No One Working Harder Than Douglas

by Tommy Dee on September 2nd, 2010 at 12:03 pm

Via NY Post

The coaching staff will tell you nobody has worked harder than Douglas this offseason. The second-year Florida State product has done two-a-days at their Westchester compound since the beginning of May — save for a two-week break in July.

Douglas, the Knicks’ most tenacious defender, said one of the reasons he has worked so hard is he wants to be a leader this season. There were none during last season’s 29-53 campaign.

“I had an OK rookie year, but this year I want to be more vocal and be one of the leaders on the court,” Douglas said. “At the same time, you can’t be a leader if you don’t hold up your end of the bargain. If people are slacking, I’ll tell them. If I’m slacking, I want them to tell me.”

We’ve talked about at length how leadership was an issue in the locker room last year. No one is a bigger fan of what Douglas brings to the table than I am. I know the coach wants him to see the floor more and learn how to be a traditional point, but as far as I’m concerned the guy possesses all the great qualities in a young rotation guard. Defensively, he’s a pest on the ball and is tremendous in the passing lanes. How many steal/layups did he have when he started getting regular minutes last year? He fights over screens and can rebound. Offensively, he can knock down shots in catch and shoot opportunities, he can get past his man and hit mid range and he can move the ball when not looking to score. And he’s very adept at the pick and roll. Aside from defense, I wouldn’t say he’s great at anything yet, but he’s a complete player who I’m looking for to have a really strong sophomore campaign.

And it looks like he’s putting the work in to make that happen. Add that to the list of great qualities.
  • KnickFan4Life

    He’s not a great finisher at the rim though (which people classically look for in PG’s, especially here in NYC). Really more of a pick and pop catch and shoot type. I like Douglas a lot. I felt in the SL that he flashed some signs of leadership on the court. I think a lot of people were expecting him to look like what you would see during the NBA, a point out there running the show running plays and stuff. But the SL is just an organized scrimmage, so you can’t expect to see that.

  • KNICKAPLEASE77

    At first i was not a fan of douglas but his growth determination and hard work throughout the season and offseason made me a believer. All that hard work will def pay off. Hes def a player i would consider keeping on my roster when making a play off run.

  • KnickFan4Life

    Very useful guard off the bench. He can play D, can create turnovers, can be a scoring spark. I just hope Dantoni gives him regular minutes. I felt he was way too inconsistent with the way he managed Tony’s playing time last season…

  • HaS

    I like what Douglas brings to the table as well, but “adept at the pick and roll” and “he can move the ball when he’s not looking to score”? As for the pick and roll, I really cannot remember when he ran even 2 or 3 effective PnR situations and if by “mov(ing) the ball when he’s not looking to score” you mean handing it off to a teammate at the top of arc, I agree. Even Harrington could “move the ball if he isn’t “looking to score“.

    He seems tentative with the ball and afraid to turn the ball over. He also seems to think too much when trying to make the pass rather than let the pass present itself. If I can tell when “he’s looking to score” and when he isn’t in my living room then his opponent can too.

    I think he needs to be more aggressive and embrace his strengths which is scoring and defense, once he’s able to get defenses to react to him with the ball the easier/simpler passes may present themselves. Right now he’s forcing it and he doesn’t have the court vision or the sure-handedness with the ball (passing off the dribble, with either hand etc.) to come down court and try to be a traditional pass first point guard imho.

  • upstateknicks

    he gets Mozgov so his pick and role game better be ready. Im on the moz bandwagon right now. Dude is killin Greece right now.

  • HaS

    I do think he has some leadership qualities though. He sometimes seems uncomfortable taking that vocal role, probably because, again, he’s thinking too much on the court.

    Embrace your strengths Toney and work on your explosiveness around the basket, you need to finish around the rim better.

  • sdot

    im a big fan of douglas…esp when he that shot against mellos nuggets…great moment at msg in an otherwise dismal season…when was the last time we heard so many knicks talking about wanting to be leaders? I think our character issues are finally over

  • upstateknicks

    I want to see Russia vs the US and see what Moz does. Moz and Chandler will be a good one. This kid is for real, hope D’antoni dont screw this kid up.

  • Infidel55

    He is definitely the kind of guy you root for. It is always good for a leader to be the type of player who will hustle his butt off and run into a brick wall if it helps the team, and TD has that kind of attitude.

    It would be great if he emerges as a leader on the court, especially by example.

  • HaS

    ROY?

    LOL

  • traps9

    Ah, beat me to it on the “adept at the pick and roll” part.

    However, I think in a more structured, 24-second offensive style, he could actually run the point very well. I think he could flourish when there are only one or two specific reads that he KNOWS are coming, versus the semi-unpredictability of the Spread P&R’s reads. Throw him in the Flex or a Quick Hitters series, or let him play for Larry Brown. JMO

  • http://facebook.com/willhanza Will H

    he wasn’t that vocal last year because he was a rookie.

  • Bloop33

    I wanna see what Anthony Randolph can do.

  • Hustle

    geez, 19 mins 18pts 4rbs 1blk against a solid team

  • http://www.youtube.com/tharealest62qb DaGawD_KnowLedge

    not forcing t-doug to be a traditional p.g turns him in terry that’s who he can become.
    i like the kid cuz he plays tough an plays to earn his playing time/check.

    he’s already an better overall player than FELTON.

    u know the felton bashing will not stop,

    yo felton if your reading let’s run a 1on1,i can teach u alot..