<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> Allan Houston won't be the $100 Million Sixth Man for long. Lenny Wilkens made the announcement yesterday, saying he expects Houston to regain his starting job when he becomes "100 percent." Wilkens, however, said it won't be today when Houston makes his 2004-2005 Garden debut as the Knicks face the Nuggets.</div> Link I am happy for that. Jamal Crawford is still young and still can learn much from a skilled role model like Houston. I don't know if Allan Houston will be a good match at SF. He will be playing taller players and plus it isn't his natural position. Allan Houston is a shooter thus he is a shooting guard. He compliments Marbury perfectly and is beneficial to everyone on the floor. Crawford will be a great sixth man for Houston. Now unlike Shandon Anderson, while Allan takes a rest, he wont have to feel pressured to come back sooner with Crawford playing for him. I would much rather have my captain/all-star/olympian/nba finalist on the floor than a young Crawford who has won 30 games for a team at most (correct me if I'm wrong).
Well, in the game against Washington, the man forced Washington's defense to make major adjustments. It allowed the Knicks to completely dominate at <u>both</u> sides of the florrs when he was in. Which is, let me say, spectacular. But I feel as if the only reason Wilkens is throwing Houston in there is simply to motivate Crawford to work harder. I mean, there is no doubt that if Crawford put forth some more effort in practice and in the gym, he'd be a better player. But I don't feel as if this is the proper way to go about doing it. Wilkens has always had a tough time with his players, he never did push them to their limits, but rather let them do that themselves - which, to say the least, is not a trait great coaches have. Crawford should start until the All-Star break, then we can put in Houston for 20 or so games and see how Crawford and Houston perform with a balance of defense to offense. Then we can make a decision for the rest of the year from there and the playoffs.
Glad to see Houston will be starting once he's ready. Although I'm not too convinced he'll be starting at shooting guard. If the three guard lineup works the way it's supposed to Wilkens will start those three guards. Houston isnt a small guard. He can get away with playing small forward. If Houston starts at shooting guard it's tough luck for Crawford but good for the Knicks as a team. Crawford is the ideal sixth man. He's instant offense. Whereas Houston can change the entire face of a game. Whether Houston starts at small forward or shooting guard makes no difference. The Knicks will win their games, win the Atlantic, and probably make it to the Eastern Conference Finals. That's all that matters.
Call me crazy, but I think this is simply a move to increase Allan Houston's trade value. It doesnt say when he will take over the duties. But if the Knicks really do want to move him by the mid-febuary trade deadline, then they would have to do a drastic move like this. They would have to make him a featured player in the starting lineup, so teams can still see what he can bring to the table in legit minutes. It could also be a move partially to see if the Isiah Thomas wants to keep him. If Houston performes really well as a starter it wouldnt shock me if Zeke killed all trade rumors. But for fight now something tells me if he is inserted in the starting lineup at the top of the year. It is a move simply to increase his trade value. But we shall see...
