Syfo-Dyas
10-03-2008, 11:05 AM
BY FRANK ISOLA
SARATOGA SPRINGS - Jared Jeffries eventually will get the chance to
prove that he can become the Knicks' version of Boris Diaw, the
versatile forward who flourished under Mike D'Antoni in Phoenix.
Unfortunately, that opportunity may not come until December.
The Knicks announced Thursday night that Jeffries had broken his left
leg during a scrimmage Thursday and will be sidelined for six to eight
weeks. According to the club, Jeffries suffered a fractured left
fibula and will not be available to play until at least mid-November.
The injury was a devastating blow to Jeffries, who was emerging as the
possible starting center in D'Antoni's up-tempo offense. Just a few
hours before the injury was diagnosed, D'Antoni had praised the
six-year veteran and hinted that Jeffries could supplant Eddy Curry in
the starting lineup.
"He really knows how to play basketball and that's what we need,"
D'Antoni said following the Knicks' late afternoon practice at
Skidmore College. "At 6-foot-11, 250 pounds, that spells center to me.
He's big, runs the floor, great defensive player and he passes the
ball."
Jeffries will not be available on opening night for the second time in
three years. After signing with the Knicks prior to the 2006-07
season, the former Washington Wizard fractured his wrist during the
preseason and needed surgery. He appeared in just 55 games.
SECOND STEPH: No matter how well Stephon Marbury plays - and thus far
he's looked sharp - the veteran point guard can't seem to crack the
starting five.
Free agent pickup Chris Duhon has gotten the most scrimmage minutes
with the first unit, a group that, through Thursday, also consisted of
Jamal Crawford, Quentin Richardson, David Lee and Jeffries. That
doesn't mean D'Antoni is locked into the first four, but it is
becoming increasingly clear that Marbury doesn't figure in the Knicks'
plans.
Thursday, when asked if he believes the new regime is giving him a
fair shot, Marbury would only say, "You've got to ask D'Antoni that."
D'Antoni claims that he wants to "see certain combinations" and
suggested that he already knows what Marbury can do. Still, the
affable coach suddenly looks uncomfortable when asked about Marbury's
role.
"Again, I don't know what to say," D'Antoni added. "I've got to put
him somewhere and wherever I put him you'll say he's on the first
(team) or the second (team). I'm not into that yet. Right now, we're
just playing and competing. And I do want to see different
combinations with different people."
Earlier, D'Antoni gave Nate Robinson a strong endorsement, saying the
fourth-year guard is much better at running the point than he had
believed. In fact, Robinson has been the first guard to replace Duhon
among the starters while Marbury always remains with the blue team or
second unit.
UNDER SUNS: D'Antoni's former boss said that if the Phoenix Suns fail,
"it's my fault."
"That goes with the territory of this job," Suns GM Steve Kerr said in
Tucson. "Given everything that has happened I'm very comfortable with
the direction we are heading.
"I feel my imprint is on the team more," Kerr said. "I've hired the
staff and share a vision with (new coach) Terry (Porter). Last year, I
was figuring out what my job was and was getting to know everybody.
.... This (team) has more of my fingerprints on it."
D'Antoni and Kerr had a falling-out last season that led to the coach
joining the Knicks.
SARATOGA SPRINGS - Jared Jeffries eventually will get the chance to
prove that he can become the Knicks' version of Boris Diaw, the
versatile forward who flourished under Mike D'Antoni in Phoenix.
Unfortunately, that opportunity may not come until December.
The Knicks announced Thursday night that Jeffries had broken his left
leg during a scrimmage Thursday and will be sidelined for six to eight
weeks. According to the club, Jeffries suffered a fractured left
fibula and will not be available to play until at least mid-November.
The injury was a devastating blow to Jeffries, who was emerging as the
possible starting center in D'Antoni's up-tempo offense. Just a few
hours before the injury was diagnosed, D'Antoni had praised the
six-year veteran and hinted that Jeffries could supplant Eddy Curry in
the starting lineup.
"He really knows how to play basketball and that's what we need,"
D'Antoni said following the Knicks' late afternoon practice at
Skidmore College. "At 6-foot-11, 250 pounds, that spells center to me.
He's big, runs the floor, great defensive player and he passes the
ball."
Jeffries will not be available on opening night for the second time in
three years. After signing with the Knicks prior to the 2006-07
season, the former Washington Wizard fractured his wrist during the
preseason and needed surgery. He appeared in just 55 games.
SECOND STEPH: No matter how well Stephon Marbury plays - and thus far
he's looked sharp - the veteran point guard can't seem to crack the
starting five.
Free agent pickup Chris Duhon has gotten the most scrimmage minutes
with the first unit, a group that, through Thursday, also consisted of
Jamal Crawford, Quentin Richardson, David Lee and Jeffries. That
doesn't mean D'Antoni is locked into the first four, but it is
becoming increasingly clear that Marbury doesn't figure in the Knicks'
plans.
Thursday, when asked if he believes the new regime is giving him a
fair shot, Marbury would only say, "You've got to ask D'Antoni that."
D'Antoni claims that he wants to "see certain combinations" and
suggested that he already knows what Marbury can do. Still, the
affable coach suddenly looks uncomfortable when asked about Marbury's
role.
"Again, I don't know what to say," D'Antoni added. "I've got to put
him somewhere and wherever I put him you'll say he's on the first
(team) or the second (team). I'm not into that yet. Right now, we're
just playing and competing. And I do want to see different
combinations with different people."
Earlier, D'Antoni gave Nate Robinson a strong endorsement, saying the
fourth-year guard is much better at running the point than he had
believed. In fact, Robinson has been the first guard to replace Duhon
among the starters while Marbury always remains with the blue team or
second unit.
UNDER SUNS: D'Antoni's former boss said that if the Phoenix Suns fail,
"it's my fault."
"That goes with the territory of this job," Suns GM Steve Kerr said in
Tucson. "Given everything that has happened I'm very comfortable with
the direction we are heading.
"I feel my imprint is on the team more," Kerr said. "I've hired the
staff and share a vision with (new coach) Terry (Porter). Last year, I
was figuring out what my job was and was getting to know everybody.
.... This (team) has more of my fingerprints on it."
D'Antoni and Kerr had a falling-out last season that led to the coach
joining the Knicks.