NY DAILY NEWS:
Last September,
Ronny Turiaf, playing on the French national team, squared off against 7-1 Russian center
Timofey Mozgov at the European Championships in
Poland. Turiaf trailed Mozgov through the lane. From all angles, he watched Mozgov finish alley-oops and offensive rebounds.
Turiaf won the battle and the war, with 18 points and 14 rebounds to Mozgov's eight and five in
France's 69-64 victory. But Mozgov did block five shots, and made Turiaf do plenty of work.
"I was kinda tired," Turiaf said Monday as he was introduced at the
Knicks' training facility in Greenburgh. "But I can be a little antelope when I want to."
Turiaf's stamina will be tested in practice this season as the Knicks filled out their frontcourt roster Monday with talent both domestic and foreign. Mozgov, a mystery to many stateside but widely considered the No. 1 international prospect in
Europe, did not join Turiaf,
Anthony Randolph, Kelenne Azubuike and
Raymond Felton in their formal introductions as Knicks - but his presence commanded attention nonetheless.
"We just didn't talk about
"We just didn't talk about it a lot," Knicks president
Donnie Walsh said when asked about the stealth scouting the team's personnel staff had done on Mozgov in recent months. Many
NBA teams had been unaware of Mozgov's willingness to uproot from his current team, B.C. Khimki, in his homeland.
Mozgov, who turns 24 on Friday, adds to a front line that has already received a significant makeover with the additon of free agent
Amar'e Stoudemire in addition to Azubuike, Randolph and Turiaf, who were acquired from the
Warriors in the
David Lee sign-and-trade. Walsh said Mozgov will have to develop his low-post game more in the model of the American system of physical play. What he brings in flair will be expected to complement Randolph's fluidity and Stoudemire's staunch power game.
"I'm the happiest out of everyone," said Felton, the former Bobcats point guard who helped lead
Charlotte to its first playoff appearance. "I can't wait to feed them."
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/b..._russian_in_new_frontcourt.html#ixzz0tZ2gvDKS
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THEKNICKSBLOG.COM
Timofey Mosgov, the Knicks soon to be new international man of mystery, has made good first impressions on both Alan Hahn and coach Phil Weber. While Hahn was in awe of his massive frame and apparently grew fond of the kid already, Weber had a chance to work out with the young Russian and was left in… well… awe. Weber joined the summer league’s broadcast today and went as far as to say that Mosgov’s abilities are “scary”… in a good way.
I have never seen this kid play and before this week, I have never even heard of him. With that said, when I do get a chance to watch him play, I will look for two things in particular:
1) Is he tough? Regardless of how good this kid is, Amare is the premier big on this team. The other big men on this team will have to find ways to complement Amare. At 7’1 and roughly 275 pounds, I would like for Mosgov to have a mean streak. I would like to see him be able to rebound, and more importantly, be able to impose his size on the court and command the paint. Amare needs a couple of brutes surrounding him, and at his size, I hope that Mosgov can provide enough of a mean streak to help out his front court mate.
2) How is his footwork? I like that he can reportedly run the floor, but I am much more concerned with his agility and his footwork around the basket. Good footwork separates quality NBA big men. Mosgov will need good footwork to contend with players like Dwight Howard in the East. As many have seen through the first two summer league games, Jerome Jordan, despite having a very nice game two, needs work on his footwork.
Needless to say, i am intrigued by him and am looking forward to seeing him play. While I think Anthony Randolph can start at center for this team, if Mosgov proves that he is ready for this league, then Randolph can also be a valuable versatile player of the bench. We will see.