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<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- "Q," as Quentin Richardson is known, stands for question mark.
The most pressing question is how much of a setback he suffered by straining his left hamstring in training camp and then re-injuring it nine days ago in the second preseason game. Can Richardson be ready for the Nov. 2 opener in Boston? And if he is, will he necessarily start at small forward, as was expected when the Knicks traded Kurt Thomas for him during the summer?
Coach Larry Brown couldn't provide a definitive answer yesterday when asked about Richardson's status. "I haven't seen him," Brown said. "I can't think [the injury] helped him, but he's always here, always working out. He hasn't gained any weight; he watches what we do. It would be nicer if he was there, but look at all the time Trevor's gotten to play and how much better he's gotten."
Exactly. With Richardson on the sideline, second-year man Trevor Ariza, who is only 20, has taken advantage of the opportunity to show what he can do. He caught the brunt of Brown's criticism one day early in training camp when he was scolded for missing jump shots when he should have been driving to the basket. But after five preseason games, Ariza is averaging 10.4 points per game and shooting 58.6 percent from the field, second only to center Eddy Curry's 65.4 mark.
"I see improvement and then I see it in the games," Brown said of Ariza. "He's taken two outside shots in the last three games. He hustles, he rebounds, he runs the floor, he tries to guard. It's not going to be easy for him or for anybody who plays that position, but I'm just thrilled with his progress."
During a one-point loss Friday at Dallas, Ariza had to contend with the mercurial quickness of Josh Howard, who scored 21 points, including one clutch jumper with Ariza right in his face. Brown said there will be other nights when his small forward must face the likes of Tracy McGrady, Kobe Bryant, Richard Jefferson or Paul Pierce in the opener, but Ariza has the athleticism that gives him a chance to challenge such scorers and doesn't often make mistakes.
"I'm very athletic and I have pretty long arms, so I've got a chance to get in the passing lanes, get a hand up and disturb guys' shots," Ariza said. "Good players are going to hit big shots. Just don't let it bother you and keep playing."</div>
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The most pressing question is how much of a setback he suffered by straining his left hamstring in training camp and then re-injuring it nine days ago in the second preseason game. Can Richardson be ready for the Nov. 2 opener in Boston? And if he is, will he necessarily start at small forward, as was expected when the Knicks traded Kurt Thomas for him during the summer?
Coach Larry Brown couldn't provide a definitive answer yesterday when asked about Richardson's status. "I haven't seen him," Brown said. "I can't think [the injury] helped him, but he's always here, always working out. He hasn't gained any weight; he watches what we do. It would be nicer if he was there, but look at all the time Trevor's gotten to play and how much better he's gotten."
Exactly. With Richardson on the sideline, second-year man Trevor Ariza, who is only 20, has taken advantage of the opportunity to show what he can do. He caught the brunt of Brown's criticism one day early in training camp when he was scolded for missing jump shots when he should have been driving to the basket. But after five preseason games, Ariza is averaging 10.4 points per game and shooting 58.6 percent from the field, second only to center Eddy Curry's 65.4 mark.
"I see improvement and then I see it in the games," Brown said of Ariza. "He's taken two outside shots in the last three games. He hustles, he rebounds, he runs the floor, he tries to guard. It's not going to be easy for him or for anybody who plays that position, but I'm just thrilled with his progress."
During a one-point loss Friday at Dallas, Ariza had to contend with the mercurial quickness of Josh Howard, who scored 21 points, including one clutch jumper with Ariza right in his face. Brown said there will be other nights when his small forward must face the likes of Tracy McGrady, Kobe Bryant, Richard Jefferson or Paul Pierce in the opener, but Ariza has the athleticism that gives him a chance to challenge such scorers and doesn't often make mistakes.
"I'm very athletic and I have pretty long arms, so I've got a chance to get in the passing lanes, get a hand up and disturb guys' shots," Ariza said. "Good players are going to hit big shots. Just don't let it bother you and keep playing."</div>
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