Category Archives: Danilo Gallinari
Q: Are the New Jersey Nets still in the Melo sweepstakes?
A: They believe they are, because that is what they are being told by the Nuggets and by Anthony’s camp. But the reality is that they are out of it and have been for a long time, and it behooves Denver to create the illusion that other destinations besides New York are still in play. New Jersey still has the best offer sitting on the table that suits the Nuggets’ primary need — to make any Anthony trade a rebuilding trade. But the trade has not happened because Anthony will not sign an extension with New Jersey. He is trying to leverage his way into being dealt to New York.
Q: What pieces do the Knicks have that the Nuggets would want?
A: Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler and Landry Fields, along with Eddy Curry‘s expiring contract. Denver also wants at least one No. 1 draft pick…They’d ship Gallo, Randolph and Curry in a heartbeat, but they are reluctant to trade Fields, who the Nuggets especially covet. One factor that both teams will have to consider: Fields, a second-round pick, is only on a two-year contract (the second year is a team option), then he becomes an unrestricted free agent.
This is the part that is very confusing to me…
the Knicks are confident they can sign Anthony as an unrestricted free agent next summer if they do not acquire him in a trade. That being said, they’d prefer to trade for Anthony now and lock him up through 2014-15
That seems more than contradictory. Here’s what I continue to hear. The Nuggets obviously prefer Fields because of his talent and his contract, but the Knicks are completely against moving him in a deal that includes both Gallinari and Chandler. And if it’s me, based on all the little things he’s shown the ability to do, I’d be hesitant to include him at all. Do-it-all glue players are not very easy to find, but, to be fair, are easier to find than offensive superstars.
And as far as the Nets are concerned, I maintain that the reports that the latest Nets deal has any impact on a Melo deal moving forward is far more more about competitive journalism than actual truth. It’s a no-brainer deal for the Nets, who are building and moving forward whether they feel like they have a shot at Melo or not.
I agree very much with the high IQ scribe who works for Newsday.
With the lack of consistency from Toney Douglas, Danilo Gallinari and Wilson Chandler, the Knicks need an automatic jump shooter. I also think they need someone to attack the rim at will, but a shooter is certainly a need as well.
And obviously, the Knicks could use some depth up front. Their front line is starting to look like the Giants offensive line.
Roger Mason just simply hasn’t made shots. Should he get one more look? Andy Rautins may be worth a look as well, but it’s clear he’s not in a position to succeed in other elements of the game just yet.
Bill Walker seems to want to step in and be that 3 point bomber and he loves and can make the top of the key 3, but hasn’t done it enough to garner more minutes.
So the question becomes where are the shots coming from? Is Azubuike the guy? I mean, I’ve read and heard his practice workouts made him seem like a retired player. He needs time, and I wouldn’t bank on much contribution right away. Towards February? Yes. But will he get the reps and the opportunity if it’s not working out for him right away?
How about adding Devean George, Kenny Thomas or Mikki Moore?
George only played 45 games last year and he learned to be a spot-shooter. He’s 33 and has big game, shot ability. Automatic from the field he is not…but who is?
Moore would add a great mid-range element, insurance and some size up front.Thomas is a pro’s pro who would provide great post defense and, again, toughness.
Again, I don’t anticipate any roster moves, but if the Knicks are serious about the playoffs, they need to inject some players who are available who have playoff experience.
Just some food for thought.
Here, the Bobcats try to exploit the Gallo mismatch. Gallo plays Jackson tough and the steal leads to a STAT fast break.
We often talk about the importance of half court sets. Here’s a perfect one. Gallo should be able to get in the lane more often than not, if he just set his mind to it, which he has recently.
I was reading my friend Steve Kyler’s notes
as I always do and he brought up an interesting point surrounding Danilo Gallinari, who had a very strong West Coast trip and heads back to MSG on a good run of hitting 3s, FTs and 4th quarter shots.
Gallinari has been mentioned repeatedly in trade rumors, and while his first choice is to remain with the Knicks, there is a very real reality that if he does not emerge as a star-caliber player for the Knicks, his biggest value to the team may be that other NBA teams may see him differently in their system than he has been in New York.
Interesting take. I think any NBA team would want a 6’10 shooter, as long as the shooter can, well, shoot. What’s your take?
Whether people like it or not Gallinari’s 3 point shot is a deadly weapon. The good news is Danilo Gallinari has gotten his 3 point shot back; which is a vital part of the his offense. Many people complain that Danilo Gallinari should not start off the game shooting 3 point shots, but I have to disagree. Danilo Gallinari being able to knock down the 3 point shot has led to many positive things.
With the Knicks in desperate need of wins and heading out West, a place where they rarely have had success, Raymond Felton
took control of his team and led.
And he seemed to have a lot of fun doing it. Wouldn’t you be?
He’s knocking down jump shots, he’s setting up teammates and he has the offense clicking. Can he continue to do that against his old team and play with an edge that every other ex-Knick seems to play when they face the Knicks?
With Felton’s great play, that we’ve documented and he’s doing a tremendous job getting deeper into the paint, Amar’e is getting the ball closer to the basket on drives, and is getting open looks and knocking down mid range jumpers.
Defensively, the team needs to step up in games where they won’t get as many possessions, like against the Bobcats who will take the Knicks out of their tempo if they stick to their game plan. They are 27th in the NBA in “pace”.
With Felton and Amar’e on the same page, it’s allowed for the floor to open up for Danilo Gallinari. As we’ve always been taught great shooters learn to heat up at the FT line if their shot isn’t falling. Great shooters are trained to release with rotation, and there’s no better practice during the game then from the stripe. It’s been fans’ biggest knock on Gallo, but because of his poise and ability you forget he’s barely legal to drink. He’s averaging more FTAs than 3PTA, which is critical to his efficiency. He made 32 of 34 on the road trip and has attempted 87 for the month. Very solid offensive numbers.
And you can begin to talk about his big shot ability again.
So whether his struggles were related to trade rumors, pressure, youth, or simply the fact that he may be better suited for the Western Conference, Gallo is on a hot streak and he has himself and his ability to get to the stripe to thank, but more importantly his PG and PF have allowed him the space and time to be able to get there.
Via my main man Sebastian Pruiti
Getting stuck under the basket is never a good idea. But Fields does a good job of getting over the screen and STAT overplays the hedge. This is the Knicks small lineup and is a tremendous issue because Gallo or Chandler will not protect the basket against a player with any size or athletic ability.
So everyone has the reasons why the Knicks are struggling. The system stinks, the coach can’t make adjustments, Amar’e's not a 5, the defense is lacking. At this point, all these things are true, but let’s dig a little deeper.
Every time I watch Felton in transition, he either puts his head down to the rim where he either finishes or struggles to. Otherwise, he makes the decision to make a pass just over half court, which is too far for anyone to make a decision BUT shoot.
He has to get deeper in the court. If he gets to the foul line in transition, it makes it easier to find wings and makes it easier for them to finish. Think your basic 3 on 2 drill that you ran at every level you played at. Outlet, get to the foul line and either continue to the rim, pull up for a jumper or kick out to the wings running full speed.
When the Knicks need a basket, they isolate Amar’e at the foul line and he has to use his dribble. Never a good thing. He forces too much and misses too many shots in close. Run the pick and roll below the foul line.
Or why not give Amar’e the ball in the high post and run cutters back door more?
When a run starts they have to find ways to make baskets. They can’t take poor shots. That’s a sign of panic. Chandler does it, Douglas does it and Gallo does it.
Speaking of Gallo, he can be a little tougher under the basket defensively.
Just a few things I see…but we know what it takes to win. Stay close and close, which has easily been their biggest weakness this season.
With the Knicks in Denver, what else is there to talk about really?
Nothing has changed on that front in terms of deals, and please excuse me if I’m not affected one bit by the Knicks lack of poor play. From all information I’ve been gathering since the summer, Melo wants to come to the Big Apple and help his legacy by saving this franchise.
Based on several one-on-one conversations with Carmelo Anthony over the last few days, I alternated between being positive the Knicks were not on his free agent list to being convinced they are.
Maybe even at the top.
At the outset of this Melodrama, a week or so before training camp when reports inaccurately claimed, as I’ve come to discover, he was on the verge of making Mikhail Prokhorov an even larger luminary than he is, the Nets, at the very least, appeared to be the frontrunners.
Now they’re also-rans, I’m informed. In a nutshell, the fact they’re two seasons away from moving to Brooklyn from New Jersey places them in the loser bin. You comprehended what Anthony said, his plan is to associate strictly with a winning outfit. All options no longer are open, it appears.
Put Melo on a team with Amar’e and some toughness and the Knicks will win plenty of games. Melo kills other teams’ runs and he’s currently answering his critics who say he’s one dimensional- he had 22 boards the other night- and is right on top of the league in the combined triple category. He’s always one of the league-leaders in efficiency, and is playoff tested.And Donnie Walsh loves his toughness.
That said, some aren’t so convinced because of the Knicks’ lackluster start.
Stay tuned.
In other news, Al Harrington believes the Knicks locker room was hurt because of the Knicks’ propensity to raise Danilo Gallinari‘s status. That has hurt his development to a degree, but despite the team’s losses he’s been very good over the past few games in terms of high efficiency makes/points and getting to the free throw line. Yes, he has weaknesses, but he’s due for a hot shooting game and most definitely needs to attack the boards and not allow secondary points. Not switching on every pick and roll would be nice too. It’s time for Gallo to stop being timid and proving that he can be a consistent player in this league.
I know Al decently well, as much as a reporter can know a player. There is a wall, obviously. He’s a great guy who tried to be a leader on a bad team with too many chefs. He has great respect for the Knicks and desperately wanted to be here. There were a million issues with the Knicks’ locker room last year and Gallo was a small part of it. But I wouldn’t say it was THE reason that the team struggled. I hope Al continues to play well in Denver.
In addition, there has been a call out for the coach to change his ways and there is a report this morning that Bill Walker didn’t know he was in the rotation and that he was being replaced by Roger Mason alluding to last year’s issues with the likes of Larry Hughes and Nate Robinson. Let’s be honest, both Mason and Walker have shot poorly. Walker had a chance against Philly to step up when everyone else was struggling, and he didn’t. Maybe the Sunday afternoon game had an impact but you have to take advantage of opportunities. If you ask me, I think Walker is the better player, but he has to attack the rim and make his open shots- not pout about being demoted. I’m not sure this is as big of an issue as last year with players like Hughes expecting to be told whether he’s going to play or not. To me, a coach has an idea of who he’s going to play but things change with the matchups.
It’s all about playing well during an opportunity, which neither player has. Bottom line is the players could change some ways too, like snagging important rebounds and hitting timely baskets.
And the good news is that it sounds like Ronny Turiaf will return tonight…he’s listed as “probable.”
So I’ve had some time to watch the game a few more times because I have this serious basketball problem and what’s most maddening is that the same things keep
happening over and over.Well, at least over the past 3 games.
The Knicks get sloppy, they have defensive breakdowns that they didn’t have early in the year. They lose focus. They miss key free throws. They miss open 3 pointers. They shoot a low percentage. They are now allowing opponents to shoot 47% against them and 37% from 3 while they themselves are shooting just 44% and a dreadful 33% from three. That’s 23rd in the entire league.
We can talk about individuals apparently cracking from the pressure of the city and the bright lights he was so comfortable playing under:
Ask Danilo Gallinari if he can grow into a star or superstar over time, and suddenly you hear a taxicab confession in the middle of the losers’ locker room.
“I don’t think so,” Gallinari said.
Excuse me?
“I will try to work as hard as I can to help the team win, that’s my goal,” Gallinari said Wednesday night after his New York Knicks lost to the Golden State Warriors by a 122-117 count. “My goal is not to be a superstar.”
BTW. This reads “please God don’t trade me.” And by the way who on earth ever envisioned Gallo a superstar? What an overused word. There are a handful of superstars in the league. Maybe 5. He was never supposed to be. I don’t consider Dirk a superstar,bu that’s the comparisons Gallo received from day one. Yet another reason comparisons are stupid. They are media creations. He’s always had a nice ceiling and maybe an All-Star but a Lebron, Wade, Paul, etc. superstar? Geez. That’s idiotic. (more…)
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