[Mr.Knick 32Participant]

TIMOFEYYYYYY!!!!!

http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/nba/columns/story?columnist=sheridan_chris&id=5630564

GREENBURGH, N.Y. — On the final day of training camp Wednesday, one of the newest Knicks knocked down a 17-footer from the corner, finished a post move with a soft left-handed touch shot, threw a behind-the-back pass off the dribble to an open teammate on the perimeter, then dove onto the floor to save a ball from going out of bounds.

This all happened in the space of about 10 minutes, a combination of skill, hustle and agility rarely seen over the past, lost decade that has defined the New York Knicks as one of the NBA’s perennial losers.

The player making the plays?

No, it was not Amare Stoudemire, the new alpha dog on an almost totally revamped roster.

Nor was it Raymond Felton, the new co-captain and floor general.

They were the moves of 7-foot-1 rookie Russian center Timofey Mozgov, who coach Mike D’Antoni has singled out as the biggest surprise of training camp.

 

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Everything you need to know about the Knicks as they prepare for the 2010 season can be found here: Knicks Blog

 

"Just because we didn’t know anything about Timofey, he’s showing that what we saw on tape, and what we saw when we worked him out, was good," D’Antoni said. "He’s an athlete, and he’s getting better every day. His instincts on defense are real good, his offensive instincts are good, he knows how to set people up, and he keeps getting better with his shot, getting more confidence."

Of the 16 players in training camp, only five were with the Knicks at the conclusion of last season. And one of those five, Eddy Curry, has spent the past several days watching practice sitting on a table in the corner of the gym after reporting to camp out of shape and straining his right hamstring in one of the first scrimmages.

Curry did not accompany the Knicks as they left Wednesday afternoon for Milan, Italy, where they will play Armani Jeans Milano on Sunday in their first preseason game before traveling to Paris for an exhibition against the Minnesota Timberwolves next Wednesday.

So instead of keeping track of how much pasta and how many baguettes Curry can fit inside his oversized frame, the Knicks will be watching to see how their new international man of mystery can adapt to the NBA game.

"I played against [Mozgov] already in the European Championship," said center Ronny Turiaf, one of the 11 new faces. "And I had high expectations for him before he came here. So you guys didn’t know what you were getting. But I knew what the Knicks were getting when they got him."

Mozgov figures to start the season coming off the bench behind Turiaf, and he may have to compete for minutes with Anthony Randolph at the center position if D’Antoni sticks with past practice and goes with a short rotation.

But D’Antoni has indicated he is going to change up his game somewhat, at least in the early part of the season, to see which mixes and matches of players work best together.

He has already said Randolph will defend everyone from Rajon Rondo to Dwight Howard, but it is likely that the 21-year-old acquired in the David Lee trade will be coming off the bench and seeing his minutes fluctuate from night to night, depending on the opponent and the different matchup difficulties other teams present.

D’Antoni said he has not yet settled on a starting lineup, with the shooting guard spot the biggest question mark.

The coach did allow that Wilson Chandler will probably get the nod Sunday in Milan, but Roger Mason will have a chance to compete for the job — as will Kelenna Azubuike when he returns from rehabbing his surgically repaired left knee sometime in November. Also, backup point guard Toney Douglas will be teamed alongside Felton at times.

Stoudemire will be the starting power forward, Felton will run the point, and Danilo Gallinari will be the starting small forward for the Knicks, who have stated that their goal for this season is to make the playoffs for the first time since 2004. (They haven’t won a postseason game since 2000.)

This year’s team is not only taller and longer than Knicks teams of recent years, it is constructed of what the franchise hopes will be building blocks toward a rosier future after having sacrificed the past two seasons to gain control of their salary cap situation.

And though the Knicks have been active in trade talks with the Denver Nuggets in an effort to acquire Carmelo Anthony, they would be perfectly satisfied to see Anthony spend another season in Denver and then become an unrestricted free agent. With Curry and his $11.7 million salary coming off the cap, the Knicks will have the flexibility to make a max offer to Anthony next July — provided the league isn’t shut down by a lockout.

For now, D’Antoni said, the focus during the preseason will be "to keep coming together, keep improving. It’s more of us discovering who we have and what they can do and try to utilize their talents and put them in a position to succeed."

For Mozgov, who was discovered by the Knicks’ director of international scouting, Kevin Wilson, that’ll mean preparing him for the inevitability that he will be a foul magnet on his first tour through the league, and teaching him that the respect he has already earned from his teammates will be difficult to come by in a league that treats rookies, especially foreign rookies, harshly when they first arrive.

For Felton, it’ll mean making him more of a passer in the mold of Steve Nash, now that he has a player in Stoudemire who can play above the rim, going 12 or 13 feet high to receive passes.

For Gallinari, it’ll mean getting him to find a balance between being a 3-point shooter as well as a player who can post up the smaller defenders he’ll face on a regular basis.

For the rest, it’ll mean pushing those players to make themselves worthy of sticking around long-term as this new beginning unfolds.

"The desire to be the best has come through. I didn’t have to do any of that, it started from Amare and Raymond and it kept going right on. And now it’s just plugging in the pieces and making sure they get better offensively and defensively, and we’ll do that. But it starts with them. They want it, and that’s what they’ve demonstrated, and it makes me sleep a lot better at night." D’Antoni said. "They have a purpose: Their purpose is to make the playoffs and make New York buzz. That’s what they want to do."

 

[MagikKnickParticipant]

Ehh, as skeptical as I am about Timofey, a 7’1 athletic center is never a bad thing…

I still think hes being a little overrated, buts its a low risk, high reward type of situation,so I guess we’ll just have to wait and see how he adjust to the NBA.

 

[bkballerParticipant]

dude has soooo much potential….7-1 and built like a truck, crazy athletic, runs the floor real well, finishes strong, great free throw shooter. I’m just worried that he will be too foul prone to stay on the floor and adjust to the game. One thing for sure, I like him better as a prospect than that bum Jordan Hill.

[Anton123Participant]

 Wow, the great Russian hope, this s the first time in 3-4 years when a Russian player on a foreign site has been used in the same sentence as "potential" instead of "overpaid" or "trade bait". I somewhat feel pride for my country

[PlatypusParticipant]

1. I think they should start Turiaf and let Timmey come off the bench to let him get use to the change

2. Randolph is going to guard Dwight Howard? Is that a joke?

[HotSnotParticipant]

 Mozgov will be a more productive and useful player to the Knicks then Curry ever was. 

Curry never had a single season with the Knicks where he justified his salary.  He had that one season he put up decent points but nothing in the way of rebounds. His point production was due more to a lack of options on the Knicks roster at center then it was Curry himself.  Who’s that writer that came up with the Eddy Curry stat line for ineffectiveness?  When your combined assists, steals and blocks total is LOWER then your turnover average per game.  That right there is EPIC INEFFECTIVENESS!

I always wonder how that dude cannot help but feel utterly embarassed showing up to camp in horrible shape?  Not just horrible shape… but in geriatric civilian type of condition.  The type of shape where after one practise you strain something so badly you need to sit for 2-3 weeks to heal up.  The only way this happens is if you literally do next to NOTHING for months.  Fat ass lazy loser. Does he think its ok?  Does he think management and players won’t noticed a blubbery waste of space he is on the court and that he is crippling their team with his salary and not even working for it?  Wouldn’t you feel guilty?  Wouldn’t that weigh on you as a person?  He’s supposed to be a professional athlete.  Where’s the professionalism?  Where’s the athlete?  Show us you care Eddy.  He mentioned this past offseason that he was absolutely not interested in a contract buyout… "he wanted every penny".  He has done next to nothing for 4 of the 5 years on his contract and he wants every penny?  No guilt here?  He’s been constantly injured because he refuses to condition his body so that it can handle the physical stress’s necessary to play the game.  Its outrageous to every hard working middle class stiff out there who would give their left nut and first born child to play in the NBA but instead shell out a large junk of disposable income to go and watch their team play. 

Add to all this, Curry’s constant offcourt troubles which are all his own fault and you have one of the greatest losers the NBA has known.  Even that home invasion (which was awful and tramatizing I’m sure) was unlikely to be just a co-incidence.  Who else thinks he hung around the wrong guys, bragged too much one night or gave away personal information about himself which led to those events in the first place?  He had way too much time (could have been used to get himself in shape no?) on his hands and this is what happens to a rich, ignorant, lazy fool who lives to much of the good life for free.

Welcome to NY Mr. Mozgov!  A true and ATHLETIC center on the cheap who is going to be more then capable of handling those gigantic 5’s around the league… at roughly 1/3 of Curry’s ridiculous salary.  He may not be all that amazing his first season but just wait till his soph. season.  He will be the Knicks starter from day one.  Although the Knicks didn’t have a 1st round draft pick this season, Mozgov was the equivilant of their first round pick.  Another league GM speculated that Mozgov would have been a "late lottery pick".  Impressive find NY scouts.

[Toronto16Participant]

Can’t wait till this dude is averaging 5 and 5 and everyone forgets about him.

[The Scare Crow ReturnsParticipant]

NY homers praising this guy like he’s the next great Center…there is a reason he was found they way the Knicks found him…He was a scrub and no one thought he was worth the time or money…

[esperanzafleet69Participant]

time to check him out in my fantasy league… if he plays any minutes for the knicks he WILL put up some sort of decent stats…

[Mr.Knick 32Participant]

I like how you guys are just ripping the guy.

 

Noone said he’s a 25-12 guy. If he gives up 8-6 next season, I’ll say that’s a win. He’s a young big man. I’d say he at least get a chance. If he was a pickup by a different team, we’d see dozens of people say "Hey, he’s gonna be a factor!" "He’s a steal"

But because he’s picked up by NY, he’s seem as a terrible player. All I say is: He’s gonna be a starting center for NY most likely and if so, he should have solid numbers. Mozgov could be a good player at best to me but I like him, he impressed me and I’m happy to see him as a Knick.

 

Timofeyyyy

[M-DYMESParticipant]

 I don’t know if anyone is saying he is a terrible player.  I think he will do very well in NYC.  He’s just not going to be a 20-10 guy from day 1.  I think he will be a very solid addition and a capable starter this season, which I think is high praise for anyone who is pretty much just entering the league.  Im not labeling anyone a STEAL until I see them actually play regular season games though.  

[Mr.Knick 32Participant]

He’s just not going to be a 20-10 guy from day 1

 

That’s the point….NOONE said he would be a 20-10 guy. That’s  non knicks fans blowing him out because we said he was gonna be a starter.

[M-DYMESParticipant]

 What?  I don’t care who he plays for, he wouldn’t be a 20-10 guy from day 1 no matter if he played for any team in the entire NBA.  I don’t understand what you are saying.  No one is hating on him just cuz he’s a knick.  Its just no one is getting all worked up toting him as the next great big.  

[PureshooterParticipant]

From what I’ve seen of the guy he looks like he could be a solid player.  Definitely doesn’t move like your typical 7 footer and finishes strong.  His mobility could really be useful in D’Antoni’s fast paced offense.

[sheltwon3Participant]

There are lots of Centers that start and just rebound and block shots and I think if dude can be an offenisve threat sometimes, he should get minutes.  Also there are tons of international player that are below the radar so to speak.

[esperanzafleet69Participant]

hotsnot u are retarded if you think mozgov is gonna go in there and average 18 and 10… sure curry never deserved his salary… but he wasnt bad by any means…

[Mr.Knick 32Participant]

What? I don’t care who he plays for, he wouldn’t be a 20-10 guy from day 1 no matter if he played for any team in the entire NBA. I don’t understand what you are saying. No one is hating on him just cuz he’s a knick. Its just no one is getting all worked up toting him as the next great big.

 

Did I say your name in that post? I’m sure I didn’t. So I wasn’t directly talking to you. Like I said before, I agree. He will not be a 20-10 guy in the NBA.

[Malik-UniversalParticipant]

its……………………………………………….. one practice

[sc0rebuckets11Participant]

if this the yr STAT joins the 20-10 club..

if not, whoever is playing center will rack up some boards..

[Da1potParticipant]

This guy has gotten so much hype in the past few days. He SHOULD be having a good training camp against the likes of Eddy Curry and the undersized Ronnie Turiaf. I’m not bashing him, because he is definately a low risk high reward type based on his low contract. He is the "physical specimen type,"- I just need to see if he can actually play baseketbal or not… Lets wait until the season starts to evaluate him. 

[HitsterParticipant]

Mozgov has the potential to be a good NBA role player whether it is as a starter or from the bench, the Knicks have signed him as a guy who can fill minutes, is fairly NBA ready and for a salary which will not cause the team a huge issue. If he turns out to be better then that is a bonus, I’d still say Turiaf will start at C but Mozgov can certainly get into rotation and his game should suit Coach D’Antoni’s style and his size will help to fill the paint alongside STAT if required thus giving the Knicks a much physically stronger front court than recent years.

I’d guess that Coach D’Antoni will use a fairly tight roster maybe 8 to 10 players with the likes of Rautins and Fields maybe sent to the D-League during the season.

[NarcParticipant]

If Mozgov could put up the numbers that Tyson Chandler puts up, then I would say he would be a steal. He’s big and can run the floor pretty well, plus he can block some shots which is something the Knicks haven’t had since Dikembe Mutombo left the team in 2004.

And as far as Eddy Curry never earning his paycheck while in NY. Let’s not forget that while it was a bad year when Isiah was coaching, Curry put up what was possibly the best year of his career and averaged a career high in rebounds. There were even talks of him being an All star snub that year.

[mj23mj23besteverParticipant]

he played very well at the worlds and like everyone is saying very low risk i can see him being a 10 and 8 type of center nothing spectacular true but for what they are giving him that works for me

[NarcParticipant]

Realistically, since most of the centers of the NBA have never played against him and they can only judge his style off of tape, I would say that he can average about 12PPG and 7REB 1BLK. Plus I hear he has a nice touch so maybe his FT shooting can come into play as well.

[HotSnotParticipant]

esperanzafleet69 Learn to read before you rip.  I said his soph season should be very good and that he would start at that time.  Never once did i mention numbers.  It depends entirely on playing time.  I know he’s an effective rebounder and can block shots.  I know he is mobile and athletic.  I’ve watched a bunch of video of him but I don’t know what his shooting %’s are or if he can hit free throws.  Over the last 10 years I can’t think of a center prospect NY has had that is better then Mozgov.  NY has had some weak ass centers. 

If Mozgov’s worst case scenario is developing into a more athletic Kendrik Perkins or a Tyson Chandler then thats and excellant pickup by NY.  If he develops into anything better (which I think he has a chance) then thats just a bonus.  I think he could be an Al Horford type which is quite respectable.

[The Scare Crow ReturnsParticipant]

This guy just said Mosgov may be a Al Horford type…what the hell are they smoking up there in New York…If this guy had half the Skills you guys are saying he has then he’d be playing for another team for a lot more money…

[bobbybParticipant]

if he was so good, he would have been picked by Prokerov!

[Tongue-Out-Like-23Participant]

Who was guarding him? Eddy Curry?

[stanford hoops]

Wow Randolph coming off the bench yet again. Big suprise

[knicksfreakParticipant]

Mozgov looks soft in any video that i’ve seen of him. Dont hype him up. He will be nothing but a let down. At least he was a low risk prospect like y’all have mentioned.

[BothTeamsPlayedHardParticipant]

"If Mozgov’s worst case scenario is developing into a more athletic Kendrik Perkins or a Tyson Chandler then thats and excellant pickup by NY. If he develops into anything better (which I think he has a chance) then thats just a bonus. I think he could be an Al Horford type which is quite respectable."

Ahhhhh Knick fans.

 

[MkadozaParticipant]

 Whatever. He’s the back up center. He young 7 footer with some mobility. Can we just leave it at that and see what happens? His worst case scenario is that hes out of the league. Who knows how good he can be? I pretty sure almost no one here has seen him play. I hope hes good.

And Stanford, so what if he’s coming of the bench. He’ll be one of the first guy of the bench at 3 positions, and may even use him at the 2, to give him around 28 mins a night. They want to see what he can do without overexposing him since no ones completely sure about what kind of player he is. Hes on a new team with a coach that wants to use him in a variety of ways. Lay off the kid a little.

[MkadozaParticipant]

 And a more athletic Kendrick Perkins sounds closer to a best case scenario.

 

Amar’e wishes he was playing with a more athletic Kendrick Perkins.

[McWinningParticipant]

The dude has potentiol but lets not forget he averaged 6 points a game in the terrible russian league.

 

I will say he cant be any worse than Turiaf so he better be starting.

[stanford hoops]

He’s prob coming off the bench because of the same reasons he came off the bench in golden state. Poor work ethic. I recall someone saying he’d start for anyother non playoff team or low seed.  Well now he’s on one of those teams and will still be coming off the bench.  And he plays three positions because he’s not very good at any one position. 

Anthony Randolph equals overrated/overhyped. Still!!!!

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