He may just have to fight through soreness for the rest of his career. Do you think he'll have full strength and quickness back even if he's sore?

no, but he will have enough to elevate on his jumper. He's smart enough to compensate. His play isnt based on his athleticism, rather his skill and strength and size. I dont have a lot of concerns regarding him coming back. I'm sure his issue will be finding a balance between feeling strong and playing a certain amount of minutes.

I'm not sure Allan is at role player status yet. None of us have seen him play, and JC stood there in awe at how many jumpers allan connected on in practice last week. Allan has never been Mr. athletic, he took a pretty serious hit when he came back, which made matters only worse. On top of that, wasn't the right knee the one that got operated on and the left was being compensated for the right. AT 33 I would find it hard to believe ( even with no surgury) that a person could just begin playing Basketball after not playing for almost 8 months and not have soreness.

And some of you keep comparing Grant and allan, when both had totally different problems ( grant ankles, Al knees).

Posted by Therapist:

penny hardaway should be the perfect example of why you wouldn't want houston back too early... and grant hill is the perfect example of why you would want him to wait...

penny, admittedly, came back to play after his knee surgery way before his knee was ready and has never been the same... my man can barely even dunk anymore...

grant hill, chilled and took the time he needed to rehabilitate fully, and is playing like he never lost a step...

two guys who were supposed to be hall of famers... at least grant hill will still be able to make it some day...

I agree Houston should wait, but remember Grant hill tried to come back on that ankle twice and it didn't work. and I don't agree that he is back to his old self, he is still a good player, but grant is not as explosive, yes he will get the occasional dunk, here and there, but he does not play above the rim and he is not beating anyone off the dribble and taking it to the hoop, grant is a jump shooter right nopw, so to say he hasn't missed a step is a bit much, but I agree he does look good... Penny I agree should have waited but it all varies according to the athlete, as long as Houston feels the knee is strong enough and we keep his minutes down, he might be fine..

Look, when The great MJ first came back from his retirement( without injury) he wasn't the same (LOOK OUT BELOW I'M ABOUT TO SORE OVER YOUR ASS FOR A RIDICULOUS DUNK) player he once was.

Great players make the adjustment,H2O has always been a lights-out pure shooter without even a pump fake,or any kind of slick moves and capable of shooting over guy's like shawn bradley.

Grant hill, by far, was the most all around player in the league ( now we have L James). Grant hill today or thus far, is one of the smartest players in the league ( for all of us who have league pass or get to see him play on a regular).

Allans been relatively injury free he's whole career ( because of his style of play), until you ask him to become more then he is. most 20point scores usually gets at least 5 to 6 of the points from the foul line. Allan has average 3.1 free throws in his best season. Even in his one and only all star season he had loads of help and defenses were not collapsing on him the way they started doing in 2002.

Right now he has the best thing going for him Steph , and jamal. He's going to rearly see doubles unless he's blazing hot. His work load has decrease by far. An Allan houston at 85% makes this team a hell'uve lot better with out question.

If TT can get a relatively decent Post player ( and better coach), were a championship team, simply becasue were pretty deep and more balances then in recent years.

Allan Houston has a head?

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/30/sports/basketball/30knicks.html?pagewanted=all

"I'm happy where I am," Houston said, "but just because I'm scrimmaging, it doesn't mean it's over with. I still want to continue to improve."

And Houston wants to continue to improve at practice before he is activated by the Knicks, who seem to be doing fine without him. They take a 6-6 record into a road game Tuesday against the Atlanta Hawks.

There had been much speculation that Houston, sidelined since last season because of a sore knee, would play for the Knicks as early as Saturday, when they face the Bobcats in Charlotte. Coach Lenny Wilkens said that was much too optimistic.

"I really need to see him get up and down the floor, and get after it, and then I'll feel comfortable," Wilkens said.

nah not true. his shots are off the mark when his knees hurt. His defense defense can't get any worse lol