LAS VEGAS - It's just two summer-league practices in a high school gym in the desert, but KnicksNew York Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni sounded relieved yesterday after watching Italy's Danilo Gallinari be everything his Italian friends said he would be.

In truth, a part of D'Antoni was nervous about taking the 6-foot-10 Italian Stallion without ever having seen him play live. The workout Gallinari gave the Knicks before the draft was a solo session.

"Europeans are great 1 on 0 because they have all the skills," D'Antoni said. "But I saw film and talked to my Italian friends and they told me this guy is really good. He can play."

D'Antoni was in gushing mode at Vegas' Valley High. On Draft night, D'Antoni was rather reserved, considering the momentous occasion of tabbing Gallinari at No. 6.

"I'll tell you and I hope I'm not getting ahead of myself, but he's really good," D'Antoni said. "Like today, he just goes over to Herb [Williams] and tells him [a player] hasn't had a shot the last six times up, call something for him. He automatically knows.

"He's stronger than I thought," D'Antoni added. "He's more athletic than I thought. And he shoots the heck out of it."

Gallinari's toughness quotient has pumped up D'Antoni's spirit. D'Antoni questioned it during the winter when he saw a tape of the Milan standout.

"He can bang," D'Antoni said "When he takes a hit, his expression does not change, He got clobbered and was right back in his face. He doesn't get fazed by it.

"He's got a chance to be really special," D'Antoni added. "Toughness and being more athletic that what I thought [were] two questions from watching film. Until you see him."

D'Antoni can envision a forward tandem of Gallinari and Wilson ChandlerWilson Chandler for years to come. Chandler is coming off a solid end to his rookie year. D'Antoni, unsolicited, raved about the former DePaul forward, feeling he and Gallinari can alternate between small and power forward depending on matchups.

How soon the young duo can get major minutes depends on the status of incumbent starting forwards Zach RandolphZach Randolph and Quentin Richardson.

The Knicks desperately want to trade Randolph's contract to get under the cap by 2010. SI.com reported the Clippers were interested in Randolph but president Donnie Walsh reportedly rejected a deal, likely because he couldn't get enough short-term contracts.

Meanwhile, Richardson, coming off an out-of-shape, disgraceful shooting season, arrived in Vegas to work out with the summer-league team, claiming to be 228 pounds, 15 pounds lighter than when the season ended.

"He thought he could be a little lighter," D'Antoni said. "He wanted to get down. Any time someone's thinner I like."


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Richardson, who nearly exchanged blows with Stephon Marbury two years ago in a post-game locker room argument, was asked if Marbury should stick. "It's not for me to say. He's been working hard, getting himself prepared to play. That's for the coaches and Donnie."

These games are @ 4pm.....who is gonna be able to see these live as they happen?

Never mind:

Monday July 14, 2008 Select a date to view: 7-14-2008 7-15-2008 7-16-2008 7-17-2008

7:00 AM MSG, NY
12:00 PM Halls Remembers: Chris Mullin
12:30 PM Knick
1:00 PM The Game 365 '06
1:30 PM Knick
2:00 PM MSG Vault '07
3:00 PM Halls Remembers: Chris Mullin
3:30 PM Knick
4:00 PM Knicks Summer League: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. NY Knicks from Las Vegas
6:00 PM Halls Remembers: Chris Mullin
6:30 PM Knick
7:00 PM Boomer Special
7:30 PM Knick
8:00 PM Knicks Summer League Rewind: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. NY Knicks from Las Vegas
10:00 PM MSG, NY
10:30 PM Knicks Summer League Rewind: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. NY Knicks from Las Vegas

Damn I hadn't realized this game was at 4PM. Should've DVR'd it so I could skip through the commercials.

Posted by King1:

Lets not get excited about Dino this early. He will struglle but will be a good player before it is over. I predict he will have seven fouls today if he plays the four.

I think foul trouble will be his issue all year until he gets a feel for NBA refs. Also, he needs to watch out for that flopping defense of his (I notice it on a couple of youtube clips).

Clyde in a pink shirt to begin SL. Gallinari listed as 6'10".

1 and 0!

The Knicks and Cavaliers made their Summer League debuts, putting on the most watchable game thus far. The back-and-forth battle was won by New York's NBA rotation players, Wilson Chandler and Mardy Collins, who owned the final minutes. Collins (17 points, five assists) ran the offense effectively (one turnover) and hit several big free throws, shooting 8-for-9 at the line.

Chandler, meanwhile, played as if he has no business being at Summer League, dominating the game wire-to-wire on both ends of the floor and looking like he belongs on the Thaddeus Young/Al Thornton tier of Summer Leaguers. He totaled 26 points (11-of-21 FGs, 1-of-2 3Ps), eight rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks.

Chandler's defense created offense several times, as he showed an ability to keep blocks inbounds and steals moving forward. And when Cleveland's Clay Tucker nailed a game-tying bank with a minute left, Chandler calmly took the ball downcourt and wetted a three. That was cold blooded.

Coach Mike D'Antoni can see Chandler and Danilo Gallinari starting together for a long time, and I know it was only one game, but I don't think he's delusional. Because ..

Danilo Gallinari looks like he could be a player. He struggled something awful in the first half, looking completely overmatched and finishing 0-for-4 with three fouls and three turnovers. He was tentative, seemingly attempting to figure out where he was on the court, getting scored on repeatedly and setting screens Euro-style, shuffling instead of holding his ground.

"I was just trying to play hard and figure it out, what it's like to play here," Gallinari said. "The first half some calls, and some things didn't go well. But after I figured it out better, understood better -- the plays, the referees, the team -- then I played better in the second half."

It was an appropriate, even modest, assessment. Seconds into the third, he made an aggressive move to the cup, earning a trip to the stripe, where he sank both. From that moment, it was clear he had caught up to the speed of the game. He looked confident occasionally bringing up the ball upcourt, in transition and slower sets, showing point-forward potential as he continues to develop. And he certainly found his shot, shooting 5-for-7 in the second half, twice nailing long jumpers after one dribble loosened the D.

Gallinari's second-half turnaround (he finished with 14 points on 5-11 FGs, six rebounds and two assists) impressed the skeptical Knick fan in me, and there's now a good chance I won't cry watching Jerryd Bayless debut for Portland in two games. I cracked on the Gallinari pick at the time, but I like the kid more with every cooly handled interview, and getting to see him play was a plus. I'm going to be that guy, arguing for patience with him in the face of a city full of dubious fans. Awesome.

Anthony Roberson put on a nice shooting performance as the two-guard, scoring 22 points (8-of-19 FGs, 3-8 3Ps) and showing good range.

Cavaliers rookie forward J.J. Hickson ... Yeah. He's good. Dude racked up 26 points on 11-of-15 shooting, grabbed nine rebounds and showed a strong ability to finish underneath. The Cox Pavilion crowd loves the tip dunks, and Hickson came through with a pair. He's one to keep an eye on.

Seven-year NBA veteran Robert "Tractor" Traylor earned burn with Cleveland, scoring eight points (4-of-6 FGs) and snagging three rebounds in 17 minutes. Last seen in the league during the 2005-06 season, Traylor's trying to earn a spot in the L after two years playing in Puerto Rico, and he really is -- wait for it -- happy to be here.

"It felt good to be out there in front of the crowd, have a chance to get up and down a little bit and play," Traylor said. "This is a chance to be around the NBA atmosphere and get at it."

Traylor feels he still has the skills to play in the NBA, but has to get his body in shape. While he's still bulky (289, says the Cavs' media packet), Traylor kept up with his younger cohorts and played effectively. Can't help but wish well to a dude willing to take an L on his pride most guys wouldn't be willing to. Good luck, Rob.

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