Open Practice Recap (Oct 9, 2006)

http://www.nba.com/warriors/news/06Trainin...ilyJournal.html

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> Following six consecutive days of grueling two-a-day practice sessions, the Warriors were given a much-deserved break on Monday. That is, until Monday night's open practice held at the Arena in Oakland began. The large number of Warriors fans in attendance at the free event can attest to the fact that Head Coach Don Nelson has his players running...and running...and running. Monday's open practice was entertaining from start to finish, and warriors.com was there to cover every detail. The dedicated fans who showed up were first greeted at the Arena entrance by Mickael Pietrus and rookie Patrick O'Bryant. Always the entertainer, Pietrus was even seen giving a few jumping chest-bumps to a handful of enthusiastic passers-by. Upon heading to their seats, the fans also got a chance to shake hands with Andris Biedrins and Zarko Cabarkapa.
Before practice began, the Hoop Troop livened up the crowd by tossing them t-shirts and other prizes. By the time most fans had filed in, half of the lower bowl was completely full. Practice began with the introduction of Coach Nelson and the rest of the coaching staff, followed by the 18 players on the Warriors' training camp roster.

Following introductions, the players began stretching and loosening up while Coach Nelson addressed the crowd. Nellie discussed what the schedule for the night would entail and joked that he didn't know exactly what to expect because "players like to show off in front of a crowd." Next, he split the club into two teams, the Blue Team and the White Team, and had them run offensive sets. From there, he had the entire team go through fast break drills such as '3-on-2, 2-on-1.' Three NBA officials were on hand for the practice, and they warmed up a bit by officiating the drills. Coach Nelson took the opportunity to kid with the refs a bit, as well as some of his players. When Mickael Pietrus was called for traveling, Nelson quipped, "That one only works in Europe." After witnessing consecutive turnovers in one drill, he told the crowd, "Coach is getting angry. Do you mind if I turn the mic off?" As one would expect, the drills involved a good amount of running. There was rarely a moment when players were not moving from one place to another or running down the court at full speed. Following a 5-on-5 half court defensive drill, the teams once again split up, this time to begin scrimmaging. The Blue Team consisted of Baron Davis, Dajuan Wagner, Mickael Pietrus, Mike Dunleavy, Troy Murphy, Ike Diogu, Andris Biedrins and Matt Barnes. Making up the White Team were Keith McLeod, Monta Ellis, Andre Owens, Zarko Cabarkapa, Adonal Foyle, Patrick O'Bryant, Dijon Thompson and Anthony Roberson. The teams would go on to play four, 10-minute quarters with a running clock.
Immediately during the scrimmage, one could notice Nelson's influence. Big men were pulling down rebounds and dribbling up court, handling the ball in the high-post and constantly moving along with the guards and swingmen. The White Team took an early lead in what eventually became a back-and-forth contest. There were numerous 'ooohs' and 'aaahs' from the crowd, but none bigger than during the closing moments of the scrimmage. Down three points, Baron Davis nailed a three-pointer with 17.1 seconds on the clock to force the tie for the Blue Team. Holding for one shot on the other end, the White Team found Dijon Thompson in the left corner, where he sank his own three-pointer, giving White a 70-67 victory over Blue.
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Following the game, as a final treat for the fans, Baron Davis called out O'Bryant and Roberson and made the two young players participate in a game of duck-duck-goose with several young Warriors fans. Everyone got a good chuckle out of the stunt, especially when the 7-foot O'Bryant was chasing one of the children around the circle. Overall, the night was entertaining for all involved. The players enjoyed being back in front of the fans, and the fans were as enthusiastic as ever. The incredible amount of loyalists who came out to the open practice shows just how dedicated Warriors fans truly are.
The next chance to catch the team will be when they open their preseason schedule with a home contest versus Turkish club Efes Pilsen on Thursday, October 12 at 7:30 p.m. Also, remember to catch the Warriors' preseason TV special, which will debut this week on FSN Bay Area on Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m.
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Blue Team
Baron Davis
Dajuan Wagner
Mickael Pietrus
Mike Dunleavy
Troy Murphy
Ike Diogu
Andris Biedrins
Matt Barnes.

White Team
Keith McLeod
Monta Ellis
Andre Owens
Zarko Cabarkapa
Adonal Foyle
Patrick O'Bryant
Dijon Thompson
Anthony Roberson.

LMAO @ BLUE team for losing. I guess that Murphy/Dunleavy forward/center tandem did wonders for the training camp invite team's inside scoring. They should have put Ike n' Andy up front. Forget this slow and soft business. ...or maybe it's because Blue couldn't hit their free throws.

 

Here is my short analysis without watching the game.

I bet Baron and Dajaun Wagner couldn't guard jack ship against Monta, McLeod, and Owens (similar to Ellis). Then I guess I don't need to describe what Murphy and Dunleavy guarding the hoop would be like. I bet Pietrus still turns the ball over and acts like a dummy sometimes. Baron along with Wagner casts some really ugly shots at the rim while Dun and Murphy provide their jump shooting stiffness and no inside presence or toughness on box outs or offensive boards or paint action.

The White team probably had Zarko Cabarkapa and Monta Ellis destroy the blue team's weakest defenders singlehandedly. Not to mention, they could probably shoot free throws and open jumpers much better than Baron, Wagner, Dunleavy, Pietrus, Biedrins, Dunleavy, etc.

It's only practice, but the only thing we got was a statistically proven and tougher nba coach with a knack for small lineups ...and the same roster as last year minus Fisher with same inherent flaws (free throws probably, offensive rebounding, transition offense, transition defense, shooting, turnovers, man to man defense, off ball movement).

Chuck out Murphy, Dunleavy and get some real power forwards and centers with power forward and center fundamentals, we get our parity back. Get better depth at guard and wing and we're good as long as they have point guard and swingman fundamentals.

 

Ends on two 3-point attempts. Can't say I love the sound of that, even though they made them. This team needs to learn to be aggressive at the end and take the ball to the hole for the foul.

What are you guys setting the over/under on for the Murph/Dun frontcourt? I say it lasts 25 games.

 

I heard Zarko straight shitted on Dunleavy and Murphy. To the point where it was just sad.

 

<div class="quote_poster">HiRez Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Ends on two 3-point attempts. Can't say I love the sound of that, even though they made them. This team needs to learn to be aggressive at the end and take the ball to the hole for the foul.

What are you guys setting the over/under on for the Murph/Dun frontcourt? I say it lasts 25 games.</div>

15 games.

So they did chuck up a lot of threes? Damn I knew it but I forgot to include it on my earlier post.

I swear it's easy to do things in practice, but once in a mock game or real game, they can't do jack even though the guys on the blue roster have been together for a while. Yet, white team still beat them and stayed close. Who was their inside players? Zarko, Foyle, and Project O'Bryant. I swear Nelson is crazy for this Dun/Murphy lineup. There's no advantage to having a slow, all-soft White guy lineup when nobody blocks shots, scores inside, or puts a body on guys to clear the painted area. If we're going to have forwards play one position bigger, I'd rather go with the Najera/Cardinal/Maddog Madsen lineup. Those guys are tougher than Murphy and Dun any day of the week offensively and defensively.

If they subbed in Ike n' Biedrins, well they better have guards who can get the ball inside and shoot it accurately. That's just embarassing for white team to lose and have the other team stay in it. Blue team should have gotten smoked, especially the training camp invites who are trying to get theirs.

 

<div class="quote_poster">AnimeFANatic Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I heard Zarko straight shitted on Dunleavy and Murphy. To the point where it was just sad.</div>

Figures. Zarko is pretty nightmarish offensively against centers and forwards too slow to guard him. I think everyone here kind of knew it. Just wait and see what happens when we start playing every other nba backup forward and backup center lineup.

Ellis probably destroyed Wagner.

 

<div class="quote_poster">custodianrules2 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Figures. Zarko is pretty nightmarish offensively against centers and forwards too slow to guard him. I think everyone here kind of knew it. Just wait and see what happens when we start playing every other nba backup forward and backup center lineup.

Ellis probably destroyed Wagner.</div>

Thats why I love Zarko, he's a mismatch offensively. His offense is unique. Unfortunately he doesn't defend or rebound... which is why he isn't in games much.

Even if Wagner is really good, I don't see him taking the next step into being a star. Ellis on the other hand I feel has the potential in taking the step towards stardom. I'm happy that Wagner is on the team, It just sucks since he'll be taking minutes from Ellis. Sure competition brings out the best, but with Ellis I see nothing but 110% effort regardless.

 

This is horrible... Mullin screwed up so bad he needs Don Nelson to do Media PR for him to get Piety, Dunleavy, Murphy back to their respective values (i.e. full potential). We know there is a gigantic hole at small forward and now we've made two holes by putting in Dun and Pietrus as starters rather than gambling on Ronnie Brewer over POB possibly being a bust. Maybe there was somebody else that's SF material and more nba ready with experience. Who knows. The point is I'm really nervous that Nelson will finally be the icing on the cake when it comes to proving how badly Mullin got our franchise off to a bad start on the attempted turnaround. If one doesn't know what the heck he's doing as GM, don't give him all this free salary cap, Cohan! I'd rather we kept St. Jean. Now we do know that there is real pressure to play out guys like Dun, Murphy or whoever is signed to six year deals and will be around for a while. Just look at how Fisher, Foyle was played, only Foyle doesn't get numbers like Fisher does. Meanwhile Pietrus, Dunleavy, Murphy can definitely provide numbers. It's just a matter of hyping them up like Jamaal Magloire or Jamaal Crawford!

Oh well, I'm sure a good night's sleep will remedy this frustration

That and Don Nelson puts Dun on the bench like other SF/PF's that pass well and have a high bball IQ like Luke Walton or Toni Kukoc in his later days. Promote Ike, drop Murphy in place of our most nba ready center. Keep Pietrus up for now unless Barnes is better or Dunleavy plays consistently well. My final worry is we can't have three of our worst f-ups at the foul line in Baron, Jrich, AND Pietrus starting for us. Ouch! Also, LMAO if our guards average more shotblocks than our forward and center.

 

BTW this team has been practicing hard and they are tired. But you know the nba is a marathon. They won't be tired in March or February? C'mon.

First day of open practice and they probably look the same as last year. Hopefully the season changes them, but not before it's too late to totally tank or get to the playoffs. We need to break those bad habits if it can be helped...

Anyway, I should probably find out more facts before I jump to conclusions. I still think putting two of our most inconsistent players at SF and PF and our weakest defensive guy at C is a bad idea. We have no chance of outscoring the other team if we can't make stops and make high % points (in the paint, at the line). Without inside presence we basically bomb threes when they zone us up in the 3-2 zone.

What can I say I got a grudge from last season. Plus, I actually heard from a friend over the phone that Zarko sucked.

 

man oh man

How many negative posts in a row can you post?

FActs are. Monty had no clue what he was doing. One year of grace learning on the job, give him. But come on year two he kept making the same mistakes. Poor management down the stretch, use of time outs, etc.

Any coach that will play Fisher 30+ minutes is either not watching what is going on on the floor or is a complete moron. Just losing Fisher probably gives another 5 wins.

Add an intelligent experienced coach and get rid of another college coach failure and that is another 5 wins at least.

Those two cost us easily 10 wins.

Then the fact that throughout the season Monty mismanaged his talent, never put players in a position to succeed. Demanded that we walk the ball up and go into a half court set without the right players to execute it. You can say Mullin didnt give him the right players, yeah, yeah, yeah. How about Monty actually having the flexibility to adapt to the players he has. A complete failure at that.

MAkes Pietrus a spot up shooter and never pushes the defensive aspect that Muss brought out in MP

Plays Fisher at point when both miles and bynum outplayed him as rooks. Puts fisher in defensive situations where he will fail( like putting him on the floor) Fisher should have at best averaged 10 mintues a game.
He Misuses, dunleavy, murphy etc....

Lets BAron walk all over him....

Just removing fisher and monty alone should get us to .500 anything above that is gravy.

If Nellie boosts these players stats and inflates it can only benefit us.

 

I dont know how you cant be excited about this upcoming season. WE have a competent coach who will actually play to his personell and put players in positions to succeed. No more Monty ball.

WE no long have the laibility fisher, and replaced him with WAgner and Mcleod. A major MAJOR upgrade.

Win or lose we will finally see an exciting brand of basketball. Instead of watching an incompetent point guard fill in for our injured stud as the offense and the team stagnate.

Nothing but positives all the way down the line this off season to me.

Glad we didnt get Harrington, Ely, or any of the other rumoured players we have seen bounced around.

More minutes for Ellis.

IT is all good.

 

It was a bad night. Points taken.

I need to breathe deeply.

 

<div class="quote_poster">boogielew Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">How many negative posts in a row can you post?

FActs are. Monty had no clue what he was doing. One year of grace learning on the job, give him. But come on year two he kept making the same mistakes. Poor management down the stretch, use of time outs, etc.

Any coach that will play Fisher 30+ minutes is either not watching what is going on on the floor or is a complete moron. Just losing Fisher probably gives another 5 wins.

Add an intelligent experienced coach and get rid of another college coach failure and that is another 5 wins at least.

Those two cost us easily 10 wins.

Then the fact that throughout the season Monty mismanaged his talent, never put players in a position to succeed. Demanded that we walk the ball up and go into a half court set without the right players to execute it. You can say Mullin didnt give him the right players, yeah, yeah, yeah. How about Monty actually having the flexibility to adapt to the players he has. A complete failure at that.

MAkes Pietrus a spot up shooter and never pushes the defensive aspect that Muss brought out in MP

Plays Fisher at point when both miles and bynum outplayed him as rooks. Puts fisher in defensive situations where he will fail( like putting him on the floor) Fisher should have at best averaged 10 mintues a game.
He Misuses, dunleavy, murphy etc....

Lets BAron walk all over him....

Just removing fisher and monty alone should get us to .500 anything above that is gravy.

If Nellie boosts these players stats and inflates it can only benefit us.</div>

About the only thing I don't agree with is the Baron walks all over him. Were that so-Baron would have taken it back to that run + shoot game-and we likely would have won more. I figure Baron saw what a lame duck Monty was,saw things not working,and lost confidence in Monty. Me too.

 

<div class="quote_poster">AnimeFANatic Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I heard Zarko straight shitted on Dunleavy and Murphy. To the point where it was just sad.</div>

Remember last year when Zarko grabbed the defensive rebound, then dribbled it himself up the court and layed it in the other hoop? That's my favorite play of last year I think. It was just insane. Seeing this 6-11 guy grab the rebound dribble it, waiting to see if he'll ever pass it, while he creates his own fast break and then finally get into the other team's paint and lays it in.

I think Nelson will like Zarko. He seems to be his typical big man who can play on the outside, but he also has good size, and according to the stats is a better rebounder than Dunleavy, especially offensively, and Zarko has decent handles too. In the stats per 48 minutes Zarko averages more points and rebounds. Dunleavy is the better passer though at least by what the stats say.

After seeing these NBA teams lose to the other teams from around the world, this game coming up tomorrow, may actually be very interesting.

 

boogielew, man you have some extreme hatred for Fisher. I agree that he was not a good fit for the team, but to say that he was worse than Miles is going a bit overboard. Bynum, maybe, I could understand. And definitely Fisher is not that great of a pg, more of a one-dimensional sg. And he definitely took time away from Monta. But really the Warriors had no one else to play backup pg or sg pretty much last season. I think the problem was at the end of games, one of the starters had to sit because Fisher needed to play (+good FT -although clutch, tries do too much sometimes), and that would mean either playing Murphy at Center or sitting Murphy and playing Foyle, or sitting Dunleavy, and the problem was that was defense and Monty, I think, afraid of hurting someone's ego- Murphy. And at least he was professional and didn't complain.

-----

What happened at the open practice doesn't give me much confidence about this team, but I realize that it is only a scrimmage, only practice. Preseason isn't really a good indicator of how good a team will be, but it does give us a small idea. Reminds me of the Raiders this year. I look forward to seeing how they do once the season starts.

 

<div class="quote_poster">custodianrules2 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">It was a bad night. Points taken.

I need to breathe deeply.</div>

Look on the sunny side. I worry that we have a bad start you'll be takin' Prozac by the handfuls I was also pretty stunned at how last season started looking like a day at the beach-then the beach turned to quicksand. Unless it was bad pre-game snacks-I figure the widespread decay gets blamed on mostly the Ex-Coach. A whole roster of young guys-recent lotto grade-no Knick-type headcases- -they should NATURALLY-get BETTER. Not worse.

Now Monty is a fading memory-like last year's toothache-best not remembered. Fish has gone to Utah where slow is beautiful and Sloan will make demands.

We have a rare abundance of tall folk. We have shooters. we have guys who run like Secretariat and a few Clydesdales for the finish We have a coach we know and trust-and why not---this team was built to rock and roll not walk and chuck. Nellie has won. Nellie communicates. Nellie played for the great Red Auerbach. Nellie is a Hall of Fame level guy. Some upgrade I'd say.

Open up a cold Red Tail...give it some thought...go out and smell the flowers,a new era is starting---okay---so maybe we won't be #1 or even #3 but # 10 would sure be a sweet change of pace.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I think Nelson will like Zarko. He seems to be his typical big man who can play on the outside, but he also has good size, and according to the stats is a better rebounder than Dunleavy, especially offensively, and Zarko has decent handles too. In the stats per 48 minutes Zarko averages more points and rebounds. Dunleavy is the better passer though at least by what the stats say.</div>
I like Zarko too. But the problem is that he doesn't have that much confidence. I think he's one of those players that does really well when he is confident but just plays under his ability when he doesn't have it. The times I saw him play last year, you could see the lack of confidence in his facial expression. I could be wrong though.

 

Gohn

It is not hatred for Fisher, the person, i hate his game or lack of one. But i do hate the fact he is so overrated and a terrible player with an huge ego. He can't D up even the slowest of guards. EVerything he was brought in for he failed at. He was not a savvy basketball smart veteran, in fact, he was quite the opposite, making errors, fouls and poor decisions both with the ball and without that a high school freshman girl wouldnt make.

Do i think Miles and Bynum are better all around players than Fisher as rookies . ABsolutely. They both played better D. They both can run the point more effeciently and effectively than Fish. They both are more athletic and both demonstrated at the very least equal basketball smarts to fish.

Could Fisher out shoot them both in a game of horse, most likely. Wher bynum and miles skills are more a dime a dozen as the basic plug in back up point guard, the one skill that kept fisher on the lakers roster was his spot up shooting as the rest of his weaknesses were hidden defensively with Shaq anchoring the paint. ANd the lakers never asking him to be anything more than a spot up shooter. He was thoroughly exposed on the Warriors.

If Fisher was on Houston, Miami, San anotonio he would have value as a spot up shooter. I dont see how he fits in Utah any better than with us. A center who plays perimeter in Okur, Boozer who is sort of mid range and doesnt really demand a double team. AK kind of i guess in the post. BUt with out a post presence Fisher's value to a team is nil. If any coach get maximize Fisher's minimal skills it is Sloan.

 

i was actually there, but I wasn't paying the most attention. Nellie's standup comedy was good though... edit: my wife corrects my paraphrase: "I don't know where you learned that spin pass move, but don't do it for me. It's pissing me off"