raven
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Houston Ready for Next Step By DAVE CALDWELL
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/23/sports/basketball/23knicks.html?oref=login
Published: November 23, 2004
REENBURGH, N.Y., Nov. 22 - Knicks guard Allan Houston moved gracefully between spots on the perimeter of the floor Monday, catching passes and floating in one elegant jump shot after another. He made 18 in a row before a buzzer sounded and he took a break.
"He looks sharp," Knicks point guard Stephon Marbury said. "He looks like he's ready to shoot the ball in a real game." And a real game, finally, is within sight for Houston, who has not played this season because of soreness in his left knee. Houston pronounced himself ready to begin scrimmaging, and he could get his first chance later this week.
"I feel better than I've felt since I've been in New York, period," Houston said.
Houston, 33, is in his ninth season with the Knicks. He did not miss more than five games in any of his first seven seasons with the Knicks, but he missed 32 last season.
Already playing on a sore knee, Houston bruised his left quadriceps when he bumped into Washington's Jared Jeffries on March 16. He played in only one game after that, scoring 2 points in eight minutes March 26 against Toronto.
Houston seemed to be delighted to announce Monday that he was ready to take the next step of his lengthy rehabilitation. Because the Knicks play Atlanta on Tuesday and Toronto on Wednesday, his first chance to scrimmage may come Friday.
"It's been an evolution with my strength and comfort level," he said. "I can do more and more things."
Houston participated in his first morning shoot-around before the Knicks beat Cleveland on Sunday, 98-88. Houston did everything the rest of his team did on Monday, including running, not walking, through the offense the team would use against Atlanta.
"We want to do it at a quick pace," Knicks Coach Lenny Wilkens said. "We don't want them to walk through it."
Wilkens found himself answering questions Monday about how he planned to find playing time for Houston. The Knicks (4-5) have two guards in Marbury and Jamal Crawford who are playing well. They combined for 36 points and 15 assists on Sunday.
When asked how Houston would be squeezed into the rotation, Wilkens said, "I don't think I'm at that point yet."
But Wilkens did say he would not be reluctant to use Marbury, Crawford and Houston at the same time.
Houston, wearing a white jersey and blue shorts like the other Knicks guards, said he was thrilled to be practicing. Although no one has determined when he would be activated, he said he would not care how much playing time he gets.
"It's been killing me, just watching," Houston said. "I'm just happy to be out there shooting, going through the plays."
Wilkens said he did not expect Houston to rejoin the lineup and instantly become the same player he has been during his 11-year N.B.A. career, in which he has averaged 17.5 points. A game is much faster and more physical than a scrimmage.
But Wilkens said a comeback was tougher for a player who had not been able to shoot during a layoff. Houston is shooting, and as each swish shows, he is accurate. Of course, the Knicks' practice floor is not surrounded by 19,763 fans.
"I would make sure he won't overdo it," Wilkens said.
Houston said he was not likely to overdo it, either. He seems to appreciate the prospect of returning to play. Eight months without a game is a long time.
"It's been a long road for me," Houston said.
>>>> I'm so excited to see him coming back at the moment things are starting to click for us. Our backcourt will be tough to defend in few weeks ! GO KNICKS !
[Edited by - raven on 11/23/2004 03:07:14]
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