I think he will get more touches and improve his consistency. I'll also think that his effort on scoring will totally be circumvented by his lack of defense. Guards can light him up on zone defense and they can blow by him on man to man defense. But he's got the size and fundamentals they say could make him the next Larry Bird or Chris Mullin. Also Bob Fitzgerald and Jim Barnett seem to pee their pants with glee everytime he handles the rock or makes a pass. I think he'll be 14 points 6 boards 3 assists per game He'll be like 30 points one game with 44% shooting and 2/18 shooting the next game
Dunleavy Jr. has really surprised me in his 2 years in the NBA, but I do have higher expectations for him than you do, I think he'll finish next seaoson with averages of 16.3ppg 6.1rpg 2.2apg and 46%FG% 35.4mpg.
Dunleavy will continue to improve and will still have trouble with consistency but what can you expect from such a young player? 13ppg, 6.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists
Wow, It's like when Mike Dunleavy steps on the court he's 2 players. The player that I see, and the player that everyone else sees. In regards to his consistency, his major problem is that he consistently passes up shots! He takes unselfishness to a level that is detrimental to himself and to his team. 2-18? That would be great. That would mean he's shooting! He took 18 or more shots only three time last year. 3 times! What Mike Montgomery has to make Dunleavy understand is that his own vision of himself as a conductor of the offense will only be heightened if he also becomes an aggressor. If he decides to stop passing up open jumpers, and take it at the defense occasionally, he'll find a few more of those open cutters that he loves so much. If he can get 14 shots per game, he'll average 17pts. 6rebs. and 4 assists.
I think we have to throw out everything we've seen with Dunleavy the last two years. It's clear that he and Musselman didn't get along and that they were not a good fit at all. The Warriors started last season thinking that NVE and Damp were going to get a lot of shots and would be two of the top three options along with Richardson. This year Dunleavy has to know he's the clear #2 option behind Richardson, so he's going to have to step up and take more shots. I think this will be the year Dunleavy stops trying to fit in and starts establishing himself as an offensive focal point.
Wtwalker- You see Dunleavy as the Warriors #2 option? I know it really doesn't matter but just for the sake of argument, why not Murphy?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Rudeezy:</div><div class="quote_post">Wtwalker- You see Dunleavy as the Warriors #2 option? I know it really doesn't matter but just for the sake of argument, why not Murphy?</div> I'd be perfectly happy with either Murphy or Dunleavy as the #2 option. I put Dunleavy as the #2 because I figure he'll have the ball in his hands more than Murphy. It will be up to him and Montgomery whether he uses his touches to take shots or try and create for others.
I forget how does he create his shot or for others when he has some tough backcourt defender on him? This guy's gotta become a pumpfake master or something and use that widestep to get around people because he sure ain't going to blow by anyone with that speed and those handles. I mean his ballhandling is above average, but its not dynamite. And his speed is well you know... just plain slow for the nba.
Why does he have to have to be quick to create for others? Most easy baskets come when people who don't have the ball are moving. It's up to the ball handler to get the ball to them when they are open, which is never for long. The point is, this is what Dun is good at, he recognizes where the defenses are week, we just have to get people in those positions. You can't forget that Musselman never commited to a particular offense, he instituted the so called 'open offense' which relied on cutters, but never really defined who was supposed to make the cut and where. This I guarantee will change, and the entire team, but especially Dunleavy will benefit from it. And once he starts shooting, that pump fake will be money.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting meshgearfox:</div><div class="quote_post">Why does he have to have to be quick to create for others? Most easy baskets come when people who don't have the ball are moving. It's up to the ball handler to get the ball to them when they are open, which is never for long. The point is, this is what Dun is good at, he recognizes where the defenses are week, we just have to get people in those positions. You can't forget that Musselman never commited to a particular offense, he instituted the so called 'open offense' which relied on cutters, but never really defined who was supposed to make the cut and where. This I guarantee will change, and the entire team, but especially Dunleavy will benefit from it. And once he starts shooting, that pump fake will be money.</div> Gotcha. Good point. I forget we have some good slashers and guys that know how to move without the ball and make a cut.
I think that the team's second option is pretty much up in the air between Murphy, Dunleavy, and Speedy. I can't wait to see who will take their game to the next level and defines themselves as the true second option (Is anyone questioning that Jason Richardson is going to be our leading scorer? For the record, i'm not)
I think it should be whoever presents themselves as the most opportune scorer. Murphy if he's on a smaller power forward. Go to Dunleavy if he's playing point guard on a smaller guard or against a smaller forward. Go to Claxton if he's just outquicking everyone and beating everybody on the break and drawing fouls and sinking free throws like a mad man. I'd even go to Pietrus because the guy is so athletic he can just cut his way to the rim. Plus I think people underrate his ballhandling ability and his offensive game around the basket. He is definitely better than Jrich at splitting defenders and moving in ways in which Jrich can't because he's not as quick in a side to side motion. Pietrus could use that quickness to fake either way, crossover and change direcitons and break people's ankles if he ever develops nba caliber handles. I see the potential but I don't know if he can live up to it and be great at ballhandling because we only saw a glimpse of him. Plus for right now Jrich is decent enough because he is so strong he holds the advantage of being able to finish over bigger opponents with his improved step and control of the ball. Jrich is basically the classic Michael Finley type power guard type of player mixed with Vince Carter's leaping ability minus the allstar handles and Finley's defense. Finley and Vince could easily kill Jrich one on one because they can control the ball.
I like him a little, but the boy really needs to work on his defense, Pietrus is my favourite Warrior though, and also one of my favourite players and I like Claxton on the Warriors too. Anyways, Dunleavy: 13.1 points, 6.04 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.01 steals, 2.03 turnovers, 45.3% FG, 38.7% 3PT, 79.0% FT.......in 34.4 minutes a game.
Jrich has become an average defender (his effort has improved, he works harder in guarding someone off the ball and around screens and manages to get his usual steals and occasional block like another average defender by the name of Vince Carter). I consider V.C. and Jrich in the same boat when it comes to effort on defense. They can both be great with the steals and blocks they get but they just don't bother sometimes. Dunleavy is still a poor defender in my opinion and I don't know what else he can do besides play physical, try to develop some timing on blocks, to stop reaching in all the time, and to just do his usual excellent rebounding.
