http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/powerRankings #25 out of 30 in terms of playoff speculation this week. I'd have to agree that we're near the bottom because the team didn't have any direction in Mullin's first two years and our team has few stars. Hopefully, these things happen: 1.) Baron Davis stays healthy enough to lead the team in passing 2.) The rest of the team scores enough to reward Baron Davis and so that he doesn't have to shoot in volume (10 shots on average, no more than 15 where he's expected to make only about 6 shots out of 15) 3.) Ike Diogu gets more playing time and guys actually look for him (+++'s for Baron Davis, Zarko Cabarkapa, Mike Dunleavy setting him up) 4.) Ellis can contain the quicker bastards that Baron Davis and ex-Warrior Derek Fisher had trouble with (Tony Parker, Allen Iverson, TJ Ford, Sebastian Telfair, Brevin Knight, Chris Paul, and possibly Speedy Claxton). Once we get burned, do we expose how bad we are defending the paint or getting out on a shooter once the kickout pass is delivered. 5.) Backcourt free throw shooting goes up 6.) Biedrins is ready to take over Murphy's double double numbers and Foyle's weakside shotblocking skills. Ike is ready to take over starter. Hopefully this improves defense as well as it does inside scoring, passing back out, and catching the ball. 7.) Dunleavy + Pietrus rebounds from a bad shooting year. 8.) Coaching subbing patterns get better + bench improves to give starters a rest. 9.) Decision-making and shot consistency gets better. 10.) Coaches and the GM hold players accountable (this doesn't need to be disclosed to the public, though). I'm sure 1-10 are probably in the works. Mullin and Montgomery are rookie nba guys, but they'll figure it out soon that Dunleavy/Foyle/Murphy aren't working in doing the things we need to get done offensively and defensively.
They also said Al Harrington would make a nice frontcourt player with POB and Ike? Not sure about that... Especially with POB being a huge question mark. Harrington's a tweener that steals a little bit from the power forward role and doesn't posess the things that the small forward needs to do that the shooting guard doesn't do, like ballhandling, getting other big men involved, and outside shooting. While Harrington has developed a nice outside shot, he's mostly played power forward the last few years. I don't think he's ever been great at one thing because his position changes from night to night depending on the matchup (especially if he gets outmuscled or outquicked at certain positions). He's valuable as a bench guy IMO. You wonder for a guy supposedly strong and athletic as he, why doesn't he block more shots, steal the ball or rebound more?
