I've just about gave up hope for one Mr. Mike Dunleavy Jr. As the THIRD overall selection in the 2002 draft, I think a little bit more should be expected of the guy, yet it's almost as though he's received a pass from alot of fans. This is a guy who was praised by Hall of Fame Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski. He went as far as to call Dunleavy ?the most versatile player we?ve had here since Grant Hill". Yet his production hasn't resembled anything close to that of a third overall selection. I mean it's not as if he's a high schooler or a freshmen pulled straight out of college. This is a guy with an NCAA championship, a well seasoned college player. This year the 3rd OVERALL selection is averaging just 13 points (which is surprising up from last year's 11.7 PPG) but is still lack luster given his expectations. It was excusable in his rookie campaign in which he received limited minutes but this is his third season and his improvements haven't jumped by leaps and bounds like expected. As for last year, He averaged over 30 minutes per contest and his numbers still didn't resemeble anything close enough to call impressive. The Warriors even went as far as to move him to the point last season in a desperate attempt to increase his productivity, but their prayers were not answered. So what's to do with the Coach's sun? Can we still cash in the name for a 3rd overall selection or is it to late? Perhaps Daddy will take him over in Clipper land, they have a REAL foward down their by the name of Corey Maggette, sure wouldn't mind having him right about now. What do you guys think, was too much expected of Dunleavy JR and he just simply could not live up to the hype. OR, is Dunleavy still developing and the best is yet to come? I say trade him while some may still see potential...
You know how I always feel. I think Brian Cardinal should have started over his behind. He's a bum. Well not a bum but a role player on somebody else's team. I'm telling you he is the second coming of Danny Ferry, not in terms of game play, but in terms of hype.
This is almost a do or die year for Dunleavy. If he plays well, he gets and extension. If not, then he will have his real do or die year next year. The jury is still out in my mind. IMO he is playing better this year than last year. But then again, I have not watched a game yet this year...
I agree Dunleavy is inexperienced and not so great but you know what? He's played the most consistent this year and has shot the best %. Dunleavy for the next couple of games has to be more selfish and take more shots. He isn't a dead eye shooter, but he's okay. Okay is better than sh*t= Murphy. His ball handling isn't the best but it's one of the best on the team. If he can just learn quick on his feet he can be adequate. Murphy has been absolutely horrendous and shouldn't even be a scoring option. Montgomery has to put his foot down and let the offense flow more instead of giving JRich and Murph 20 shots a game.
Only reason Dunleavy looked consistant is because other Warriors looked utterly horrible. So far, Dunleavy's make-or-break year has been a disappointment as well. His pts has been up for 1.5 pts, but his fg% is down from 45% to 43%, his 3 pts is also down from 37% to 31%, and his ft has been absolutely horrible. I mean, didn't we count on him to shoot at least 80% from the line instead of 58%? Hardly a nice start to say the least. Only thing that has been consistant from Dunleavy is his chocking jobs at the end...
That's what I'm saying. A good player doesn't choke like that. I'm really disappointed. I don't think Mullin in his rookie year or sophmore year choked that majorly.
People, again I remind you, go back to your history books and review what they were saying about the following in the start of their 3rd year: Jordan: "all about me, individual, will never make his teammates better," Magic: "(while he won 1st year) coach killer (ran Westhead out)," Mullin: "where's Koncak? Joe Kleine?, why this guy?"; Jermaine O'Neal: "stinks, never draft a high schooler again," Ron Artest (traded from Bulls): "head case, will never make it." Mike Bibby: "and he went 2nd?" Not everyone comes out like Shaq and becomes an immediate superstar. You guys dog Dunleavy yet praise JRich and that guy still cannot dribble with his left hand and its his 4th year!! 2 dunk contests, big deal, Kenny Walker and Harold Miner won the same thing, do you want to build your team around those guys? Dunleavy's strengths are subtle, not athletic. He makes his guys better. He makes a nice pass, he hits the jumper after a pass. Contrast that to what I saw last night from Carmelo, he scored 34 and was scoring but about half of them were on layups then he hit a couple of long 3s which are nice but they were very tough shots that will not go down 30% of the time. I am not saying Dunleavy will be 'Melo but their games are drastically different. The only time you see 'Melo make a pass for an assist is with the highlight pass, not the simple chest pass looking for a guy cutting (Dunleavy's game). No way you give up on Dunleavy.
I agree that Dunleavy is doing well considering all given expectations. He plays a very complimentary role, but unfortunely as of yet, no one has stepped up to work with Dunleavy to benefit from that. Even early in the season, there's been some defensive improvement, at least from what I've seen.
I wouldn't say I praise Richardson. But he is fun to watch. I would rather have him gone for someone that can score AND play defense AND dribble AND make a darn free throw and shoot the ball. Oh and a shooting guard that is actually 6'6 instead of 6'4.
Frankly there's no one better on the Warriors to replace Dunleavy, so I am not going to dog him(I know I have before...). I don't think he's a great player, I believe he was overhyped and all, but there's no one to replace him, so I don't really feel like it's necessary to dog Dunleavy at this point. I am just apreciating what he is bringing and I hope he can develop his game more, especially his demeanor. But what's bugged me about Dunleavy is his way of falling back and not being any type of option when the team is struggling. I swear Mike fades away when nobody else is making any shots. I think he actually shows up ironically when people are making shots(I will have to recheck that actually). But anyway, I don't like that in a player. If you want to be(or are) a starter or a main player you sometimes need to go a little outside your game or just step up your game to help the team out and not worry about looking completely horrible. Because I'd rather have one of my main guys try to step up their games and play absolutely terrible than have a main player fade away when things aren't going well and just be a nonfactor at all. And then to talk like your a coach and say "Well we can't win every game and things weren't falling for us. We hope to win the next game and turn this thing around." I don't like that...
While it may look like I'm making excuses for Dunleavy, I'm not. I'm just pointing out some things that haven't been brought up yet. 1. Dunleavy played his first two years under a coach who really didn't like him. It was just a really bad fit. If you don't think a coach or front office person can kill a young guys career, just look at what Jordan did with Kwame Brown. Now Dunleavy has a coach who wants him, and he's starting to come out of his shell. 2. Dunleavy's biggest problem, especially to outside viewers, is that he does all the things that don't show up in box scores. He draws charges, he works in the flow of the offense, he boxes out and allows a team mate to get the rebound, etc. He may not put up the type of numbers you'd expect for a #3 pick, but look at Kirilenko. Does he put up the type of numbers that would merit a max deal? No. Does he deserve a max deal? Yes. It's the same for Dunleavy, albeit on a smaller scale. 3. This has already been brought up, but I think it's the key to Dunleavy's development: he's becoming more aggressive. We see him driving to the hoop, and taking more shots. When he does, he's effective, but he needs to do it even more. But this goes back to the thing about coaches, I think Montgomery is going to be much more successful than Musselman at bringing out the best from Dunleavy.
I've lost all hope in Dunleavy. I have to be with Musselman on that one. The franchise either should settle on Dunleavy or Richardson, but not both because both play like forwards. Plus, you can't' have the weakest perimeter defense in the league and the streakiest shooting on offense. That's just disatrous To top it off neither have any inside game or can take their man off the dribble. Unfortunately for us fans we're tired of waiting and the time is now.... 1.) to clear out for cap space 2.) to settle on a player you can build upon. If it's Jrich we're building on let's get him a defender and a someone that can take someone off the dribble so he's wide open.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting custodianrules2:</div><div class="quote_post">I've lost all hope in Dunleavy. I have to be with Musselman on that one. The franchise either should settle on Dunleavy or Richardson, but not both because both play like forwards. Plus, you can't' have the weakest perimeter defense in the league and the streakiest shooting on offense. That's just disatrous To top it off neither have any inside game or can take their man off the dribble. Unfortunately for us fans we're tired of waiting and the time is now.... 1.) to clear out for cap space 2.) to settle on a player you can build upon. If it's Jrich we're building on let's get him a defender and a someone that can take someone off the dribble so he's wide open.</div> I agree with you, but I still think Dunleavy can have a role on this team, just maybe not one you would expect or want from a #3 pick...
