Richardson Guarantees Playoffs For The Warriors In 2006-2007

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> Jason Richardson continued to apologize for the Warriors 2005-2006 season and offered a confident hope for next season.

"Guys really want to get the team to the playoffs. It eats at me every day. It makes me want to work harder because our fans deserve it. We have the best fans in the NBA. They come out every game. They're just waiting for us to turn things around. I guarantee that we're going to be in the playoffs next year.

"I'm putting my neck out there on the line. That's letting you know how dedicated I am to getting to the playoffs. Like I said before, it eats at me every day, because the fans are so loyal to us. I know once we make the playoffs, this whole city is going to explode."</div> I don't think it will happen inless they pull in Jermaine O'neal.

 

What is he guaranteeing against? What happens if they dont make the playoffs? Is he going to pay everyone?

 

I actually thought -- and still think -- they had enough talent this year to make the playoffs. Sure they didn't have a legit center, and we all know the myriad of weaknesses that define this team. But IMO they had enough talent. It just never came together.

I'd love to get Foyle's ass out of here. Fish to. I'd love to land a legit 7-foot all-star center. There's alot of things that need improvement around here.

With that said, I still honestly think they have the talent to make the playoffs next year, without any changes. Especially with the emergence of my man Monta Ellis -- how about 27 points, 8 reb, 6 assist, 3 steals against Utah? He's the type of player that a triple-double comes easily too. If Mullin is smart enough to find a way to feature Monta Ellis in the Warriors plans, that's probably as big an offseason upgrade as most of the trades they could realistically make. I feel Monta will be a star in a few years. It's hard though because that means the other players have to give up touches and make way for him. And the coach has to have the balls to feature him over the vets. Mussleman would've done it. Montgomery? Who knows.

The only thing, IMO, standing between the Warriors and the playoffs is Derek Fisher standing between Monta Ellis and big minutes.

Oh, and of course Boom Dizzle needs to get healthy.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AlleyOop:</div><div class="quote_post">I actually thought -- and still think -- they had enough talent this year to make the playoffs. Sure they didn't have a legit center, and we all know the myriad of weaknesses that define this team. But IMO they had enough talent. It just never came together.

I'd love to get Foyle's ass out of here. Fish to. I'd love to land a legit 7-foot all-star center. There's alot of things that need improvement around here.

With that said, I still honestly think they have the talent to make the playoffs next year, without any changes. Especially with the emergence of my man Monta Ellis -- how about 27 points, 8 reb, 6 assist, 3 steals against Utah? He's the type of player that a triple-double comes easily too. If Mullin is smart enough to find a way to feature Monta Ellis in the Warriors plans, that's probably as big an offseason upgrade as most of the trades they could realistically make. I feel Monta will be a star in a few years. It's hard though because that means the other players have to give up touches and make way for him. And the coach has to have the balls to feature him over the vets. Mussleman would've done it. Montgomery? Who knows.

The only thing, IMO, standing between the Warriors and the playoffs is Derek Fisher standing between Monta Ellis and big minutes.

Oh, and of course Boom Dizzle needs to get healthy.</div>
Alley Oop not you too! It's talent on paper, though. Plus we're probably doing the same thing we're doing with most rookies when we've barely seen them play. It's like the whole Pietrus over Dunleavy, Ellis over Fisher, Ike over Murphy... It's like the grass is greener on the other side to us, but we got to have some guys step up like vets and play better than OUR vets.

Also, Muss, whether you loved him or hated him, he needed to have had a good GM support his coaching moves. It's a GM's league, so the coach just needs to play along or play Pat Riley or something. If Montgomery was more experienced in the NBA and he was GM, I bet he'd cut Foyle and would have benched guys like Dunleavy way sooner, just like that. Coaches in the NBA are basically slaves to whatever the GM does, so if the GM locks up a guy, he expects the coaches he hired to play that guy or else he will find some guy that will. Both Monty and Mullin are inexperienced and I think our team is the same way with its players. We could have Ellis/Ike put up good numbers, but inexperience could just kill us next season especially if we turn over the roster in favor of all young guys once again. Young guys just don't make the playoffs unless they got the support or they are that good. Few good vets want to go to a team like ours unless its through trade like Clif Robinson or Van Exel type of trades. So unless Ellis is like Lebron and Ike is like Amare, I doubt we're going to see a great turnaround with this team. I think the team is what it is and it will always be. Mediocre.

Plus, damn we need better vets than Dun, Fish, Foyle, Murph. We need guys that will pass, play defense, and do other things. We need guys committed and unselfish and that can shoot and make others better.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting custodianrules2:</div><div class="quote_post"> It's like the whole Pietrus over Dunleavy, Ellis over Fisher, Ike over Murphy... It's like the grass is greener on the other side to us</div>

No, this is different. Monta is better now than Pietrus has ever been. And Monta has only played significantly in a handful of games.

Monta is awesome. It's not potential. It's reality. On the court, it's evident: even when he's surrounded by proven NBA players, stars even, it's clear he's one of the most gifted players on the court. Arenas looked like that at times -- Monta always looks like that. Even when he's not lighting it up -- and when he's not lighting it up it's usually because of Fisher's stupid ass, hogging the ball. Monta's a natural. He's a pure basketball star. Plus, he's a got a fantastic, coachable attitude to boot.

Monta does things in the game that no other current Warrior will ever be able to do -- Baron and JRich included.

 

Imagine what Monta could do once he learns to use his left hand well. I can hear all the ankles breaking already.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AlleyOop:</div><div class="quote_post">No, this is different. Monta is better now than Pietrus has ever been. And Monta has only played significantly in a handful of games.

Monta is awesome. It's not potential. It's reality. On the court, it's evident: even when he's surrounded by proven NBA players, stars even, it's clear he's one of the most gifted players on the court. Arenas looked like that at times -- Monta always looks like that. Even when he's not lighting it up -- and when he's not lighting it up it's usually because of Fisher's stupid ass, hogging the ball. Monta's a natural. He's a pure basketball star. Plus, he's a got a fantastic, coachable attitude to boot.

Monta does things in the game that no other current Warrior will ever be able to do -- Baron and JRich included.</div>
All right... just don't be suprised if his Sophmore year turns out a little different. I think Ellis will be a great player, but I wouldn't bet any money on him being a good point guard for a while. He's still learning the position. It's like taking A.I. or Arenas and trying to make them pass first.