Rookie Diogu Still Learning NBA Game

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">OAKLAND, Calif. - Golden State coach Mike Montgomery saw enough of former Sun Devil Ike Diogu during his days at Stanford to know the 6-foot-8 rookie has a ton of NBA potential.

Of course, there are still plenty of obstacles ahead.

"First, he went to Arizona State, so we?re trying to overcome that," a smiling Montgomery said, loud enough for the former Sun Devil to hear and react to as he headed down the tunnel for pregame warm-ups Wednesday.

But all kidding aside, it hasn?t been an easy road for the ninth overall selection of the 2005 draft. Diogu fractured his left hand early in training camp and had to sit out the first six weeks ? all of the preseason and the first 12 regular season games. Since making his debut with 11 points in 14 minutes against San Antonio on Nov. 25, Diogu has bounced between the power forward and center spots, further complicating his learning curve.

"I missed all of preseason so these games right now ? even though they count ? it?s kind of like my preseason," said Diogu, who is still wearing a padded leather glove to protect the hand in games. "Learning two different positions has been kind of tough, but I?ve been getting better and better with every game."

After scoring in double figures in his first three games, including a 15-point, seven-rebound effort against Toronto on Nov. 26, Diogu?s production and playing time have dropped in the last week.

"We got into games that probably weren?t for young people, games that we needed to play our veterans to win," Montgomery said. "Young players tend to get victimized by smart, older, veteran players, and the bottom line responsibility is to win the game.

"We?ve got to get him in a spot where he?s successful, to the point where doesn?t have to think, he can just play, run and jump. We want to get it to him down low with good spacing, and he?ll learn on the court, like all young players do."

Diogu said he?s been keeping up with ASU and watched its overtime loss to Minnesota on Monday. "When Kevin (Kruger) hit that half-court shot to send the game to overtime, I jumped up and looked around for someone to hug," he said. "They?re doing OK, but they need to keep it up." </div>

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<div class="quote_poster">Quoting custodianrules2:</div><div class="quote_post">Diogu is going to be a stud in this offense once he's ready. You can use him down low or from the high post. That is like having a Brad Miller/Vlade Divac combined with a Zach Randolph/Elton Brand. From that high post position he could make a lot of players better.</div>

Agreed. From the few minutes I've seen him on the court he's brought energy to the floor. I think he's rushing his offense a little right now, but it's to be expected from a rookie. Once he gets his timing back on his pull up jumper, he'll be deadly playing against frontcourt players. He's that same jab step move Carmelo has, but will be draining them against power forwards or centers, instead of quick small forwards. The quicker he can develop chemistry with B. Diddy and Duns, the better off him and the Warriors will be. They really need a go to guy in the post to balance out all the 3 pointers they take. Ike-Con is their best option.