Danilo Gallinari expressed anger at himself and said he was to blame for the Knicks' loss in Utah on Monday.

In so doing, the Italian-born player demonstrated a comfort level with English profanity.

"If I play 42 minutes and I go 1 for 6 from 3, I definitely have to think about this game," Gallinari said. "I?m on the court and I?m a big part of the offense. So if I shoot the ball bad like that in these type of games ? tie games, at the end of the game, you look at the shots ? definitely got to blame myself."  

After exhaling and groaning, he added, "I cannot be like that."

Gallinari feels confident that his game is expanding beyond just the long-range jump shots he showed last season.

"But I knew that I?m not just a shooter, I can do a lot of stuff. And you know this, you know I can do a lot of stuff," Gallinari said.

Howard Beck of the New York Times believes that it bodes well for the development of a young player like Gallinari that he is taking so much responsibility this early in his career.

"Those are the skills that stand out on the court," Beck writes. "But becoming a star also requires pride and accountability. Gallinari angrily and profanely claimed his share on Monday, making perhaps his greatest leap yet."