Starting in Las Vegas summer league, you can follow me with updates on Twitter.
By MARC BERMAN
LAS VEGAS – This was one was ugly. Maybe even alarming. They didn’t guard and they didn’t shoot well and the Knicks summer league team got bashed by Detroit, 96-73, today at UNLV to fall to 0-2.
Owner James Dolan, who looks like he’s lost a lot of weight, sat between Mike D’Antoni and Donnie Walsh watching the mess. Dolan deserved a prime rib after having to put up with this one.
Marc Berman enjoying summer-league action with MSG Network’s sideline reporter Tina Cervasio.
Power forward Jordan Hill did a little better knocking down mid-range shots but was out of position on defense – which was a concern before they drafted him. Hill finished with 14 points on 6 of 14 from the floor with just five rebounds. If he’s going to block shots in the NBA and be a commanding defensive presence, he didn’t show it today. His defensive IQ isn’t too high.
Meanwhile, point guard Toney Douglas continued to rack up assists but shoot bricks. He was 1 of 6 today for 5 points to follow up his 2 of 13 debut. Douglas dished out 10 assists, giving him 21 in two games. Douglas had only two turnovers after making none in the opener. But the team shot just 33 percent as Morris Almond, after making his first 3 shots, missed 7 of his last 8, finishing with 11.
“Everyone has bad games in the summer league,” said Walsh.
Douglas’ shooting woes have been a mystery. “Actually that surprises me,” Walsh said. “When I came here, I wanted to see if he can play point guard. Everyone looked at him as a scorer. He’s playing well as a point guard with 10 assists and two turnovers but he’s struggling with his shooting. In college, he was a scorer.”
Hill, the No. 8 pick, admitted he has to get stronger and in better shape to battle on the defensive end. “It’s way different than college, a lot more games,” Hill said. “You got to be on the road 24/7. Definitely got to be physically and mentally in shape for this game.”
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Knicks don’t play again till Friday vs. Sacramento…David Stern said yesterday he wouldn’t consider Las Vegas because of the economy. Uh, how about your referee gambling scandal, Dave?…It must have been painful for Donnie Walsh to witness Golden State’s Anthony Randolph going off for 42 points yesterday as he watched half the game. The Knicks didn’t take him in the 2008 draft, feeling he was too much of a project. Meanwhile, Danilo Gallinari can’t even suit up as he watches from the bench following back surgery and said he won’t do contact stuff till right around training camp….Walsh didn’t sound too upset if Nate Robinson goes to Greece because the Knicks retain his rights next year…Big issue with sign-and-trade with David Lee is his base-compensation status, making it difficult for the cap math to work out.