From one of my favorites, Bruce Jenkins of the SF Chronicle: Randolph as a statue just won't do Bruce Jenkins Saturday, December 26, 2009 (12-25) 19:56 PST -- The first thing to know about Anthony Randolph is that he's roughly 6-foot-4. That's how the Warriors see him in their offensive scheme, and that's how they play him. Not as a center, or any kind of forward, but a guard - in one of the most boring, non-productive roles in the NBA. In the Warriors' depressing loss at Memphis on Tuesday night, Randolph, who is actually listed as 6-10, was on the floor for 38 half-court possessions. On 30 of those, he came to a virtual stop at least 18 feet from the basket, contributing nothing but an occasional outside shot and a couple of driving layups when the Grizzlies' defense became invisible. Not once was this allegedly gifted big man given a low-post, back-to-the-basket chance with the ball. Seven times, he was the man bringing the ball up the floor. He got maybe one tough, inside rebound at either end all night. He did nothing defensively to stop the inside dominance of Zach Randolph or Marc Gasol. And he didn't have a single assist during his 20 minutes on the floor. Credit Randolph for a defensive resurgence (eight blocks) in New Orleans the following night, but it frustrates the team when such play comes by surprise. And it was more of the same for Randolph on offense: a veritable statue on the perimeter for 39 of 56 half-court possessions, plus seven others when he got inside only to make a late rush for a possible offensive rebound. Perhaps Don Nelson sees Randolph's future more acutely than anyone else. This could be his status in the league, wherever he winds up, because Randolph doesn't have a low-post game or any consistent thirst for life in the paint. It should also be noted that the Warriors have a terribly unimaginative offense and rarely run a cohesive, full-of-ball-movement play for anyone. Fans can only hope that Randolph someday gets the message that at a remarkably agile 6-10, he needs to develop some footwork, establish an inside presence with the ball and move, for crying out loud. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/12/26/SPA01B9KNL.DTL As I see it, that's coaching, not effort. Even though they are a 7-21 team, they'd rather see how successful they can be with Maggette on an iso at the end of the game, than run something for Randolph or Curry to see what they can do. That is not the way to build for the future.
I'm not sure if Smart would play it like this, but he should be given a chance if Nelson would rather "rather see how successful they can be with Maggette on an iso at the end of the game, than run something for Randolph or Curry to see what they can do." Lowell Cohn had another view on Nelson and AB and Turiaf coming back. Ouch about Corey Mags. Warriors about to lose their excuse for losing Excerpt: Don Nelson doesn’t like to play AndrisRonny at the same time. It’s either Andris or Ronny but not AndrisRonny. Why? Nelson loves shooters. He swoons over 3-point shooters. AndrisRonny can’t shoot and Nelson can’t abide more than one non-shooter on the court at one time. That cuts down on rebounding and defense, but Nelson likes it that way. I’m not done. What was this team going to be even with AndrisRonny? In the offseason, the Warriors acquired Stephen Curry. He’s a promising player but he’s a guard. The Warriors have guards. They need big guys who are not Mikki Moore or who don’t come from the DLeague. I’m not done. What is the Warriors’ plan? Really, what is the plan? We thought they were building a team around Anthony Randolph but he has the basketball IQ of a grade schooler and he’s always driving Nelson wacko. Maybe they want to build around Monta Ellis, but he’s a guard, for heaven’s sake. It’s unclear he even likes being on the team. Who could blame him? So what the Warriors have in terms of a plan is two guards, a power forward (Randolph) who may or may not work out, who may or may not get traded, and the second-rate center combo of AndrisRonny. If you dare say they have Corey Maggette, you get fined 10 points and must leave this game right now. full article here http://www.pressdemocrat.com/articl...arriors-about-to-lose-their-excuse-for-losing
What really sucks is that Randolph does have a low post game. I think he doesn't have much freedom on offense as you'd think or because his game is hampered by a low basketball IQ. It's like maybe he doesn't know when to get rid of the ball before the double team arrives? Once the double team arrives. there may be no open teammate to pass the ball because he's been closed out on. All the best big men know when to pass and when to draw the foul and how to make a close range bucket without it getting swatted. Maybe Randolph doesn't have court sense and technical skill like we'd think.
Randolph's game is still young and raw, he probably didn't get a lot of traditional fundamental "big-man" coaching at LSU because he was so gifted and dominant athletically. And he only played 1 year of college there. It's not like Boozer who had 3 years at Duke, or even someone like David West who played 4 years and graduated from Xavier. Randolph is still pretty much and-1-mix-tape right now. Kind of like Monta when he came out of high-school -- amazingly talented, physically amazing, but raw and lacking fundamentals. Randolph has had a few nice low-post possessions, but those have been negated by a lot of careless possessions and flailing prayers where he doesn't get the foul call. He's still pretty lanky and awkward trying to finish with power over guys(at least body-to-body wise, if he has some space he will finish with thunder). And, although he is amazing right now at blocking shots and coming from the weak side, he has problem bodying guys up on defense without getting called for fouls. I think having Biedrins back will help his game a lot. But I agree with philsmith75. Watching Maggette get the iso-plays at the end of games is downright nauseating. And please don't tell me they're trying to "up his trade value" for the deadline... what more does the league possibly need to know about Corey Maggette? Even if you are trying to pad his stats, don't give him any responsibility during crunch-time -- the guy is a momentum killer in that role. I know he' been playing pretty darn good in most areas lately, but he'll never change who he is. Playing him during the end of games -- giving him his stupid iso so everyone else can stand and watch -- that's not going to up his trade value. YOu need to start giving these key possessions to the guys you want to build your team around. Of course, with Nellie, who cares about building. He'd rather have Corey Maggette for 40+ minutes a night.
