Curry, Lee Forming Formidable Pair Up Front
Nov 20 2009 4:40PM
Related Images
David Lee greatly benefits with the addition of Eddy Curry back in the lineup.
NBAE/Getty Images
Eddy Curry might just be the answer to some of the Knicks’ questions this season.
Curry’s return to the court Wednesday couldn’t have gone better for the Knicks, who snapped a six-game skid with a 110-103 win over the Indiana Pacers. The 7-foot center, who played just three games last season and missed the Knicks’ first 10 this season, instantly changed the game with his size and ability to get to the basket, two areas the Knicks were looking to improve on heading into the season.
“Eddy makes us a different team,” Knicks head coach Mike D’Antoni said. “We have a presence now that we want to take advantage of. And, again, I don’t want to put all the burden on Eddy because he hasn’t played in a year and a half and there will be some bumps to go over before we get him back 100 percent, but it was definitely a good start for him the other night.”
Curry had a pair of good practices since playing his first game since March 30 and is expected to see more minutes Saturday afternoon against the New Jersey Nets. But the Knicks don’t want to push him too quickly to avoid any setbacks and the medical staff will play a role in monitoring his playing time.
“I do want to go by feel,” D’Antoni said. “There’s no way you can come back after a year and a half and just get up the way you want to go. I still want to be a little careful.”
Curry’s minutes so far haven’t equaled a full quarter of basketball yet, but the Knicks have seen enough to realize how important he can be to their success this season. After spending the past few weeks working on his conditioning following a calf injury on the first day of training camp, Curry came back in his best shape in years and posted 10 points and four rebounds in 11:44 against the Pacers. He also got to the free throw line eight times and the Knicks were plus-9 with him in the game.
The 2-9 Knicks are 1-0 with Curry in the lineup.
“He went out there in 11 minutes and I thought he actually changed the game for us,” said Knicks President of Basketball Operations Donnie Walsh. “Their big men were having their way with us, which big men do because David (Lee) is not a natural center. When Eddy went in, just the fact that he takes the ball and drives at them, I could see they went back on their heels and they weren’t the same throughout the game no matter who’s playing. I thought he helped us win the game right there.”
There may not be a player on the Knicks’ roster who will benefit more from Curry’s return than Lee. The 6-9 forward has been asked to play out of position at center for over a year, where he’s had to defend and go up against the league’s biggest players every night. Curry’s presence will allow Lee to move back to his more comfortable power forward spot.
Curry and Lee are hoping to compliment each other's games, similar to how they did three seasons ago when Curry averaged a career-high 19.5 points and Lee averaged a double-double in just his second season.
“Now I have a better jumpshot than I did at that time so it makes it even easier to play together,” Lee said. “But just more than anything he’s going to help us whether we’re playing together or separate or who’s starting or who’s coming off the bench, whatever the case may be. Just having him back giving us another big inside is going to help a lot.”
Curry’s return to the court Wednesday couldn’t have gone better for the Knicks, who snapped a six-game skid with a 110-103 win over the Indiana Pacers. The 7-foot center, who played just three games last season and missed the Knicks’ first 10 this season, instantly changed the game with his size and ability to get to the basket, two areas the Knicks were looking to improve on heading into the season.
“Eddy makes us a different team,” Knicks head coach Mike D’Antoni said. “We have a presence now that we want to take advantage of. And, again, I don’t want to put all the burden on Eddy because he hasn’t played in a year and a half and there will be some bumps to go over before we get him back 100 percent, but it was definitely a good start for him the other night.”
Curry had a pair of good practices since playing his first game since March 30 and is expected to see more minutes Saturday afternoon against the New Jersey Nets. But the Knicks don’t want to push him too quickly to avoid any setbacks and the medical staff will play a role in monitoring his playing time.
“I do want to go by feel,” D’Antoni said. “There’s no way you can come back after a year and a half and just get up the way you want to go. I still want to be a little careful.”
Curry’s minutes so far haven’t equaled a full quarter of basketball yet, but the Knicks have seen enough to realize how important he can be to their success this season. After spending the past few weeks working on his conditioning following a calf injury on the first day of training camp, Curry came back in his best shape in years and posted 10 points and four rebounds in 11:44 against the Pacers. He also got to the free throw line eight times and the Knicks were plus-9 with him in the game.
The 2-9 Knicks are 1-0 with Curry in the lineup.
“He went out there in 11 minutes and I thought he actually changed the game for us,” said Knicks President of Basketball Operations Donnie Walsh. “Their big men were having their way with us, which big men do because David (Lee) is not a natural center. When Eddy went in, just the fact that he takes the ball and drives at them, I could see they went back on their heels and they weren’t the same throughout the game no matter who’s playing. I thought he helped us win the game right there.”
There may not be a player on the Knicks’ roster who will benefit more from Curry’s return than Lee. The 6-9 forward has been asked to play out of position at center for over a year, where he’s had to defend and go up against the league’s biggest players every night. Curry’s presence will allow Lee to move back to his more comfortable power forward spot.
Curry and Lee are hoping to compliment each other's games, similar to how they did three seasons ago when Curry averaged a career-high 19.5 points and Lee averaged a double-double in just his second season.
“Now I have a better jumpshot than I did at that time so it makes it even easier to play together,” Lee said. “But just more than anything he’s going to help us whether we’re playing together or separate or who’s starting or who’s coming off the bench, whatever the case may be. Just having him back giving us another big inside is going to help a lot.”
