Posted by TheGame:

Posted by eViL:

Gallo 100%

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."

I just read this on the homepage. If it is true (which is always a question mark), this is great news. If DG can grow into a PF, he will be a load for other opposing PF's to handle. I hope he can hold up for the entire season because the kid looks like the truth to me and might be able to drop 14-15 pts a game this year.

i know. it's sad that bip doesn't recognize that the kid has talent.

Gallo sucks.

From HoBeck:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/16/sports/basketball/16nba.html?ref=basketball


GALLINARI ‘LOOKING GOOD’

Confetti burst into the air as Danilo Gallinari dunked the ball Tuesday afternoon. Technically, the celebration was not for him, though perhaps it should have been.

Gallinari, the Knicks’ lottery pick in 2008, is healthy at last, and eagerly anticipating his first full N.B.A. training camp, which begins in two weeks. He has been scrimmaging for two weeks with his teammates at the Knicks’ training center.

“I feel good,” Gallinari said at an event to promote an Oct. 18 exhibition game between the Knicks and Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv. Proceeds from the game will benefit Migdal Ohr, an Israeli orphanage that houses 7,000 orphaned, impoverished and underprivileged children.

Gallinari missed most of his rookie season because of a back injury, which required noninvasive surgery in April. He said he was playing with no limitations now, which may be the best news the Knicks have had in months.

Team officials regard the 21-year-old Gallinari as the most gifted and versatile player on the roster. He is already their best shooter and passer and, at 6 feet 10 inches, can play multiple positions. Assuming he has a strong training camp, Gallinari is likely to open the season as a starter.

As the Knicks look to 2010, and the free-agent recruitment of LeBron James, they will promote a young core of Gallinari, Wilson Chandler and David Lee as the key to the future. Chandler, who had ankle surgery in June, also is back to full strength and scrimmaging.

Gallinari said he was comfortable with playing a featured role in the offense and welcomed the high expectations that came with being the sixth overall pick.

“I want to see the expectations, I want to feel the pressure, because that’s what makes you a really good player,” he said. “So I’m happy that there is pressure and people have expectations.”

Coach Mike D’Antoni said Gallinari had played the last seven days in a row, with no setbacks.

“He’s looking good,” D’Antoni said. “He’s taken a lot of hits and fallen down and gotten back up. He’s getting in better shape as each day goes by.”

Not to worry. DLee can teach him how to stay out of foul trouble.

Maybe if the guards and wings wouldnt let their guy a free walk to the basket then our defense would be better. Just look up how many wings vs big men torched us last year. If you think Lee defense is bad which it is wait until you see the rooster defense. The good part is MDA doesnt stress defense so Lee and the rooster will play a lot.

Posted by King1:

Maybe if the guards and wings wouldnt let their guy a free walk to the basket then our defense would be better. Just look up how many wings vs big men torched us last year. If you think Lee defense is bad which it is wait until you see the rooster defense. The good part is MDA doesnt stress defense so Lee and the rooster will play a lot.

I don't think anyone is going to disagree with you that the wings and guards are playing a little Ole! defensively, but one does not excuse the other.

Perhaps this is why Donnie was so high on getting a player like Douglas and why Hughes, despite his deficiencies offensively, may get playing time. And maybe Hill and Darko are a bit more aggressive at the big positions and will offset some of Lee's qualities. I am hoping.

Posted by martin:

Posted by King1:

Maybe if the guards and wings wouldnt let their guy a free walk to the basket then our defense would be better. Just look up how many wings vs big men torched us last year. If you think Lee defense is bad which it is wait until you see the rooster defense. The good part is MDA doesnt stress defense so Lee and the rooster will play a lot.

I don't think anyone is going to disagree with you that the wings and guards are playing a little Ole! defensively, but one does not excuse the other.

Perhaps this is why Donnie was so high on getting a player like Douglas and why Hughes, despite his deficiencies offensively, may get playing time. And maybe Hill and Darko are a bit more aggressive at the big positions and will offset some of Lee's qualities. I am hoping.

its going to be really interesting to see what happens with Darko/Curry.

I would think moving Curry would be DW's greatest goal as the season goes on. I cant think of anything that would have a bigger impact on 2010 than trading Curry. Of course, he's got to play to have some value. Darko on the otherhand could be a very good high post center with that midrange jumper of his and he's certainly a better defender than Curry.

Posted by Marv:

Posted by martin:

From HoBeck:

Team officials regard the 21-year-old Gallinari as the most gifted and versatile player on the roster. He is already their best shooter and passer and, at 6 feet 10 inches, can play multiple positions.

what? he's a better passer than duhon, who averaged 8 assists? nate? hughes? douglas? this is a pretty significant statement.

missed that. Strange that Beck would make such a declaration. Seems to be more of a conservative write in these regards.

Posted by PresIke:

i'm with nix in gallo's d...

one-on-one he struggled, although we also have to take into consideration his back...

yet as a help defender i think he looked pretty decent, at a minimum.

lee was easily worse.

I'd actually take it a step further because I thought Gallo was a very good help defender. I agree about his man defense, but I'm hoping that was due more to his inability to make quick movements. If he's at 100% this should all be worked out for sure.

All I know is the entire franchise is riding on his fragile back

Posted by Marv:

Posted by martin:

From HoBeck:

Team officials regard the 21-year-old Gallinari as the most gifted and versatile player on the roster. He is already their best shooter and passer and, at 6 feet 10 inches, can play multiple positions.

what? he's a better passer than duhon, who averaged 8 assists? nate? hughes? douglas? this is a pretty significant statement.

Marbury averaged 20 and 10 almost for his career but in the flow of the offense was a bad passer.