metrocard
Legend
The Roosteri can fly
By MARC BERMAN
LAS VEGAS - Mike D'Antoni was nice enough to invite the writers to tonight's summer-league practice, which included a scrimmage.
On the eve of the summer-league opener, all eyes were on Danilo Gallinari, who looked just fine. "Gallo'' (Italian for rooster) really runs the court beautifully and has an excellent handle, drives splendidly with the left hand. He can bring the ball upcourt without a hitch..
He should fit in very well with D'Antoni's run and gun offense. On one play, he went coast to coast, outran the defense for a monster stuff.
Donnie Walsh arrived in Vegas and watched Gallinari scrimmage live for the first time. The coaching staff is most impressed with Gallinari's court awareness, which can't be taught. He can definitely find the open guy. His outside shot wasn't money tonight, but everyone whose seen him the past two weeks says he can really shoot it. David Lee David Lee said today he may be their best outside shooter this season.
He is going to get banged around a little bit on defense his first year. He has to get stronger. But he's 19.
Meanwhile, Renaldo Balkman Renaldo Balkman could be out for tomorrow's opener as he got rammed in the jaw on defense after colliding Wilson Chandler Wilson Chandler driving to the bucket. He sat out the rest of the practice.
Stephon Marbury Stephon Marbury also was in attendance and did running drills and agility drills but didn't scrimmage. He ran some of the sets and played a little shooting guard.
Meanwhile, the Clippers are definitely trying to steal Zach Randolph Zach Randolph . Walsh doesn't feel comfortable just giving him up in a firesale to get under the cap. He wants a guy back who can play and, of course, whose contract expires before 2010. I disagree. I'd give up Randolph in a heartbeat for a second-rounder in the most important move that would get them under the cap. What would make the most sense is if the Knicks New York Knicks can pry a 2010 first-round pick from the Clips. The Knicks will lose their 2010 first-rounder from the Marbury trade.
Walsh said it best when we thanked him for letting us watch the whole practice. "This isn't top-secret,'' Walsh said.
In the past, everything in Knickland was top-secret.
Niiiiiiice