Filling in for Alan at Knicks practice today. Here's what you need to know:
* Mike D'Antoni backed away from comments he made Friday about the D-League being an option for Danilo Gallinari, calling the notion "a little over the top." D'Antoni believes in the D-league as an important tool for developing young players -- unlike the previous regime -- but the Knicks prefer Gallinari to continue his back rehab in New York, where team doctors can closely monitor him, as opposed to Reno.
* David Lee missed practice after rolling his right ankle in the first quarter Friday night. He kept playing, but the ankle swelled up overnight and he's listed as day-to-day. Nothing serious, said Lee and D'Antoni.
* There was some good up-and-down in the five-on-five session open to the media -- partly because tomorrow's open practice for fans at Pace University will be short and light. The Knicks have three preseason games left --at New Jersey Monday night, home to Boston Tuesday, and home to the Nets on Friday night.
* Allan Houston (sore right quad), who has yet to dress for a preseason game, continued doing shooting drills but still isn't moving well at all. I would suspect that his latest comeback attempt will reach its inevitable conclusion by the end of the week.
* Stephon Marbury walked off the court after doing extra shooting and veered off course to grab me by the shoulders -- this time as a joke. It was our first encounter since the infamous hug that landed on Newsday's back page Sept. 30. Nice touch, I have to say. It's all good between your $21 million point guard and infinitely less-compensated columnist.
Comments (3)
Ken,
If you have the opportunity, please try to get a long term prognosis on Gallinari's back from the team or some other expert sports doctor.
Are we dealing with something that is likely to be a long term chronic issue where he is constantly playing with mild pain or out recovering or are we dealing with something that will eventually clear up and allow him to be 100%?
Also, if it is a chronic type thing, will surgery help? What is the recovery time and prognosis for being 100% after surgery?
Perhaps the correct move is surgery in the off season if he doesn't recover 100% during the season or if he blows it out again as soon as he's hit hard.
Thanks. It's a shame there isn't more activity here, but I appreciate the reporting.
appreciate the kind words, stallion. I addressed all this in a previous column. check out: http://www.newsday.com/sports/basketball/ny-spberg045869558oct04,0,1141822.column?track=rss
I don't know much about chiropractors, but it sounds like it can't hurt for him to see one. Maybe you can suggest it. Thanks.