It’s been said Demetris Nichols never had a bad game at the Garden in his four seasons at Syracuse. But if the Knicks can’t make another trade to reduce their roster size, Nichols may not get the chance to shine here for the home team.
Nichols, acquired by the Knicks on draft night, will have to beat out two of these three players – Fred Jones, Dan Dickau and Nate Robinson – to make the final 15-man roster.
Nichols, Portland’s 53rd pick whom the Knicks got for a 2008 second-rounder, is full of bravado. The Knicks are still looking for a bona fide outside shooter, and that’s what Nichols does. Nichols, who won the Big East tournament at the Garden in 2006, put on a show at his Knicks/Nets private workout, sources say.
“I think I am that guy,” Nichols said yesterday at the Knicks’ Westchester practice facility. “They can’t double [team] me that much, so I know I will have a lot of open shots and I definitely will be knocking them down.”
First, Nichols must make the team. He’ll get his first crack next Tuesday in Las Vegas, where the Knicks’ summer-league team faces the Sonics in Kevin Durant’s pro debut.
“The Garden is like my backyard,” Nichols said. “We played there all through my four years at Syracuse, so I know how much pressure there is, but I also know how great it feels to play at the Garden.”