Houston's return should be a boost

By Brian James
ESPN Insider

After missing the last 50 regular-season Knicks' games, including the first 18 this season, Allan Houston has returned from various leg injuries. Now it is up to coach Lenny Wilkens to see just how Houston fits into the rotation that also features versatile starting guards Jamal Crawford and Stephon Marbury.

How soon does Houston return to the starting lineup? If so, whom does he replace and whose minutes get cut?

Let's look at how the Knicks have used Houston thus far and why I think the return of one the NBA's purest shooters will jumpstart the team.

Houston has averaged 16 minutes per game in his first outings. Against the Wizards – Houston's season debut – and the Nuggets, Houston has replaced Crawford around the three-minute mark of the first quarter.

Allan Houston, Jamal Crawford
It will be interesting to see how the Knicks fit Houston (left) into a lineup featuring Crawford.
The game plan was to play Houston about 20 minutes the first night back and 20 to 25 minutes the next game. More than likely, his minutes will come in two 10-minute shifts near the end of the first and third periods. He'll come out of the game sometime around the five-minute mark of the second and fourth periods. Wilkens has tried to keep Houston fresh by rotating him in and out of the lineup. As Houston's legs strengthen and his conditioning improves, obviously the minutes will increase.

But against the Nuggets, a pregame plan to play Houston 25 minutes was changed to 18 minutes because Houston admitted to some soreness. But it was a natural progression.

In Houston's third game back, Tuesday against the Nets, he played just 11 minutes. Maybe the game plan is to slow his comeback and reduce soreness. As soon as Houston can start playing 30-35 minutes per game, look for him to return to the starting lineup.

Until then, he will continue his sixth man role as the first wing player, replacing either small forward Tim Thomas or Crawford.

Both Crawford and Houston are offensive-minded players who think "shoot" first; each plays defense just long enough so he can get the ball back. They are very similar in that regard, but are different in the ways they can score.

Crawford is a two-guard who can play the point in stretches, as he did as a member of the Chicago Bulls. Houston is a natural two-guard who can slide over and play small forward when a smaller lineup is needed. Both can put points on the board in a hurry, as Crawford scored 17 points in the third quarter against the Nuggets.

Both can make deep 3s, hit game-winning shots and shoot reliably well at the free-throw line. Mechanically, no one has a prettier shot than Houston. Every time he shoots an open shot, I'm surprised when it doesn't go in the basket.

His specialty is the catch-and-shoot. But in recent years, he is much improved at dribbling once or twice in either direction and and pulling up for his shot. He loves to cut and get the ball back after entering a post feed.

The Knicks' problem is defensively: Marbury, Crawford and Houston all struggle in stopping penetration. This will certainly be a liability.

How do the Knicks increase Houston's minutes without fracturing the egos of players losing time?

With the inconsistent play of Thomas, he could be the odd man out of the majority of time. But Trevor Ariza, Moochie Norris, Jerome Williams, Crawford, and, yes, even Marbury could sit an extra minute or two depending on matchups and situations.

In his first three outings, Houston has not played at the end of any game. But that will change quickly. If Houston stays with the second unit, it could work to his advantage knowing that he is needed to score playing with Michael Sweetney, Williams, Ariza, and either Marbury or Norris. With each game, Houston will show more aggressiveness in looking for his shot.

At the end of games, the wing-screen roll with Marbury and Kurt Thomas down the stretch with Crawford and Houston on the weak side could be deadly. If you don't trap, Marbury gets into the lane. If you do trap, Houston or Crawford gets open shots on the weak side of the floor.

having marbury, crawford AND h20 out there causes MAJOR mismatches out there and definitely opens it up for nazr and sweets with no double teams. tim played his way out of the starting lineup. EVERYBODY knows it. it's just a matter of time till h20 can get up to 25+ mins a game.