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nyk4ever
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For those who are just as lazy I am right now......
Knicks Bring In Eric Gordon and Jerryd Bayless for Workouts
# Jerryd Bayless: Prospect Profile | Photo Gallery
# Eric Gordon: Prospect Profile | Photo Gallery
The Knicks continued their pre-draft workouts at the Madison Square Garden Training Center on Tuesday by evaluating two big names available in the June 26 NBA Draft.
Guards Jerryd Bayless of the University of Arizona and Indiana University's Eric Gordon were on hand to work out in front of the Knicks coaches and executives, who hold the No. 6 overall pick in the draft.
For Bayless, Tuesday was the second experience at a pre-draft workout after an earlier session with the Los Angeles Clippers. Bayless emerged from the workout feeling confident that he had given Knicks President, Basketball Operations, Donnie Walsh and Head Coach Mike D'Antoni a good showing.
"I think it went really well," Bayless said after the workout. "I shot the ball really well, and I think I showed them a little bit of everything that I could do. A couple of the things they were doing were passing drills and defensive slides and dunking the ball, so I think I showed them a little bit of everything."
As a freshman last season, Bayless led the Wildcats in scoring, averaging 19.7 points per game to rank third in the competitive Pac-10 conference. He earned Second Team All-Pac-10 and All-Freshman Team honors, and was a finalist for the Wooden Award. Bayless was also a second team All-American selection by Sports Illustrated.
Gordon, meanwhile, led the Big Ten in scoring, averaging 20.3 points per game, and set both a school and conference record for most total points by a freshman with 669. He was a CBSSports.com first team All-American, a second team Sports Illustrated All-American, and a third team Associated Press All-American in his only collegiate season.
Also a finalist for the Wooden Award, as well as the Naismith Award, Gordon was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year and earned unanimous First Team All-Conference honors from the media and league coaches.
Tuesday marked the first pre-draft workout for Gordon, who has upcoming visits with the Clippers, who hold the No. 7 overall pick, and Seattle SuperSonics, who will draft fourth.
"We worked on a lot of different things," Gordon said of his workout with the Knicks. "It's a pretty tough workout here. They've got you moving all the time, and I guess what they do is, they asked D'Antoni to coach, and he puts me through certain drills that he pretty much needs to see for his team.”
While both Bayless and Gordon were mainly scoring combo guards last season in college, draft pundits project both as elite point guards in the NBA.
"Growing up, I've always played mostly point guard, so I think (my game) will translate really well," said the 6-foot-3, 200-pound Bayless. "I'll be playing with great players around me in the league, so I've got to get them involved and make them happy. And I don't have a problem doing that. If they leave me open I can also hit a shot, and if I’m here, hopefully that will happen.”
Gordon was equally confident in his ability to quarterback a team's offense in the NBA.
"I think everybody is seeing me end up as a point guard," said the 6-foot-4, 215 pound Hoosiers star. "I played shooting guard (at Indiana) because of my wingspan and scoring ability, and starting off (in the NBA) I might be a combo, playing the one and two.
"I played a little bit of point guard in college, but I played a lot in high school. People say 'Oh, he never had the ball enough to dribble, he'd just usually come down the court and catch and it drive or take a quick shot.' I’ve got strength and scoring ability. I think I can play point guard because of my strength and dribbling ability, so I can maneuver past guys with my size. I never really got the chance to show it in college, so I think that's the number one thing I've got to do.”
Both players agree having an opportunity to begin their NBA careers in New York City would be a dream come true.
"It's a great city," said Gordon, who compared his playing style to Gilbert Arenas and Baron Davis. "I think anybody would love to play out here with the atmosphere and the fan support."
Bayless said he's just thrilled to be on the verge of an NBA career.
"Wherever I go I’m going to make the best of it, but it would be great to come and play in New York," said Bayless. "My brother actually lives here right now, so I'm always around New York. I just love the whole city and the atmosphere. Playing in the biggest arena and the biggest stage there is in Madison Square Garden, it's a dream come true.”
Like most players, Bayless and Gordon love the style of play D'Antoni brings to the Knicks from Phoenix, believing they would thrive under him.
"His offense is mainly scoring and getting up and down the court," said Gordon. "He has a really good system for any guard. I mean, with that type of offense you could play with four guards."
Bayless in particular has a special fondness for D'Antoni, because the current Knicks coach was an assistant under former Phoenix head coach Frank Johnson, a man who is "like an uncle" to the Wildcat star. Growing up, Bayless spent a lot of time around D’Antoni as well.
"The run-and-gun system really lets the players flourish, and I would love to be a part of that if that was possible," said Bayless. "I went to dinner with coach last night. We discussed (his system) and I told him I think I can be a great part of his system if they do decide to take me and it does work out. He said he has all the tools, he just needs an engine to run it, like a Steve Nash. So hopefully, if the situation works out, I can be the engine or the steering wheel to get it going."
"OMG - did we just go on a two-trade-wining-streak?" -SupremeCommander
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6/10/2008 11:20 PM
