Fields, Walker Make Their Case
Oct 22 2010 10:21PM
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Landry Fields seems destined for a spot in the rotation due to his outstanding preseason performance.
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When the final buzzer sounded at the end of the Knicks’ 108-103 loss to the Toronto Raptors in Montreal Friday night, it didn’t simply signal the end of another game. Instead, it singled the beginning of the new era of Knicks basketball.
Yes, the preseason is now over, and the next time the team takes the court, the games will count. The Knicks brought in 11 new faces this offseason to turn around the team’s fortunes. While everyone expected the likes of Amar’e Stoudemire and Raymond Felton to make their presence felt immediately, the emergence of rookie Landry Fields and third-year vet Bill Walker could be the X-factor that puts the team over the top.
Drafted 39th overall in this year’s NBA Draft, few expected Fields to get much burn during the 2010-11 season. Yet there he was, starting at the two-spot against the Raptors and fitting in just fine. The 6-foot-7, 210-pound rookie out of Stanford finished the game with 12 points, three boards, one block, one steal and one assist. Fields has filled up the stat sheet all preseason long, but doing so as one of the starting five might have sealed his fate as an everyday player for Head Coach Mike D’Antoni.
Walker, who was acquired at the trade deadline last February, has also proven himself worthy of a big role this season. Always a great talent, he has been hampered by a series of leg injuries since his days as a high school standout. Now, fully healthy and trimmed down, Walker is ready for the breakout year he has been waiting for. The 6-foot-6, 220-pound swingman came off the bench to tally 13 points, three boards, two steals and one dime Friday night. He continued to play with great energy and was once again a sparkplug for the second unit – a role he has thrived in since the Knicks played in Milan three weeks ago.
Without Danilo Gallinari and Toney Douglas, and with D’Antoni continuing to cycle through his entire bench to take a look at the roster, the Knicks fell to the Raptors in their final tune-up. When they meet again to tip-off the regular season, the young duo will be back, running alongside Stoudemire and Felton.
Based on their strong play this preseason, don’t be surprised to see Fields and Walker right out there alongside them as well.
Yes, the preseason is now over, and the next time the team takes the court, the games will count. The Knicks brought in 11 new faces this offseason to turn around the team’s fortunes. While everyone expected the likes of Amar’e Stoudemire and Raymond Felton to make their presence felt immediately, the emergence of rookie Landry Fields and third-year vet Bill Walker could be the X-factor that puts the team over the top.
Drafted 39th overall in this year’s NBA Draft, few expected Fields to get much burn during the 2010-11 season. Yet there he was, starting at the two-spot against the Raptors and fitting in just fine. The 6-foot-7, 210-pound rookie out of Stanford finished the game with 12 points, three boards, one block, one steal and one assist. Fields has filled up the stat sheet all preseason long, but doing so as one of the starting five might have sealed his fate as an everyday player for Head Coach Mike D’Antoni.
Walker, who was acquired at the trade deadline last February, has also proven himself worthy of a big role this season. Always a great talent, he has been hampered by a series of leg injuries since his days as a high school standout. Now, fully healthy and trimmed down, Walker is ready for the breakout year he has been waiting for. The 6-foot-6, 220-pound swingman came off the bench to tally 13 points, three boards, two steals and one dime Friday night. He continued to play with great energy and was once again a sparkplug for the second unit – a role he has thrived in since the Knicks played in Milan three weeks ago.
Without Danilo Gallinari and Toney Douglas, and with D’Antoni continuing to cycle through his entire bench to take a look at the roster, the Knicks fell to the Raptors in their final tune-up. When they meet again to tip-off the regular season, the young duo will be back, running alongside Stoudemire and Felton.
Based on their strong play this preseason, don’t be surprised to see Fields and Walker right out there alongside them as well.
