A number of coaches have found that rookies frequently make more progress when they are required to make dramatic improvements before they are allowed to leave the bench and get regular playing time. I simply don't agree with the conclusion that since Toney is playing well now, imagine how much better he would have been if he had been getting regular minutes earlier in the season. In George Gershwin's words in Porgy and Bess, "It ain't necessarily so".

I wonder if Sergio and Duhon hadn't struck out so badly, whether Toney Douglas ever gets regular playing time at the point this year? (If Nash is Mike's ideal point guard, it doesn't appear that Toney is capable of playing that role accurately.) But lately Mike and almost everyone else has realized that Toney Douglas clearly gives the Knicks their best chance to win. In addition to playing aggressive defense, distributing the ball well, Toney also gets some steals and more rebounds than a guy of his stature should. Plus he finishes well around the basket, and is one of the few Knicks comfortable taking shots late in the game. Finally it seems to me that Toney Douglas is indirectly responsible for the improvement in Gallo's numbers lately as well.

franco12 wrote:I don't understand those who subscribe to a theory other than you learn by doing.

Basketball is a physical activity, not chess.

Yes, maybe Toney wasn't ready to run MDA's system the way MDA wants- but we're not sure there is a PG short of a HOF caliber PG capable of running MDA's system the way he wants.

Face it- Mike is stubborn, which is sometimes good. But, I think the last two years, probably bad.

What exactly did we accomplish in the last two years, besides shed salary?

Oh, we drove Lee's value up so much that we might lose him for nothing? Great.

Added a whole bunch of quasi NBDL talent that everyone here is drooling about (Giddens & Walker)?

Decided that Duhon is not a keeper?

Anyway.. you comment about MDA being stubborn. I simply think he wasnt qualified for this job. In Pho he had Marbury/Penny and one bad season. After that it was Nash and 55 wins every year.

I'm excited about Toney.

He was the fastest player in the draft, and of all the guys in draft express measurement database he's in the top 10 all time. Im excited to see that physical talent translating into good BB. I hope this guy is the real deal

Now he's playing amazing basketball.

To me that says he was handled properly by Mike.

What's to criticize? The kid is balling!

Our other draft pick, who is no longer our problem, was the exact opposite. It showed.

kam77 wrote:It has been mentioned by Hahn that Hill's practice habits were questionable here and they've noticed the same in Houston.

Pretty unbelievable if true.

BRIGGS wrote:

firefly wrote:

BRIGGS wrote:Now add Jimmer fredette and we will have one heckuva two headed PG.

$10 says Jimmer Fredette doesn't score more then 5 ppg or get more then 2 apg over the first half of the season. You gotta stop jocking these guys like they're gonna come in and make Chris Paul look redundant. Heck, make Chris Duhon redundant! Fredette will be a low ranked rookie and you piling pressure on him isn't gonna help his transition into an NBA player. The way you talk in thread after thread after thread it's like this guys gonna be dishing and swishing all over the place. It's not going to happen. Get over it. He might be good. Be might be great. In the future. Not next year. I hang my ass on that.

I think he's going to be very good right away. There are things he does that so many prospects cannot do that will translate very well in the NBA--especially with a team that can space the floor like the Knicks. I read that his 3 point shot from the top of the key[before his second illness that dropped his 3pt FG % from 49 to 45] dropped at nearly 60%. He will not have the pressure to score and knows how to find the open man and if all else fails--like Steve Nash knows how to use angles body control and a constant dribble to score in the paint. I think this kid is made for this type of team. Im not looking for someone to come in and play 40 minutes--Im looking for a 12/14 minute back up. Obviously were going to carry 3 PGs next year.

I hope you're right man. It just frustrates me that guys who have done nothing to prove they'll be any good as NBA player get blown totally out of proportion by the magic P word. Darko, Kandi, Kwame, Holiday there are so many more i could name. Today's big hit or big sleeper or next LeBron. Leave the rookies alone and appreciate it takes truly exception talent to fit right intothe NBA immediately. Maybe 2-4 guys have that each year, yet the superlatives people throw out about ordinary mid to low first talent borders on ridiculous. I've got nothing against Fredette personally, it's the whole potential thing, the "he can jump high and he's taller then my bedroom ceiling and therefore will better then Michael" that I find to be complete bullcrud.

Glad I got that off my chest.

Paladin55 wrote:

kam77 wrote:It has been mentioned by Hahn that Hill's practice habits were questionable here and they've noticed the same in Houston.

Did Hahn report the Houston info too? Hard to believe that Hill would not step it up after being traded.

Pretty unbelievable if true.