Knicks...

[Kings113]

After the first half, Knicks look pretty good, and are fun to watch. I think they'll be a good-very good team once they develop more as a team, that will be even more enjoyable. Doug started, and he was playing well off the bat, looking smooth. He made a couple mid-range jumpers (swishing one too), got up for a couple blocks (1 was a close goaltend), a steal, poking a couple balls, and passed the ball well in the offense. Barnes on the Knicks was active, got a lay-up, did a nice driving jumper near the basket, and a crazy shot that was meant as an alley-oop pass, but banked in for a three pointer. He also has a frazzy hair-cut now. Despite his play, it could be tough for Matt to make the team with all the fowards already on the team though. If he gets waived, Kings should get him. Though with Cisco now, I don't know, I'd still want him on the team. I know it's just pre-season, but if Doug continues to play like this only in a larger role and stays healthy, he'll be fine and good for the Mavs. NATE is awesome, flying all over the court and making a few sweet passes. Playing hard. He did a great driving lay-up off the glass with Dirk defending after Nate shook his man. Fyre and David Lee have been looking good also, Lee being active and tough around the basket, and Frye getting some boards and having a nice jumper.

2nd half now.

More of the same from those mentioned above, except more time for NATE. Including the Robinson-Lee combo continuing from the VSL. The Nate/Lee/Barnes/Ariza/Frye group/second unit, are really active and exciting. It's just pre-season, but those guys could give teams fits at times in the future. Knicks got very promising future talent. Eddy Curry got into foul trouble in the first half, but he looked better after, nice post scores. Tight game down the stretch, nate hit two clutch FTs with 7 secs left, KVH gets a shot up, misses, quick rebound shot by Diop at .3 and it goes in just before the red lights. That second unit of guys played basically the whole second half, and finished the game well.

 

[lakaboy42]

robinson is one scrappy *** little dude

 

[Kings113]

Yeah, definitely.

 

[TheLoneWarrior3]

I think their team is very promising snd i think they can make the playoffs.

 

[Kings113]

I also think so, they'll be a good team once they get gelling.

 

[ImaDougaholic24_7]

::claps for Doug:: woohoo!! Nice

 

[iheartBrad]

great now I'm gonna have to find away to see a Knicks preseason game...I've very interested now

 

[Kings113]

Seriously, those guys were such a fun watch. Even the team as a whole were enjoyable, especially once Curry gets it going (he did vs. Nets, but not too much last night).

They play the 76ers tomorrow, and the Mavs again, on the road this coming Friday.

 

[Kings113]

76ers/Knicks starting soon... I'll post stuff about Barnes.

Matt's starting! (Because of Q-Rich's minor injury).

No Webb/AI tonight. Iguodala should have a good game.

Really liking this Deng Gai kid on the Sixers from Fairfield, he was pretty good in the Rockets/Sixers game as well. He's mainly a shot blocker/rebounder, but has showed he can score a little bit as well tonight (lay-up and mid-jumper), where it was said he has no offensive skills. Knicks starting to come alive now... edit: nevermind. John Salmons is being very aggressive to the basket, having a field day out there, 19 pts, 9-12 FT, 5-6 FG. Iguodala playing well and fun as usual. Barnes hasn't done much of anything yet, 2 boards, 0-4 FG (missed badly on a jumper). Neither have the Knicks other than some nice play from Frye/Jackie Butler/Ariza. Halftime 66-42 Sixers.

Barnes did a bit better the second half, along with the rest of the knicks and their young guys. More alive the whole 3rd quarter. Sixers still playing consistently well. Barnes with 2 points (off a mid-jumper) and 4 boards, jumping block on an attempted fastbreak lay-up. Foul, which fouled him out, but still a cool hustle play, and played some solid d. Don't know how much this helps Barnes to make the team though, needs to play more like he did in the Mavs game. 93-72 at end of 3rd. Salmons continuing to be aggressive and impress - 26 points, 19-21 FTs, 6-7 FG, 4 ast, 1 blk. 4th qtr was inconsistent for the Knicks, but Nate Robinson was a bright spot again with his speed, hustle and drives. Sixers still played consistent, 114-99 Sixers.

 

[Kings113]

Barnes started vs. Spurs tonight, game didn't air here:

4 pts, 8 rebs, 2 stl, 1 ast, 20 min.

http://www.nba.com/games/20051022/NYKSAS/boxscore.html

 

[LPKingsFan]

Yeah, I think with all the Pac-10 guys (Frye, Robinson) I may find myself rooting for the Knicks. I can't stand Jerome James, Mo Taylor, or Malik Rose, and am not particularly fond of Marbury, but their young players, inlcuding Curry, have me intrigued.

 

[loopymitch]

I never used to like Marbury either till he helped with the Katrina vicitms and his interview gave me new respect for him.
I cannot root for team with garbage bag though, sorry.

 

[Kings113]

If James shows he can live up to his contract, I'll start to not think he is as lame.

I don't quite think he does though. Especially with possibility of him coming off the bench.

 

[Kings113]

Just turned on Knicks/Sixers mid 2nd qtr... looking at the boxscore Barnes has 10 pts 5 boards and Webber 5 pts (2-10 FG) 7 boards 3 stls 2 ast. Can't really say how Webber looks yet, has gotten a couple steals though.

http://www.nba.com/games/20051025/NYKPHI/boxscore.htmlhttp://www.nba.com/games/20051025/NYKPHI/livestats.html

Showed highlights of some Barnes at half. Was impressive... a running one-hander off the glass, goes in for a lay-up gets it blocked twice, regaining the ball each time and sticking with it, and lays it in, then a fast-break slam.

He certainly upped his chances again to make the team, from the last two games where he wasn't too much.

2nd half:
-Barnes hit another hard slam off a sweet pass from NATE on a fastbreak.

-Had a nice block on an attempted drive. That was about it from him in the 2nd half. Didn't play much.

Well, Barnes certainly helped himself with this game, having a very nice one. Also the Knicks youngsters continued to impress and play well and hard. Knicks played good defense... Webber looked to be moving okay, didn't do well on scoring, but grabbed a bunch of boards and steals.

 

[kingsfan916]

nice to see "Sac Town's Finest," play

 

[Kings113]

Some Knicks news...

"Matt Barnes started at small forward against his former team and probably cemented his bid for the final roster spot. Barnes had 13 points and 6 rebounds." New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/26/sports/basketball/26knicks.html

"The Knicks continue to try and acquire either Ruben Patterson or Darius Miles from Portland. The Blazers want expiring contracts in return while the Knicks are offering Malik Rose."

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/knicks/story/359104p-305965c.html

"New York Knickerbockers President of Basketball Operations Isiah Thomas announced today that guards Steven Barber and Jamison Brewer and forward Otis George have been waived."

http://www.insidehoops.com/

That'll be awesome for Barnes if he does make it, which I think he will now, especially after last nights game. With two other nice games before that. Who knows how much time he'll see though.

I'd say getting Rose would be good for the Blazers, undersized, but he's a pretty good veteran PF. Miles to the Knicks would certainly be interesting for a few reasons .

 

[AriesMar27]

if miles went to the knicks who would start at sf? or would crawfor come off of the bench ans have marbury,qrich,miles,curry, james as the starting lineup?

what is their starting lineup?

 

[Kings113]

if miles went to the knicks who would start at sf? or would crawfor come off of the bench ans have marbury,qrich,miles,curry, james as the starting lineup?

Yeah. Miles would start at SF, and Crawford would come off the bench, and Q-Rich moves to SG. Not James though, unless he's in some kind of good shape.

what is their starting lineup?

It'll be:

Marbury
Crawford
Q-Rich (he's been injured since the 1st or 2nd game, but still, Ariza or maybe Barnes would be in his place till Q's back)
Davis
Eddy Curry

Larry of course likes Antonio Davis, and jerome james has been out of shape and not productive yet (even if he came back in the middle of pre-season), thus could well be coming off the bench. Which Larry hasn't liked. Curry's a bit out of shape I think, but he's been productive and consistent and good, just not getting back on d during a game or two. Malik Rose is also a possibility to start at PF because of his defense, but I'd give it to Davis.

Curry, Marbury, Crawford, Q-Rich are all locks as starters (unless a trade like Miles happens).

 

[Kings113]

Barnes and other Knicks news...

GREENBURGH, N.Y., Oct. 26 - When Allan Houston retired 10 days ago, the Knicks lost one of the most productive players in their history. Matt Barnes, however, gained an opportunity.

"It definitely opened up another spot for the four of us trying to make the team," Barnes, a 25-year-old small forward, said after practice Wednesday.

Later in the day, the Knicks trimmed their roster to 15 players by waiving guards Steven Barber and Jamison Brewer and forward Otis George. That solidified Barnes's bid for the 15th and final spot on the Knicks' roster.
The Knicks had until Monday to make the cuts. They did so earlier to give the players who were waived a chance to sign elsewhere.

As it turned out, Tuesday's game at Philadelphia was Barnes's final audition for the team. He started and made the most of it, scoring a preseason-high 13 points and grabbing 6 rebounds in 28 minutes. Midway through the first quarter, Barnes's shot from the paint was blocked. He got his rebound, shot again and was blocked by the same player.

"They got me twice, but they weren't going to get me a third time," said Barnes, who is 6 feet 7 inches and 225 pounds. Barnes got the rebound again and made a bank shot.

The series of plays illustrated Barnes's scrappiness and his raw shooting touch. A solid rebounder and defender, Barnes seems to have a willingness to work hard for the ball. As he walked off the court Wednesday, his face was covered with sweat and the front of his jersey was stained with blood from a cut on his hand.

"Every day is pretty much life and death for me," said Barnes, who signed a nonguaranteed contract Oct. 6. He was one of the last players to sign with the Knicks. "I can't afford to take any days off, so I just have to go out there and play hard."

With Quentin Richardson sidelined for the past four preseason games with an injured hamstring, Barnes's playing time has increased. Richardson, a swingman, ran at practice Wednesday and was expected to scrimmage with the team if he did not feel pain Thursday. But if Richardson is not healthy to play when the season begins Nov. 2 at Boston, Barnes or Trevor Ariza would most likely start at small forward.

Barnes has started 18 regular-season games since being drafted out of U.C.L.A. by the Memphis Grizzlies with the 46th pick in 2002. But he has bounced around during his career, which has included stints with seven N.B.A. teams and one of the league's developmental teams. He was sent to the 76ers from the Sacramento Kings in February with Chris Webber, but he did not play after the trade. The Kings and the Clippers are the only teams with which he has actually played.

"Just give me a chance to play," Barnes said when asked why he had not been able to stick with a team. "You know, last year I felt really comfortable playing in Sacramento. Unfortunately, I got traded and didn't get a chance to play any more."

Barnes said he did not play in Philadelphia because he did not fit into the system used by Jim O'Brien, who was fired as the 76ers' coach after the season.

Will Barnes find a permanent home with the Knicks?

"I hope so," Coach Larry Brown said. "He knows how to play. He's much more athletic than I think most people realize, and he's a good, just really sound, solid kid. He tries to guard; he tries to play the right way."

REBOUNDS

Antonio Davis chuckled at the continuing speculation that he would not last the season in New York. Despite rumors of a contract buyout, Davis said he and his family were looking to buy a house. ... Stephon Marbury, who bruised a shin in Tuesday's game, practiced at full strength Wednesday. ... After playing 11 minutes Tuesday, Jerome James vowed to redouble his efforts to get in better shape. Coach Larry Brown said James was not ready for the season. "I agree with the coach," said James, who said he had lost 27 pounds.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/27/sports/basketball/27knicks.html

Bold: When I saw that, and saw his play, I was thinking "he's got to be making the team now".

Great to hear Barnes has found a spot on a team that, I think, will be good.

While losing Barnes and Evans was tough, it ends up benefitting Martin and Garcia. Barnes/Evans will be great and scrappy like they were for us off the bench, and in occasional starts. That makes it easier in losing them for me.

As far as who'll start for Q-Rich if he can't go the first week or so, I'd say Ariza would get it.

Patience is a dirty word to both Isiah Thomas and Larry Brown, especially now as they take charge of delivering New York its first NBA championship in 32 years.

With the opener coming Wednesday in Boston, the Knicks are still looking to tinker with the roster. Word around the league is that Thomas is in the market for a starting small forward and even a backup point guard. Thomas has spoken to the Portland Trail Blazers on several occasions about acquiring either Ruben Patterson or Darius Miles but has been unable to consummate a deal because the Blazers are asking for either young players or veterans with expiring contracts.

"We're committed to a youth movement," said Blazers GM John Nash. "That's why we didn't re-sign any of our veterans."

The Knicks have a surplus of power forwards and are trying to trade Malik Rose, who became expendable the moment Antonio Davis was included in the deal for Eddy Curry. Maurice Taylor is also available but his contract makes him undesirable. Penny Hardaway has value because he's entering the final year of his contract, but matching up his $15.7 million salary is no easy task. Portland would gladly take rookie forward David Lee, but the Knicks want to hold on to their three first-round picks.

The Knicks are concerned with their small forward position because Quentin Richardson, whom Brown would prefer to start at shooting guard, has been sidelined with a sore left hamstring. With Richardson out, second-year forward Trevor Ariza and free agent Matt Barnes have played the bulk of the minutes at small forward.

Both Ariza and Barnes have been impressive - as of now Barnes, who played for the Clippers and Kings, has made the team - but the possibility remains that a deal will be struck before Tuesday. The Hornets' George Lynch, who played for Brown in Philadelphia, is another possibility.

"Obviously, that's a premier position in this league and you're asking two young kids to take a lot of responsibility," Brown said. "(Barnes) knows how to play. He's much more athletic than people realize. He's a really sound, solid kid. He tries to guard and tries to play the right way."

Another area the Knicks would like to address is backup point guard. In Tuesday's preseason win over Philadelphia, the Knicks committed 34 turnovers in 48 minutes, and that was without Allen Iverson in uniform. After Stephon Marbury was forced to bench for the entire second half with a shin injury, the Knicks managed to score only 31 points and nearly blew a 17-point lead.

Jamal Crawford and rookie Nate Robinson are Marbury's backups, but both guards are more accustomed to playing off the ball. The Knicks brought in two points guards - Jamison Brewer and Steven Barber - but both were waived yesterday along with forward Otis George. The Sixers' Kevin Ollie, who has played for both Brown and Thomas, is a possibility, but the Sixers say they're not looking to trade him. Cleveland's Eric Snow, another Brown protege, has also been mentioned but is not likely to be traded.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/story/359596p-306371c.html

 

[VF21]

as of now Barnes, who played for the Clippers and Kings, has made the team - but the possibility remains that a deal will be struck before Tuesday. The Hornets' George Lynch, who played for Brown in Philadelphia, is another possibility.

I'm going to keep my fingers and toes crossed for Matt, who has pretty much done everything humanly possible to show he's worth keeping.

"A solid rebounder and defender..."

Tell me again why we let him go?

 

[Kings113]

http://www.nba.com/games/20051028/NJNNYK/boxscore.html

Another solid game for Barnes. I've noticed in just about the games so far, he's getting like 2 dunks every game.

 

[Kings113]

If anyone wants to see Matt and missed it before, Nets/Knicks being replayed on ESPN2.

I only saw the 1st qtr, then fell asleep (not because of the game).

-Barnes just hit a nice looking three!

 

[Elise10]

Matt was ok, had some good and bad shots. I really wish he lose the Gotti kids hairstyle though.