http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/knicks/story/320328p-273960c.html

Allan: I'll be ready
if Knicks want me

BY JOHN DELLAPINA
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

Should NBA owners and players hammer out a new CBA quickly enough to allow training camps to open on time in October, Allan Houston says he'll be ready to go. Whether the Knicks want him back, Houston can't say.

The 34-year-old shooting guard, who has missed 94 games the last two seasons because of arthritic knees, sat courtside with his daughter Remi for yesterday's Liberty victory at the Garden.

And after enjoying the WNBA's Dads and Daughters day, Houston was asked if he expected to be healthy enough to open training camp.

"Yeah, yeah," he said. "I'm making a lot of progress."

Houston wasn't as certain about whether the Knicks' hierarchy considers him part of their plans for 2005-06 and beyond.

"I don't really know," he said. "But I don't really think about it. I just think about being fortunate enough to continue to play."

Knicks president Isiah Thomas said after Houston succumbed to knee pain midway through last season that the team was planning as if the two-time All-Star wouldn't be able to come back. And it is believed Thomas would prefer that Houston retire so he could turn the Knicks' backcourt completely over to Stephon Marbury, Jamal Crawford & Co.

Houston insists he isn't focusing upon such things and certainly isn't planning any retirement announcements.

"I'm just feeling good," he said. "I'm happy about where I am. I'm just feeling really good."

Similarly, he said he isn't consumed with fear that he'll never be able to regain the form that made him one of the NBA's top shooters in 2000-01 and 2001-02.

He said that last year but still I wish him the best. If he comes back great its a bonus, if not we never planned on having him anyway.

He's feeling good. He didn't say he's feeling good about the knee. Believe me, I make films....You have to have a professional outlook and sometimes you say things that can mean anything...He did not mention his knees when he said "I feel really good." He could mean he feels really good about him stealing money from the Knicks organization. He used to be a great player. He's the gipper now. Sorry, but it's the truth. Boo-yah!

To me, the only part that gave me any indication of any honest progress is this quote:
Similarly, he said he isn't consumed with fear that he'll never be able to regain the form that made him one of the NBA's top shooters in 2000-01 and 2001-02.
Now, you can either interpret it as:
- He is confident he will regain his form and become a lethal shooter/scoring threat again
OR
- He doesn't care anymore, to put it plain and simple, and he just wants to get back in any shape/form

[Edited by - teslawlo on 06/19/2005 21:18:15]

$20 million cap number for 6 pts off the bench for 15 mins a night?

Posted by MaTT4281:

Posted by franco12:

$20 million cap number for 6 pts off the bench for 15 mins a night?

Compared to what we're getting now, I'll gladly take 15 minutes of spot up shooting a night.

Please retire allan.

funny how the om-line edition omitted the most important part of allan's comments as printed in the newsstand copy I dont really worry about that [as being a top shooter]-its not a concern of mine, he said. i just thank God that i've had the time off and that He's allowed me to be able to come back

I keep on forgetting that he is even on the team! All jokes aside maybe he can win a few close games for us with his outside shooting. If not he will just be taken up a roster spot.

Posted by Bobby:

Posted by teslawlo:

Posted by Bobby:

funny how the om-line edition omitted the most important part of allan's comments as printed in the newsstand copy I dont really worry about that [as being a top shooter]-its not a concern of mine, he said. i just thank God that i've had the time off and that He's allowed me to be able to come back

ah!
forget everything I just said

i'm not refuting any comment you've made...all im saying is allan credits God in alowing him to come back

I know, but the part you added indicates he's just thankful he's back and really isn't concerned with how effective he will be.
btw, congrats on your 1000th post.

Posted by Bobby:

Posted by teslawlo:

Posted by Bobby:

funny how the om-line edition omitted the most important part of allan's comments as printed in the newsstand copy I dont really worry about that [as being a top shooter]-its not a concern of mine, he said. i just thank God that i've had the time off and that He's allowed me to be able to come back

ah!
forget everything I just said

i'm not refuting any comment you've made...all im saying is allan credits God in alowing him to come back

So?

its his job to work hard and get ready to play. He did that last year and broke down. Obviously if he cant go this year its his last.

The guy was a hell of a scorer for a long time. When we had a good team he was an integral part of that and hit as many big/clutch shots as anyone. When our froncourt went from LJ/Camby/Ewing to Harrington/KT/Spoon he became just another good scorer in the NBA.

He was never a franchise caliber player and expecting him to be so because his boss opted to pay him like one is pretty faulty thinking.

He was damn good, and just as important and good as Spree, LJ, Camby or anyone not named Ewing to play on the Knicks in the last 15 years