Murphy switching to center in Warriors' new offense

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">OAKLAND, Calif. -- Troy Murphy figures he's a perfect fit to shift to center in new coach Don Nelson's up-tempo offense. Adonal Foyle is determined to drop a few pounds and prove he deserves ample playing time, too.

The 6-foot-11 Murphy will move from power forward to the middle for the Golden State Warriors this season, and Nelson plans to use Foyle -- who two years ago signed a cushy new six-year deal worth nearly $42 million -- more on a by-need, matchup basis.

Nelson is already doing many things differently from what his players have been used to as he begins his second stint coaching the Warriors. They have missed the playoffs in 12 straight seasons since Nellie last took this team to the postseason in 1994 during his initial tenure in Oakland.

Nelson, hired in a surprise move Aug. 30 to replace Mike Montgomery, is known for using four-guard lineups with an undersized center.

"That's great. I'm looking forward to it," Murphy said. "I've seen the way he uses big guys who can shoot. I'm excited to play for him. Playing against centers and more physical guys, that means centers also will be covering me, which is what we're looking for. I don't think there are any centers who can cover me. I'll have to do my best on defense. I think it's going to be really good."

Murphy has averaged a double-double in scoring and rebounding in three of his previous four seasons and ranked sixth in the league at 10 rebounds per game last season. He scored 14 points per game and made 78.7 percent of his free throws, a statistic that goes a long way with Nelson considering the coach knows how many close games Golden State lost at the line in the recent past.

"He's already shown me what I wanted to see -- him buying into playing center," Nelson said of Murphy. "If he's able to play some Five, it would really help in my scheme of things."

Nelson has made it clear he expects more than just Murphy to carry the rebounding load, calling for every player to improve his game and make adjustments to a new style of play.

He wants these men thin, and asked players to show up for training camp five pounds lighter.

"To run, everybody has to be in great shape," Murphy said. "You want to be in shape and you want to be lean and skinny. I'm sure as the season progresses and training camp progresses there will be adjustments I have to make."

Nelson is even demanding better free-throw shooting from stars Baron Davis and Jason Richardson if they want to be on the floor in crunch time -- and hasn't hidden the fact he wants Davis to lose a few pounds from his 6-3 frame.

Foyle, beginning his 10th NBA season after the Warriors selected him with the eighth overall pick in the 1997 draft, averaged 4.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game in 77 games last season and doesn't plan to sit on the bench without first doing his best to change Nelson's mind.

"Adonal is a wonderful person," Nelson said. "Certain nights he will play against the bigger centers and certain nights he won't play as much."

For Foyle, already hearing that Nelson expects him to assume a lesser role is disappointing. But the 6-10 center is down to 268 pounds from his playing weight of 277 last year and would like to be around 260 when the season tips off.

"What are you going to do? Part of the deal is you go along with the philosophy and you try to force the matter a little bit in terms of your play and make yourself more open to playing different positions and doing different things," Foyle said. "My job is to get into the best shape I can possibly get in and to be ready to show all the different dimensions of my game so he can see the cost of not playing me."</div>

Source

This should be intresting.

 

This is where I laugh uncontrollably, right?

 

I definitely expected this. Murphy is going into the Dirk mould, expect obviously a poor man's Dirk. Should create mismatches with centers on Murphy. I have a feeling Dunleavy is going to be playing PF if Murphy plays at C.

This team I think will be quite offensive minded.

 

"Adonal Foyle is determined to drop a few pounds and prove he deserves ample playing time, too."

i hope he fails..i do not want to see foyle in the lineup. Even though he provides defense..at times.. he will disrupt our offensive flow. He wouldn't be able to cause mismatches like murphy would and i doubt he will be able to run the floor like others would. sorry is it sounds too harsh on foyle

 

I can totally see Don Nelson sacrificing some defense for improved offense, especially when looking at Foyle's offensive abilities.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting SkiptoMyLue11:</div><div class="quote_post">I can totally see Don Nelson sacrificing some defense for improved offense, especially when looking at Foyle's offensive abilities.</div>

What offensive abilities?

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting HiRez:</div><div class="quote_post">This is where I laugh uncontrollably, right?</div>
ditto!

C'mon Murph block shots or pass the ball!

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting SkiptoMyLue11:</div><div class="quote_post">I definitely expected this. Murphy is going into the Dirk mould, expect obviously a poor man's Dirk. Should create mismatches with centers on Murphy. I have a feeling Dunleavy is going to be playing PF if Murphy plays at C.

This team I think will be quite offensive minded.</div>

I don't think this team could ever be defensive minded, so I guess offensive minded is a given. Not sure Murphy can get 20/10 every night, but he'll get double double in some way or form. I just think his totals at the end of the night, don't really reflect his actual play. He can be quite a bum on defense and pretty selfish/blind going into the triple threat position. He's not physical in anything else except rebounding.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AnimeFANatic:</div><div class="quote_post">What offensive abilities?</div>

Foyle is an offensive juggernaut for the other team. Once he bobbles that defensive rebound it starts the break for the other team... or once he gets dunked on it raises the momentum for the other guys especially playing on the other team's court.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AnimeFANatic:</div><div class="quote_post">What offensive abilities?</div>

his offensive abilities are missing wide open dunks and completely missing the back board when standing 5 feet away from the hoop

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting iLL PiLL:</div><div class="quote_post">his offensive abilities are missing wide open dunks and completely missing the back board when standing 5 feet away from the hoop</div>
That too! Sadly, his offensive abilities are wasted when he fails to catch the simple passes that hit his hands. They weren't at his knees or over his head, they were at his hands about chest high. If I'm a passer I'm screaming, wtf, jack up my stats why don't you?

 

Hey, look what I found flipping through the dictionary!

 

Sorry Hirez couldn't see, but that image you posted was causing some username and password prompts on this site:
<font face="monospace">
</font>idisk.mac.com

It would literally pop up on the jbb site like "WTF is this?"

 

The warriors are trash right now so switching Murphy to center won't make much of a difference.What they need to do is make trades or increase their chemistry some how with respect to Baron and Richardson.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting kidd4ever:</div><div class="quote_post">The warriors are trash right now so switching Murphy to center won't make much of a difference.What they need to do is make trades or increase their chemistry some how with respect to Baron and Richardson.</div>

Thanks.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting kidd4ever:</div><div class="quote_post">The warriors are trash right now so switching Murphy to center won't make much of a difference.What they need to do is make trades or increase their chemistry some how with respect to Baron and Richardson.</div>
Well, we all know how GREAT the knicks are!

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Adonal Foyle:</div><div class="quote_post">"What are you going to do? Part of the deal is you go along with the philosophy and you try to force the matter a little bit in terms of your play and make yourself more open to playing different positions and doing different things," Foyle said. "My job is to get into the best shape I can possibly get in and to be ready to show all the different dimensions of my game so he can see the cost of not playing me."</div>

Oh Adonal, you seem to always crack me up. At least this year he will focus on being in shape. That is a good first step for any basketball team and player.

I remember Adonal looking pretty good with a small hook in the paint. I guess he has learned a few things at those big men camps. It is just that sometimes he doesn't catch the ball and other times it just looks ugly. Once in a while-on offense- it does look pretty nice; though those times are very few and far between.

Also, I can see Murphy becoming a better player when he too gets in better running condition. Then he will be lighter on his feet and a little bit more nimble. One of my favorite moves that Murphy used to do, but seemed to be doing less, was the good ol' pump fake from 12 feet from the basket, get his man off the ground, and take a dribble or two by his man for the dunk. Also with Don Nelson as head coach, I think Murphy will learn how to box out better and be a better team rebounder, maybe like Dampier but maybe not to that level.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting custodianrules2:</div><div class="quote_post">Sorry Hirez couldn't see, but that image you posted was causing some username and password prompts on this site</div>Sorry about that, try this one:

Webster's says...

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting HiRez:</div><div class="quote_post">Sorry about that, try this one:

Webster's says...</div>

LOL. Maybe in the thesaurus they'll have one for clumsy, handicapped, oblivious, or piece of sh%t.

"I was so Foyle while dancing with this girl, I almost dropped her!"

"Don't call me Foyled! I may have lost both my hands in the war, but I can still catch with these hooks!"

"That guy is so Foyle! He doesn't know what he's doing out there!"

"I ran out of toilet paper. Can you please spare some? I still got a little Foyle stuck to my..."

 

My question is, what will the starting lineup be and what will the rotations be like?