Training camp is upon us and new head coach Mike D'Antoni appears ready for the challenge. Before the team heads off to Saratoga, D'Antoni took a moment to reiterate his game plan for the 2008-09 season. "I have a philosophy how I play and we're going to play that way" was his declaration last Friday. This statement is clearly a change from his original comments around adapting the offense to fit the roster.

When D'Antoni rolls the balls out at Skidmore College, expect his camp to mirror Suns practice. With an emphasis on tempo & spacing, this team should expect to run early & often. Veterans Jamal Crawford, Wilson Chandler, David Lee & Nate Robinson are ready to run. Allan Houston (sporting Anthony Mason's #14 jersey) brings his textbook jumper & leadership skills to the table. Quentin Richardson appears to be in much better shape and poised to recapture his stroke. Jared Jeffries spent the summer working on his game in efforts to recapture some of the talent he showed at Indiana University following a dismal season. Newcomers Chris Duhon & Anthony Roberson appear ready to push the ball. Rookie Patrick Ewing Jr. has a prime opportunity to show of his freakish athleticism and make a name for himself on defense. Unfortunately fellow rookie and prized lottery selection, Danilo Gallinari won't be on the floor. Gallinari plans to watch from the sidelines while continuing to nurse his ailing back.

As has been the case in recent years, Knicks camp remains full of potential issues too. After spending his summer at Tim Grover's Attack Athletics facility, Eddy Curry has reportedly shown up pushing 300lbs. Not even Michael Jordan's longtime trainer could get Curry in top shape. Zach Randolph - who is clearly not the picture of physical fitness - may struggle to keep the pace. Jerome James continues to show why he's considered the worst Knicks free agent signing ever. Then, there's Starbury….

Stephon Marbury's arrival was greeted with little fanfare from his teammates and scores of questions from reporters. Marbury didn't make any overly-controversial remarks, but was his usual eccentric self. At one point he hugged a reporter as if it were his long lost brother. He also insisted he's not coming off the bench for D'Antoni. All this while Chris Duhon sat quietly watching the circus tent unfold.

Donnie Walsh has gone out of his way of late to tell reporters he's not an advocate of buying out players just to move them. His predecessor seemed to enjoy giving guys money to walk away. Walsh on the other hand is looking to deal his problems, but has few takers. Depending on Marbury's performance during camp, he may very well end up in the starting lineup. D'Antoni has said he's going to evaluate every player and determine which combinations give him the best chance to win games. With that said, don't be surprised if Marbury isn't dealt until the trade deadline.

On the topic of Gallinari, concerns around the 20-year-old are beginning to mount. Some of the journalists who campaigned for him are now questioning his conditioning, commitment and ability to make an impact this season. Marc Berman recently wrote that he hopes Eric Gordon doesn't make Walsh "look too bad". It was Berman who dubbed Gallinari the "Italian Stallion" and made the case to bring in the 6-10 European prospect over proven NCAA talent. Some "experts" who claim to have played the game and have ties to international scouts made Gallinari out to be the draft's top prospect. Considering the Garden Grasp reporters were the only independent writers allowed backstage during the NBA Draft, our vantage point fueled our assessment. Shortly after sitting in on Gallinari's first Knicks interview (which we posted first for our readers) and speaking with Gordon, Jerryd Bayless, DJ Augustin, Kenny Smith & Mike Breen, we voiced our opinion which was the significant risk of going the foreign route with the team's only selection outweighed the potential reward. Now there's a strong possibility that the 6th overall selection in the draft will be a non-factor this year.

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