Danilo Gallinari is starting to build quite a reputation around the league.
Teams are starting to recognize that the second-year forward out of Italy
cannot be left alone beyond the arc. But the only problem for the opposition
is that he’s learning how to get himself open along the perimeter and
starting to become more comfortable taking the ball to the hoop.
After going scoreless on two shot attempts for the first time this season
Wednesday in Indiana, Gallinari came out firing in Saturday’s 98-91 win over
the Nets. He created his own shot throughout the afternoon as he finished
with a team-high 17 points on 6-for-12 shooting from the field and 3-for-8
from three-point range.
“In the NBA, once you start to develop a reputation, they’ll try to do
everything they can to stop that,” Knicks head coach Mike D’Antoni said. “
And it’s going to take him a while to learn how to be significant every
night and how tough it is in this league. I think it’s a learning process,
but he’ll get there. The better we play, the better he’ll play.”
The Knicks played a solid all-around game on Saturday as they notched their
second straight win and third of the season, and Gallinari’s aggressive
offense was one of the reasons for their success.
Gallinari scored eight points in the first quarter to help New York take an
early five-point lead, which it eventually built to 15 in the third quarter
and maintained throughout the game despite a late comeback attempt from the
winless Nets.
“Danilo was active and aggressive from the beginning,” D’Antoni said. “He
had a nice game and hopefully we can expect that every game. I think he’s
learning too because this is a little bit of his rookie year.”
Gallinari caught teams by surprise when he began the season on a
record-breaking pace for 3-pointers made and attempted following an
injury-riddled rookie campaign. But as teams continue to realize just how
great of a shooter he is, Gallinari has needed to find other ways to score.
After the Pacers shut him down along the perimeter in his only scoreless game
of the season, Gallinari put the ball on the floor when the Nets played him
too close. On one occasion in the second-half, he even challenged New Jersey’
s 7-foot center Brook Lopez with a two-handed dunk attempt, which drew two
foul shots.
“I think in Indiana I just wasn’t aggressive enough,” Gallinari said. “So
I said to myself that I have to be more aggressive from the beginning and that
’s what I did. I have to be ready to adjust my game like I’m doing in
practice because they’ve started testing me and give me space to drive to
the basket.”
The Knicks are hoping Gallinari will one day become a go-to player in D’
Antoni’s run-and-gun offense. And if he keeps adding to his offensive
arsenal, it shouldn’t be long until he’s at that point. Remember, Gallinari
has only played 40 NBA games.
Game Notes: Al Harrington and Gallinari each scored 17 to lead six Knicks in
double figures. … David Lee had 16 points and 13 rebounds. … Chris Duhon
dished out a game-high eight assists. … Chris Douglas-Roberts led the Nets
with 24 points.
http://www.nba.com/knicks/gamerecaps/nyknjnrecap091121.html
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