Pregame Notes: Knicks vs. Pacers
Nov 4 2009 7:16PM
Rookies Biding Their Time
On a team filled with veterans it will be difficult for rookies Toney Douglas and Jordan Hill to play significant minutes early on this season.
Douglas, who entered the season in Mike D’Antoni’s nine-man rotation, sat during the Knicks’ overtime loss to Philadelphia on Saturday and played only in the first half of Monday’s win over New Orleans.
“I’m comfortable with Toney in the first half for sure, but in the second half I get a little…, especially last game,” D’Antoni said. “I think he’ll continue to play well. If he can continue to improve his shot and his shot selection, I think he’ll get more minutes.”
Hill has only played two minutes of garbage time against Miami on opening day. He is currently sixth on the frontcourt depth chart, according to D’Antoni.
“If (I played him), I’d have to put on the bench David (Lee) or Darko (Milicic) or Al (Harrington) or Will (Chandler) or Jared (Jeffries),” D’Antoni said. “He’s not above those guys. I like him and I think his potential is there, but he has not convinced me he’s better than those five guys right now.”
D’Antoni added that if someone gets hurt Hill “better be ready to go.” Douglas could see more time as reserve guard Nate Robinson continues to recover from a left ankle sprain.
Knicks Hope to Slow Down Granger
Danny Granger is leading the Pacers with 23.7 points per game through three games this season and only one other player is averaging double figures. The Knicks will do what they can to shut him down, but they also know they can’t let anyone else get going.
“We have to make it as hard as we can on him knowing that he will get a bunch of points,” D’Antoni said. “We have to cut off the other guys. T.J. Ford we have to keep him frustrated and (Roy) Hibbert is a good post player. They have some good weapons that they’re going to use, but we have to be determined to play better defense.”
On a team filled with veterans it will be difficult for rookies Toney Douglas and Jordan Hill to play significant minutes early on this season.
Douglas, who entered the season in Mike D’Antoni’s nine-man rotation, sat during the Knicks’ overtime loss to Philadelphia on Saturday and played only in the first half of Monday’s win over New Orleans.
“I’m comfortable with Toney in the first half for sure, but in the second half I get a little…, especially last game,” D’Antoni said. “I think he’ll continue to play well. If he can continue to improve his shot and his shot selection, I think he’ll get more minutes.”
Hill has only played two minutes of garbage time against Miami on opening day. He is currently sixth on the frontcourt depth chart, according to D’Antoni.
“If (I played him), I’d have to put on the bench David (Lee) or Darko (Milicic) or Al (Harrington) or Will (Chandler) or Jared (Jeffries),” D’Antoni said. “He’s not above those guys. I like him and I think his potential is there, but he has not convinced me he’s better than those five guys right now.”
D’Antoni added that if someone gets hurt Hill “better be ready to go.” Douglas could see more time as reserve guard Nate Robinson continues to recover from a left ankle sprain.
Knicks Hope to Slow Down Granger
Danny Granger is leading the Pacers with 23.7 points per game through three games this season and only one other player is averaging double figures. The Knicks will do what they can to shut him down, but they also know they can’t let anyone else get going.
“We have to make it as hard as we can on him knowing that he will get a bunch of points,” D’Antoni said. “We have to cut off the other guys. T.J. Ford we have to keep him frustrated and (Roy) Hibbert is a good post player. They have some good weapons that they’re going to use, but we have to be determined to play better defense.”
