I hate when writers really don't follow a team and then make assumptions.

If Houston's achy knees are healthy enough to allow him to play by the time the season begins Nov. 3, Crawford will find himself in the same unhappy position he was in last season with the Bulls -- coming off the bench.

Isiah talked to Crawford about this before he signed and said himself he was ok coming off the bench.

I'm still skeptical that Houston will be able to stay on the court, so I'm not worried about whether or not there will be enough shots to go around.

My main focus during camp will be to see whether Sweetney gets the starting PF job.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/01/sports/basketball/01knicks.html?oref=login

October 1, 2004
New Faces on Knicks Have Wilkens Smiling
By HOWARD BECK

GREENBURGH, N.Y., Sept. 30 - Lenny Wilkens was in a mood to smile a lot and let the chuckles flow easily Thursday, and why not?

He has a new, young catalyst to make his offense hum, a new hyperactive rebounder to keep possessions alive, a strong sense that his ailing team captain is on the mend, and an entire training camp to create order from a fairly muddled roster.

Wilkens, the Knicks' coach, steered away from predictions, but he found more to like than not to like as he surveyed the coming season. The Knicks open training camp, Wilkens's first with the team, next Tuesday in Charleston, S.C.

They are stronger in the backcourt with the addition of guard Jamal Crawford, acquired from the Chicago Bulls this summer. Jerome Williams, undersized at power forward but known for his tireless rebounding efforts, arrived in the same deal. Allan Houston, the team's captain and its best shooter, is healthier.

And after a season marked by constant tumult - including the midseason pickups of Stephon Marbury, Penny Hardaway, Tim Thomas and Wilkens himself - he now gets a complete training camp to see how, or if, all these pieces fit together.

"Last year I felt like we were in the midst of all the changes and everything,'' Wilkens said. "We didn't have the depth that I think you need to have. I think we have a whole lot more depth now. And it should pay off."

Assuming Houston's good health - and Wilkens plans to go easy on him for the next few weeks - the Knicks have a solid four-man rotation at guard with Marbury, Houston, Crawford and Hardaway. They are also deep at power forward, where Kurt Thomas will share time with Michael Sweetney, Vin Baker and Williams.

But the Knicks' gaping hole at center is more gaping than ever, an inconvenient fact considering that Shaquille O'Neal now plays in the East.

"You know, listen, that's something you have to deal with," Wilkens said. "I'm not overly concerned about it, because we have improved in other areas."

Having shipped out center Dikembe Mutombo in the Crawford trade, the Knicks are left with a pair of converted power forwards in the middle: the reedy Nazr Mohammed, who has never been an everyday starter, and Baker, still trying to regain the form that made him an All-Star before alcoholism derailed his career in Boston.

Wilkens, however, hummed with optimism and cheerily declared that with so much depth to work with, he would consider every starting job open when camp begins.

There is another reason for high hopes: a newly whittled down and weaker Atlantic Division. The league has been realigned into six five-team divisions as the expansion Charlotte Bobcats begin play. The Miami Heat, with O'Neal, are now in the Southeast Division. The Knicks' Atlantic Division includes the depleted Nets and a handful of similarly flawed teams in Boston, Toronto and Philadelphia.

"I think that our chances are as good as anybody's,'' Wilkens said. "When you first start out, you've got to believe that everything is possible."

REBOUNDS

The Knicks plan to name Brendan Suhr as the team's new director of player personnel, a position that has been vacant since Jay Hillock resigned last spring. An announcement is expected next week. ... Earl Monroe and John Starks, popular Knicks figures from the 1970's and 90's, will join the team's front office as part of a push to involve alumni in the organization. Starks will work in community relations and as an unofficial team ambassador. Monroe's position is not yet defined. ... The Knicks have 15 players under contract and intend to sign center Mengke Bateer and point guard Andre Barrett before leaving for Charleston on Monday. They will probably add one or two more players to complete the training camp roster.

Copyright 2004 The New York Times Company

Posted by Rich:

http://www.nypost.com/sports/knicks/19887.htm

LENNY: JOBS ARE UP FOR GRABS ON KNICKS

By MARC BERMAN

Isiah is finding that Kurt's four-year contract extension makes him less attractive. There have been talks with Minnesota about Wally Szczerbiak. Thomas has five years left on his pact.

"They're actively trying," one GM said. "Part of the problem is that extension."

Meanwhile, Sweetney could be this season's sleeper.

"If you're asleep against him, you're in trouble," Wilkens said. "He played well in the summer league. Don't think people didn't hear about it. He's going to be one of our better guys, whether he comes off the bench or whatever."

Good stuff.

Posted by Rich:

I'm still skeptical that Houston will be able to stay on the court, so I'm not worried about whether or not there will be enough shots to go around.

Many people are concerned about Houston's health. I'm not one of them. Until his health problems last season, Houston had a realtively injury free career.