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david
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Post subject: Article on Bayless and Eric Gordon
 Posted: Jun 16, 2008 - 03:06 AM PST
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Site Admin
Joined: Apr 13, 2001
Posts: 2256
Location: Austin, TX
  
votes: 14
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Kind of an old article, but here are some interesting excerpts:
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The comfort level for Bayless with new Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni could not be any more complete. Bayless grew up in Phoenix and had a close relationship with former Suns coach Frank Johnson, who had D'Antoni as an assistant on his staff.
"I've pretty much known Coach D'Antoni my whole life," said Bayless, who wants to play point guard in the NBA after playing point and shooting guard at Arizona.
At a private dinner Monday in which they renewed acquaintances, Bayless said D'Antoni assessed the Knicks' situation this way: "His words were that he had all the tools, he just needs an engine to run it, someone like a Steve Nash. So if the situation works out, I can be the engine or steering wheel to get it going."
As bad as things were for the Knicks in Isiah Thomas' last season as coach, Gordon said they were as bad or worse down the stretch for Indiana, which after starting 22-4 under Sampson finished 3-4 under interim coach Dan Dakich. That included a demoralizing 86-72 loss to Arkansas in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in which Gordon scored only eight points on 3-of-15 shooting.
"We went through a lot of adversity," Gordon said. "I played with a broken left wrist the last seven or eight games of the season. It was tough for our team down the stretch. It was almost like a disaster toward the end."
The challenge for both players is to convince the Knicks and other NBA teams that they can play point guard.
Bayless, who has an upcoming workout with the Los Angeles Clippers, started last season as a point guard, but injuries necessitated Bayless' move to shooting guard.
Gordon, who has workouts scheduled with the Sonics and Clippers, said he was a point guard all through high school but played shooting guard at Indiana. Gordon compared his game to that of Gilbert Arenas or Baron Davis, in that he's a solidly-built 6-4 guard with ability to penetrate, create a shot and score.
"I never really showed I could play point guard in college," Gordon said after Tuesday's workout that was conducted in front of D'Antoni, general manager Donnie Walsh and several other members of the Knicks staff. "Never got the chance to."
Gordon said he was surprised his workout did not involve head-to-head competition with Bayless. They worked out alone in front of the coaching staff.
"I thought it would be better to work out with people," Gordon said. "I don't have a problem working out against anybody. And I thought I was coming here to go against somebody."
http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/vi ... p?t=422091 |
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