**Shoutout to my man Big C on the youtube mix videos. You can find more by searching realknicks.com and fromthebaseline.com on youtube or by going to the websites directly...
http://www.youtube.com/user/wwwrealknickscom#p/u/154/hcnQLbgUbB4
The video link above is a highlight of Gallo from LAST SEASON with a couple euro highlights thrown in. Don't get hypnotized by the Gangstarr and Beatnuts tracks playing over the video. Watch the player that we have been begging to see all year. What happened to this Danilo Gallinari? From reading the message boards and the buzz generated by basketball fans out there, the Gallo in this vid never existed. "Gallo needs a post game" "If he only had a mid-range game" "Kid can't create his own shot"...From the looks of things he has proven he can do all of these things and very well.
Could it be lingering issues with his back? Kid did have surgery and may not have had a fair chance and getting his legs underneath him in time for this season. Not having your legs could be devestating to a guys confidence. This season we've all watched Gallo hold the ball and continuously step back with his dribble instead of attacking the basket. At times Gallo has totally ignored the rim altogether even when he has had an opportunity to make something happen. Does it hurt to press forward on those stiff legs of his??? Is his back strong enough to dig in and make aggressive moves attacking the defense??? From experience, back spasms can really hinder any and all basketball movements and with Gallo's case...the surgery might not be totally "right" at this time.
Trying to play the right way and not step on anyones toes could also be a lingering problem. The team isn't a playoff team as of yet, but D'antoni has put an emphasis on playing the vets in an effort to make the playoffs. Keywords like "share the ball" and "find the right shot" may have shaken Gallo out of his comfort zone. You can see the kid knows how to play. At times he's caught spectating instead of making a play when it presents itself. It's not "Patrick Ewing thing" where he has to demand the ball every time down. Kid is not a primary post player...he is an orcastrator. He needs to find that balance between letting the game come to him and being tha catalyst that stirs the pot.
Gallo has shown one thing in his short Knick career...he plays better when he is angry. Kid seems to zone out and instantly does everything his fans expect him to do. Then it wares off and its back to regular Danilo. Prime example being the recent contest against Denver where Gallo excepted the challenge for Melo and actually went toe to toe with one of the premier scorers in the league in the 3rd quarter. Just as ferocious as it came, it also disappeared as if the game was over already. Perhaps the Knicks need to hire someone to slap Gallo several times upon the begining of every quarter...Charles Oakley maybe??? He has extensive experience in that respect.
In the last 5 games, Danilo has been averaging about 21 pts per game...and if not for the 9pt performance against Boston, that total would be much more. Here's to progress and hope this Rooster continues to crow wearing the orange and blue.
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