<div class="quote_poster">Quoting custodianrules2:</div><div class="quote_post">Actually, I'm probably in the minority here, but I prefer if a rookie learns at a steady pace and isn't forced into having to win games for us. I want them to be vetted and get experience by observing. I just want them to take it easy their freshman year like there's no pressure or stress and fear of losing. We don't want to put these guys in a losing situation where they have to find chemistry right away while learning how to play within themselves and where to move on the floor to get open. If they play a little that's fine and they can also observe how crappy our current vets play. That observation teaches rookies that if you don't play defense or smart ball, you're going to lose. It also teaches rookies that if you don't play well the fans will turn on you. It also teaches rookies that if they play well, they can eventually increase their minutes, demand a lot of money to stay or they can leave the Warriors losing tradition and become a star somewhere else...</div> Yes, so how can you even sit there and defend Monty? Monty will likely be fired this season for too many losses, but he was given a pass the first two seasons. I was patient with him, too. What ticks me off is Monty was brought in to teach the n00bs and sophs, but they have not developed like they should. Ike is the prime example. He had such a good start and then floundered and ended up being benched. Many of us criticized Monty's substitutions, and right there is the problem staring at you in the face. Other teams are able to develop players even if they are young and the team is vying for a playoff berth. Sure it takes time and patience, especially with a playoff team, but it also takes a plan and guiding hand. Monty had trouble just guiding the vets! Just so you know, I'm not completely blasting you for defending Monty , I was LOFL at the Skiles - Aldridge cartoon.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AnimeFANatic:</div><div class="quote_post">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nrw4KBYvZI Ike Diogu mix. Do you guys really want to get rid of him? I think he will be very valuable next season if he gets consistent minutes and a good role (no C damnit!)</div> That's a sweet mix AF -- and that is Ike in the NBA. Most of the prospects in this year's draft don't even have reels like that from college.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AnimeFANatic:</div><div class="quote_post">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nrw4KBYvZI Ike Diogu mix. Do you guys really want to get rid of him? I think he will be very valuable next season if he gets consistent minutes and a good role (no C damnit!)</div> That's a nice Ike Diogu mix AF. It's the best I've seen of him. I do remember some of those plays because either I saw them live or on tv. Also, I made some animated gifs out of some of them. It really points out what Ike can do when give continuous minutes and not get jerked around or play out of position.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting jason voorhees:</div><div class="quote_post">Yes, so how can you even sit there and defend Monty? Monty will likely be fired this season for too many losses, but he was given a pass the first two seasons. I was patient with him, too. What ticks me off is Monty was brought in to teach the n00bs and sophs, but they have not developed like they should. Ike is the prime example. He had such a good start and then floundered and ended up being benched. Many of us criticized Monty's substitutions, and right there is the problem staring at you in the face. Other teams are able to develop players even if they are young and the team is vying for a playoff berth. Sure it takes time and patience, especially with a playoff team, but it also takes a plan and guiding hand. Monty had trouble just guiding the vets! Just so you know, I'm not completely blasting you for defending Monty , I was LOFL at the Skiles - Aldridge cartoon.</div> Heh, it's okay. I'm not a particular fan of letting the rookies sit out their first year, but as long as he's not doing it their second. Guys ready to play should get time if they earn it and know what the plays are. I understand why he benched our euro-projects. They either are too weak and can't stay out of foul trouble or they just don't fit in the team game, they are better off just doing the one-on-one thing. Oh, and I'd rather have Ellis in there than Fisher because Fisher plays pretty much like a rook when he has the ball. I'd rather have Biedrins and Zarko in there before Foyle and Murphy, but then nobody would rebound or be there to defend and stay out of foul trouble. I just hope for the future that when we had as much talent in 2002, we don't let it go for nothing and we don't get the kind that plays 1 vs 1 streetball without playing any defense. The Mavericks were the only real team that could prove they could win that way. They played off isolations, but they played superb defense at almost all the positions.
The question at the top-Ike +9 vs Aldridge,is a tough one. Aldridge-as is,is underweight for an NBA C and you can just look to Murphy and Foyle for what happens when a middleweight bulks up. Skills? Ike is several years beyond Aldridge who relies more on being tall and fairly athletic. The twist here is O'Bryant. O'Bryant IS 7-0 and 250+. He won't need to add pounds,rather train for power,tone,etc..so he may gain some mobility and hops-not lose. If you want a center...Aldridge does not have that big of an edge. Ike can be a guy getting 18 pt,8+ boards-and that's almost a bst case scenario for Aldridge. Different size-shape-build but Ike HAS had those numbers in the NBA already-and Aldridge has not. So..Ike AND O'Bryant for Aldridge? Almost ...but no.
I'd have to agree with REREM, different body, different player, different games. Ike has proven a lot more in college (in another good conference) as his team's #1 option on scoring and a conference leader in blocked shots and rebounds. All this while being labeled unselfish, aggressive, and excellent motor. But he doesn't quite have the upside compared to Aldridge due to a variety of things like not being tall and imposing, not being as versatile, not being explosive in terms of hops or quickness. But at the same time, he's not poor at all these things either. He's a pretty good jumper, pretty nice steps, very quick in the post and fast enough running the length of the floor. He's incredibly long like Elton Brand and is stronger than most at the same weight as he. I think if we had a shot to get Aldridge, but we gave up Ike for that opportunity, we'd lose tremendous toughness in the post. I see Ike not as pushed around down low compared to Aldridge who got pushed around in college and was forced to be more finesse rather than a bruiser in the paint. This is because Ike has a stronger base, thicker frame with excellent footwork. Aldridge would need to improve his leg strength and get more polished on the low block if he ever wanted to surpass Ike in this style of play. But, I'm not sure he has the skill like Garnett or the body to bulk up and bang down low without becoming stiff. Unless the guy can live up to guys like Garnett/Bosh at PF, then I'd tend to stay away from finesse type power forwards in favor of a guy that can draw tons of touch fouls and enforce the paint like a center. Every draft, a guy who can play a finesse game is probably a lot easier to find than your classic back to the basket guy. Guys like Garnett and Bosh, although they are awesome players, tend to be less contact type players than other power forwards rather than inviting it like real bangers, who can hold their position in the post, do. Guys like Tim Duncan, Zach Randolph, and Elton brand, however, can mix it up and play both ways negating the need for a center to do such work. I personally want the option to play both a face-up game and a post game so a player can live at the line with touch fouls or they can spread the floor if the center wants to exploit a mismatch down low. The bottom line is I think we need more guys who can live at the line and shoot free throws. We just damage the other team's ability to play physical defense and get them worried about being penalized in the bonus. We got too many guys trying to shoot, shoot, shoot and it doesn't get us to the foul line unless we drive, invite the contact, try to shoot it while getting clobbered in the paint. Foul, basket = and1. It's a higher % 3-pointer because you get at least get two points at the foul line, stop the clock, rather than no points at all off a 3-pointer miss and a fastbreak headed the other way.
Just depending on who we like, Brewer, Sheldon, O'Bryant could all be very good picks depending on what this team needs more of. I don't think there's enough difference between the 7-12 spots to justify who is the BAP at #9. So, it's either of those three for me. The million dollar question is can Brewer shoot okay and is he a small forward, will O'Bryant ever prove himself as a good player, and will Sheldon Williams ever develop into a good PF or a C at the next level? The safest guys are Brewer and Sheldon depending if you like PF/C or SG/SF more. I would favor Sheldon since we can't even land vets like this through FA who do the bruiser stuff down low. It would also add depth to the PF position because I'm not sold that most future PFs will all be jumpshooters like some nba anaylsts think. We can find that stuff over in Europe or China if we want that because they play with the trapezoidal key, whereas we don't (so get that big guy posting up down on the blocks instead of floating on the perimeter!). Post play and especially all-around interior defense will be a hot commodity. There's always a Brewer or a Josh Howard that will be a good defender, but a streak shot. So I can pass with these type players. It would make more sense for us to find a free agent swing guy that already is developed and can bring something our home grown guys do not (Dunleavy/Pietrus). For risky picks, although I'm not a big fan of their current games... I'd go with either of POB, Cedric Simmons, or Carney (last result). If we wanted to change up our game a little, I'd go with JJ Redick. But the more pressing need is defense at any position, defense in transition, defense, defense, and post presence (rebounding, shotblocking, physical intimidation, good hard picks, you name it).
