<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">OAKLAND ? Mike Dunleavy claims he's never heard or read any of Don Nelson's public criticisms of his inconsistent play and says the private ones he's had aren't anybody's business. So perhaps it was just coincidence that, in the wake of some of Nelson's most scathing comments about Dunleavy in the media over the weekend, the talented but frequently perplexing forward staged one of his best games of the season Monday in a 108-93 victory over the Los Clippers at Oracle Arena. Dunleavy was all over the floor against the Clippers. He scored 18 points and yanked a season-high 13 rebounds, including six on the offensive end. He had three steals, three assists and a blocked shot. He played active and smart defensively. In short, it was the type of game you would expect from a fifth-year player who was once the third overall pick in the NBA draft. Solid, stupendous at times. So what got into Dunleavy following a Friday game againstMiami in which he tallied just two points with five boards? If Nelson didn't twist his nipples, what did? Does he like playing in the afternoon better? Does he have a thing for turning it up on holidays? Was he psyched by the choice of pregame music? Hey, there are a million theories about Dunleavy in the naked city. Nelson, in fact, offered his own afterward. "He must have wanted to impress his father," said Nelson, moments later claiming he was only joking at the seemingly barbed-wire comment. </div> Source
He does this all the time. Has one or two good games and then regresses. Let's see him keep it up for a month or two. He never has been able to and IMO never will. Trade his softy ass while you can, I say.
<div class="quote_poster">HiRez Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">He does this all the time. Has one or two good games and then regresses. Let's see him keep it up for a month or two. He never has been able to and IMO never will. Trade his softy ass while you can, I say.</div> I can't agree any more. Theres people who say he's gotten better and whatnot, but the fact is he'll always go back to his normal invisible self. He's only consistent at being inconsistent.
Here's my Dunleavy motivational theory. Remember when Dunleavy started playing well when he thought he was going to be traded to the Pacers in a Ron Artest deal. He had several games where he scored in double digits and got close to that many in rebounds. He made some nice plays and assists. Maybe that's what motivates him and Nellie told him to play well in order to be showcased for the Clips.
<div class="quote_poster">jason voorhees Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Maybe that's what motivates him and Nellie told him to play well in order to be showcased for the Clips.</div>Well maybe so but my motivational theory is that it's better to have guys that don't need external or fabricated sources of motivation. Guys like LeBron, Michael, Magic, Gilbert...all the greats, but even guys on our own team like Baron, JRich, and even Andris and Monta...you can see that they have that inner fire, the joy of competition that gets them up to play hard every night. Dunleavy completely lacks that bone in his body. There is just no passion, no competitive fire, no anger, no emotion at all. I know a lot of people think he has those things but just internalizes it, but I just don't see it at all. It's not like this guy is a rookie; all the excuses over the years, not the right coach, not the right players around him, not the right style to suit his game, he's just in a slump...whatever...at some point you just have to admit he sucks. He's never going to be a great player, EVER. That's it, I'm out!
