“There are eight new handpicked faces and questions abound, but Jackson isn”t predicting or promising anything this time.
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“I addressed it back at [Team] U.S., ” Anthony said, referring to the Olympic minicamp in mid-August. “It’s such a long season”.
Anthony continued to reject rumors he was down on team president Phil Jackson’s offseason moves. But the Knicks will monitor Anthony during camp to try and keep him as strong as possible.
“On the chemistry front, Anthony and numerous Knicks have been scrimmaging at the team”s practice facility.
The Knicks need Anthony to be at his best this season to have a chance at the playoffs. “But I think that’s probably where I stepped back farther than any other place past year, allowing the staff to work on its own”. Assuming that Jimmy Butler would be traded away along with other minor role players, a team consisting of Melo, Rose, and Pau Gasol would be very intriguing.
“Last year”s team featured Amar”e Stoudemire, J.R. Smith, Iman Shumpert, Andrea Bargnani and Tim Hardaway Jr. There is little doubt that Golden State showed flaws in the Cavaliers offense in the Finals and with little done in the off season to add another scoring threat, making a deal now would give the team time to create some chemistry and perhaps make the franchise favorites for a title.
During the summer, Jackson spent more than $110 million on six free agents and two rookies he hopes can change the way the Knicks play defensively and from an activity standpoint. Anthony also said he’s been playing with teammates at his Terminal 23 gym. But Fisher downplayed that, saying Anthony enjoys his teammates.
Grantland’s Zach Lowe was the first to indicate that New York is “getting closer” to exploring the possibility of trading their franchise player, although he did not mention who are the teams interested in dealing for the prized forward. “So whoever we drafted [at No. 4], it was gonna be an issue anyway”, said Anthony, entering the second year of a five-year contract.
The Knicks open training camp at West Point Academy on September 29.
The Knicks have a much different look from when Jackson took over a year and a half ago.
“I think he actually enjoys and likes working with these guys and being around them”, Fisher said. As New York’s president so astutely points out, the presence of Robin Lopez – a true center who’s a capable rim-protector and active rebounder – is likely to mitigate negative effects of a natural wing banging with opposing big men. I’m glad I can be in the position I’m in now.
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“We like the decisions that we made”. “And that”s my job, to figure it out.”.
