Douglas Leads Knicks Into Utah to Face the Jazz
Mar 28 2010 7:40PM
Related Images
Toney Douglas faces off against another elite point guard in Deron Williams.
NBAE/Getty Images
Toney Douglas has already received some valuable advice from his veteran teammates and NFL brother throughout his rookie season with the Knicks. But what he probably never would have expected was getting some tips from an opposing player during last week’s victory over the Denver Nuggets.
All-Star point guard Chauncey Billups pointed out mistakes made by Douglas and told him things he could improve on as the two were matched up against each other. It was the latest sign that Douglas is earning respect from some of the best players in the game with his impressive play recently.
“He was in the same position I was in when he was a rookie,” Douglas told MSG. “So he was just helping me out.”
It would be tough for anyone to follow in Billups’ footsteps, but Douglas is headed in the right direction. After spending most of the season learning from the sideline, Coach Mike D’Antoni turned to Douglas earlier this month and promoted him to starting point guard on March 13. The Knicks are 4-3 since.
Douglas has reached double figures in scoring in seven of the previous eight games and is averaging 17.5 points during that span. His only off night since becoming a starter came in Friday’s 132-96 defeat to the Suns in Phoenix when Douglas went 2 of 11 from the field and finished with five points.
“I just thought he was worried about his offense,” D’Antoni said. “He wasn’t making shots and stuff, and instead you have to come back and compete on defense. That’s who he is. One of the best things he does is disrupt them defensively, and he can’t get away from and worry about making a shot a big play.
“We were just trying to talk him through it, but every once in a while he’s going to have a bad game and that’s cool. We just didn’t have a lot else tonight to help him out.”
Douglas’ defense is a major reason why D’Antoni and the Knicks acquired him during last June’s draft. And it’s a major reason why he was thrown into the rotation late in the season. His offense will only improve with more playing time as he continues to develop his pick-and-roll game.
Douglas will have his hands full defensively if he is asked to guard Deron Williams when the Knicks visit the Utah Jazz on Monday in the second game of their current five-game road trip. Williams, who is averaging 18.4 points and 10.4 assists, will be the third Western Conference All-Star point guard the Knicks will meet in three games.
The Knicks will need to limit William’s production in order to recover from their defeat to Steve Nash and the Suns three nights earlier.
“We have good guys,” D’Antoni said. “We’ll bounce back.”
All-Star point guard Chauncey Billups pointed out mistakes made by Douglas and told him things he could improve on as the two were matched up against each other. It was the latest sign that Douglas is earning respect from some of the best players in the game with his impressive play recently.
“He was in the same position I was in when he was a rookie,” Douglas told MSG. “So he was just helping me out.”
It would be tough for anyone to follow in Billups’ footsteps, but Douglas is headed in the right direction. After spending most of the season learning from the sideline, Coach Mike D’Antoni turned to Douglas earlier this month and promoted him to starting point guard on March 13. The Knicks are 4-3 since.
Douglas has reached double figures in scoring in seven of the previous eight games and is averaging 17.5 points during that span. His only off night since becoming a starter came in Friday’s 132-96 defeat to the Suns in Phoenix when Douglas went 2 of 11 from the field and finished with five points.
“I just thought he was worried about his offense,” D’Antoni said. “He wasn’t making shots and stuff, and instead you have to come back and compete on defense. That’s who he is. One of the best things he does is disrupt them defensively, and he can’t get away from and worry about making a shot a big play.
“We were just trying to talk him through it, but every once in a while he’s going to have a bad game and that’s cool. We just didn’t have a lot else tonight to help him out.”
Douglas’ defense is a major reason why D’Antoni and the Knicks acquired him during last June’s draft. And it’s a major reason why he was thrown into the rotation late in the season. His offense will only improve with more playing time as he continues to develop his pick-and-roll game.
Douglas will have his hands full defensively if he is asked to guard Deron Williams when the Knicks visit the Utah Jazz on Monday in the second game of their current five-game road trip. Williams, who is averaging 18.4 points and 10.4 assists, will be the third Western Conference All-Star point guard the Knicks will meet in three games.
The Knicks will need to limit William’s production in order to recover from their defeat to Steve Nash and the Suns three nights earlier.
“We have good guys,” D’Antoni said. “We’ll bounce back.”
