takes responsibility for his actions whereas Randolph is still a child, nursing an attitude of defeat and victimhood, it's everyone else's fault, not AR's.

I can't wait to see the new and improved Moz!!! Yes!

martin wrote:

Q: Alan -- whats your best guess on the Knicks starting 5 come March 1st?

Alan:
PG-Billups
SG-Fields
SF-Carmelo
PF-Amar'e
C-Mozgov

Billups+Melo for Felton, Chandler, AR, Curry, Azu, picks. Denver flips Chandler to Dallas or Memphis for picks and/or players.

I can see this happening but I can also see Denver insisting on including Harrington to NY, and Donnie HAS to draw the line on him.

orangeblobman wrote:
True, so true. That's the difference between a man and a little girl. Mozgov is a man that takes responsibility for his actions whereas Randolph is still a child, nursing an attitude of defeat and victimhood, it's everyone else's fault, not AR's.

I can't wait to see the new and improved Moz!!! Yes!

BlueSeats wrote:

nyk4ever wrote:i would NOT want to trade felton for billups.. i know ray has struggled a bit lately, but i don't see how having a broken down billups is going to help us. i know we're not all in for this year, but still...

Same here, and this pace would destroy Billips.

But Billups expires in 2012, leaving room for Deron or CP3...

not sure how i'd feel about losing Felton though. I love his bulldog style and attitude, but he appears to be breaking down at this pace, too.

nyk4ever wrote:i would NOT want to trade felton for billups.. i know ray has struggled a bit lately, but i don't see how having a broken down billups is going to help us. i know we're not all in for this year, but still...

I have to tell you, normally I am against this type of deal but I would be in favor for swapping the 2, and here's why.

Felton is a bulldog and a fierce competitor and about a 1000 years younger, but I think Billups runs a team a little better. And with Melo and Amare,you want a PG who knows when and where to get the ball to his guys. Billups is a very good 3point shooter and is also a good teacher, which means TD and Rautins will learn from one of the best.

My guess is that Billups would distribute the ball to Melo, Amare, Gallo better than Felton would.

martin wrote:From this morning's chat:

Q: whats up Alan, why havent Donnie send Moz or Rautins to the D-League to open up a roster spot and get some vereran help out there?

A: I answer this question a lot and really don't have a good reply, at least not one I think is credible. But it's accurate: The Knicks just don't believe in the D-League. They are paying a player to be in the NBA and they feel he is better off working out with the team and being available to them. Rautins, for sure, should be in the D-League. This is like a lost year for him in many ways, but they feel he's getting educated by video sessions and team meetings and being on the bench, seeing the NBA game up front. I think he has a future because he's smart and he's a hard-worker. Opportunity will come.
Mozgov is different. He's really, really close. I think we're going to see him back on the court soon, especially with such a loose schedule in February and plenty of opportunity to practice. I've watched him in practice and his workouts and he really looks good. So many tools. Just raw and needs reps. They're working with him a lot so he's not being pushed aside at all.

Hahn should have also added that even when you send someone to the DLeague, they still count as a roster spot, so you can't really add anyone anyway.

Alan: Like I said above, Jim, I think Mozgov is getting closer to being a player they can go back to in the rotation. He's another one with confidence issues. What happened to him was, like you said, the speed of the game on defense got to him and then he started struggling to catch the ball, which made him extremely frustrated and down on himself. He's a very interesting athlete because he works extremely hard, he listens well and is eager to learn and he has high demands of himself. When he started hurting the team on the court, he got very down on himself. They've slowly built him back up and what I saw of him over the road trip in practice and working out on the side with Dan D'Antoni and Herb Williams was a player who was feeling better about himself and starting to get it. I've talked to all the coaches about him and they have high, high hopes for him. They think he has plenty there to help them in the future, if not the near future.

very interesting stuff.. and good to hear.. at least we know the knicks coaching staff does work to help develop players and put them in a position to succeed on the court.. I like moz, and I hope we can get him back into the fold real soon..