[h1]Bender impresses in practice, could dress for Knicks tomorrow[/h1] DavidLee was impressed with the shape the newest Knick, Jonathan Bender, isin after not playing an NBA game in four years.<p></p><br>"He's doing great," Lee said after practice today. "I told him todaythat he's in a lot better shape than I would be if I took a coupleyears off ... I'd be 400 pounds.<p> </p><br>"He looks like he's in great shape, looks like he's moving well outthere, and he's just got to find his rhythm."<p></p><br>Bender did look pretty good on the court this afternoon in his secondpractice with the Knicks, moving well around the court and hitting somejumpers. Shooting has always been Bender's strength, and the 7-footerhas the size and athleticism to potentially do well in Mike D'Antoni'soffensive system, in which the coach said Bender would be awing.<p> </p><br>"He can guard a lot of people," D'Antoni said. "He's one of those guysthat fits well with what we're trying to do ... hits three's, runs thefloor, and has a lot of talent, so we're excited about thepossibilities."<p> </p><br>As D'Antoni watched the 7-footer hit several jump shots during anindividual drill at the end of practice, he wouldn't rule out thepossibility that Bender could dress for tomorrow's game.<p></p><br>"I don't know ... we'll see," D'Antoni said. "He could (dress), becauseI wouldn't mind, not knowing how the game is going to go, to get himtime as soon as I can, in maybe a non-stressful time."<p></p><br>As for the big man himself, he felt pretty good after working out onback-to-back days as a pro for the first time in years.<p></p><br>"I feel good," Bender said. "Before the first practice I worked out atthe YMCA over in White Plains that night, and then I came in here andpracticed yesterday. (That) was pretty good speed, coach keeps usmoving, and then got a good workout in last night, and then came intoday and feel good."<p> </p><br>My gut feeling is that this signing wasn't just a favor to Bender, andthe Knicks will keep him beyond the deadline for all season-longcontracts to be official early next month. Walsh and D'Antoni have beenvery vocal about their excitement about signing Bender, when all theycould have had to say is, "We'll see what happens."<p></p><br>If he can stay on the court, Bender has the ability to play on theKnicks - particularly because of his ability to shoot the ball, whichhe showed off in the drills today. And, as Walsh told reporters, Benderclearly has more upside than the vast majority of players who are outthere looking for jobs at this point. In the end, the move is ano-risk, high-reward one that could be a neat story if he ends upbecoming part of the rotation, or just as a spot-duty fill-in.<p></p><br>
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5:48 PM, December 14, 2009 ι
By TIM BONTEMPS
David Lee was impressed with the shape the newest Knick,
Jonathan Bender, is in after not playing an NBA game in four years.
"He's doing great," Lee said after practice today. "I told him today that he's in a lot better shape than I would be if I took acouple years off ... I'd be 400 pounds.
"He looks like he's in great shape, looks like he's moving well out there, and he's just got to find his rhythm."
Bender did look pretty good on the court this afternoon in his second practice with the Knicks, moving well around the court and hitting some jumpers.Shooting has always been Bender's strength, and the 7-footer has the size and athleticism to potentially do well in Mike D'Antoni's offensivesystem, in which the coach said Bender would be a wing.
"He can guard a lot of people," D'Antoni said. "He's one of those guys that fits well with what we're trying to do ... hitsthree's, runs the floor, and has a lot of talent, so we're excited about the possibilities."
As D'Antoni watched the 7-footer hit several jump shots during an individual drill at the end of practice, he wouldn't rule out the possibility thatBender could dress for tomorrow's game.
"I don't know ... we'll see," D'Antoni said. "He could (dress), because I wouldn't mind, notknowing how the game is going to go, to get him time as soon as I can, in maybe a non-stressful time."
As for the big man himself, he felt pretty good after working out on back-to-back days as a pro for the first time in years.
"I feel good," Bender said. "Before the first practice I worked out at the
YMCAover in White Plains that night, and then I came in here and practiced yesterday. (That) was pretty good speed, coach keeps us moving, and then got a goodworkout in last night, and then came in today and feel good."
My gut feeling is that this signing wasn't just a favor to Bender, and the Knicks will keep him beyond the deadline for all season-long contracts to beofficial early next month. Walsh and D'Antoni have been very vocal about their excitement about signing Bender, when all they could have had to say is,"We'll see what happens."
If he can stay on the court, Bender has the ability to play on the Knicks - particularly because of his ability to shoot the ball, which he showed off inthe drills today. And, as Walsh told reporters, Bender clearly has more upside than the vast majority of players who are out there looking for jobs at thispoint. In the end, the move is a no-risk, high-reward one that could be a neat story if he ends up becoming part of the rotation, or just as a spot-dutyfill-in.
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Non stressful time aka garbage time. I didn't think dantoni would throw bender into the rotation right away like that lol.