<div align="center">Mullin Backs Montgomery</div> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Jun 23 - The Oakland Tribune reports Warriors GM Chris Millin still supports coach Mike Montgomery. "We have a coach," Mullin told the newspaper Thursday. When asked by the newspaper if the Warriors had any plans to talk to Larry Brown, who the Knicks fired earlier in the day, Mullin gave a one-word response: "No."</div> It will be very interesting to see what happens with the Baron Davis situation, and stating he would not play for Coach Montgomery. Did'nt he?
Baron making such statements is all just speculation until Baron publicly says it. I mean some writer (who probably doesn't know jack anyway) said that one of Baron Davis's "friends" said this and that. I mean who knows. All I know is if something isn't working out right, Mullin has to have both flexibility and stability on his side. You take one or the other away, it makes for an even worse situation for him. The worst possible thing that could have happened to Mullin since he acquired the team, was to choose the wrong longterm players, a rookie coach who knows a college team game instead of an nba one, and ruined any flexibility of moving those guys sooner if it was needed. Well Mullin already made the mistake of ruining flexibility with free agent signings, he's gotten a coach that he's put a lot of blind faith into, and we're already putting blind faith into the guys we've drafted. The other thing Mully needs is to have stability. If Baron is acting up, he needs to go. We'll find some way to carry on without him and get some talented guy with a smaller ego and less emotional baggage. Look at Tim Duncan and D-Wade, they're not out there getting out of control like some of these guys. That's probably why Dallas lost too with the way they got out of control. If they act like that, I'd hate to see them losing season after season like we do. They'll probably blame anyone but themselves. It's like calling Dunleavy out when he's calling the team out over the team's impatience and sloppiness running offense and playing streetball. Yet Dunleavy can't get things done himself so fans lash out at him. Well, I see the same thing apply to Baron Davis when he won't pass, he shoots horribly, free throw shooting sucks, and his streetball isn't working because the defense already knows how to anticipate. There's a lot of players at fault that affect each of their teammates and whether its the coach not "playing guys to their strengths, " it's Mully who is the one who put them all there. Honestly, I couldn't see a streaky high volume shooting backcourt co-exist with an interior that doesn't score inside, doesn't defend particularly well in transition, and has tendency to not pass, catch, or feed to/from the top two scorers on kickout passes. The perimeter is way too crowded and the transition D is way too slow to play any type of way to cater to each and every one of these guys' strengths. It just doesn't fit.
Look, I'll tell you what -- can an NBA team win a championship with Barn Davis at the helm? You bet your ass. So if the Warriors -- be it coaches, owners, GMs, scouts, trainers -- don't find a way into the playoffs, they've failed. Montgomery isn't going to take this team to the playoffs. He might be a part of the ride, but if they get there it'll be because of Boom Dizzle and company. So Mullin better get his f*ing priorities straight. If he trades Baron and keeps Monty, I'll start watching women's softball.
Can an NBA team win a championship with Baron Davis at the helm? Not if the game is on the line and he's shooting free throws. Hmm yeah I bet teams like the Miami Heat could. Then Baron Davis wouldn't have to worry about controlling the ball and taking a jillion 3-point attempts and always being injured. Plus, with Shaq and 'Toine he would fit right in at the foul line.
He's not terrible -- well, not by NBA standards at least By highschool standards he shoots freethrows blindfolded. But still, you're right, he needs to up that % big time. Especially because he can get to the line as well as anyone in the league.
Plus, there's health and the fact he makes more money than the time he actually plays. Also, If he wants to shoot so much he should take the Antoine Walker role off the bench because he just plain kills offense rather than looks for it within the flow. When he's forcing double teams and the Warriors actually move for him, that's when his game excels. But that's only if the Warriors move and know what to do (i.e. set plays and guards calling out offense). Right now, there's too much standing around and guys not being reliable passing options, especially inside the paint or from the set shot where he's got to have somebody reliable on the kickout pass to score up close or from far distance. We also need guys like Baron and Dunleavy to take more midrange shots if they can't get the three going... Anybody shooting below 45% has to re-think their individual game. Don't mean to bring up Foyle again, but his 50% fg doesn't tell the whole story especially when Biedrins is way higher for a reason. And they both do the same thing, punish guys for trying to go after Murphy or double the guards on the high screen pick and roll.
At times Baron shot too many threes but his MO isn't just "always jacks up threes" -- remember that alot of what you're seeking needs to come from other players moving and cutting without the ball in order to get involved. YOu can't just stand on your ass ala Troy Murphy at the three and hope your PG gives you a freebie. See, Baron would rather jack that one up then let Troy jack it up. If guys can get moving without the ball -- especially the big fellas -- then not only will Baron be scoring 25 points a game, he'll average double digit assists too.
That's only if Baron calls out the plays first and the players understand them I think that's why the Warriors need to practice for a few years until they become fluid and executing becomes second nature. But first they need a reliable frontcourt, mainly a center and better defense at the PF, better offense at the SF position.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AlleyOop:</div><div class="quote_post">Look, I'll tell you what -- can an NBA team win a championship with Barn Davis at the helm? You bet your ass. So if the Warriors -- be it coaches, owners, GMs, scouts, trainers -- don't find a way into the playoffs, they've failed. Montgomery isn't going to take this team to the playoffs. He might be a part of the ride, but if they get there it'll be because of Boom Dizzle and company. So Mullin better get his f*ing priorities straight. If he trades Baron and keeps Monty, I'll start watching women's softball.</div> I'd favor beach volleyball,but it's the wrong time of year. What we need is to have our existing players all playing,individually,at 95% efficiency and the team as a unit working at 95% efficiency. We are getting way less,and yet I am not seeing players clearly playing sloppy,apathetic,lazy,selfish,in general. I see players who work at it,who do as asked,even when it just makes things worse. We don't have the play me or trade me stuff,don't have a Marbury saying he's tired of doing as the coach asks or one of those guys who decided to get dressed and skip the second half etc etc. We have players who do what the coach asks and try to make it work,quite aware that his tactics are less effective than just playing spontaneous with NO plan at all. Once they get to play to a plan that actually gives them some edge...look out.
Custodian made a real good point-if you are under a 45% from the field-you need to think more about shot selection. Just because you CAN hit a 3 does not make it the best option. In the second half,Murphy cut his 3 pt attempts way back. At one point-Dun shifted to more midrange and got out of a real horrid slump. Baron sometimes did a 3 because the "plan" was a dud,but he too often launched with no good excuse. Dun-Fish-Baron combined MISSED almost 600 3's this season. UNACCEPTABLE! Monty shares the blame. If there is an objective to his offense (IF....) it's to get off a 3. Now if Reggie Miller and Korver are in your lineup-it's sane...but we got volume 3's from guys not far above 30%
