Promising performance from Knicks youngsters

The Knicks tipped off their Vegas Summer League in good fashion today as they knocked off the Cleveland Cavaliers' summer league team, 95-71. It was impressive to watch the young Knick players who are going into their second season.

Nate Robinson scored 23 points, David Lee had 20, and Channing Frye added 19. All three looked aggressive, confident, and stronger than they were a year ago at this time. You can definitely see the difference in the youngsters as they played with a lot of passion, a lot of enthusiasm, and a lot of confidence.

Channing Frye is bigger, stronger, and the thing I liked to see about him today was that he wasn't pushed out of the paint. Last year, when he made his debut in the summer league, he was pushed around a little bit and seemed to fade away once the ball went up and other players came into the cylinder for the rebound. Today, no one pushed Channing around. He was in good position, he was able to get down low, establish his position, and he was very active. There's a very, very bright future in store for Channing Frye.

Nate Robinson was very explosive and very exciting. He needs to get sometimes a little more control, but that's his game. Boy does he love to play basketball, and it shows, especially now under new head coach Isiah Thomas.

David Lee also looks like he's had time to work on his body in the offseason and it showed right away in his first game with 20 points and eight rebounds.

So these three will definitely be much-improved by the end of this summer league.

Renaldo Balkman, the 20th pick in the first round, showed some flashes today. He only scored six points, but he showed quickness, hustle, and passion - the reason why the Knicks drafted him. They want him to be a role player, an energy player who will lift up the team and the crowd.

Mardy Collins, the Knicks' other first-round pick, just went out there to play. He wanted to play defense, do the right thing, be in the right position, not make mistakes, and not turn the ball over. He wasn't as aggressive offensively, but after the game he said he just wanted to get on the court and not make mistakes. And after today he's going to be more aggressive.

So it was the first good day for the Knicks youngsters, and the team will try to build on that as they continue to play with four more games left in this summer league.

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