Pregame Notes: Knicks vs. Hornets
Nov 2 2009 6:48PM
Hughes Replaces Jeffries in Starting Five
For the third time in four games, Knicks Head Coach Mike D’Antoni will be starting a different lineup tonight against the Hornets. Larry Hughes, who scored 18 points off the bench in his first action of the season last Saturday, will begin the night at shooting guard, while forward Jared Jeffries goes to the bench. Wilson Chandler, who started the season at shooting guard, will move to the four.
“The primary reason is that I really want Will at the four,” D’Antoni said. “With Al (Harrington) agreeing to come off the bench and now Jared, it gets him at the four and we’ll keep some size with Larry at the two. It just makes sense for right now and we’ll see how it goes.”
The Knicks have gotten off to slow starts in their first three games.
“We haven’t started out well yet,” Jeffries said. “I was a starter and I am definitely part of the blame for us not starting out well. So anything that we do now to begin the game, whatever works as a team we have to be willing to do that.
“If we start out better, these games will be totally different.”
The starting five will look like this: PG Chris Duhon, SG Hughes, SF Danilo Gallinari, PF Chandler and C David Lee.
Robinson Could Be Out a Couple of Weeks
Reserve guard Nate Robinson is on crutches after suffering a left ankle sprain against the Sixers on Saturday. He will have x-rays done tonight or tomorrow, according to D’Antoni.
So how long will he be out? “I would say two weeks, but it could be 10 days or 17 days” D’Antoni said. “I don’t think anyone knows yet.”
Toney's Time to Shine
With Nate Robinson out the next week or so with a sprained ankle, the Knicks will look to rookie point guard Toney Douglas to step up and fill the void left by Robinson’s absence. The pressure to replace the popular and energetic supersub, who was a runner up in Sixth Man of the Year voting last year, might faze some rookies, but certainly not Douglas.
“I’m ready. I haven’t changed,” said the cool, calm and collected Douglas in the locker room prior to tip-off. “I am the same even if Nate wasn't hurt. You never know when coach will call your number or how long you will be in for. I come out in warm-ups and practice the same way every day.”
Tonight provides a good test for Douglas, who D’Antoni cited as a defensive stopper when the team drafted him in June. Going up against the Hornet’s Chris Paul, he will get the chance to prove his coach right by attempting to shut down the perennial All-Star.
But true to form, Douglas is taking his responsibility in stride.
“It's a good opportunity,” he said. “This league's got a lot of great point guards, and he is a good player. I am looking forward to the battle.”
For the third time in four games, Knicks Head Coach Mike D’Antoni will be starting a different lineup tonight against the Hornets. Larry Hughes, who scored 18 points off the bench in his first action of the season last Saturday, will begin the night at shooting guard, while forward Jared Jeffries goes to the bench. Wilson Chandler, who started the season at shooting guard, will move to the four.
“The primary reason is that I really want Will at the four,” D’Antoni said. “With Al (Harrington) agreeing to come off the bench and now Jared, it gets him at the four and we’ll keep some size with Larry at the two. It just makes sense for right now and we’ll see how it goes.”
The Knicks have gotten off to slow starts in their first three games.
“We haven’t started out well yet,” Jeffries said. “I was a starter and I am definitely part of the blame for us not starting out well. So anything that we do now to begin the game, whatever works as a team we have to be willing to do that.
“If we start out better, these games will be totally different.”
The starting five will look like this: PG Chris Duhon, SG Hughes, SF Danilo Gallinari, PF Chandler and C David Lee.
Robinson Could Be Out a Couple of Weeks
Reserve guard Nate Robinson is on crutches after suffering a left ankle sprain against the Sixers on Saturday. He will have x-rays done tonight or tomorrow, according to D’Antoni.
So how long will he be out? “I would say two weeks, but it could be 10 days or 17 days” D’Antoni said. “I don’t think anyone knows yet.”
Toney's Time to Shine
With Nate Robinson out the next week or so with a sprained ankle, the Knicks will look to rookie point guard Toney Douglas to step up and fill the void left by Robinson’s absence. The pressure to replace the popular and energetic supersub, who was a runner up in Sixth Man of the Year voting last year, might faze some rookies, but certainly not Douglas.
“I’m ready. I haven’t changed,” said the cool, calm and collected Douglas in the locker room prior to tip-off. “I am the same even if Nate wasn't hurt. You never know when coach will call your number or how long you will be in for. I come out in warm-ups and practice the same way every day.”
Tonight provides a good test for Douglas, who D’Antoni cited as a defensive stopper when the team drafted him in June. Going up against the Hornet’s Chris Paul, he will get the chance to prove his coach right by attempting to shut down the perennial All-Star.
But true to form, Douglas is taking his responsibility in stride.
“It's a good opportunity,” he said. “This league's got a lot of great point guards, and he is a good player. I am looking forward to the battle.”
