As the NBA seasom keeps creeping up on us I continue to look for more bloggers that follow former UNC basketball players now playing at the next level. This time around I found Leon Jacobsen, (@JacobsenLeon on twitter), an Australian blogger who follows the Knicks as closely as anyone I know (and I live in the Empire State). He is a writer for KnicksWag.com, a great site to read about the team that calls the mecca of basketball their home. With Leon I was able to do not one, but two Q&A’s segments, talking about Raymond Felton, which we did yesterday, and now about Rasheed Wallace. So, without further ado here is what he said about the Knicks’ new big man…
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sax9qUgVED0&w=640&h=360]
Alex: Give me one word to describe Rasheed Wallace…
Leon: Intense
Alex: Give me one sentence to describe the big man…
Leon: Wallace is guy that gives his team and team mates everything he has over and over again.
Alex: Do you think it was a smart move for Wallace to come out of retirement, and of course for the Knicks to grab him as their second string man in the middle…
Leon: I wanted Kenyon Martin to join this Knicks team but if Wallace is healthy he could be a master stroke by the Knicks. It is truly a No Risk, High Reward kind of deal.
Alex: What do you think will be the Wallace’s role with the Knicks…
Leon: The Knicks will play him as a back up for Stoudemire and share those minutes with Kurt Thomas. He will play 5-15 minutes max.
Alex: What would you like to see more out of the back up center this season…
Leon: Make the Knicks paint a feared place to enter. I want to see our opposition players think twice about entering the lane. With Chandler, Camby, Thomas, Stoudemire and now Wallace, I might see my wish come true because they are some very intimidating front court players. The 90′s style New York basketball might be returning to the Garden.
Alex: And of course, what would you like to see less out of the big man this year…
Leon: I want him to be who is, don’t change be a huge energy guy that will spark the Knicks.
For now all I can do is to thank Leon for giving up his time to do this great Q&A segment with me, talking boldly about a former UNC basketball player. If you want to give your opinion about what you think about Rasheed Wallace coming back and playing for the Knicks head on over to the KnicksWag.com site and vote. On a side note I voted “Hell to the yes, but I just wish it would have said Heel instead”!
As usual more information about North Carolina basketball and/or football, teams and players, present and past, make sure to check back often on isportsweb!
And since this is a Tar Heel blog here is a bit of vintage Wallace from when he called Chapel Hill home…
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMCRnd3dqOE&w=480&h=360]