I don't know about you guys, but I see some eerie similarites between this year's Warriors and the ones from Musselman's first year. Both coaches wanted to turn the team into a slow down, defensive team, then gave up and let the horses run. The team has averaged about 106 points a game over the last six games and they're 4-2, and they should be 6-0. It's official, they're playing a lot better than they were at the beginning of the season, and it's because they changed their style of play. I can't remember if I posted it on this board (I probably did since I was posting a lot more back then), but when Montgomery joined the team, I was worried about how he'd deal with Richardson and Pietrus. He's never had athletes like that at Stanford, so I didn't know if he knew how to use them. Well, he's starting to use them. Richardson and Pietrus are two of the best athletes in the league, Speedy is one of the fastest, and Dunleavy is excellent at pushing his own defensive rebounds up the floor. Face it, this team is built to run. They have an athletic advantage over most teams in the league and Montgomery is finally beginning exploit it. I also say there is an eerie similarity between this year's teamd and the one from two years ago, because it was around this point that Musselman's team started to turn it around. They were 9-18 then when Musselman made the decision to go with the open offense and were 27-24 after it. This year's team didn't dig quite as big a hole for themselves before they made a change (and I hope it's a permanent one), but I can see them making a run from here on out.
It's practically the same team from last year minus our best shooter (Brian Cardinal) and our best rebounder and only low post scorer (Erick Dampier). They were all former players built for or around Jamison and Arenas' run and gun show hosted by Eric Musselman. Now I believe that Monty is a good coach and I believe he'll be successful once he starts learning how to coach players in the nba. And if the players finally give him some respect and understand how to play good ball, we can be that team that will have no problems in the 4th quarter or creating offense without having to rely on Speedy all the time or wondering what to do with the ball. Here's reasons 1.) When the players finally buy into why they need the half court style, a solid 18'-20' jumper, and good team defense, they'll know how to win in the 4th quarter without having a go-to guy. Everything slows down, posessions are crucial, and you need a bread and butter shot to almost guarantee offense. Midrange shot off a screen sounds the most solid because it will get you open and it's hard to guard against without comitting a foul. Calbert "the Towel" Cheaney is the only one who can knock those down consistently and he really isn't the ideal 4th quarter guy since his passes are pretty horrible and he lacks the athleticism to match up with 2 guards and the size to matchup with small forwards. Plus we lack a Ben Wallace or Andrei Kirilenko defensive type player to be constantly in fear of taking the ball at. So we need good team defense awareness so that our strongest defender is rotating in on the intended scorer. I think this also might be the possible reason why Mullin re-signed Foyle btw because he could be that type of player to fear whenever he is out on the court. It was a bad move because I think the Warrior fans fear him even more than the opponents do when he's out on the court. Possibly more than Derek "Dead-Fish" Fisher and his pile of bricks. Anyway I'm getting off track here like usual, but we need Montgomery's x's and o's to get our players to execute in last few minutes of the game. If every player is where they should be on the floor and they move to a spot where they know they are going to be open, they just have to make the shot. Here's the problem though, when do the Warriors learn how to shoot? I mean when the warriors finally learn how to shoot a midrange shot from behind a screen or through an opening between a zone, they'll understand the value of what Calbert Cheaney brings to the table. It's just too bad that Cheaney is too one dimensional on the floor but he serves as a lesson why you should master his shot because he'll return to the squad next year in 4th quarters if you don't. Now if this is a bread and butter shot for almost half of our team's perimeter players, we should have no problems worrying about not getting open or not being able to score. (Almost like the Pistons and the Jazz and their shooters). The offense looks easy for them because the teamwork is there and they have good defensive players like both Wallaces, Chauncey Billups, Prince, and even Rip Hamilton now. 2.) I'll think of this later. We've yet to see how Monty can adjust his system for the 24 second shotclock. Well it's the same old Warriors team until they learn the new system eventually so they won't have 4th quarter collapses or we get new players... I just hope Biedrens becomes a legit force in the paint either a la Gasol (based more on quickness and length) or Elton Brand (Body bumps and spin moves) soon so we'll get some form of double teams, easy points in the paint and a chance of having a player that is great on both ends of the court. Our defense isn't that great, we lack inside presence and we don't shoot the ball well. We are definitely a running team until Biedrens has proven he can a be a threat in the paint and we start learning some set plays. My predictions are that Biedrens will still be the same lousy free thrower, but he'll be one of these Marcus Camby/Kenyon Martin monster rebounder, shotblocker, "run the break" type players. But anything can happen if he puts his mind to it and eventually winds up like a Jermaine O'neil-like, Tim Duncan-like or Kevin Garnett-like player on the court.
I also noticed that there are many similarities between Muss' team and Monty's team. And, ironically enough, when Monty let our players run free and speedy starts to penetrate, like how Muss did, we started to look much better. Also we do not have a post up games, great passers and shooters, so logically, only way for us to score is to run, run and run. `At this point, I don't even want to think what will happen if Speedy goes down. `Why Dunleavy always seem to play well when he plays backup PG? Also, seems like Pietrus also picks up his play when Dunleavy plays back up PG. `I miss Dampier. We need a post up games, inside defense presence, so that other teams will stop trying to make lay up after lay up, and defense rebounds. Wonder if Cuban would like to swap Dampier for Foyle. `Feels like we are playing better, not because of Mullin's moves, but despite Mullin's moves. Hope he can make smarter decisions from now on...
Oh dude for sure: Nothing has changed. We still suck obviously. But we're not sucking as much. BTW where was Dampier? Was he even playing? LOL. Bradley over Dampier in the 4th sounds crazy.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Kwan1031:</div><div class="quote_post">`I miss Dampier. We need a post up games, inside defense presence, so that other teams will stop trying to make lay up after lay up, and defense rebounds. Wonder if Cuban would like to swap Dampier for Foyle.</div> I hate saying things like this since there's nothing that can be done about it, but wouldn't the Warriors be A LOT better right now if they'd signed Damp and a back up pg out of the bargain bin instead of Foyle and Fisher? They'd have their inside scoring option and wouldn't have any issues with re-signing Speedy next year. But...this is good too...I guess...maybe Mullin wasn't such an upgrade over Saint after all...sigh...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting custodianrules2:</div><div class="quote_post">I'm still waiting for that block buster trade...</div> Me too. A big center would be nice
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Air Pietrus:</div><div class="quote_post">Me too. A big center would be nice</div> They had a big center, his name was Erick Dampier. Mullin thought it was better to have Foyle and Fisher instead. And the downside to a blockbuster trade is that they'll have to start all over from a chemistry standpoint. Sooner or later everyone is going to have to come to the realization that this is the team, for better or worse. The future at pf/c is Murphy and Biedrins. But, Foyle and Fisher are going to be with the team for a long time because neither has any trade value at all and the Warriors would have to give up a big piece of the young core just to get rid of either of them.
Perhaps Mully's just building a bench for now-one that doesn't complain and pull the team down and be a bad example for the youngins. Then when the time comes, Foyle and Fisher respectfully resign to the bench and Pietrus and Biedrens play mad minutes. I'm talking a few years from now of course. At least we have JRich and Murphy, guys I'd rather have stay then go after all these years of losing Arenas, Jamison, Cardinal, Dampier, etc. etc. etc. I mean I seriously think that Mullin is building a team that will seriously contend a few years from now, especially with Montogomery's contract. It's bad news short term, but long term could reap some real benefits. And if I'm right (I'm going off assumptions mind you), I would think that Chris Mullin really doesn't feel that this last decade is something he inherited and instead is thinking more like this is a new franchise, like the Bobcats. I mean, why have a new everything, especially NBA coach? This is hopefully a team that gets to grow together-the antithesis to rush trades and blowing up teams. So I guess as fans, we just have to act like they are in Charlotte...same city, whole new franchise, and well, a bit lower expectations for now. And back to Monty...this guys a winner too. After awhile he'll probably get pissed at all the losing and really buckle down and start guiding this team into the winners we know this team could be (judging from the optimism we had pre-season).
Mully is only playing the guys he plans on keeping. That's why we don't hear anything about Sesay, Dale Davis, or anybody else who is losing minutes. Even Cheaney is getting cut on playing time.
