I sincerely believe that Mr. Houston is just being smart. I believe he can still play 30-35 minutes a game for 80 games by november-decemberish because he is a smart guy who knows his body. No longer pushed to recover by Chaney and striving to carry the load, he finally is in his right spot: an excellent 2nd or 3rd option. This is great news and I truly think that Houston will be injury-free this year after being so cautious.
I trust this guy's judgement; he actually has shown some intelligence before, unlike many other NBA players.

"Just having Jamal Crawford makes him the sixth man. Jamal had a terrible shooting percentage last year. Beyond that Crawford is one of the most physically gifted players in the league. The dude is 6'5" and quicker than most guys 5" shorter. His handle is one of the best in the world. He can be a lethal scorer. You must make a team effort to contain this type of talent."

I think your overratting him a bit but good point

Posted by EnySpree:

Why should Houston play more than 30 minutes?

Just having Jamal Crawford makes him the sixth man. Jamal had a terrible shooting percentage last year. Beyond that Crawford is one of the most physically gifted players in the league. The dude is 6'5" and quicker than most guys 5" shorter. His handle is one of the best in the world. He can be a lethal scorer. You must make a team effort to contain this type of talent.

Houston is a jump shooter......let me tell you something. Ask any coach. How do you defend a jumpshooter? You never double team a jump shooter. You put your tallest player you can on them at that position and you tell them to make them put it on the floor.

This in a nutshell is why you bench Houston......Houston still deserves 25-28 minutes per. Once he's on the floor they should be looking for him. He no longer should be the primary focus in the offense.

good post.

http://www.newsday.com/sports/basketball/knicks/ny-spknix0930,0,2337755.story?coll=ny-sports-headlines


Houston takes it slow
Has no timetable for return from knee pain as he tries not to repeat his mistake last year of overdoing it early

BY GREG LOGAN
STAFF WRITER

September 30, 2004


The last vision of Allan Houston on a basketball court in public was a painful sight indeed. Compelled by the pressure of a playoff race to test his injured knees, Houston limped around for the first eight minutes of a game against Toronto on March 26 at Madison Square Garden, made 1 of 2 shots, then called it a season when it became obvious he couldn't move well enough to continue.

Six months later, Houston yesterday said: "I feel stronger than I've been in a long time. I just want to be cautious. I don't want to go out and really strain myself."

After a summer of rehabilitation, the only thing the former All-Star shooting guard can promise is that he won't rush back before he's ready. He hasn't scrimmaged, probably won't do much during training camp next week in Charleston, S.C., and can't say whether he will play in any exhibition games, but Houston hopes to make it back for the Nov. 3 opener at Minnesota.

Houston delivered this "progress" report after an appearance at a clinic at P.S. 28 in Harlem, and it was impossible not to wonder if he could get up and down the court as quickly as some of the elementary school kids in attendance.

After fending off all attempts to pin him down to a timetable for his return, Houston looked with some bemusement at reporters and said: "I get a sense you guys think I'm in the same place. I'm very far from that, but I'm just going to be very careful. The reality is there's no point in me going out right now and overdoing it."

In 20/20 hindsight, Houston, 33, believes he missed a career-high 32 games last season because he pushed himself to come back too soon from micro.fracture surgery on his left knee in June 2003. He played 49 minutes in the opening overtime loss to Orlando and at least 41 minutes in seven of the first nine games. It was a .mistake.

"I've had a lot of time to think about it," he said. "I look back at those minutes against Orlando in the first game; I started getting on the court a week before training camp when I didn't feel as good as I feel now, and from training camp on, it was bothering me. I dealt with it, and I played through it. It was stupid.

"I feel like the start of the season set the tone for me, and I want to make sure my start [this season] is stronger than it's been in a long time. I just want to be sure."

Houston played 41 of the first 47 games last .season, but the effort to compensate for the pain in his right knee caused him to develop problems with his left knee. He played hurt in a futile effort to save coach Don Chaney's job, but it left him so beaten up that he was able to play only 21 games with point guard Stephon Marbury after he was acquired in a midseason trade, and Houston missed the playoffs.

Over the summer, Knicks president Isiah Thomas traded for combination guard Jamal Crawford, who not only can back up Marbury but also can start in place of Houston if he's not healthy. The move fueled speculation about Houston being pushed to the bench, but he's not concerned about that. Nor should he be. Houston is the Knicks' only dependable outside shooter.

If he was bothered by criticism he heard on radio talk shows last season from fans who forgot he missed only 19 games in 10 previous seasons, Houston has reached a point where he's determined to listen only to what his body is telling him.

"What I need is to be strong and healthy," Houston said. "That's all I'm thinking about right now. I'm not trying to be selfish, but I'm trying to be smart."

Posted by Bonn1997:

really does sound like he is better situated to play 6th man.

I've been saying that for several months now

Damm briggs, you been riding Bonn's coat tails for severl months now! Shameful, just shameful!

Posted by Nalod:

Posted by Bonn1997:

really does sound like he is better situated to play 6th man.

I've been saying that for several months now

Damm briggs, you been riding Bonn's coat tails for severl months now! Shameful, just shameful!

Perhaps it was a simultaneous cognition.

can't just blame Gone Chaney. Allan gets paid 20mil to play hurt. He thought he could do it, and he did. Hind site is 20-20.

I think its a Dolan-Laydog-Chaney decision to play him, and Allan knows why he gets paid the big bucks.

Its nice we have altrnatives this year and not have to rely on just H20!

Posted by Nalod:

can't just blame Gone Chaney. Allan gets paid 20mil to play hurt. He thought he could do it, and he did. Hind site is 20-20.

I think its a Dolan-Laydog-Chaney decision to play him, and Allan knows why he gets paid the big bucks.

Its nice we have altrnatives this year and not have to rely on just H20!

don't agree. chaney was playing him to save his job. a lot of high money players were eased back from an injury, even coming off the bench. webber, duncan, to name a few. you think h20 would've said anything if they told him he'd come off the bench or play just 20-25 mins at the start of the season? it's ENTIRELY chaney/layden's fault.

You never double team a jump shooter. You put your tallest player you can on them at that position and you tell them to make them put it on the floor.

Thats ridiculous, leathal Jumpshooters like Al, Jordan, Reggie, starks, can shoot over anyone 6 10" and shorter. how many times you see coach's try putting the tallest defender on Al and he still shoots right over them, or pump fakes them into a foul.

When Hou drop that 50pt blast on the lakers ( 80% jumpers) phil had the entire team ( except shaq) take a shot at guarding him to no avail.


So I'm not understanding his point, Especially when your talking about a shooter who's one ( if not the best) in the business today.