OAKLAND, Calif. — Toughness has not been a Knicks trait in years. Yesterday, the Knicks, after breaking their six-game losing streak in Sacramento, were feeling feisty at practice as a skirmish broke out between Bill Walker and Shawne Williams.
Williams was driving to the basket when Walker took him down hard. Williams, who has yet to play this season after making the team as 15th man, shot up from the floor and lunged at Walker, shouting at him about the dirty play. Teammates separated the two players, but Williams kept carrying on, trying to break free to get at Walker. Even Eddy Curry had to restrain the ranting Williams.
It was a bizarre scene the way Williams carried on. Williams, the former Pacers first-round bust who beat out Patrick Ewing Jr. for the final roster spot and has marijuana arrests on his resume, appears itching to play.
With the Knicks shooting poorly from 3-point range (32.5 percent), the coaching staff believes Williams may be their most proficient deep shooter in practice. (Sorry, Danilo Gallinari.)
Walker stands in Williams’ way. Walker has been a reserve, but coach Mike D’Antoni has dabbled with yanking him from the rotation. If the Knicks falter from the 3-point stripe, Williams could get his chance. The coaches seemed unfazed by the near fisticuffs.
*
D’Antoni is sensitive to criticism of his offense relying too heavily on 3-pointers. Yesterday he pointed out the Knicks are ninth in points in the paint and 10th in free-throw attempts, which means they are driving the ball.
*
The Warriors are 1-2 in the three games that David Lee
has missed and 6-2 when he’s played.
*
Golden State guard Monta Ellis
is getting into the All-Star conversation for the first time. The Warriors haven’t had an All-Star since Latrell Sprewell
in 1997 before he choked the coach.