<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">OAKLAND - Mickael Pietrus' salary drive has slowed to something more like a jog. Since Warriors guard Jason Richardson returned from his broken right hand after the All-Star break last month, Pietrus' minutes have been cut by more than a quarter and his field-goal attempts have dropped by nearly 30 percent. When you're coming up on a summer of restricted free agency, as Pietrus is, those are the kind statistical declines that could lead to an equal plunge in the amount of cash that teams are willing to offer. Yet Pietrus maintains that he wouldn't have it any other way. "Yeah, it costs me money, but I like success over money," Pietrus said. "I'm a team player. I know I'm capable of being a good player in this league, and average 15 to 17 points and six rebounds, seven rebounds a night." That's not going to happen on this team, with Richardson, Stephen Jackson and Al Harrington starting in the three spots where Pietrus has earned playing time this season. Even with Monday's 20-point outburst against the Dallas Mavericks, Pietrus is averaging just 8.1 points since the All-Star break. "It is hard, but I understand the situation," Pietrus said. "It doesn't bother me, because I'm trying to accomplish something. I've been here four years and I think we really have a chance this year to make the playoffs." The Warriors got one step closer when the Los Angeles Clippers lost Wednesday night, dropping into an eighth-place tie with Golden State. During the Warriors' pursuit, Pietrus has concentrated on defending and rebounding -- his numbers in that category have jumped on a per-48 minute basis from 7.9 prior to the All-Star break to 9.8 since -- the two things Warriors coach Don Nelson wanted to see above all. Asked about the perceived slight of doing everything asked of him yet getting bounced from the starting lineup, Pietrus -- who popped off last season after not getting as much playing time as he would have liked -- wouldn't bite. "Obviously at the beginning of the season, (Nelson) said, 'MP, he's my man,'" Pietrus said. "So I'm still his man. As long as I'm still his man, it's fine for me. I think that I'm still doing a pretty good job." Nelson confirmed that fact Wednesday, saying, "I love that man. He's a very good player and a wonderful human being. He's one of my favorites on the team." Whether he'll continue to be on Nelson's team is an open question. The Warriors already have more than $61 million committed to nine players for next season, so signing Pietrus could be doubly expensive if Golden State exceeds the luxury-tax threshold. "It's a financial concern," Nelson said. "It's not a love concern." It's a financial concern for Pietrus as well, although Richardson thinks there's one sure thing that can keep Pietrus' value from decreasing in lock step with his playing time. "When you're winning, you also get money too," Richardson said. "Once you win, everybody gets rewarded. So I think he's looking at it that way: If we win and get to the playoffs, his name's going to be one of the highest free agents on the market."</div> Source
I think his consistent traveling calls, inept court presence, and dumb fouls are costing him money more than his minutes.
Agreed. The guy has been a real disappointment in terms of a real basketball player. There are guys as quick as him and some as not, but they get more playing time because they're more polished basketball players. Pietrus is an athlete who was coached poorly early in his career and he's not very natural in mindset. He does some great things, but other times he just undoes all that. He really screws up any momentum when the team attempts to play organized. He doesn't know what to do half the time while the others either know it or can fill in the blanks.
I think it should be noted that he'll still get his money somewhere else... someone will surely overpay for him. Hopefully it's not Mully.
Knock on him all you want, you gotta love the guy's personality and attitude. He's quite a character.
Pietrus had been playing very poorly, I think after the Dunleavy/Murphy trade. His shot had been off. Instead of expecting him to make that corner three, I was starting to expect him to brick or even airball the shot. He was just playing pretty cruddy. Nonetheless Pietrus started off the season playing extremely well. If Pietrus is playing well then the potential of this team rises greatly. Pietrus is definitley a key player in the final few weeks for the Warriors. If Pietrus comes back to from like he was earlier in the season, then that will be a big push for the team in the right direction. Also I like his attitude. I think he is gaining a much better attitude, especially finally playing with a coach that has some "love" for him. I think Pietrus had some tough times with Musselman and Montgomery to start his career. But right now it's all about production. Everyone needs to be on top of his game, including Pietrus. I am hoping that he gets that corner three point shot down again. That will help the offense tremendously. And if he can play Pietrus-style defense then that will be that much better.
Yeah, you can't fault Pietrus' hustle and desire. He is a fan favorite for a reason. I think Pietrus is best when he's not asked to do too much. When he's asked to think, or to take on a lot of responsiblity (like bringing the ball up court, or starting against a guy like Kobe) then he struggles. With Baron out there, guys like Pietrus and Barnes become better because they don't have to do alot of thiniking. They can just play defense, run the floor, fill the lanes, and let Baron create the play. I like Pietrus off the bench. He's a knucklehead at times, no doubt. But he's also a spark plug. I would sign him if it was on the cheap. But if his agent wants a decent contract, he'll have to go elsewhere.
<div class="quote_poster">Clif25 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Pietrus had been playing very poorly, I think after the Dunleavy/Murphy trade. His shot had been off. Instead of expecting him to make that corner three, I was starting to expect him to brick or even airball the shot. He was just playing pretty cruddy. Nonetheless Pietrus started off the season playing extremely well. If Pietrus is playing well then the potential of this team rises greatly. Pietrus is definitley a key player in the final few weeks for the Warriors. If Pietrus comes back to from like he was earlier in the season, then that will be a big push for the team in the right direction. Also I like his attitude. I think he is gaining a much better attitude, especially finally playing with a coach that has some "love" for him. I think Pietrus had some tough times with Musselman and Montgomery to start his career. But right now it's all about production. Everyone needs to be on top of his game, including Pietrus. I am hoping that he gets that corner three point shot down again. That will help the offense tremendously. And if he can play Pietrus-style defense then that will be that much better.</div> I agree 100% and couldn't have said it better myself...
Personally, I think Pietrus' defense is overrated when he tries to get in the team defense scheme. He's better used as a ballstopper when they need to take both Ellis and Pietrus and pressure guys to give up the ball in the backcourt. Those two could just lurk around and force some guys who don't protect the ball very well to turn it over. I can see Pietrus working extremely well on Kobe and Ellis against those lightning quick bastards like Arenas and Tony Parker. In the halfcourt, we play zone, and I think some of these guys get really banged up on screens or they're not knowing where to help or when not to overhelp on the team D. Certain kinds of offense can tear that apart, like the ones that usually involve multiple guys that can shoot, dribble, and pass to force the zone to be ineffective at stopping cuts, or perimeter shots in the areas not being covered. I guess I appreciate the fact he can rebound some pretty amazing boards. He plays big with hustle, just not upstairs in the attic. The lights on, but nobody is home sometimes. If we want a hustle guy with brains we go with a Battier type guy, who also has some good strength. Or we go with Andres Noccioni or a motivated Reuben Pattersen. All three can pass, play defense, can play physical, rebound, shoot from midrange instead of settling for threes, and they can post up or make a decent dribble move if it's the right move to make.
<div class="quote_poster">custodianrules2 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Personally, I think Pietrus' defense is overrated when he tries to get in the team defense scheme. He's better used as a ballstopper when they need to take both Ellis and Pietrus and pressure guys to give up the ball in the backcourt. Those two could just lurk around and force some guys who don't protect the ball very well to turn it over. I can see Pietrus working extremely well on Kobe and Ellis against those lightning quick bastards like Arenas and Tony Parker. In the halfcourt, we play zone, and I think some of these guys get really banged up on screens or they're not knowing where to help or when not to overhelp on the team D. Certain kinds of offense can tear that apart, like the ones that usually involve multiple guys that can shoot, dribble, and pass to force the zone to be ineffective at stopping cuts, or perimeter shots in the areas not being covered. I guess I appreciate the fact he can rebound some pretty amazing boards. He plays big with hustle, just not upstairs in the attic. The lights on, but nobody is home sometimes. If we want a hustle guy with brains we go with a Battier type guy, who also has some good strength. Or we go with Andres Noccioni or a motivated Reuben Pattersen. All three can pass, play defense, can play physical, rebound, shoot from midrange instead of settling for threes, and they can post up or make a decent dribble move if it's the right move to make.</div> Yeah, you have a great point. Pietrus is much better on defense playing man to man rather than zone. His help defense is suspect. Pietrus is much better as a ballstopper and shut down defender in man to man.
<div class="quote_poster">Clif25 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Yeah, you have a great point. Pietrus is much better on defense playing man to man rather than zone. His help defense is suspect. Pietrus is much better as a ballstopper and shut down defender in man to man.</div> Yeah, I was totally impressed the way he had played Kobe Bryant, Gilbert Arenas and Steve Francis when he was semi-healthy. But, maybe those stars have figured him out and can draw the foul on him if Pietrus gets too overzealous on making the stop. But still pretty good one on one defender when he's not making the bad habit of reaching in or crowding the guy, denying the small step defenders are supposed to give guys while driving to the basket. Kobe Bryant, though, what a crossover fake expert. Pietrus is at least smart enough not to fall for his jukes. Maybe he is smart when it comes to individiual assigned defense or maybe it's because he likes Kobe enough to study what his tendencies are. Or another theory is that he's just quick enough to be able to make up for bad mistakes when he does make a mistake on defense. Unlike the other disappointment, Mike Dunleavy Jr., Pietrus could keep people in front of him because he has nba quickness of foot. I think overall, Dunleavy could be labeled the bigger disappointment then Pietrus, because where does Dunleavy fit when he's not quick, not strong or agile enough to get away with not being quick, and not good enough of a shooter to get away with not being quick, strong, or agile. So great, we had a guy who wasn't quick, wasn't strong, wasn't the most reliable off-balance performer, and wasn't good at nailing a shot consistently versus a guy who is quick, can finish sometimes off balance, but can't nail shots consistently either and is a lot more disrupting on offense than Dunleavy ever was. If we want to keep Pietrus, give him role player money, but we need stars, so I'm with the team that says save it all for guys like Ellis and Biedrins, who could be extremely useful even if they don't turn out to be stars. I think those guys have more natural bball brains and quickness than Pietrus and Dunleavy ever will in terms of franchise drafted players we look at re-signing some day.
Oh and I forgot to mention that Dunleavy and some of the other 3 point trigger happy guys on the team are right about one thing. When there's too many players standing around, not setting screens, nobody gets open or springs free from a defender, that's when the bad shot selection happens. Whether it's a small guy getting creamed inside or guys taking long range shots because they're afraid of defenders collapsing on them in the midrange area, we definitely need to run or get bigger post players that can take two defenders all the way inside the bucket, so our guards can move up and take the shots closer in. Like Shaq or any other big post guys getting deep position and then passing it out or having it touch at least two hands to cycle the ball to the side of the court most vulnerable to a drive, shot, or another pass. We got to get the other team's defense moving and improperly spaced.
