What LeBron Said To Gallo/TD and more... - Via Hahn's Blog

[next2spike]

TD gets Delonte T'd off
12:10 AM By Alan Hahn

With 6:02 left in the fourth quarter, as the Knicks were making a late spirited run (read: making the score respectable) against the Cavaliers, Toney Douglas was called for a foul while playing some tenacious defense against Delonte West.

After the whistle, West, who has plenty of issues on his mind right now, threw the ball at Douglas, was called for a technical foul and had some choice words for the Knicks rookie. Choice enough that Douglas wouldn't repeat them after the game.

"No comment," he said. "I'm not looking for any drama."

Whatever West did say, LeBron James felt compelled to go over to Douglas, who went to the bench after the foul.

"He just said to keep my head up," Douglas said. "That I'm all right."

* * *

James also made it a point to talk to another young Knick. After the game, he and Danilo Gallinari, who had 17 points and made 4 of 8 from three-point range, met on the court.

"He told me to keep working, keep doing my thing," Gallinari said, "and keep working on my back strength."

It's interesting that James would make note of Gallinari's back situation. Is it a clear sign that James is paying close attention to things here in New York?

"It's a good feeling that he respects me," Gallinari said. "That's already a good thing."

LeBron often has done this with young players. In fact, a few seasons ago he stopped Nate Robinson on the court after a game at the Garden and offered him similar encouragement.

* * *

Donnie Walsh before the game said he is expecting Eddy Curry back on the court "pretty soon now."

It seems most likely that Curry will be reincorporated during a four-day break between games following the Nov. 13 game against the Warriors. Walsh raved about what he saw when he evaluated Curry on Thursday. "When you see him, he's totally different," Walsh said.

How much weight has he lost? "A lot," he said.

It may sound as if Walsh is merely trying to promote nothing but positives about a player he'll likely try to trade to clear cap space, but a few other people I spoke with who have seen Curry say Walsh isn't embellishing.

We'll see.

* * *

Walsh also almost conceded that he and his staff made a mistake in passing on Brandon Jennings, the rookie PG who is off to a great start with the Milwaukee Bucks. "Going into the draft," Walsh said, "I did not have a feel for Brandon Jennings' game."

We'll get a feel for it Saturday when the Knicks face Jennings and the Bucks in Milwaukee.

Walsh explained that he went to Italy for the Eurobasket camp expecting to see Jennings, but Jennings did not participate in the camp. The Knicks had Jennings in for a predraft workout and, from what I heard at the time, he more than held his own against Tyreke Evans. But Walsh admitted that the lack of scouting information the team had on Jennings, the high schooler who skipped college for a pro year in Europe, was the issue.

"I had him in and he looked good," Walsh said. "But he looked yuong and had a lot ahead of him. But then when I went to Vegas and I saw him play, I thought, 'Wow, this guy could be very good.' I still am glad we took Jordan Hill, but I think Brandon Jennings is going to be a good player. And he's getting an opportunity to play, so it's a tough comparison now because Jordan is not."

Hill did finally get off the bench tonight against the Cavs. He played 4:46 and scored six points with two turnovers, all in the second quarter.

[TKF]

interesting stuff..... especially with lebron even aware of gallo's back...

And walsh.. I don't want to hear, he didn't have the scouting on jennings.. If he said jennings held his own vs tyreke evans in the workouts, isn't that enough? Isn't that why they have the workouts...

Geez!! I don't want to hear that at all!!

[Neb]

How utterly utterly boring. I was hoping for "You and me, tonight, your condo.".

[GalloFan22]

On Curry:

Donnie Walsh before the game said he is expecting Eddy Curry back on the court "pretty soon now."

It seems most likely that Curry will be reincorporated during a four-day break between games following the Nov. 13 game against the Warriors. Walsh raved about what he saw when he evaluated Curry on Thursday. "When you see him, he's totally different," Walsh said.

How much weight has he lost? "A lot," he said.

On Jennings:

Walsh also almost conceded that he and his staff made a mistake in passing on Brandon Jennings, the rookie PG who is off to a great start with the Milwaukee Bucks. "Going into the draft," Walsh said, "I did not have a feel for Brandon Jennings' game."

"I had him in and he looked good," Walsh said. "But he looked yuong and had a lot ahead of him. But then when I went to Vegas and I saw him play, I thought, 'Wow, this guy could be very good.' I still am glad we took Jordan Hill, but I think Brandon Jennings is going to be a good player. And he's getting an opportunity to play, so it's a tough comparison now because Jordan is not."

TD on west and lebron:

"No comment," he said. "I'm not looking for any drama."

-on what west said

"He just said to keep my head up," Douglas said. "That I'm all right."

-on what lebron said

Gallo on Lebron:

"He told me to keep working, keep doing my thing," Gallinari said, "and keep working on my back strength."

It's interesting that James would make note of Gallinari's back situation. Is it a clear sign that James is paying close attention to things here in New York?

"It's a good feeling that he respects me," Gallinari said. "That's already a good thing."

http://www.newsday.com/blogs/sports/the ... -1.1571804

[GalloFan22]

i wonder what delonte said...

[Knicksick]

Interesting quotes but nothing to get hyped up over. James , despite his ego, is a good guy as far as I can tell-I'm pretty sure he says similar things to other young players as well.

[Knicksick]

i wonder what delonte said...

"If you keep playing good defense I'm gonna shoot you with multiple guns. Why can't you just fit in with the rest of the guys , bow down,stand around and watch our king destroy you in front of your hometown fans."

[GalloFan22]

i wonder what delonte said...

"If you keep playing good defense I'm gonna shoot you with multiple guns. Why can't you just fit in with the rest of the guys , bow down,stand around and watch our king destroy you in front of your hometown fans."

im sure there was a whole lot more cursing than that.

[badonkadonkdonk]

the reason we didn't pick brandon is probably based on his mindset and i can totally respect that. maybe jennings isn't crazy and it's just some swagger mentality, but walsh isn't in a position to gamble.
hill looks like a solid prospect, so he went the "safe" way.

i don't buy the missing scouting either... he's saying that to justifiy

[GalloFan22]

viewtopic.php?f=24&t=956134

can someone lock mine or merge it with his. thanks.

[Flaming Mo]

So how many championships does LeBron have again?! I think it's awfully ridiculous for an immature prick like him who can't even shake opponents hands if things aren't going his way to talk like he is the godfather of basketball... really, I might sound bitter or something, but this whole LeBron stuff makes me wanna puke. The guy IS NOT in New York yet, nobody knows if he will sign and most importantly, he is not bigger than the game. Even though if ESPN, Nike and many others want to believe that...

[ToHoleWithSoul]

He also said, "Next time I'll use lube."

[Rasho Brezec]

I'm glad we didn't make the mistake of drafting Jennings, but I don't appreciate the reasons behind it. How can our staff afford not to gather enough scouting information about all of the prospects in the last draft before 2010 where we own our pick - and a high one at that. Don't we have an international scout?

[REVOLVER]

delonte told td "i'll f*cking kill you! but i love you."

[KnicksScholar24]

^ (See below quote)

the reason we didn't pick brandon is probably based on his mindset and i can totally respect that. maybe jennings isn't crazy and it's just some swagger mentality, but walsh isn't in a position to gamble.
hill looks like a solid prospect, so he went the "safe" way.

i don't buy the missing scouting either... he's saying that to justifiy

I also wasn't sure about Jennings mentality (seemed arrogant and Marbury-ish), but I felt Jennings and Derozan maybe had the highest potential for the players likely available in the Knicks draft range (5-10). I wasn't sure about Derozan's ball-handling and shooting, but if both players "put it together" then they will be very good starters in this league in the future. Still I don't think Jennings is a Mike D'Antoni type PG. While he does pass (flashy passing), he doesn't have a pass-first mentality. Rubio was/is more of a D'Antoni point guard, and maybe even Curry (who is shot happy, but also is very good at finding open teammates). I think the Knicks had eyed Curry and Rubio, and when they were gone they stopped looking for PGs, and then just decided to the BPA/Highest-Rated Player Available (on their draft board). I'm satisfied with the Hill pick (similar to my feelings about the Frye pick). I think a 'young floor-running big with a solid mid range jumper, who is solid inside finisher, is active on the boards, and is able to challenge shots' filled just as big of a need for New York as adding a 'shoot-first PG' in this draft. It will likely take him at least 3 years to get accustom to the league and show his full range of skills. The game in 90% mental, and that's what he needs to improve on, he has all the tools otherwise. I'm hoping he is able to put it together, while still on the Knicks.

I'll be pissed if Walsh didn't pick Jennings or Derozan, and ends up trading Hill just to move Curry and/or Jeffries. If they Knicks are able to sign two MAX player next offseason, both he and fans will be able to justify it, but think Walsh needs to move Curry and Jeffries separately on their own merits (meaning no additional assets should be included). Curry straight up for an expiring, and Jeffries straight up for an expiring. Considering the picks Isiah gave up to get Eddy, and considering the inside presence he is (when in shape and motivated), the Knicks, at minimum, should be able to cut their losses and trade him for a combination of scrubs on smaller expirings. Jeffries' value should at least be enough to get you a lesser player on an expiring contract player-for-player swap. His contract is expiring at the end of next season, it's not like he'll have 3 or 4 more years on his deal. NY probably wouldn't be able to trade with any of the other teams with big cap space in 2010, but they could deal with teams that's trying to cut salary for 2011. Both Curry and Jeffries become assets after this year, but NY can't afford to wait.

Sorry for the side tangent, but it had to be said. As for LeBron, I thought is was sort of strange for him to talk to both Douglas and Gallinari (both player to figure to be on the Knicks after this year) during/after the game, but ultimately I don't think it shows his hand on what he's going to do next off-season.... but it was encouraging to see that as a Knick fan. If James did come I would hate if he was looking over a Jay-Z every game, I would grow tired of those antics. Not even Nate does that. In the playoffs after making a big play maybe, but not every home game.