Posted by Ira:

Any time your have a young rookie who can hit 44% from three point range and 96% from the foul line while playing hurt, you know you've got an exceptional shooter.

Posted by Bippity10:

Posted by nixluva:

I guess my I just assumed we all saw Gallo's positive effect on the team when he was on the floor. Also he had some flashes of really good play where he started to show that stud like ability to want the ball in crunchtime. I don't sense any fear or lack of confidence in him.

We know he's got the talent to be an impact player and I feel he's got the swagger too. Once a guy with his skills realizes he can't be stopped they become dangerous. It's what I've been waiting for Chandler to realize and I think he gets that now too.

again Nix we saw talent. But what happened with that talent. That talent ended up missing most of the season with a bad back. So until he can do it on the court you just aren't going to find too many excited people.

Posted by nixluva:

I think the years of losing and all the other Knick failures and issues have really done a number on the fans! The back thing is a huge concern, but he's young and has a good chance to be alright. If Gallo is pain free it's not hard to see him being really good!!! Just reflect on his size, skills and intangibles and you can project a player who could be special for this team. OH and he wants to be a leader on the team!!!

Posted by Bippity10:

Posted by Allanfan20:

Bip, are you not the least bit anxious or even a little excited about Gallo?

If not, I can understand. I'm trying not to get overexcited, but he's still very intriguing and there are some things I like about him.

I like a ton of things about him, but really, gotta see it on the court for an extended period of time. When he starts affecting winning for my team, I will be excited. Until then, he's just like every other talented guy that's been brought in.

Gallo: 'I'm ready to go'

Tuesday September 15, 2009 11:07 PM By Alan Hahn

It's been two months since I last saw Danilo Gallinari. Somehow, he looks taller.

I'm 6'6" and rarely feel that dwarfed by most NBA players. When I saw Gallo on Tuesday at the Garden, it felt like my head was at his shoulders.
And those looked bigger, too.

We must remember the kid is just 21 and still growing. And finally, the sixth overall pick from the 2008 draft says, he's"ready to go" after a rookie season truncated by a troubling back injury that was surgically-repaired in March.

"I feel good," he said. "I'm ready for training camp."

Gallinari has been working out and scrimmaging five-on-five with his teammates at the MSG Training Center for most of the past two weeks. He's gone 100 percent with no hesitation into full contact action.

Camp opens in two weeks at Skidmore College in Saratoga. A season ago Gallinari spent the entire time there on the sidelines, riding a stationary bike and stretching. And immediately the word "bust" was whispered. It grew a little louder when Eric Gordon, another player on the Knick radar at No. 6 who eventually landed with the Clippers, had a solid rookie season.

Gallinari is aware of it all.

"I feel people want to see something from me," he admitted.

"I will tell you," he later added, "I want to see the expectations. I want to feel the pressure because that's what makes you a really good player."

He might be one of their best players this season, if he can finally show some durability. In Mike D'Antoni's system, Gallinari will be used not just as a shooter, but as a point-forward who can move the ball. Can he handle a lead role?

"Yeah, I feel comfortable with that," he said. "When we start the preseason games and we start the season, everything will come by itself."

Gallinari was at the Garden for an even to promote the Knicks' exhibition game against Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv on Oct. 18. There are still about 8,000 seats available for the game, of which 100 percent of the gate goes to benefit the Migdal Ohr orphanage.

* * *

David Lee and Nate Robinson remain unsigned and one thing we've certainly been able to establish is that Nate Robinson has been waiting for a contract from the Knicks -- and only the Knicks -- since July. Robinson's agent, Aaron Goodwin, told AOL's NBA Fanhouse that since the free agency period began, Robinson was only interested in signing with the Knicks.

What has been the holdup? That's the curious part (on my to-do list).

Meanwhile, Lee's agent, Mark Bartelstein apparently told Fanhouse that they are still involved in sign-and-trade scenarios that the Knicks have to consider. But unless something came up out of the blue over the past week, this is difficult to believe, especially because a little over a week ago all indications were that Lee and the Knicks had intentions to work out a one-year deal.
I'll have more on this tomorrow.

* * *

Made the rounds today in mid-town. Before catching up with Gallinari, there was LeBron James' book signing at the Barnes & Noble on Fifth Ave. Saw only one person in line wearing Knicks gear, which was kind of surprising.

LeBron didn't do a media session but he did say hello and chat for a few minutes. I tried to ask him about next summer, but he made it a point that his focus right now was a little more immediate:

"I'm looking forward to the upcoming season, I can't wait for it to start," he said. "I'm preparing for it to be a long season. I'm preparing to play into June."

Posted by EnySpree:

I can rant about Gallo all day....one thing I can say to sum it up? He's got "it". The type of "it" the great players have. I think the rest of the league better hope I'm wrong.

Posted by TMS:

Posted by Bippity10:

Nix: This is this same conversation we have every season

Nix says "Dude has lots of talent"
Bip Says "I agree with you but I will be excited when he does it on the floor"
Nix says "But the guy has talent you just can't see it"
Bip says "I already agreed with you that the guy has talent, just tough to get excited when year after year we bring in talented guys that don't affect winning on the floor. when they produce I and the majority will get excited"
Nix says "I can't believe you can't see that the guy has talent"
Bip says "Nix, read my lips, I agree with you that the guy has talent"
Nix says "I can't believe you don't agree that the guy has talent"
Bip says Nothing, but proceeds to spend the afternoon in Apalonia

Bip says "Come to think of it, he does remind me a little of Elton Brand."