Daily News: Mozgov to start at Center?

Credit: NY Daily News



alg_greece_russia.jpg
Messinis/Getty
Russia's Timofey Mozgov (l.) averages 12 points in this month's world championships in Turkey.



<!--googleon: index --><!-- ARTICLE CONTENT START -->Timofey Mozgov, the Knicks' new international man of mystery, may have won the starting center job even before training camp begins.
A Knicks official says that Mozgov, the 7-1 rookie from St. Petersburg, Russia, has been impressive during voluntary training sessions in Greenburgh and that coach Mike D'Antoni is already considering starting Mozgov alongside Amar'e Stoudemire, Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler and Raymond Felton.
Mozgov's presence is further proof that Eddy Curry's days with the club are numbered. Curry's expiring contract makes him a valuable trading asset that the Knicks would gladly include in a potential deal for Denver's Carmelo Anthony. However, unless the Knicks can acquire a first-round pick to send to the Nuggets, it is unlikely that team president Donnie Walsh will have the pieces to satisfy Denver.
Curry has appeared in just 10 games since the start of the 2008-09 season. The fact that he was the lone player on the roster not to participate in voluntary workouts is telling.
Curry told close friends last March that he was hopeful the Knicks would negotiate a buyout of his $11 million 2010-11 salary that would open the way for him to either sign with Chicago or Miami.
Walsh, whose best teams with the Pacers featured a traditional center, has been supportive of Curry. But Walsh is ready to move on, having signed Mozgov to a three-year, $9.7 million free agent contract.
Of course, the Knicks would also be taking a gamble that Mozgov can quickly adjust to the physical nature of the NBA game as well as to a new country and culture.
"We have to see how he adapts to the NBA game, but at 7-1, 270 pounds, he's maybe our most athletic guy, that runs, that's a great guy, that has great hands and knows how to play," D'Antoni said. "I'm happy with him and excited about the possibility. We have a lot of guys we should be excited about the possibilities."
Mozgov averaged 12 points during the recent world championships for Russia, which was eliminated by the United States.


Mozgov is pretty much the Lottery Pick we never got. I hope he develops into a nice C. He has potential and is going to become an AWESOME defender under the Mentoring of Ronny Turiaf.
 
He would add some size upfront at 7'1. I don't expect much from him in his first year, but he could be solid at the 5. It also helps that he has a midrange jumper which can be used when opposing teams trap on the pick and roll. We will see how he fits...
 

New New York

Quiet Storm
Remember our thoughts on Darko starting for us this time last year......

Mozgov is good, but not ready just yet it is foolish to think he will be our starting Center just yet, I think he can eventually get there (by eventually I mean next year) but lets stay grounded.
 

SSj4Wingzero

All Star
I think Mozgov can do it but I think until he proves himself we start Ronny Turiaf at C instead. Turiaf is already a proven player in this league and has already demonstrated himself to be quite adequate at blocking shots and stopping big men.

That's one thing I like about this team - for the first time ever, we actually have some options at C that AREN'T undersized. We have 6'11 Randolph, 7'1 Mozgov, 6'10 Turiaf...and they've all shown themselves to be pretty good on defense!
 

Toons

is the Bo$$
Remember our thoughts on Darko starting for us this time last year......

Mozgov is good, but not ready just yet it is foolish to think he will be our starting Center just yet, I think he can eventually get there (by eventually I mean next year) but lets stay grounded.

Darko n Mozgov are totally diff players. and this isnt a thread about our thoughts, this is from practices etc.
 

Paul1355

All Star
Credit: NY Daily News






Mozgov is pretty much the Lottery Pick we never got. I hope he develops into a nice C. He has potential and is going to become an AWESOME defender under the Mentoring of Ronny Turiaf.
this is actually surprising

I never expected him to start over Turiaf or Randolph but I see where the coaching staff is going with this.

Mozgov impressed the hell out of anyone in the FIBA trounament, especially when he played USA which has very talented players. Tyson Chandler could not stop Mozgov in the post and the pick and roll devastated team USA.

I honestly feel that during the Russia/USA game that Mozgov was Russia's most impressive player that changed the game when he was on the court.

So if Mozgov can play at a high level against team USA and not having any good ball distributors(Russia had no good PG's) then I can definetly see him being a much better player with Felton and Amare complimenting him.

Felton
Chandler
Gallo
Amare
Mozgov

is a huge basketball team with Felton's speed making up for his small size at 6'0....a lightning quick PG, a strong slashing SG, and pure shooting SF who is 6'10, one of the best PF in basketball with great athleticism, and a giant athletic Center who is a pick and roll specialist.....and we can also mention that with that starting 5 you would have Anthony Randolph as your sixth man, Turiaf as your main big off the bench, Toney Douglas as your 2nd PG, and a mixture of Mason/Fields/Walker and latter on Azubuike to fill the depth of the team.

If Mozgov stays out of foul trouble and plays like he did against Team USA, the Knicks could have a deep young team.

Mike D'Antoni should win many games with all of these players that fit perfectly in his style of play.
 

Scipio

Benchwarmer
I`d love to see Mozgov start at centre.

I watched every game he played in the FIBA world championship and when he was on court he was their best player, considering he didn`t start at centre that was very impressive.

He was immense against the US team and nobody that they had could stop him. He runs the pick and roll really really well. The only negative was the ease in which he gets into early fould trouble. having said that the official in the US-Russia game was terrible and Mozgov picked up two fouls which simply weren`t fouls.

I`m sure that as he plays he will learn how not to get himself into early foul trouble. If he does then I think that we will have a sensational player.
 

Smooth21

Rookie
Glad that Mozgov is getting positive reviews thus far, I hope he can give us some rebounding and D this year. Probably won't play more than 15 min a game but I'll be happy if he can do that as a rook.
 

Paul1355

All Star
i asked Brandon Tierney on twitter what he thought of this report, and he said that he liked what he saw from Mozgov this summer and that it is possible...lol true stuff.
 

stuntmanmike

Benchwarmer
in the nba it's all about spacing... and moz does one thing great most big guys don't and thats move. he is great at getting out setting a pick and then getting back inside... "quickly". shooters and drivers in the nba need deep screens and big guys that can move their feet and get outside are a premium... gallo, stat, and felton with have screens with this dude in the lineup.
 

Speak3asy

Benchwarmer
This is a good sign. I like the fact that now Amare can be at the four and dominate litter dudes with his power and speed and strength. Also he will be allowed to come from the weak side and destroy people hopefully.

Also I could see in the middle of games a massive lineup of....

Felton
Gallo
AR
Amare
Da Ruskie

That would be something nice. Still I think he has the upside to be a very good center in this league with the amount of poop there is at Center nowadays.
 

Oakman88

Benchwarmer
I agree. He is very impressive. I think he could get the nod to start or at least get alot of quality mins.
 
I watched The Gov all summer and I'm telling you he is going to be a solid player. Think of Samuel Dalembert defense plus pick and roll offense. I like this move by Donnie:thumbsup:
 

serendipity10

Benchwarmer
Mozgov may not be better than others on the Knicks bench, but the starters are going to be five players that work best together as a team. If the coaches believe Mozgov is best to be the starting center than it makes our that much more stronger.

The starters are believed to be
Felton
Chandler
Gallo
Stat
Mozgov

When the preseason starts the coaches will move and experiment with the roster. I will be surprised if Mozgov ends up to be a starter because i pictured the Knicks taking it slow to develop him to the NBA. This looks like the starting five now, if not later in the middle of the season.
 

Crazy⑧s

Evacuee
It's a good sign of his ethic and ability. Apparently coherence is still an issue though. If that's the case, I'd be surprised to see him in the starting 5.
 

Paul1355

All Star
It's a good sign of his ethic and ability. Apparently coherence is still an issue though. If that's the case, I'd be surprised to see him in the starting 5.
His lack of experience and IQ will probably have him start as a role player but Mozgov will impress like he did in the FIBA games and eventually he will be a starter due to his athletic/ pick and roll abilities that Mike D drools over.
 

XxWinKnicksxX

Benchwarmer
Lets see what you got Big man! It's gonna be pretty obvious when he gets on the floor how this kid plays. I have no idea what way it's gonna go, I'm thinking hes not gonna be that great, so I AM PROBABLY WRONG I hope. But the only thing I'm basing that off is I have never seen him play, the NBA is harder, new country, hes super young, and hes gonna be going up against great players.

I PRAY I'M WRONG. lol

And why in the hell does Curry think hes gonna go to the bulls or the heat. Are they really that FKKN desprate, seriously?
 

nixon7

Benchwarmer
Don't expect Mosgov to start

I think that Mosgov will be better playing with the second team, and working his way into a starting role. This is a learning year for him, with the emphasis on his help defense, which is his current biggest weakness. I think that he will learn more guarding the first team in practice than guarding the second team.

During the games, he will be playing against the opposition second team, which will help him build confidence, because he will be more dominant against them than he will be against opposition starters.

As his defense gets better, look for his minutes to increase in the fourth quarter first, before he becomes a starter (by the end of the year, or next year). Of course, if Turiaf gets hurt, then he may get some starts earlier in the year. I think that Randolph will not play center, but will be the first forward off the bench, backing up both Amar'e and Gallo to get enough minutes. A big question is whether Chandler will start as SG, or backup as SF and SG.
 

Scipio

Benchwarmer
I love this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJ-6wcL-aYY&feature=related

It`s the highlights of Mozgod v the US team at the FIBA world championships. He really shows his strength and athleticism here.

I think that if you are a young 7"1, centre who is strong, athletic and can block shots then you have a great platform on which to build.

Can`t wait for the new season to start.

How many days left to go ??
 

Toons

is the Bo$$
His lack of experience and IQ will probably have him start as a role player but Mozgov will impress like he did in the FIBA games and eventually he will be a starter due to his athletic/ pick and roll abilities that Mike D drools over.

Eventually? what is with you about not wanting Mozgov to start? He's our best option at the 5 IMO, he just needs to work on his rebounding.
 
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