STUPOR SUNDAY
Another Slow Start Dooms KP, Knicks to 5th Straight Loss
DANILO Gallinari once was to the Knicks what Kristaps Porzingis is today, the future of the franchise. Soon after the native of Italy was drafted sixth overall by the Knicks in 2008, the 19-year-old had a Reebok contract and a shoe called “The Rooster.” He was viewed as a future All-Star or, at the very least, an important building block toward a championship.
It never quite worked out that way. A back injury and eventual surgery limited Gallinari to 28 games his rookie season and by the time he was showing signs of becoming a dependable veteran, he was included in the blockbuster three-team trade on Feb. 22, 2011, that sent a four-player package, highlighted by Gallinari, and a pick to Denver in exchange for Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups.
“It was tough for me because I got injured right away and had back surgery,” Gallinari said. “But it’s great when you’re a young player and you have the chance to play in a city like New York. My first two years were very intense and the third year we started winning and when you’re winning, New York is a lot of fun.”
Things are going well for Gallinari these days. Now, 27, he started and scored 19 points as the Nuggets beat the struggling Knicks 101-96 at the Garden during a Super Bowl Sunday matinee. His point total included a half-court heave at the end of the first quarter that swished through, giving the Nuggets an early 31-20 edge over the slow-starting Knicks. “It was a lucky shot,” Gallinari admitted.
It continues a season of resurgence for Gallinari, who is fully recovered from a torn ACL suffered at the end of the 2012-2013 season. He missed the entire 2013-14 season after post-surgery complications. Gallinari, never the quickest player on the court, has adjusted his game to remain effective. He can still shoot, despite making just 3-of-13 on Sunday, and still isn’t shy about taking it to the paint. He entered Sunday’s game leading the Nuggets in scoring averaging 19.8 points per game after scoring 33 in a win over the Bulls on Friday. Experience has helped his defense enough to draw an offensive charge while defending Anthony midway through t he t hi rd quarter.
“I don’t feel 18 anymore,” he said. “But I feel my game is pretty much the same. I feel great with my body right now.”
Gallinari has already been with the Nuggets longer than he was with the Knicks. It would be shocking if the Knicks gave up or dealt Porzingis as quickly as they did Gallinari.
Back then owner James Dolan was desperate to acquire Anthony, the superstar who would team with Amar’e Stoudemire and add to the franchise’s marquee value. In the five seasons since the trade, the Knicks have been to the playoffs three times, but also were bad enough last year (17 wins) to land the 7-foot-3 20-year-old Porzingis with the fourth overall pick. At least Porzingis has remained healthy during his rookie year, missing just one game with a chest cold.
It was Porzingis who sparked the Knicks, who were once down by 19 points in the second quarter. He scored seven straight points during one stretch when the hosts claimed a 74-73 lead in the third quarter. But Porzingis was a quiet 1-of-3 in the fourth, when Anthony went 2-for-8.
“I wasn’t trying to force it,” Porzingis said. “We were playing our game.”
The Knicks game these days is to get behind early, fight to catch up and fade down the stretch. The end result was their ninth loss in 10 games. If Gallinari was to offer Porzingis some advice it would be this: “Stay humble and keep working hard. The future will work itself oying the city. New York
n you start winning.”