Nate Robinson, more than meets the eye?

He short as all hell, loud, obnoxious, and plays with effort and energy for a full 48 minuets.

He's Nate Robinson.

He's a football player. A former cornerback to be exact.

Yes yes he only played in college, and probably would not have recieved much interest from a pro football team. I mean, he's shorter than Antwan Winfield.

But the characteristics he puts on display while balling for the Knicks are the same things that make for a good cornerback, for a good football player. Foremost of those traits would be the ability to "forget the last play".

Football - You give up a first down? Dont stress it, go back and try and make an interception.
Basketball - You just had a turnover? Dont stress it, hustle back, get a steal and start all over again.

Football - It's 3rd down and you're dog tired? So what, it's 4th quater and you've been working out like a dog for an entire summer. Suck it up.
Basketball - It's under a minuet left in the 4th quarter and you're dog tired?



Football - The dude you are guarding is about a foot taller than you? So what, when it's a jump ball you go and fight for that ball, no matter what
Basketball - The guying up for 2 points is 2 feet taller than you?



I am a sports fan, but in my own personal sports trinity, football is at the top. No other sport can grant you the kind of...guts...it takes to get knocked down and rise again over and over again like football does.

It's something I have noticed in other players too. Like Charlie Ward, who while not near as flashy played good defense and never truly lost his cool. (anti-semitic statements aside)
Allen Iverson was a high school player, and while he is all heart based on his own unique design...that kind of never-say-die attitude gets honed on the gridiron. Matt Harpring of the Utah Jazz played football as a student, he's known for being more toughness and technique than talent, something you find alot off in the football.

On the flip side of that, the football player in Robinson gives rise to the parts of his game that irk most viewers.

He can be too aggressive, always having faith in his abilities when smarts and following the gameplan should be paramount. That has calmed down with time, and given a few more season could be another asset.

He brags far too much, each dunk for him is like a DB making a big hit on a small wideout, or deflecting a pass. It is more acceptable on the grass, where there are 35 to 40 seconds when the huddle has to be gathered and the defense set up again. On the hardwood, you make a big play, the other team does not wait for you to gather your senses. You have to stay focused, and Nate has a big problem with that.

Be that as it may, there are few player that arent ELITE ball players that I'd rather have on my team.
At his size, you forget what it is he can do. You forget about the vertical leap, and the intensity. He get's underrated. Which is why I love it when he scores 30 against a guard 6 inches taller than he is.

Blame on me being raised by a short woman, but the underdog will always get my vote.

Welcome Mr. Wilcox

Im not the biggest fan of the way Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni does things.

However, sometimes, even people you aren't a fan of do something you have to give em credit for.

Like trading for Chris Wilcox.

To be fair, HE didn't make that move, Danny Walsh did. The new GM has been making moves ever since he stepped through the doors of Madison Square Garden. He's been cleaning house and cap space like a French Maid gone mad.

Throw away Isiah, that was a big step, when you consider how close the two were. Keep a few coaches, but for the most part empty out a septic tank for a front office. Trade for Chris Duhon, who while he isnt flashy, or what I consider clutch he's good for the first 3 1/2 quarters.

He then brought in Al Harrington, a scorer among scorers who could flourish long term in this system.

Now he brings in Chris Wilcox. Another athletic forward/center that can run and TRULY finish at the other end. Not jump as hard as he can just for an almost dunk like David Lee.

Dont get me wrong. David Lee is a damn good player. He gets far more rebounds than he has any right to. Takes black eyes and bruised jaws like a pro-boxer. For the run-and-gun Knicks, he's their tough guy. But he does NOT jump out the gym. And with the beating he takes, his body may not last more than another 4 years in NYC.

Wilcox gives their first true high flyer. (No disrespect to lil-big man Nate, but 6ft 10in flying at you is alot scarier than 5ft 7in.)

On a fast break, most defenses try to cover as many passing lanes as they can. Filling spaces that force the offensive player leading the break to look left and right and -if the D does it's job- have to reset to run a half court set.

Thing is, not many defenses can defend above the rim.

That's where Wilcox comes in.

Granted, in his best year he averaged 14 and 8, but that was on a team with Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis. Two scorers who handled the ball and shot exceptionally well from behind the arc. Not to mention the point guard issues the Sonics/Thunder have had since GP left.

But MAN can he dunk.

D'Antoni is like a football coach with a set plan. He knows he wants to run and will bring in players that can help him do that. The aforementioned players do that with some success. Much like Nash, Diaw, Bell, Barbosa, and company did. They just lack their version of Amare.

Wilcox does not have that level of ferocity, or that smooth a jumpshot for a big. But he can run and jump just as well. And I dont want to see the run-n-gun Suns in MSG. Just something close.

And they are not too far off as it stands. Hopefully the play better defense.

Let's keep looking and see how it goes.