The Knicks Fix

Mike D'Antoni says he is trying to curb his enthusiasm. Perhaps he came in with such low expectations that even modest impressions have him waxing optimistic. The Garden faithful will get to voice its own opinion on the matter Tuesday night when the Knicks host the Sixers in the third preseason game on the schedule. It's the first time the Knicks are playing home since they trudged off the court 99-93 losers to the Celtics on April 14.

“It’s our job to convince them," D'Antoni said of the New York fans. "Whether that is tomorrow night or December or next year, I don’t know. We’re going to work to earn their respect and give them something to be proud of."

For the most part, fans are likely satisfied that Isiah Thomas isn't running the team into the ground anymore.

But this type of rhetoric we've heard before and will continue to hear until this team regains the long, lost respect of the fan base and the rest of the NBA. D'Antoni did enjoy somewhat of a love affair with the fans in Phoenix during his entertaining four-year run, though he did admit it wasn't all hugs and kisses.

"That's one of the reasons why you see me here," he said with a laugh.

D'Antoni paid the usual respect to the Garden legacy -- “If you played basketball," he said, "when you walk in he Garden it’s something special.” -- and said he always looked forward to coming there with his Suns teams.

"Yeah, because I thought we would win," he said before quickly adding, "Nah, that was a cheap shot."

For the record, D'Antoni's Suns team was 3-2 at the Garden while he was head coach. His first game was Jan. 31, 2004, when the Knicks took a 110-105 win. The following year the Suns spanked the Knicks, 133-118, and in 2005-06 his Suns racked up another 133 points....but lost in that memorably wild triple-overtime game on Jan. 2, 2006. Over the past two seasons, the Knicks lost to the Suns, 112-107 in 2006-07, and 115-104 last season.

* *

* - Despite their legacies -- and memories as kids running around while their fathers were here -- either Patrick Ewing, Jr., nor Danny Grunfeld would admit any butterflies about suiting up as Knicks for a game at the Garden. "It's just another game for me, really," PJ said. "Maybe it will hit me when I get on the court.” Grunfeld also downplayed any anticipation for his Garden moment. “There is extra-special meaning, but it’s more business right now," Grunfeld said. "I’m here to play a game. Not like I’m trying not to get caught up in it, I’m just not caught up in it.”

Both have played at the Garden during their collegiate careers. Ewing Jr., of course, had plenty of nights there playing in the Big East with Georgetown. Grunfeld was there as a freshman at Stanford in the preseason NIT. Neither, of course, have gotten into a preseason game yet but if they are to get any burn, putting them in before the Garden crowd would be a nice move by D'Antoni.

We've said here before that it seems like Ewing has a spot reserved for him on the 15-man roster and he spoke fairly confidently today to support that theory. Grunfeld has played well in scrimmages and, to me, has proven himself to belong in the NBA in some capacity. The kid can shoot the ball very well and has his father's toughness. Always room on a roster for those combinations.

* - Scratch Allan Houston officially from Tuesday night's game and most likely from Friday night's game in Boston. Coincidentally, that was the scene of Houston's only preseason appearance last season. Six forgettable minutes in a blowout loss. Houston remains optimistic, however, because he is dealing with a muscle strain in the quadriceps area and his trouble has nothing to do with his knees.

* - Eddy Curry will give it a go against the Sixers but, from just watching practice, he looks painfully slow and winded. Speaking of pain, a physioball succumbed to an explosive death while Curry was sitting on it during practice.

* - UConn women's coach Geno Auriemma attended practice today and sat with Liberty head coach Pat Coyle. Vittorio Gallinari, Danilo's dad, was also present to see his son work through drills on the side court while the Knicks scrimmaged. He, Grunfeld and Ewing engaged in a shooting contest after practice and the final challenge was a halfcourt shot. Gallo ended it when he drilled one from halfcourt without hardly a hop and using perfect shooting form.

Bellissimo!

Sorry Fixers, had to pull the plug for a weekend with the family. Might be one of the last I get before April.

I did put a little time in on Sunday morning to appear on Jonas Schwartz's show, The Press Box on NBC. The topics were Jets, Giants and baseball, so I won't waste your time with video. ESPN Radio's Paul Dottino dominated with his football acumen anyway. Your boy was there for comic relief, mostly.

But there were Fixers on the set. You know we're worldwide.

Arthur Staple subbed in for me to cover Sunday's practice and filed this about Eddy Curry's slow and methodical process in getting himself game-ready so everyone can get a look-see as to how he can fit in this system.

Zach Randolph had a great line earlier in the week when, in talking about himself, he said, “Like Coach said, if Shaq can play in this system, anybody can play in this system."

As Shaq showed, however, it does take a willingness to be in constant motion, however. Inertia is not part of the skill set.

Mike D'Antoni knows he has something -- somewhat of a surprise, too -- in the Randolph-Lee frontcourt pair. They get after the boards and Lee can run, which means Randolph can be the trailer. We all know Randolph can score, but how about the touch D-Lee has shown in two preseason games thus far?

Jared Jeffries also figures into this frontcourt rotation when he gets back to action in about another month and D'Antoni has liked what he's seen out of Wilson Chandler at the four. So for Curry this is a small window to get acclimated and see if he can find a niche. Keep in mind Danilo Gallinari is also getting closer to game action, so the frontcourt is going to get very crowded very quickly.

What can the Knicks do with Curry if he doesn't fit? Not that I want to see Eddy Curry gone or am pushing for a trade here (we have to stress that sometimes because things we discuss here are often misread as agenda-driven instead of conversational and to merely spark debate and discussion), but there is the reality factor to consider. Something has to give when it comes to minutes in the rotation and spots on the roster. So the following few graphs are purely speculated for your pleasure.

We've already tossed out a scenario that involves the Washington Wizards, who have a need at center after the wrist injury to Brendan Haywood will keep him out at least until the all-star break. Any deal would have to include Oleksiy Pecherov. This 7-foot Ukranian can really shoot it.

I'll toss this scenario out there, too...purely speculative...but would the Cleveland Cavaliers consider taking on Big Eddy to give them a much-needed low-post presence? If you're the Knicks, who can't have enough shooters available in this system, taking Wally Szczerbiak's $13 million expiring contract is well worth it. I might even agree to take Ben Wallace's contract (two years left at $14 million each) because it expires by 2010 and at least you get some low-post defense and toughness.

Let's see, where else....Golden State does a lot of running, so Eddy might not fit in Don Nelson's system there. But we do know that Nellie loves a big man who can score in the post. Does Donnie Walsh know too much about Al Harrington (two years, $19.2 million left) to not give that one a look? (And while you're talking to Chris Mullin, see if he's interested in Stephon Marbury to run things for the season while Monta Ellis recovers from his injury).

Speaking of Marbury, a great fit for him would be with the Lakers. Phil Jackson is really playing mind games with Lamar Odom isn't he? The Zen Master had Odom playing point-forward, playing some two-guard and getting him all confused and, as Michael Kay loves to say, betwixt and between.

A few people I've spoken with have said they don't believe Jackson is trying to drive Odom out or show he doesn't fit in the Big Chief Triangle's system. The prevailing opinion is Jackson is trying to break Odom down until he submits and then build him back up again. Odom was a focus of frustration for the Lakers in the Finals.

But Odom is also in the final year of his contract ($11.4 million) and being the coach's "project" is not exactly the way guys want to go into free agency. Stay tuned there . . .

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Back on the clock today and will be at practice up in Greenburgh. I'll check in afterwards with the latest on Eddy's return to the lineup for Tuesday's preseason game against the Sixers. It sounds like Allan Houston's situation is still up in the air -- that quad just won't chill out for him -- so that's something to monitor as we creep closer to the season opener on Oct. 29.

Scratch that Eddy Curry item from the previous blog that said he was going to play...Eddy let Mike D'Antoni know he's not comfortable enough with the system to step into game-action. My guess is Eddy doesn't want to look bad and, quite frankly, the Knicks don't want him to look bad, either.

Elton Brand enjoys playing against Eddy. He'll have to wait until Tuesday at the Garden.

STARTING LINEUPS
KNICKS
Richardson
Lee
Randolph
Crawford
Duhon

SIXERS
Young
Brand
Dalembert
Iguodala
Miller

Gallo did a lot of shooting before the game. Man that kid can shoot . . . Patrick Ewing, Jr. has seemed kind of mopey lately and was very frustrated with his shot during the pregame workout. I asked him if he was OK and he said, "Oh yeah, I'm always good." I noticed he is wearing Z-Bo's model Nikes. Zach said Ewing is "one of my young guns." . . . Saw a familiar face from my neck of the 'burbs during pregame pounding flesh with some of the Sixer bigs. McNasty himself, Jeff Ruland, of Sachem High and Iona, et al. I covered Rules when he coached at Iona and he said after a year coaching in the D-League he got a job as an assistant coach on Mo Cheeks' staff. Ubiquitous agent Warren LeGarie (Mike D'Antoni's guy, by the way) does it again. Amazing stable of coaches this man has.

Not a bad summer league in Vegas, either.

So that'll make three guys from Long Island on the sidelines tonight, counting Knicks assistants Kenny Atkinson and Phil Weber.

Maybe I need to place a call to Mr. LeGarie.

Live from Room 1100, downing some room service asian salad and laying low. This town is gripped in Red October. I bathed in it last night. But on game day, got to hold it down here in the room, chow on some room service and get in a workout. Oh yes, as Sheila E sang it, the glamorous life.

She saw him standing in the section marked
'If-you-have-to-ask-you-can't-afford-it lingerie'
She threw him bread and said make me scream
In the dark what could he say...

Yo Prince could do this thing with lyrics, couldn't he?

Focus...this is a Knicks blog. My bad...

If you're a Knicks fan and can get to Philly by 7 it might be worth the drive to see your team. With the Phillies playing Game 2 around 4:30 today, plenty of seats available at the Wachovia Center. Then after the game head down to Pats, get a cheesesteak and party with the Phillies fans. Red October, baby. Red October.

Focus!

If you do come, you're not going to see H2O tonight against the Sixers. That quad is still barking and Allan doesn't want to gimp through his debut. If he's going to do this, he wants to do it at 100 percent. Last year left too many questions and frustrations. He's got time. D'Antoni isn't getting impatient. He's really not anything. Allan has to make himself a factor to be one first.

"The biggest thing is, once he gets over this thing that’s been bothering him for about a month, if he can just constantly stay [healthy]," Coach said. "It’s a hard question. I don’t know. You’ll know it when you see it."

D'A does say that Eddy Curry is "ready to roll" (no pun intended) and he'll get some minutes tonight and bang with Elton Brand. But it's too soon, Coach says, to judge Eddy because he still needs more practice time to figure out his place in the system. Perhaps by Tuesday's game we'll get a better idea of where Eddy fits, if he does at all [bloghost interjection: The Wiz are without Brendan Haywood (wrist) for a huge chunk of the season...would they have any interest in Big Eddy?].

The starting lineup will be the same....Duhon, Crawford, Richardson, Lee and Randolph. The rotation should be the same, as well, just slip Curry in where Malik Rose played on Wednesday and you can expect Mardy Collins to get some burn in his hometown in the place where Anthony Roberson got in on Wednesday.

Speaking of Philly's Phinest, you know Malik has a future as Mayor of this town. Guess who had seats behind home plate for Game 1 last night? Crazy.

The point guard position will likley be a topic of debate through the preseason -- and possibly into the regular season. And maybe all the way to the summer, when the Phoenix Suns have to decide whether or not to pick up Steve Nash's $13 million option.

Logical thinking says they will do that, but will they offer him a two-year extension, which he is seeking. Nash recently said he hopes to play until 2012. I was talking with a couple of basketball people at the Air Canada Centre last night and they both agreed that Nash's two favorite alternatives -- should things not work out with his top choice, Phoenix, of course -- would be Toronto or New York.

But he'll be 36 by then and even though Nash keeps himself in great shape, he'll be in the twilight, for sure. And the most any team could expect to get out of him would be two years, the second perhaps in more of a backup role. But his presence as a mentor in the system that made him a two-time NBA MVP (or was it the player that made the system so good?) would still be valuable.

You know what? Let's not even go there...at least not yet.

But as much as Mike D'Antoni has been countering questions about the point guard position by saying the system doesn't really rely on one guy running the offense -- sure looked that way in Phoenix -- the first sneak peek at the Knicks version of the Sun-n-Gun saw some issues at the point. Chris Duhon, who was brought in to fill the facilitator role, struggled with a lot of fundamental mistakes that led to 7 alarming turnovers.

It wasn't as if he was throwing the ball away, but more like CYO-level issues such as traveling and carrying the ball. And we're going to see him get a lot of open looks as he did against the Raptors last night. He shoots well in practice, but in the game he was 1-for-7 and 1-for-5 from three-point range.

Duhon, who did have some positive stats, such as 10 rebounds and 6 assists, admitted he had some jitters in his first game. "Just trying to do everything perfectly and trying to do everything right," he said. "Trying not to make mistakes and when you play like that, you make mistakes. It was a learning experience.”

Don't look now, but Nate Robinson was the guard with the cleanest game last night. He had 16 points off the bench in 27:20 along with 4 rebounds and 3 assists. The best number of all was the big, fat zero in the turnover column.

He didn't shoot well, either (6 of 15 and 2 of 7 from downtown), but Nate did a lot of intangibles, such as hawking Jose Calderon up the floor to slow him down. He was getting killed on the high screen-and-roll, which Calderon has mastered.

Some of you might start taking up the cause for Stephon Marbury (join the Starberman revolt!), but while he had some very good moments -- he can still do what he do: head down, get to the rim -- Stephon struggles with off-the-ball defense (who doesn't on this team) and he has a lot of old habits to break, such as standing still and watching after making a pass. Steph didn't take many shots (2-for-4) in his 22:06, but he got to the line 7 times and hit 5. His assists to turnovers (3-5) wasn't pretty.

The notion that his pick-and-roll ability makes him a perfect fit for this system is misguided. Steph is better suited for a team that has an athletic big that he can work off of, similar to how Calderon plays off Bosh on that high screen they ran over and over again. But in D'Antoni's system, there are so many options that the same play can look different even if you run it 10 straight times. It's not just about running fast, it's about thinking fast. Right now, Nate is the one point guard on the team who is thinking as fast as the game is being played.

Twenty turnovers is always a concern. Twelve of them were made by Duhon and Marbury, which means for the most part, the rest of the team played clean. I think 29 assists is an encouraging number, especially when you look at see that Zach Randolph, Mr. Black Hole himself, dished out five and the starting back court had 13 (Crawford had 7).

The shots from three-point range will fall. After missing the first 12, the Knicks finally started knocking them down to finish 8 of 34. The fact that they got off 34 threes is a good sign.

And yes, the game was close, but don't lose sight of the fact that the Raps yanked their starters in the fourth quarter. The Knicks were going neck-and-neck with the likes of Jason Kapono, Will Solomon, Roko Ukic and Kris Humphries (big put-back dunk in the fourth). Bosh hit a lot of perimeter stuff and damn he looks good. (2010! 2010!) Jermaine O'Neal looks a little, um, swollen. And slow.

But for the Knicks, this is a work-in-progress, for sure. A little more than a week in, there's some progress. But, like David Lee said, there's still a long way to go.

Wasn't a W, but not a bad start for the new-look Knicks. Too many turnovers and the Knicks shot poorly from three-point range, while the Raptors were exactly what you would expect them to be: an excellent shooting team.

Lots of positives to take out of the game, but for now let's enjoy two memorable moments:

Wilson Chandler elevates over J.O....

...and Nate Robinson goes baseline like a possessed Chucky doll.

Going to get some sleep. I'll check in tomorrow for thoughts on the game.

Preseason is always about ironing out the wrinkles. It goes for the players and coaches and also goes for the arena people. Someone here at the Air Canada Centre needs a straight-edge. The baseline under the basket in front of the visitor's bench is incongruent.

It's not enough to be a major issue, but noticable enough that Bryan Colangelo and Mike D'Antoni had a good laugh. D'Antoni says if one of his players is called for stepping out of bounds over there, he will file a protest.

Not really.

Here are your starting lineups:

KNICKS
Richardson
Randolph
Lee
Crawford
Duhon

RAPTORS
Moon
Bosh
O'Neal
Parker
Calderon

Remember, the tip-off is at 7 p.m. MSG has the game...Mike Breen and Walt Clyde Frazier.