The Rooster begins with a sweet chicchirichì
Gallinari Practices and the Knicks can barely contain themselves
The superlatives and expectations keep growing for Gallinari, the sixth overall pick in the 2008 draft. He showed no signs of discomfort in Tuesday’s two practices, or any indication that he had undergone minor back surgery five months ago.
He did, however, show off his full range of skills while playing with the first unit in the evening scrimmage.
Standing on the perimeter, Gallinari beat Larry Hughes off the dribble and fed David Lee inside for a layup attempt. (Lee missed.) When Al Harrington missed a 3-pointer, Gallinari soared in for a putback dunk. And in the highlight of the night, Gallinari spun past Ron Howard and flew in for a two-handed dunk. He missed a 3-pointer, but shooting is one skill the Knicks know Gallinari has in abundance.
D’Antoni has never wavered in his enthusiasm for Gallinari and is not concerned about raising expectations. Gallinari, 21, said he was not concerned either.
“I’m happy for that, because I think that if a player wants to be at a good level, you need responsibility, you need expectations,” Gallinari said, adding: “I like that. I know how to deal with that.”
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Remember the words, “Larry Nowitzki”, and exactly where you read them first.
If Gallinari can stay healthy this season … those who think that the Knicks are simply going to be push-overs in the EC [including many of the good folks in Raptorville] will be in for a rather Rude Awakening v1.
[ ... which, almost, unbelievably, led to this, this, this and, then, finally, this and this ... when we were all a great deal younger than today.]
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Tags: Arsenio Hall, Bill Laimbeer, Bobby Heenan, Danilo Gallinari, Dirk Nowitzki, Donnie Walsh, Doug Collins, Isiah Thomas, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Mike D'Antoni, Phil Jackson, Ravishing Rick Rude, Rowdy Roddy Piper