Maybe this is the Italian-American in me, but I think Denver Nuggets F Danilo Gallinari will have the best career of any player on the current New York Knicks roster.
Danilo Gallinari may be the most complete player of any of either roster at such a young stage in his career. He has terrific range, can drive to the basket hard, and is more than capable of defending and rebounding with his solid 6’10 frame. Using only a seven man rotation, the Denver Nuggets were able to outlast a now awful New York Knicks team in Madison Square Garden.
Danilo Gallinari had 37 points on just below 50% shooting, including making 18-20 free throws. The New York Knicks gave up an arm and a leg to acquire SF Carmelo Anthony, and now it looks like every team that has a piece of the package that gathered Carmelo Anthony to New York is faring better.
Carmelo Anthony took 30 shots, hitting only 10, and losing the basketball at the last moment when he could have sealed the game following his clutch tying basket. Even after losing former top pick PF Kenyon Martin and offensive SG J.R. Smith to China, the Denver Nuggets are playing inspired basketball, right in the ranks of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Utah Jazz as teams expected to make turns but not be as surprising as they have been thus far.
This is what happens when sometimes a team pays a king’s ransom to gather a star. ‘Melo was figured to be the final piece the Knicks would require to be a serious contender, but at this point in the season he has actually hurt his team. 25 points is a solid total, but when it takes a player 45 minutes and change of playing time and 30 shots to reach it, there is an issue of ball hogging and a lack of conversion.
After a red hot start to last season where New York Knicks PF Amar’e Stoudemire was expected to contend for the scoring title, his scoring game has been off if not nonexistent at times. Stoudemire shot 4-9 for a lackluster 12 points. While the presence of newly acquired C Tyson Chandler has been a good effect for the Knicks defense (which has been awful under Coach Mike D’Antoni) he has hurt the offense of Amar’e Stoudemire by clogging the paint and giving little room to work with on the offensive end. Chandler is not a threat to shoot from any range whatsoever, thereby inhibiting the freedom for Stoudemire to gather momentum.
The New York Knicks are headed in the wrong direction, fast, but in a division marked by dreadful performances and once contenders diving to the depths of mediocrity, there is still a chance to make the post-season. They will be blown out by whoever they face.
Tags: Amare Stoudemire, Carmelo Anthony, Danilo Gallinari, J.R. Smith, Kenyon Martin, Mike D'Antoni