Barret no doubt with the new foul changes. Him and Marcus Banks will both be unstobbable in an uptempo game since you can't put a hand on them.

I'm not sure that Houston will ever play again.

Posted by OasisBU:

Posted by Rich:

I'm not sure that Houston will ever play again.

You cannot be serious?

I am. I think he may be done. He has been rehabbing this thing for almost a year.

[Edited by - Rich on 10/13/2004 19:15:17]

Penny's had 5 surgeries on his knee & he's still effective...Alan Houston isn't done...he's not going to be the same player he was in '99, but he's still got that sweet jumpshot & he can still play a vital role in this team's success.

Posted by TMS:

Penny's had 5 surgeries on his knee & he's still effective...Alan Houston isn't done...he's not going to be the same player he was in '99, but he's still got that sweet jumpshot & he can still play a vital role in this team's success.

Good pt TMS!! Also, Penny and H20 are two totally different players.

Despite the fact that Penny had five surgeries, he's still capable of playing 3 different positions with nifty ballhandling skills....

I'll be easy for H20 cause all he'll be required to do is just shoot, shoot and shoot....

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/16/sports/basketball/16knicks.html?oref=login

October 16, 2004
Crawford Holds His Own Off Court
By HOWARD BECK

GREENBURGH, N.Y., Oct. 15 - In the minutes that followed his public unveiling as the Knicks' savior, Jamal Crawford wrapped himself in a pair of towels and stood ready for the assembled cameras and notepads. He was more than eager to discuss the thrills of his 19-point debut, so the clothes hanging in his locker could wait another few minutes.

As the Knicks are learning, Crawford is soft spoken, but never shy, and he is not afraid of the criticism that comes hand-in-hand with the lavish praise he is hearing.

The Knicks won their preseason opener Thursday, 92-84 over the Nets on the strength of Crawford's performance, which included seven rebounds, two steals and six assists. But he also missed 9 of his 13 field-goal attempts and committed 4 turnovers, sure signs of a 24-year-old who remains a sometimes impetuous work in progress.

When those blemishes were noted, Crawford, who was obtained in August from the Chicago Bulls, acknowledged them and pledged to do better. Those are characteristics that will endear him to Lenny Wilkens, his old-school coach, and his veteran teammates.

"He'll get better at it,'' Wilkens said of Crawford's shot selection.

Among Crawford's more questionable misses were a pull-up 3-pointer in transition and a straightaway shot from the arc that he set up with a dazzling crossover dribble. The latter play seemed headed for "SportsCenter" before the ball rattled out.

"He took a couple, and I told him right then and there, 'That's not what I want,' and he is a better athlete than that,'' Wilkens said. "Anyone who takes shots like that, I'm going to tell them. And either you learn or you come sit next to me and then we can talk about it more. But he's very receptive, and he wants that. And I'm not hesitant to tell him that that's a bad shot.''

Turnovers were a teamwide problem. Wilkens is asking his players to push the pace and look for easy transition baskets, and that will cause an increase in turnovers. But the Knicks had an unsightly 24 on Thursday, and Wilkens figured 18 were the result of forced passes on the break. Stephon Marbury had four, tying Crawford for the team high.

Wilkens said he expected the turnovers to decrease as the new-look Knicks become more familiar with one another. "It's just the first preseason game,'' Kurt Thomas said. "Those type of turnovers are expected.''

Thomas scored 14 points in Thursday's game, and was a beneficiary of Crawford's playmaking. With Thomas's ability to hit midrange jumpers, the two could be an effective pick-and-roll combination.

"Because when Jamal comes off, he'll give it up if you're open,'' Wilkens said. "He's an unselfish player.''

REBOUNDS

Shandon Anderson, a veteran swingman, did not play a minute Thursday night, but Coach Lenny Wilkens said he remained a viable member of the team. The Knicks are trying to trade him. "I don't treat him any different than any other player,'' Wilkens said. "We've got 18 guys, 17 guys, we can't play them all at once. That's just an impossibility. We still have, what, seven games to go? He'll get an opportunity.'' ... KURT Thomas moved to center for a long stretch in the first half Thursday, allowing him to play alongside his rival at power forward, Mike Sweetney. Although it leaves them undersized, it might be the Knicks' best big-man tandem. "They're very good, let's put it that way,'' Wilkens said.

Copyright 2004 The New York Times Company

Posted by Silverfuel:

Posted by TMS:

Penny's had 5 surgeries on his knee & he's still effective...Alan Houston isn't done...he's not going to be the same player he was in '99, but he's still got that sweet jumpshot & he can still play a vital role in this team's success.

I think you are one of the only people that consistently goes back to Houston's 1999 season when he was drving to the hoop, playing defense and getting to the line a lot. That was a good year from him. I dont think he will come close to it. The biggest problem is not only his knees but also the type of offense that Lenny wants to run. Push the ball..

Houston can be effective with Penny at the 3 and Stephon walking the ball up in a half court game. It's going to be all about Crawford and Stephon early in the season. I also think sooner or later we shall get a good offensive front court guy who will really help our team. That's when Houston can and will be effective.

i already said i didn't think he'd be the player he was in '99...but his perimeter shot adds a dimension that can open up alot of things for the other guys on this team...they have some good complementary parts here right now w/Stephon & JC penetrating, KT & Houston spotting up for perimeter shots, Sweets, Baker, Nazr & JYD fighting inside for rebounds & tip ins...that's what i mean...Houston's role on this team can still be very important even though his athleticism isn't nearly what it once was.