<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">OAKLAND -- Warriors coach Mike Montgomery said before Wednesday's game that rookie forward Ike Diogu is close to returning. "I suspect he should start practicing here pretty soon," Montgomery said. "But we've just got to get clearance from the doctor." Diogu, five-plus weeks from breaking the fourth metacarpal in his left (non-shooting) hand, is likely to get a chance to hit the ground running. Starting power forward Troy Murphy has gotten better in the low post, and the Warriors have posted guards Baron Davis and Jason Richardson. Still, Montgomery can use more offense in the paint. That need for low-post scoring, coupled with the roster's shortage of physical big men, means there are minutes available for the taking. Montgomery said he wants to experiment with Diogu and Murphy in the same lineup, with Diogu working inside and Murphy working outside. Montgomery said he thinks it can work if one of those two can guard the post sufficiently. "We've just got to get him some time," Montgomery said of the first-round draft pick from Arizona State. "It's unfortunate that he doesn't have the advantage of preseason and all the other stuff. We'll have to simplify, adjust some of the calls and try to make them specific to him ... Because a lot of what we've done he hasn't had any experience doing. But yeah, he can help."</div> Source
Oh man, this is good news. I'm not saying he's going to be our low-post savior, but we could use any help at this point.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Kensaku:</div><div class="quote_post">Oh man, this is good news. I'm not saying he's going to be our low-post savior, but we could use any help at this point.</div> Yeah, Diogu will help alot with scoring and rebounding without Murphy or Foyle in. He should also help the second unit and our FT%. Hes a much better option at backup 4 than Dunleavy or Zarko...
So he's going to start with the second unit? If so, what chance of him taking Foyle's spot in the starting lineup at some point this season?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Jerry West:</div><div class="quote_post">So he's going to start with the second unit? If so, what chance of him taking Foyle's spot in the starting lineup at some point this season?</div> I'd say 0%. He probably wont be able to play center and if we move Murphy to the 5 our inside defense is instantly the worst in the league (its already close to it now). Not to mention that we dont know how Diogu will play as a rookie, he may have a tough time adjusting. As bad as Foyle is made out to be, he is actually very important to the team.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AnimeFANatic:</div><div class="quote_post">Foyle is a great defensive post player, so he should start. If only he could put up 8 pts a night...</div> Don't you think Foyle blocking 2-3 shots a night and changing quite a few more already equates to 8 pts or so a night?
Not really, say he swaps it out of bounds but they score the next inbound pass. I wouldn't say thats "2" pts. Points are points, blocks are blocks.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AnimeFANatic:</div><div class="quote_post">Not really, say he swaps it out of bounds but they score the next inbound pass. I wouldn't say thats "2" pts. Points are points, blocks are blocks.</div> True but Foyle doesnt block shots out of bounds very often. I think most of the time we get the loose balls on Foyle's blocks. From all of the shots that he changes and blocks I'd say it equates to at least 8 points a game but still, 8 points on offense isnt asking that much. It seems like only Baron knows how and where to feed Foyle so that he can finish.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Run BJM:</div><div class="quote_post">True but Foyle doesnt block shots out of bounds very often. I think most of the time we get the loose balls on Foyle's blocks. From all of the shots that he changes and blocks I'd say it equates to at least 8 points a game but still, 8 points on offense isnt asking that much. It seems like only Baron knows how and where to feed Foyle so that he can finish.</div> Hey you still forgot about that clutch hook shot he made in NYC to seal off a win for us. Heh. As for that lost in Chicago, I don't know why the hell he wasn't in there to play Sweetney.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AnimeFANatic:</div><div class="quote_post">Foyle is a great defensive post player, so he should start. If only he could put up 8 pts a night...</div> I heard some news saying Troy (love him) might spend some time at C when warriors play small line up would love to see that happen if they play teams like phoenix/NOK/rapedtors (not a typo) etc As for foyle...i think he is an important part for the team right now, as warriors goal this year is to push to the playoffs, next year diogu will have major minutes if he does solid this year..maybe like a rotation kind of thing back in the dampier/foyle days Afterall, mullin build the team on offence and atheleticism, not defence What's your estimate of diogu's min this year?
All depends on how well he adjusts and makes the transition to the NBA. Though I estimate 15-20 mins.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AnimeFANatic:</div><div class="quote_post">All depends on how well he adjusts and makes the transition to the NBA. Though I estimate 15-20 mins.</div> who's that on your sig? ayumi? she's hoooooot
I'm hoping Diogu gets 20 to 30 minutes a game. I love all around big players that are tough and have inside scoring footwork. This team has been soft for too long. We need that impact ASAP.
Murphy played a lot of C in our smallball game vs the Suns,and has played a little C in other games,including many last year. Ike + Murph....Adonal + Murph, the difference is Ike or Foyle,and Ike plays pretty good D. Typically opposing PFs are a bigger scoring threat than other centers, but Foyle's block threat applied to whoever took it inside. Diogu will have less impact on the D in that respect, Diogu,however will have far more positive impact on offense. Teams will need to cover him well,no sliding off to help elsewhere. Having a lineup with 5 real scoring threats makes it tough on the D.
