http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/knicks/post/_/id/14676/douglas-returns-to-practice-role-not-certainDouglas returns to practice, role not certain
March, 19, 2012
MAR 19
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By Jared Zwerling
GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- Backup guard Toney Douglas, who took a brief leave for the birth of his son, Toney Jr., on March 14, rejoined the Knicks on Monday for practice. He arrived early to work on his jumper and stayed late to work on his 3-point shot. While Douglas became the odd man out in Mike D'Antoni's rotation, he said "it's a new day" under Mike Woodson. After his post-practice workout with several members of the Knicks' coaching staff, he spoke for a couple of minutes with ESPNNewYork.com.
Debby Wong/US Presswire
Douglas has only played in one game since Feb. 6.
Q: How are you envisioning things looking ahead under Coach Woodson now?
Douglas: I'm coming here, get better, stay working, some new plays I have to pick up on. I'm learning on the fly, so that's a good thing. I know defense is the main focus. I'm real competitive on the defense end, and my offense is going to come. Whenever I get in the game, just make an impact.
Q: What are your realistic playing expectations? Is it a be-ready-at-any-moment kind of thing?
Douglas: Yeah, you've always got to be ready. You never know what might happen. I'm going to still stay on top of my game and stay ready and cheer my teammates on, be a good teammate, and hopefully we keep winning games.
Q: What are you working on to prepare yourself when your name is called?
Douglas: Stay strong, get to the foul line, work on my jump shot every day no matter what. And just stay consistent, play at a high level and make sure to keep my stamina up. I can't get tired out there on the floor. Stay in shape and keep my rhythm up. That's why I come in early and just got done working out.
Q: What's most impressed you during the Knicks' three-game winning streak?
Douglas: Defense. I've been watching and they've been very, very awesome for 48 minutes, especially the second unit. The energy and spirit is there.
Q: What has stood out to you about the Jeremy Lin-Baron Davis combination?
Douglas: They look good. They've been playing real well. We need everybody, from Lin to BD to Josh [Harrellson] to [Steve] Novak. We need everybody. Lin and Baron, they've been doing pretty good out there -- even Mike [Bibby] when he's in there. Everybody is making an impact and that's what coach needs.
Q: What teams are you guys gunning for in the East?
Douglas: We're not really gunning for nobody. We've just got to take one game at a time, man, because we can't look ahead. We're already behind a little bit. We've got to catch up and just take one game at a time.
http://www.postingandtoasting.com/2012/3/19/2886034/toney-douglas-is-back-with-the-knicks
Toney Douglas is back with the Knicks.
by Seth on Mar 19, 2012 8:40 PM EDT in News
Steve Yeater - APMore photos »
Toney Douglas was away from the team for a few days-- the beginning of the Mike Woodson era-- because of the birth of his son. He returned to practice today and spoke to Jared Zwerling about his season and the new regime and stuff. Here's a selection:
Q: How are you envisioning things looking ahead under Coach Woodson now?
Douglas: I'm coming here, get better, stay working, some new plays I have to pick up on. I'm learning on the fly, so that's a good thing. I know defense is the main focus. I'm real competitive on the defense end, and my offense is going to come. Whenever I get in the game, just make an impact.
First of all, I can't believe Toney went an entire interview without saying "most definitely".
Moving on, after six weeks of pretty terrible basketball and another five or so weeks of sticking to the bench, it's great to hear Toney sounding positive. Even with a new coach, It seems unlikely that he'll find his way back into the rotation this year simply because it's so late in the season and there are so few minutes to be had. One does hope, though, that whatever personal issues (perhaps something to do with Toney Jr., though I guess we better not speculate) and lingering shoulder problems plagued him earlier in the year have dissipated.
Whatever the case was, the Toney we saw in December and January just wasn't the real Toney. I refuse to believe it. That Toney didn't DWTDD, and the real TD would never not DWTDD. So, be it in an emergency this year or at some point next season (when he'll still be under contract, but Baron Davis and Mike Bibby won't be), I remain hopeful that the real, DWTDD'ing Toney will eventually return to the rotation and give the Knicks valuable minutes.
Good to hear that he is back with the team. Hope there is nothing serious with his son.
Despite the fiasco of him playing the point at the beginning of the season, I wish we get some more blowouts that he can see 4th quarter minutes and just get back to DWTDD. I think he is the first guy since ca. 500 years, that was drafted by us and spend his whole rookie contract here.
He is certainly a good soldier, and is ok with spending his time as 12th man when others are better. He always gives his 110%. And you never know, maybe down the road, there will be that one playoff game where he can make a difference by DWTDD.
Im rooting for him as a human being first, and as a homegrown knicks player second!
3/20/2012 4:47 AM
