Now all we have to do is get Isiah to move Q to the 2, start Balkman at the 3 and move Crawford to the second unit.


Richardson Says He’s Back, Even Better Than Before

By HOWARD BECK
Published: July 10, 2007

LAS VEGAS, July 9 — The Knicks will almost certainly have a new look at small forward next season, where their starter will be a deft shooter and a dedicated defender. No trades will be needed.

The new starter could very well be the old starter — a surgically upgraded Quentin Richardson, who hopes to be lighter, quicker and pain-free when he returns.

Richardson, who had back surgery March 30, was cleared Monday to work on the court. He is running, jumping and even dunking, although not yet playing with contact. He is on track to resume playing by the end of the month, and to be at full speed by the time he reports to training camp in October.

While speculative reports link the Knicks to Sacramento’s Ron Artest, a native New Yorker, the most likely situation is a revived Richardson filling the team’s needs on the wing.

“I think I’ll be more explosive now, because I was so limited last year and the year before,” said Richardson, who attended Monday night’s summer-league game against the Seattle SuperSonics.

Richardson had a microdiscectomy to repair a herniated disk, which bothered him for most of last season. He played in just 49 games, averaging 13.0 points and 7.2 rebounds. When healthy, the 6-foot-6 Richardson was the Knicks’ best perimeter defender, routinely guarding the league’s elite swingmen like LeBron James and Kobe Bryant. He is also the Knicks’ best 3-point shooter and among their top rebounders.

But Richardson often played in pain last season because of the back injury, which created other problems when he overcompensated for his injury.

“I was just used to having a certain level of pain,” he said.

Contrary to concerns that he would never be the same, Richardson insisted that he would in fact be a better, more fluid player because of the surgery.

“I definitely look forward to being out there and playing pain free and being able to do the things that I know I can do without having to favor this or favor that, or go out there knowing I’m hurt and having to limit myself on certain things,” he said.

Richardson appeared a bit heavier Monday, but he said he planned to be lighter and quicker in the fall. He is working out here all week with his teammates Fred Jones, David Lee and Mardy Collins. Malik Rose is expected to join them Tuesday.

Richardson envisions himself as the starting small forward next season, joining an explosive lineup that will feature the new addition Zach Randolph at power forward, Eddy Curry at center and guards Jamal Crawford and Stephon Marbury. The Knicks acquired Randolph, who averaged 23.6 points and 10.1 rebounds last season, from Portland last month.

“It’s a great starting lineup,” Richardson said.

Even without the addition, Richardson said he considered the Knicks contenders in the Eastern Conference next season. For proof, all he had to do was watch the finals, in which the Cleveland Cavaliers — a team the Knicks beat twice — represented the East.

“I was looking at a team in the finals I felt like we could have beat,” he said.

Just then, Cavaliers Coach Mike Brown walked behind Richardson, and Richardson, upon seeing him, reacted with a sheepish laugh.

“I’m serious; I think he really wouldn’t be able to argue with that,” Richardson said of Brown. “We played them well, every game.”

Randolph’s arrival means Curry will have to share the ball in the low post. But Richardson, who is close to Curry and has worked out with him in Chicago, their hometown, said he was pleased with the trade.

“I think Eddy’s happy, because he feels like he’s not going to see as many double teams,” he said.

REBOUNDS

There are some indications that the Sacramento Kings are open to trading Ron Artest, but that there has been little, if any, substantive discussion about sending him to the Knicks. The Kings’ president, Geoff Petrie, said, “If people want to have conversations with themselves, go for it.” He added, “Ignorance is generally its own reward.” It was unclear if Petrie was taking a shot at the news media or the Knicks. “We’re not trying to move anybody,” Petrie said. Regarding Artest, he said, “Ron is going to be a King next year.”

60 games for Q this year. Tops.

Posted by Pharzeone:

Posted by islesfan:

60 games for Q this year. Tops.

Yeah, you have to be careful. 82 games and he plays hard in the post. I remember Bird saying that his back was fine in the off season after his surgery but it got stiff as the season worn on. Granted he was played a lot of minutes. Hopefully Thomas knows how to manage injure players.

LOL Seriously? You trust Isiah and his crack medical staff to do the right thing?

Did you see them jerk Lee around? It's July and he says he's still not 100%.

Posted by islesfan:

60 games for Q this year. Tops.

Way to be positive there Isles. The operation he had has a very high % of success and according to the medical journals it's very rapid relief. He probably should've had the surgery earlier, but they don't recommend the back surgery unless rest and therapy don't work. Once you remove the source of the nerve irritation then you allow time for the nerve to calm down, wound to heal and you should be OK. That's what they say about the success of the operation. I'm hopeful that he can play a lot of games this year, but if he has some setbacks I hope they're only minor. I'm sure that they'll try to monitor his situation and keep his minutes down at first.

60 is great. 22 games we can manage to fill in the gaps here and there with our young SFs. David Lee too.

[Edited by - kam77 on 07-10-2007 12:58 AM]

Q ain't a two guard. You can't be a Guard when spot up shooting is the only quality you have of a guard.

[Edited by - Anji on 07-10-2007 4:44 PM]