SPASITELJ ISIAHOVE NY OLUPINE - SG Allan Houston??
ALLAN HOUSTON TRIBUTE...
Though Knicks officials gave Allan Houston this chance to make the team out of respect, Isiah Thomas said the former All-Star shooting guard has an uphill climb to crack the roster.
"He could still shoot the ball," Knicks coach Isiah Thomas said.
"He's probably one of the top 10 best shooters to ever play in our sport.
So he'll be able to shoot the ball when he's 60 years old." (izvor: AP/BRIAN MAHONEY)
Thomas said missing the first 11 days of training camp won't help Houston's longshot bid to make the team. One day after signing a contract to try out for the Knicks, Houston still did not repot to camp nor was he at last night's preseason opener vs. Maccabi Tel Aviv to familiarize himself with the plays.
NBA EUROPE LIVE TOUR - Maccabi Tel Aviv vs NY Knicks: Highlights from New York's 112-85 victory over Maccabi Tel Aviv @ NY - Madison Square Garden on Thursday, October 11th 2007.
Houston will suit up for his first practice today at their Westchester headquarters.
"He's behind, he's definitely behind," Thomas said. "It will be (tougher)."
Aside from Houston missing the two-a-day sessions in Charleston and the first two preseason games, he's missed the last two seasons and hasn't played a full season in five years.
"It's a long time," Thomas said. "Your body may or may not respond to it."
Houston will have to beat out guard Fred Jones, whom Thomas drafted while at Indiana, and rookie Demetris Nichols, who played 4½ minutes last night and didn't score.