<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Detroit -- The slow start turned into a slow week, which turned into a slow month, which is turning into something right out of a slow-motion horror show. It's been 26 games since Mike Dunleavy signed his five-year, $45 million contract extension, and Dunleavy's fourth season -- once projected by his college coach to be a "breakout year" -- has instead been his worst. Not only is the Warriors' forward struggling to match his numbers from last season, but in most cases, he isn't coming close. Dunleavy's points, rebounds and steals are all down. His shooting percentage is way down. Possessions have come and gone without him ever touching the ball. And when crunch time nears, the starting small forward has been repeatedly left on the bench. The regression, at least from last year's slasher and finisher, has plenty of people -- including Dunleavy himself -- wondering where he fits in these days. "It's funny, I've been here for four years and I'm still trying to figure things out with this team," Dunleavy said Thursday. "I think I have a pretty good feel for the game, but trying to fit in with these guys. ... As long as we've been here together, we don't know each other as well as you think we would think." It's hard to know what to think about Dunleavy at the moment. He is averaging 9.3 points and 4.2 rebounds per game while shooting 38 percent from the field. That's compared to last season's 13.4 points, 5.5 rebounds and 45 percent -- buoyed largely by a strong finish alongside Baron Davis in the Warriors' wheeling-and-dealing offense. That final stretch showcased Dunleavy's greatest asset: his ability to move without the basketball, spread the defense and fuel a motion offense. But the Warriors are moving less and shooting more these days, leaving Dunleavy without his usual method for contributing. His 8.5 shot attempts per game account for just one-tenth of the Warriors' offense, and neither he nor coach Mike Montgomery believe that scoring more is the key to Dunleavy's success. "There are other guys that are priorities in this offense, and if they want me to be there, then they'll make that clear and they'll do stuff for me or whatever," Dunleavy said. "I'm just trying to do as much as I can to help the team win and not get in anybody's way or take up too many shots, because other guys on the team need shots." Therein lies part of the trouble: Shouldn't a $9 million player be an integral part of the Warriors' offense instead of worrying about stepping on his teammates toes? </div> Source
