8.8.88 - The birth of Danilo Gallinari
August 19, 2008 by Tobias · 2 Comments
He was born on 08/08/1988, so this could have been Daniel Gallinari’s summer, according to the numerology of the Chinese Olympics. Instead, Team Italy is not on court to defend its Athens’ silver medal and with only a European qualifying group to face, Gallinari is not lacking for time to think about and prepare himself for his next experience in NBA.
Drafted by New York Knicks with sixth overall pick, Gallinari received a mass of boos from his future fans, but the current feeling from Italian sources is that Gallinari will unlikely see a rookie season like his fellow countrymen Bargnani and Belinelli.
Gallinari is coming off two great seasons with Armani Jeans Milano, where he represented, at the age of 19, a basic player: He has the “right face” and the temperament to be decisive in very different situations; he fits perfectly into every team system; he has the skills to play NBA ball much more than other European and inexperienced guys. What about his role on floor and on Knicks’ playbook? Gallinari is a pure small forward, a wing with the talent to score from anywhere and create his own shot; his height has thus far allowed him to dominate smaller opponents; and his toughness and ability to finish through contact is not at all in doubt. Good hesitation moves, body control, mid-range game, and above all his decision-making, consistency and leadership make you wonder if Gallinari is indeed only 20.
He drove Milano to Serie A’s semifinals in the last two years, becoming the key player on a team whose best elements were Kiwane Garris, Travis Watson, Ansu Sesay and Melvin Booker – Surely not your fantasy players. Gallinari was Serie A MVP in 2007/2008 and also won the Euroleague’s Rising Star trophy. Since his debut three years ago for Italian second division team Pavia, he has played many more games than other prospects and at the top European level: This is the primary reason why, when we speak of Gallinari, the first thought goes to the team he will find, not to the way he’ll get used to it.
There they are, the New York Knicks. In the starting lane of a new era, they look like a team which can’t dream so much of high aspirations – not with the current roster – but the possibility of reaching 35 wins isn’t remote, because Mike D’Antoni is a strong guarantee. Seeking buyers for Randolph and trying to help Marbury straighten up, the former Suns’ coach will give Gallinari the chance to show his talent, and not only because his father Vittorio was a reliable teammate in Milano in the 1980s, but specially because the SF spot is not filled very well: Quentin Richardson can’t complete a season without injuries, Jared Jeffries knows only the defense.
Truly, Gallinari is not the problem solver, but the impact he might have in the Big Apple should not be underestimated. He can represent another offensive option besides Crawford and Curry/Randolph, bring energy in the court, and provide a scoring boost off the bench. Moreover, Gallinari has a feel for the game and a basketball IQ uncommon in NBA among non-American players. Right now, Gallinari is a rookie, but the selection is more than a project. He has to improve many aspects of his game – footwork against faster guards; three-point shooting, specifically his slow release; left hand; protection of the ball in the paint – to become a NBA star, and someone must worry about his repeated injuries (right leg fibula, right knee ligament, right shoulder, back) of the last two years.
On the other hand, Gallinari enjoys the confidence of D’Antoni and the hole the Knicks have at SF is too tempting not to take advantage of. New York fans shouldn’t expect 20 points per game from Gallinari, but the contribution he can make to the franchise is not worthless. They must know that the Italian is perhaps the readiest pick of the entire draft, including Derrick Rose and O.J. Mayo. Perhaps he’ll dunk rarely, but he’ll make people speak about him. And the whistles will be vague reminiscences.
This article has been written by Francesco Cappelletti.
Stephon Marbury to Italy? But not in Milano!
August 15, 2008 by Christophe · 2 Comments
The latest rumors around the net were talking about the possibility of Stephon Marbury signing in Milan. But it looked more like a wish of the NBA Free Agent than a real possibility.
New York Post no Gallinari fan
July 22, 2008 by Tobias · 4 Comments
Marc Berman recently published an article at NYPost.com saying that “Knicks have Gallinari doubts.” Give the [New York] people what the people want! We [bloggers and journalists] all know that a good headline is everything! - at least Berman’s right about this.
If you keep reading his article, you will find out that the Knicks in fact don’t have any doubt about Gallinari’s impact on the team.
“The thing I really liked what I saw from Danilo, he looked to make other players better,” the Knicks president said during a guest stint on the MSG Network telecast yesterday. “When he’s out on the floor, he has a sense of the game already to make his team better. I would’ve liked to seen him play for the entire length but I saw enough to feel good about.”
Oh right, I get it - the Knicks have doubts that Gallinari will play one-on-five like their “old” superstars of the past. They fear that he’ll actually play team basketball.
Since Marc himself did not find a real basketball reason for the Knicks to have Gallinari doubts, he talks about Gallinari’s physical condition.
Gallinari’s summer league raises questions on whether he’ll be durable enough to withstand the NBA’s physical pounding, at 6′10″, 227, as a rookie.
I really wonder if Marc thinks basketball just comes as a god-given gift in Europe, and that you don’t need to practice at all overseas. Yes, the NBA season is something like 80+ games. Now in Europe, Gallinari and every other player plays once a week for their domestic league, once a week for Euroleague games and once a week for domestic cup games. On top of that, each team practices twice a day for eight months. Add up the games and you end up with at least 8 or 9 games a month, times eight months equals … just abut 70 games a season.
Do you think Mr. Gallinari knows what physical pounding means…?
Thank god Gallinari didn’t get 37
If you’re into basketball, you know where this is going. Last year, Italian player Marco Belinelli scored 36 points in his first NBA summer league game. Great, isn’t it?
I’m pretty sure that every single Knicks fan and every Italian basketball fan is glad that Danilo Gallinari did not score 37 points this afternoon.
Why? Remember Marco Belinelli’s performance after his summer league games? Well, Marco’s first year ended up to be a nightmare.
Danilo scored 14 points and even came back from a horrible start, when the first Knicks fans probably already had signs to hold up at the first New York Knicks home game - with messages like “Told you so!” - written.
What does this summer league play in Las Vegas actually mean? NOTHING - It is so meaningless that it is not broadcast on TV (just some local stations show their home team’s games) and not one important player besides the rookies will be on the floor. We’ll have to wait for the regular season to start to see what Gallinari will be able to do, but we Europeans already know that he will have an impact in New York, right?
The Euro Draft explained to Americans
June 27, 2008 by Christophe · 13 Comments
The NBA Draft is the yearly rendez-vous in which US basketball fans and commentators believe that the whole future of “their” team can change. But it’s also the place where such uncommon names like Manu Ginobili or Dirk Nowitzki get selected in total anonymity. And with the according reactions.
New Knicks coach: Mike D’Antoni - Gallinari to New York?
One of the 50 greatest contributors to European club Basketball is the new head coach of the New York Knicks. No, not Dan “Coach” Peterson, who is a humourous commentator also on this list, but just not the new New York Knicks coach.
Euroleague.net describes Mike D’Antoni as “a charismatic playmaker with great court vision and leadership” - sounds like what people said about former Knicks coach Isiah Thomas, doesn’t it? All the best Mike, we just hope you don’t end up like this one day.
Oh well, we’ll see and we’re pretty sure that the Knicks will be a better team with Olimpia Milano star Mike D’Antoni.
One more interesting thing about the Euroleague-NBA-Milano connection, if any: On May 20th, we will officially know the 2008 NBA draft order. So maybe Danilo Gallinari of Olimipa Milano who declared himself to the NBA draft and is predicted to be a Top 10 draft pick, could be heading to New York…?
