In The Paint Inside Practice
Rose and Taylor Ready to Go
by Tom Kertes

GREENBURGH, NY, February 26, 2005 -- “You walk down the corridor here, you see all those pictures, all that history,” an awed Maurice Taylor pondered, leaning against the wall at the Madison Square Garden Training Center in Greenburgh, NY. “The Knicks are one of those classic teams, like the Celtics or the Lakers. So playing in New York, it’s a little daunting. But I’m prepared.”
When Malik Rose was asked what it feels like to wear a Knick uniform, he just grabbed the front of his shirt and smiled. “It fits,” he said. “As long as it fits, everything’s all right.”

The bigger question, of course, is how will new Knicks Taylor and Rose -- both power forwards on a team already rich in power forwards -- fit? “There’s no log jam,” confident coach Herb Williams said. “Not at all. All these guys are versatile and bring different things to the table. Malik can play the ‘three’ or “four’; Kurt(Thomas) the ‘four’ and the ‘five’. Tim (Thomas) the ‘three and the ‘four’ and so on. Malik is a real tough guy who defends people hard. Mo is one of the better scorers in the league, inside and out. In addition, Malik was a very big part of two championship teams. Any time you get a guy who played big minutes in big situations and was a winner, it’s a plus.”

Will Rose impart some of that championship experience? “To people who ask,” he smiled. “I’ve got two ears and just one mouth so, especially at first while I’m adjusting, I’ll listen twice as much as I’m planning to talk. But if anybody wants to know anything all they need to do is ask -- people are aware that I’m a real personable guy. Still, I’d rather lead by example, by doing things the right way -- and hope the young guts will catch on.”

Both players expect to contribute in a major way -- and right away, starting with tonight’s game against the Pacers. “In Houston, under Jeff Van Gundy, we ran practically the same system,” Taylor said. “So it’s basically the same stuff under different names. It’s an easy transition.” “Basketball is basketball,” a smiling Rose shrugged his considerable shoulders. “Just give me the ball.”

“I’ll do whatever the team asks me to do,” said Taylor. “Play in the low post? They’ve talked to me about that. Sure, Kurt is a great knockdown shooter and Malik’s a hardnosed rebounder. So I’ll have to mix it up a little bit. Play high – and low. Add something different to the equation.”

Taylor’s “D” has been questioned but he feels that “over the past two years I’ve become a much better defensive player because of Jeff Van Gundy. There was a lot of individual instruction. And we played help defense just like the Knicks do here. Jeff’s motto was ‘help like you want to be helped.’”

Rose, for one, feels that Taylor can score, and play, with the best of them. “Mo was doing 20 and 10 for the Clippers practically every night,” he said. “Then he suffered some injuries. So we know that he has the talent -- now if he can get back to that form….”

“It’s nice to be somewhere where you are wanted,” added Rose. “I am the kind of person who prefers to look to the present and the future. The Knicks have a lot of guys who can play. Now if we also play with what’s inside our shirts -- and inside our heads – things can go our way.”

“The Knicks are, what, four and a half or five games out right now?” wondered Taylor. “In the Western Conference, that’s death. In the East, you’ve still got a big chance.”

“So the playoffs are an achievable goal for us. And that is exactly what we are going to be striving for.”

“Sure, I’ve won two championships in San Antonio -- but that’s in the past,” said Rose. “I anticipate winning a championship right here in the New York. That’s in the future. Now it’s our job to make sure it’s in the NEAR future.”

Rose, just from this article alone, seems like a guy who's going to let his actions speak for him so I cant wait to see what he'll bring tonight.

I can smell something good getting ready to happen with the players we have now....I just hope that Herb finds the creativity necessary to use his players wisely....

Posted by OldFan:

Basically I am pretty down on the Taylor trade - but if someone can convince him to play hard and provide at least a minimal amount of defense and rebounding he certainly still has a lot of potential.

I think it's about a 1 in 100 shot but if by some miracle both Taylor and TT somehow came close to living up to their potential this team would be interesting.

Rose is at least a good citizen and will play hard. If his effort rubs off on a few others that'll help.

yeah I agree there's always the chance of that happening but in the grand scheme of things even if taylor and TT play up to potential we're not winning a championship with this team. We need a center. We wont be able to afford one ever until after 2007 so we might as well be satisfied with the losing this year because the only way we can find a real center is through this draft.