Looking ahead to summer league
While the Knicks wait for Chris Duhon to make up his mind, we might as well jump ahead.
The summer league roster is being assembled, and it sounds like Danilo Gallinari is working out daily in preparation for his U.S. television debut. I don’t know who else is going, but Wilson Chandler is supposed to be ready. It wouldn’t hurt Renaldo Balkman and Mardy Collins to pick up some minutes in Las Vegas, either.
Here’s the warning I have to issue every year, don’t put any stock into what these guys do in what amount to srimmages against spotty competition.
Remember last summer?
They didn’t lose a single game in Las Vegas. Robinson and Balkman played like they were poised to break out. And the buzz wore off quickly. The mood was completely different two weeks into November.
Anyway, the Knicks will begin to practice on July 11, and there will be some cameos by veterans on the roster. Unless the organization wants to get fined, they will not be part of the workouts.
Here’s the schedule:
2008 NBA Summer League Game Schedule:
Friday July 11
COX Pavilion
1 PM – Philadelphia vs. Golden State
3 PM – New Orleans vs. Memphis
5 PM – LA Lakers vs. Detroit*
7 PM – Dallas vs. LA Clippers*
Saturday July 12th
COX Pavilion
1 PM – Toronto vs. Sacramento
3 PM – Charlotte vs. LA Clippers
5 PM – Philadelphia vs. Denver
7 PM – Memphis vs. Milwaukee
Sunday July 13th
COX Pavilion
1 PM – Charlotte vs. New Orleans
3 PM – Dallas vs. Golden State*
5 PM – Memphis vs. LA Lakers*
7 PM – Detroit vs. LA Clippers
Monday July 14th
COX Pavilion
1 PM – New York vs. Cleveland*
3 PM – Toronto vs. Denver
5 PM – Washington vs. Portland*
7 PM – Dallas vs. Minnesota*
Thomas & Mack
5:30 PM – Phoenix vs. Houston
7:30 PM – San Antonio vs. Memphis
Tuesday July 15th
COX Pavilion
3 PM – Detroit vs. Milwaukee
5 PM – Philadelphia vs. LA Lakers*
7 PM – Sacramento vs. Portland*
Thomas & Mack
5:30 PM – San Antonio vs. New Orleans
7:30 PM – Charlotte vs. Golden State
Wednesday July 16th
COX Pavilion
1 PM – San Antonio vs. New York*
3 PM – Sacramento vs. Dallas*
5 PM – Philadelphia vs. Washington*
7 PM – Memphis vs. LA Clippers
Thomas & Mack
5:30 PM – Minnesota vs. LA Lakers
7:30 PM – Cleveland vs. Houston
Thursday July 17th
COX Pavilion
1 PM – Dallas vs. Detroit*
3 PM – New Orleans vs. LA Clippers
5 PM – Toronto vs. Philadelphia*
7 PM – Portland vs. Minnesota*
Thomas & Mack
5:30 PM – San Antonio vs. Phoenix
7:30 PM – Denver vs. Milwaukee
Friday July 18th
COX Pavilion
1 PM – Phoenix vs. New York*
3 PM – Charlotte vs. Detroit
5 PM – Cleveland vs. Washington*
7 PM – Sacramento vs. Golden State*
Thomas & Mack
5:30 PM – LA Lakers vs. Toronto
7:30 PM – Houston vs. Denver
Saturday July 19th
COX Pavilion
1 PM – New York vs. Charlotte*
3 PM – Golden State vs. Toronto
5 PM – Washington vs. Houston*
7 PM – Portland vs. Phoenix*
Thomas & Mack
3:30 PM – LA Lakers vs. Denver
5:30 PM – Minnesota vs. Milwaukee
7:30 PM – New Orleans vs. Cleveland
Sunday July 20th
COX Pavilion
1 PM – Minnesota vs. New York*
3 PM – Phoenix vs. Washington
5 PM – Portland vs. New Orleans*
Thomas & Mack
3:30 PM – Milwaukee vs. Cleveland
5:30 PM – Sacramento vs. Houston
I’ve been told MSG will be on hand to broadcast the Knicks’ games. And since I’ll be sitting on a beach in Delaware with the family, we might be looking for a couple of guest bloggers to fill in. Let me know if you will be watching and want to share your impressions of Gallinari and Co.
The computer is coming with, so I’ll be able to post long distance.
July 3rd, 2008 at 10:39 am
“Remember last summer?
They didn’t lose a single game in Las Vegas. Robinson and Balkman played like they were poised to break out. And the buzz wore off quickly. The mood was completely different two weeks into November.”
Dave Hanners, not Isiah Thomas, coached Las Vegas. Maybe that’s the difference. Hanners, brought in by Larry Brown, is now reunited with LB in Charlotte.
July 3rd, 2008 at 10:53 am
Mike,watched the games last year up close and the “uptempo” style the K’s used seem to fit their personnel, N8, Balk,etc..Once the team got to NY, IT seemed to abandon any thoughts of “uptempo”.I continue to say his coaching cost the team 5-7 games alone.This summer league could be significant in the K’s development.You’re not only building a new team, you’re building a new image,which is why Mike D should be there.You’re right Collins must show whether he’s worth keeping,I actually think if his knee is healthy he’s a worthy PG option.I think Chandler should be tried at SG and in certain combinations with Gallinari and N8. The K’s could have 3/5th of their starting offense working together.Balkman should certainly be working on his perimeter O.IT maxed out the roster in past years excluding FA’s as an option, is that true this year?? And please bring in at least one interior defender. Have a great 4th!!
July 3rd, 2008 at 12:16 pm
last summer the summer league team had the most important thing that the regular team lacked….SHOOTING (i.e. Dimitrios Nichols)... even the no names were able to hit the outside shot. Which is why balkman and nate excelled. The paint was open for them to drive since defenders had to stay with their man on the outside. Isiah killed all that progress by not playing that unit together as a backup unit, even though they had developed a chemistry.
July 3rd, 2008 at 12:53 pm
Mike, GOT IT!! Golden State is the K’s salvation!Crawford & Curry to GS for Harrington,Perovic,Wright & Belinelli.Though obviously not the player,Crawford’s stats are remarkably close to Davis’,and Craw’s weaker A/TO ratio is mitgated by the fact GS will move Ellis to the PG spot!GS will be up +14PPG.Craw can “run” in the Nelson system and Eddy is as good as any backup GS has.All the GS contracts have 1 year remaining.
July 6th, 2008 at 11:44 pm
George,
Nice dream. Hope it comes true.
Mike,
I thought Nate improved a lot last summer. He showed he can work as a change of pace guard coming off the bench. He really improved his PG skills last summer.