Running Through the Garden
By George Michael Hakim
for HOOPSWORLD.com
Apr 21, 2004, 22:10

The Houston Effect

The New York Knicks have undergone an incredible season. From perenially boring losers to a hopeful young team with talent and a playoff berth. They are currently locked up with their cross-river rivals, the New Jersey Nets, in the first round, and are finding themselves at an extreme disadvantage. The Knicks are down two games to none, and the Nets are rolling - playing team ball, sharing the scoring and rebounding loads, and playing great defense and transition offense, as is their custom.

The Knicks are also down two men: Tim Thomas, who was unfortunately injured in game 1 on a hard foul by Jason Collins, and Allan Houston, he of the degenerative knee. This brings to mind what headline writers have been patting themselves on the back for thinking of for years: Houston, we have a problem. Or more specifically: Houston, YOU have a problem.

Allan Houston is the cornerstone to this team. He is its captain and longest-tenured member, having been a part of the Knicks since the 1996-97 season. He's undergone the highs and the lows of the franchise in the past eight seasons, from a miraculous series winner over the hated Miami Heat to a berth in the NBA finals against the San Antonio Spurs, to the recent embarrassment, to the new rebirth. And one thing's for sure: the Knicks NEED Allan Houston to be a part of this team, be healthy, and play often, if they expect to progress as a franchise.

Houston was drafted out of the University of Tennessee by the Detroit Pistons in 1993 with the 11th overall pick. He was one of two consecutive picks by Detroit, who also used the 10th overall pick to select none other than the immortal Lindsey Hunter. Houston was a steal at the 11 spot, especially when you consider that Shawn Bradley, J.R. Rider, Calbert Cheaney, and Bobby Hurley were all drafted in the top seven.

Houston's career at Tennessee predicted great things for the future. As a freshman in 1989-90, he averaged 20.3 points and 4.2 assists per game, while shooting almost identical percentages from the floor (43.7%) and from candyland (43.2%). For his career at Tennessee, where he was selected as a third-team All-American his junior and senior seasons, he averaged 21.9 points, 3.6 assists, and 4 rebounds per game, shot 46% from the floor, 42.4% for three, and 84.9% from the line. He also averaged a steal and half a block per game, showing that he could get it done on both ends of the court.

After three seasons of rapid improvement with Detroit, Houston, then a free agent, signed with the New York Knicks. His first season at the Garden is what you'd expect. A slight decline in all statistical categories and averages, but something that couldn't be improved on. And improve on it he did. After his inaugural season in New York, Houston never averaged fewer than 16.3 points per game, and consistently shot around 44% from the floor and about 88% from the line.

In 1999, Houston became not only a hero, but a savior. The first round of the '99 playoffs pitted the #8 seed New York Knicks against their most hated rival, and the team they had met in the playoffs each of the past two seasons, the #1 seeded Miami Heat. In a dramatic game 5, Gus Johnson's call said it all. "Houston, DOWN the lane, running jumpeeeeer, off the rim, AND IN!" Houston made a miraculous shot that bounced off the rim, off the backboard, and seemingly hovered in the air for an eternity before dropping in to lift the Knicks to a 78-77 victory and move them on to the second round.

They then defeated the Atlanta Hawks and Indiana Pacers to reach the NBA Finals as an 8 seed, where they were subsequently crushed by Tim Duncan and the Spurs. But that season and the few seasons after, Houston averaged about 20 points per game and was a rock at the shooting guard position. His defense, passing, and rebounding were a far cry from his Tennessee days, and he became sort of a one-dimensional player, although he performed that one dimension - shooting - better than 90% of the players in the league. With the right supporting cast, Houston could be a deadly weapon.

After those '99 playoffs though, the Knicks found themselves in a spiraling rut. They had two shooting guards on the floor, Houston and Sprewell, each wanting to play the same position, they lost the maligned Patrick Ewing (who nobody realized the value of until he was gone), and their General Manager Scott Layden brought in worthless, aging, boring talent that could never quite mesh.

In those years, Houston's one-dimensionality became strikingly apparent. He signed a too-rich $100 million contract after the 2001 season, and basketball games would turn into "let's see how many shots Allan can take" games. In the absence of any scoring talent surrounding him, his ppg average rose above 20 for the first time in his pro career. He was a solid scorer but was being forced to do too much, to carry the team on his back, even though he possessed none of the qualities of a team leader. Houston was a soft-spoken, lead by example, low-intensity player who couldn't get his teammates involved and could never "rally the troops." The team needed a jolt, and Houston, with his business-like approach to every game, was not the guy to do it.

Suddenly, on the 23rd of December, 2003, the unthinkable happened. Scott Layden, the bone-headed, unorganized muck of a GM, was fired by James "Tyrant" Dolan, and Isiah "The Eye" Thomas was brought in to take his place. The move was long overdue, evident by the fact that when LeBron James was selected as the number one pick this past season, NBA Commissioner David Stern's announcement of the pick was drowned out by chants of "Fire Layden." But Isiah spoke of broad horizons to come, and a bright future for the New York Knicks franchise.

But there was a dark cloud over Allan Houston's future. Houston has had problems with sore knees, which have never really repaired themeselves after his off-season surgery. What once appeared to be post-surgical soreness now looks like a recurring degenerative problem, which doesn't promise to improve. Houston, who is only finishing his third year of a seven-year bazillion dollar deal, will severely handicap the Knicks if he cannot stay healthy, because his absurd contract makes him untradeable. The Knicks owe four more years of big money to Houston, and seemingly have no other choice but to pay it.

There have been rumors swirling around that Houston would be traded along with loads of cash to the LA Lakers for Kobe Bryant, but that's nothing more than a wishful Knick fan's blissful and misguided optimism. No team wants to assume Houston's contract or his knees unless he can prove himself consistently healthy.

It appears that Houston's time as a healthy basketball player is at an end, and the Knicks have no choice now but to keep him around for the tenure of his contract. If he continues to sit out with ailing knees, this almost totally and completely prevents the Knicks from signing any big-name talent to accompany the team they're sending on the floor. And it also spells a bad sign for the years to come.

Houston's one dimension was a detriment rather than a celebration in the past few years. He was shooting because he had to, because no one else would, because he was the star, the captain, and the point was to get the ball into his hands regardless of the situation, because the Knicks trusted a triple-teamed Houston over a wide open anyone else. But now the Knicks have a superstar, a Stephon Marbury, a legitimate 20 point per game scorer with the ability to pass the ball on a dime at any time. And now, Houston's ability to find some open room outside and knock down a jumper becomes deadly. A one-two backcourt scoring punch that could rival any in the league - if Houston is healthy.

The Knicks miss Houston's shooting dearly in their series against the Nets. They have just been stomped two games in a row, 99-81 and an embarrassing 107-83. The scoring load is hard to share when Marbury is being double-teamed. Kurt Thomas is mediocre at best, and Tim Thomas is a solid option but hasn't shown he can be the consistent scorer that his future once promised. Bottom line is: no one else on the floor can score like Houston can. He draws attention just by being there. Just by standing on the court, Houston draws cries of "watch the shooter!" and forces defenders to think about playing the kick-out pass if someone's driving the lane, making it much easier to score inside. His presence, when he's healthy, elevates the level of the Knicks' game many times.

After a roller-coaster season, it appears as if the 2003-04 New York Knicks will go home first round losers, winners of maybe one game at best. They head into next season with a lot of hope, but also with several doubts. Can Houston be the consistent scorer they need, or will his knees give out, leaving the Knicks shorthanded, searching desperately for a solid secondary scoring option? It may sound strange to hear, but the Knicks' future lies in Allan Houston's knees. If he's healthy, the Knicks have a legitimate shot over the next four seasons of making great strides in the playoffs. If he's not, it's easy to see what will happen if you watch this series against the Nets.

For a one-dimensional player, he sure ain't bad.

If the Knicks had a full healthy team the Knicks would be tied 2-2 in this series...at the very least.

That's not the case. So why even waste time typing a whole article on it. Houston may need more surgery. He may not play like Allan Houston again.....He might be reduced to a Dell Curry.

Houston is tied up with the Knicks probably till his contract is in the final year. Regardless if he can play or not...there should be a plan to get some young guys here to sit and develop behind Houston to eventually take his place. Possibly to take the 2 spot over next season.

The Knicks can't get caught up in this "we need Houston back" BS all the time. We did it with all the "franchise" players the Knicks keep latching on to. That sucks.

if we are relying on a player who will be 34, not 24, thirty four next year--and from his own mouth on MSG--i have had unbearable pain in my kneee for years but played through it with the help of pain medicine. My knee is so bad that it should be in a cast--he's ALREADY gone through micro-fracture surgery and is there little doubt that he will Likely* need a more extensive procedure? i hope H2O can comeback but how in the world can i count on it? my bet is he has some kind of surgery very late into the summer whne he realizes it's not getting better and will be lost for atleast 1/2 the year--then we get to see what he can or CANNOT do. the guy cannot get on the floor--he hasnt been able to play for awhile--i think you are hoping for osmosis here. isiah thomas retired when he was 32, my guess is he may realize that H2O may not be back and is considering different options.
I dont see H2O as a 35+ minute 80 game player--he could very well comeback, but i see his role as a reserve.