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Tough love: it's time to bench Reggie

Sporting News, The, Sept 27, 2004 by Sean Deveney

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INSIDE DISH

By SEAN DEVENEY

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There's optimism in New York, despite the Knicks' failed attempt to land a big man. After all, New York finished 25-22 following the trade for PG Stephon Marbury--even though it lost SG Allan Houston for much of the second half of the season. But there are concerns, too. Houston, who had right knee surgery last offseason, is working his way back from a left knee injury that was exacerbated by a bad back and a quadriceps injury. When healthy, Houston is one of the most reliable shooters in the league. His contributions to the Knicks often are overshadowed by his too-rich contract (he will be paid $17 million this season). But Houston might not be 100 percent when the team opens camp--and at 33, he might he on the decline. If Houston is limited, G Jamal Crawford will have to pick up the long-distance shooting slack. Coming off a season in which Crawford made only 31.7 percent of his 3-pointers, that's not an ideal situation for the Knicks.... With contracts such as Houston's, the Knicks are well ahead in the race for biggest payroll, especially with the Trail Blazers trimming salaries in the past year. New York will have more than $100 million in payroll, which is not as bad as it sounds. The Knicks are owned by the same group that owns Madison Square Garden and have a lucrative television deal. Plus, a source says, the Knicks aren't afraid of being $60 million over the salary cap because, "There's a feeling that there won't be a luxury tax next season." ... Raptors SG Vince Carter has not been fully healthy since 2000-01, when he had the best season of his career just before Toronto gave him a six-year contract extension. He still has three years and about $45 million left on his deal, and that combination has made him difficult for the Raptors to move. Carter told the Toronto Star last week, "I want a fair shot at being on the market and being traded, and I feel I haven't had that fair shot." One Eastern Conference general manager questions that, saying Carter has been on the market. "I don't think Vince understands that his trade value is not all that high right now" the G.M. says. ... Henry Thomas, the agent for PF Marcus Fizer, says his client has drawn interest from "five or six teams that I would call serious." One team is rumored to be the Nets. But teams still are worried about Fizer's right knee, which Fizer first injured when he tore his ACL in January 2003. He reinjured it in the Bulls' 2004 season finale. Fizer had a hard time fitting in with the Bulls, who pushed him back in the rotation in favor of PFs Tyson Chandler and Antonio Davis. But when Fizer played, he showed he could be a scorer in the Corliss Williamson mold. Fizer has been working with trainer Tim Grover at Chicago's Hoops the Gym, and Thomas admits Fizer won't be completely ready when the season starts. "From what Tim says, for the first month, he can give you 10 to 15 minutes," Thomas says. "Around December, though, he should be able to go out and give you 20, 30, 40 minutes." ... One advantage to trading for C Dikembe Mutombo is that, according to Rockets G.M. Carroll Dawson, "He changes the game. When you bring someone off the bench, especially a center, you want someone who has a special skill that can change the game. Dikembe does that with his shot-blocking." In just 22.6 minutes per game over the past two seasons with the Nets and Knicks, Mutombo averaged 1.8 blocks.

Tough love: it's time to bench Reggie

Sporting News, The, Sept 27, 2004 by Sean Deveney

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