Category Archives: Allan Houston
No one has a better handle on March Madness than Gus Johnson, other than maybe Raf...”Onions…DOUBLE ORDER!!”
Actually, Bill is the best, but I love Gus this time of year. Granted, Gus likes to treat game 41 against the Raptors like the Final Four and he guzzles the Kool-Aid at times, but he is fantastic in the right setting. He’s a lot like Gary Thorne in that sense when Thorne would go gaga every minute of every game while doing the Devils, but we’re okay with it.
East Coast Bias has the best of Gus.
This video is getting a lot of buzz. You have to love the idea that Walsh has the fans in mind. Excerpts of this video have now been featured in the Post, and at 1:00 Walsh answers the “backup plan” question. It’s hard to imagine that Donnie doesn’t have a backup plan for Lebron, as if the Knicks would just shrivel up and close, but hey, news is news.
Also, Walsh mentioned that Allan Houston is a “great candidate” to be back in the NBA and he thinks a GM role maybe in his future. Right now, Allan is in Player Development and will be involved in scouting college players for the draft. Speaking of the draft, Walsh said he is looking for “guys who want to win” and “has toughness.” He said that player will have to guard “a position” defensively.
Interestingly, he mentions that he’s looking for “players with energy” and mentions KG and Ron Artest, not Nate Robinson.
Just got finished watching the Allan Houston #20 tribute on MSG and let me say it was very well done.
For those loyal Gym Rats, you guys know that I’m a big Allan fan as a person and as a Knick.
Towards the end of the piece Allan talked about how cerebral he was in terms of how he would be remembered, and that he wanted the focus to be on his “integrity.”
The most painful thing for me is that it seems for a large group of Knick fans Houston is thought about first as the 1999 season and second as “overpaid.”
That’s a shame.
For those who think of Allan in the following light, good for you. Every Knick should emote the same class that Houston did here. Period.
Now, I’m no dummy, I understand NY and the “results” mindset and that a guy who made $100 million dollars should make the playoffs. But the organization around him let him down. You want to talk Glen Rice when Sprewell and Houston were already here? How about Shandon Anderson and Howard Eisley?
You guys remember. But do you remember thinking you preferred Sprewell at the two? Or that John Starks was your guy?
It seems that Allan’s lack of emotion, as Jeff Van Gundy said in the piece “was misinterpreted” as it related to Starks and I agree. I wonder if fans ever embraced him. And I wonder if the passionate “know it all” younger generation have a clue about how good a man he is. I wonder if they care.
Sure, Allan had his flaws, and yes this post has strange timing, I just think it’s important to stress the same thing Allan personified:
Integrity is transcendent.
Because at the end of the day basketball is a game, but you can really learn a lot about an athlete you look up to if you look a little deeper.
They can impact you in a positive way off the court as much as they can on it.
Almost as annoying as mentioning Marbury, I feel, is the torment I put myself through in trying to
see Allan Houston back in a Knick uniform. With Mobley, according to Berman, contemplating retirement, the Knicks will be in desperate need for a shooter. Here’s what I know:
It’s still a longshot and he’s relatively healed from his quad strain. Enough so to be working out with the team. I saw him the other night working with Jeffries before the game. But I think Donnie Walsh looks at the D-League and does his due diligence.
In looking at the D Legue there are a few interesting names, and remember the Bucks snagged Ramon Sessions from there, so there are some diamonds. Remember that if a player is drafted or signed as FA to an NBA franchise, you have a three year contract but you are only allowed 2 years in the D League and then you can be signed by any team. If you are waived, you are fair game, which we discovered after referring to legal counsel Andrew Smith.
A guy they may took look at is Cedric Bozman, formerly of UCLA, who was one-time property of the Hawks but is not under contract. I have to look up his availability but he’s played well early and was waived by the Hawks in 2007. I also happen to like Brandon Heath, who was waived by the Lakers and who’s impressing early.
If the team is looking for PG help, Walker Russell formerly of Jacksonville State is averaging 13 points and over 8 assists but was never considered a good shooter at the NBA level. And of course, former Knick Frank Williams is always a possibility.
But for me, with the need for shotblocking help, Walsh should look to former Michigan standout Courtney Sims who is eating up the D league early averaging 8 blocks and 14 rebounds.
I still maintain that Ewing Jr. will return in early January when Marbury is cut loose.
Remember for more information on the D League check out Dan Reed’s Blog on NBA.com
Marc Berman is adamant about the fact that Allan Houston is done, but I’m not buying it.
What puzzles me about Berman’s notion is that there is no rush to make a decision on Houston, just like there was no rush to exile Marbury. Apparently he thinks not giving a shooter a chance to make the team over a 5th or 6th guard like Anthony Roberson makes sense.
“…Nobody knows for sure why he attempted a second comeback,” Berman wrote on his blog. “He has never been able to articulate it to where it makes sense…”
I can tell you with great assurance Allan’s comeback has as much to do with helping this team off it as he would on it. He told me at media day how important he felt restoring the pride of the jersey was to a group that seemed to lose focus on that fact. He, of course, knows performing on the court and leading by example will go a long way in doing that. And if he can’t do that, he’s been guaranteed a front office spot.
He’s not done yet, I believe, because he can still help this team. They have no shooters.
Call it delusional, call it being sentimental, call it whatever you want. The Knicks are looking to fill needs, and they desperately need a perimeter shooter for a few minutes a night, which is why Houston hasn’t hung them up yet.
I agree, however, that it’s become a tiresome story.
He’s definately a long shot, but he’s not done…yet.
Alan Hahn informs us that Allan Houston will sit tomorrow night and on Friday in Boston due to
that pesky quadriceps. This is bad news for Houston who is trying to compete for a roster spot. The injury is not related to his knee, but you have to wonder about H20′s chances now.
There is a chance D’Antoni sticks with him on the roster at the expense of Anthony Roberson, because Houston can still play his way into shape. He’s not a rotation player so there’s little reason to rush him, but if the team suffers an injury to a guard, they may need Roberson to contribute.
You can bet that if he knows he can’t do it, the ever-classy Houston will step aside for the roster sake of a young player, and move into the front office.
This is a few days old but enjoy anyway. Houston looks to be very content and I really think he’s going to make the roster if he remains healthy. Also, TKB will be covering the second week of camp so stay tuned for daily updates and commentary.
We’re with Alan Hahn on this one, we don’t want to beat it to death but…
Houston apparently looked quite fit while playing at Nike Pro City:
“Houston showed glimpses of his old self when he scored five quick points on Artest with a three-pointer in his grill and a blow by for a lay up.”
And by “old self” they must mean…
And of course…
Again, I don’t know if bringing an aging player from the past is a good idea. It wouldn’t exactly make sense from a roster standpoint. But as I said last year, they desperately need a spot shooter, and Houston could give them that in flashes. Would it hamper the development of Gallinari or Chandler? Probably, which was why, in part, Balkman was dealt.
Which makes me think that a H20 comeback is unlikely, but if this organization is staunch about regaining some class, bringing Houston in is the perfect opportunity.
Newsday is reporting that Donnie Walsh seems to be monitoring the comeback of 37-year-old Allan Houston.
(Agent Bill) Strickland has yet to talk with the Knicks, but a person with knowledge of the
Knicks’ plans said president Donnie Walsh “would like to talk” to Houston about his comeback attempt. Houston tried to make a comeback last fall when he showed up midway through Knicks training camp, but barely lasted a week. Houston only saw six minutes of garbage time against the Boston Celtics in a preseason game and shortly after that put an end to his comeback. Former president and coach Isiah Thomas did not show a great deal of interest in Houston, who admitted that he wasn’t quite as prepared as he should have been.
Houston announced his intention of trying another comeback and felt he would make a decision after Labor Day as to what camp he would join.
In fairness to Balkman fans, it would seem like a questionable move to sign Houston if they traded Taz for salary space. But should they bring Houston back, there is no question that Marbury will be gone.
Again, should it happen, can someone kick Jared Jeffries in the ass and tell him to give up number 20?
Allan Houston spoke of his comeback today in front a group of campers at the 17th annual Gatorade Knicks Summer Basketball Camp. He wouldn’t name the teams that his agent has reached out to. As we all know Houston unsuccessfully tried to make a comeback with the Knicks last October and was cut.
Good Luck Allan in becoming another in a long list of retired athletes that come back. Somehow I doubt the latest version of H20 will not be like the one we saw from 1996 to 2005.
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