Cosmic wrote:And did you see how he walked to the locker room just now? Gimping all awkward? That's back issues. That isn't a normal gait. That's due to a hurting back. Do you see how he sits on stacks of towels on the bench? That's back issues. Do you recall all the sitting on the floor, lying on the floor, grimmacing, riding the bike, sitting out games, having terrible games here and there, having back surgery, etc? Did not all of that happen?You're smarter than this than to call people out on this forum just because he hit a couple of quick shots today. Now you're calling me a hater. Give me a break.
Gallo has all the talent in the world, he is still young in terms of learning the game, and he does indeed suffer from back issues.
Those back issues, IMO, are most to blame for his occasional bad outings, or, bad starts to games.
tkf's responses on this thread were more of a reaction to past threads, than this one or to you.
I don't see Gallos back as a significant issue at this time, (No-I am not saying it is a non-issue yet!) because if it was, he would not be able to play the kind of D he does in fact play. Watch what he was doing prior to being subbed for during the 3rd period of the Minny game. I know that you have had back issues, but I have had some problems over the years also, and the biggest limitation I have had involved my inability to make sudden responsive movements which you normally don't think about, but are unable to do without hurting when you have a bad back. My problems have stemmed from the sport I coach (wrestling) and some poor lifting habits. I have had lower back pains which made me unable to stand up in less than 20-30 seconds. You can minimize pain by moving in a controlled fashion, but sudden actions are painful.
I have posted on this before, and it's my opinion that the most painful movements you might have to make in a game which might be affected by a back injury are the sudden movements you make on defense. It is easier to control your tempo and movement on offense than it is to react in a controlled manner on D. Gallinari would not be able to show the full extension he does show on D if he had a back injury that was limiting his game on offense. The other thing with him are his dunks, which are usually two handed, and involve a lot of extension- another move which I don't think he would be doing if his back was really an issue.
Watch how he went 1/1 with Flynn at one point in the T-wolves' possession, switched off of him after Flynn could not fake him out, and then ended up in full extension attempting to block a J in front of the Knicks' bench. Hard to do that with a back injury, my friend.
If you saw the halftime interview, he was wearing some kind of black compression device which looked like it was designed to provide some padding and warmth for his back. They are being cautious with the kid's health- due diligence.
I tend to believe that he has to work on his overall strength, and also his footwork as a shooter. I also believe that a lot of his energy is being "wasted" by him having to chase smaller men around all the time. Watch how active he is on D, and tell me how many other guys his size are made to chase folks around like he does. He, along with Jeffries, have almost become the defensive specialists on this team, and I am not sure that Gallo is physically up to that challenge this year, even though he continues to do what MDA asks him to do.
No man is happy without a delusion of some kind. Delusions are as necessary to our happiness as realities- C.N. Bovee
