The New York Times

October 9, 2007
Randolph Shows His Range in Knicks Debut
By HOWARD BECK

COLUMBIA, S.C., Oct. 8 — The sore-shouldered Eddy Curry had vacated the court, and Zach Randolph had all the room in the world to make a nice first impression. As it turned out, he did not need the extra real estate.

Randolph made his first six shots in a Knicks uniform Monday night, in a 101-92 preseason victory against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Colonial Center. He did not score in the lane until his sixth attempt, a layup on a feed from Stephon Marbury.

His performance underscored what the Knicks had been saying for months, that once Randolph and Curry were healthy, they should mesh nicely. Curry needs room in the lane to operate. Randolph, as he showed quickly, will shoot from wherever he gets the ball.

Randolph hit from 19 feet in the game’s opening minutes, and followed with baskets from 12, 21, 22 and 20 feet before making the layup. He did not miss until his seventh attempt, just inside the 3-point line. Randolph finished with 17 points and 5 rebounds, going 7 for 10 from the field.

It will be a while before Curry and Randolph share the court. The team announced Monday that Curry had a torn labrum in his right shoulder and, in all likelihood, would need two weeks of rehabilitation. Curry took a more optimistic view, saying that he could return for the exhibition game Oct. 17 at Boston.

“I think that’s very realistic,” Curry said.

If that were to happen, Curry would still play in five of the Knicks’ seven preseason games, giving him more than adequate time to prepare for the season and adapt to Randolph’s presence. In the meantime, the lane belongs to Randolph, if he chooses to use it. Even if he does not, Randolph could benefit from Curry’s absence, just by having more scoring chances.

“That will get me more rhythm,” said Randolph, who was acquired from Portland in a draft-night trade June 28.

Sixers Coach Maurice Cheeks, who coached Randolph for five seasons in Portland, said Curry and Randolph would be fine together.

“You can never get enough guys that can score on the block,” Cheeks said, before referring to Randolph. “He can score on the block with the best of them. He can rebound the ball with the best of them. And he can get up and down the floor.”

Cheeks said Randolph would not need plays run for him because his offensive rebounding would provide plenty of scoring chances. With the Sixers’ being an Atlantic Division rival of the Knicks, Cheeks said, “I know we’ve got our work cut out” trying to defend Curry and Randolph.

Curry’s torn labrum was revealed by a magnetic resonance imaging exam taken Sunday night in Columbia. The team will provide a more specific timeline for Curry’s return after he visits with the Knicks’ orthopedist, Dr. Answorth Allen, on Tuesday. The exam showed no damage to Curry’s rotator cuff.

“I think it’s definitely good news,” said Curry, the Knicks’ leading scorer last season. “Going in, we were just hoping that the rotator cuff was healthy.”

Curry said he had already felt improvement since injuring the shoulder Saturday. But he could not raise his arm in a shooting motion yet. Curry said that he would not need surgery and that he did not expect the shoulder to be an issue this season.

Coach Isiah Thomas played down any concern over Curry’s health, saying, “I don’t see this as a long-term thing.”

He added, “If you’re going to miss a couple of weeks and we’re going to fall apart in a couple of weeks, then we shouldn’t be doing this.”

Thomas was also unconcerned about finding time to blend Curry’s and Randolph’s games.

“They’ve played basketball before, so I don’t think that I’m introducing that new of a technique or scheme to them,” he said. “I’m sure they’ll find their way.”

REBOUNDS

Larry Brown, a former Knicks coach and now a 76ers executive, watched the game from a luxury box in the corner behind the Philadelphia bench. Before heading to the suite, Brown stopped to shake hands with two New York reporters. He did not smile or chat, however, and quickly walked away. The Knicks fired Brown in June 2006, after he alienated his players and his bosses during his only season with the team.

Posted by misterearl:

Follow The Leader

bippity - In an ideal world Nate would be 6'7.

king1 - we all have our personal favorites. The leaders will lead. I place that responsibility with the coaching staff and next the players who can deliver that message when the coaches are absent. "A child shall lead them..."

Vote Wilson Chandler for Mayor.

Posted by misterearl:

bippity - I agree with your disagreement and raise you a small forward.

Leaders can come from anywhere within the ranks. All that matters is that they get back on defense and share the ball.

I 100% agree with you............I think