http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=knig...night&type=lgns Murphy may be a legit player next year. Thank god Dunleavy is going to add some strength to his lower body. Next year all of our players should get better.
I'm hoping Troy Murphy can follow what Tim Duncan does at least on the offensive end. Duncan is probably the least athletic superstar player. Very below the rim kind of player, but he's strong and he's very cerebral. He posts up, banks shots off glass, he pump fakes, he uses hip checks to get defenders off balance, up and under moves, and has good decision making when going for the layup or taking it strong to the hoop. Strong fundamentals. I'm hoping Murphy can work on those techniques, but doesn't force something he cannot do. Also it would be nice if he worked on his shotblock timing. He's blocked several shots in summer games, but apparently he's kind of foul prone when he does so I think he's stopped trying. Dunleavy working on a post game would be nice. I mean he's tall/long enough to just shoot over 6'8 guys and crafty enough to start getting guys to start biting on pump fakes. 4 players on the court that can nail 3's, pass and post up would be nice. Here's the original source: http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctime...rs/11460518.htm
Im just glad each player is showing that they want to take their game to the next level. Even Jrich said he's going to play PG in the summer league to better his handles and BD is planning on working on hist freethrows so next year the team is going to be even better, especially with the 3 draft picks and whoever the MLE lands them.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting custodianrules2:</div><div class="quote_post">I'm hoping Troy Murphy can follow what Tim Duncan does at least on the offensive end. Duncan is probably the least athletic superstar player. Very below the rim kind of player, but he's strong and he's very cerebral. He posts up, banks shots off glass, he pump fakes, he uses hip checks to get defenders off balance, up and under moves, and has good decision making when going for the layup or taking it strong to the hoop. Strong fundamentals. I'm hoping Murphy can work on those techniques, but doesn't force something he cannot do. Also it would be nice if he worked on his shotblock timing. He's blocked several shots in summer games, but apparently he's kind of foul prone when he does so I think he's stopped trying. Dunleavy working on a post game would be nice. I mean he's tall/long enough to just shoot over 6'8 guys and crafty enough to start getting guys to start biting on pump fakes. 4 players on the court that can nail 3's, pass and post up would be nice. Here's the original source: http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctime...rs/11460518.htm</div> Although Duncan isn't as athletic he has excellent footwork, that's what separates him from others.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting dsigns:</div><div class="quote_post">Im just glad each player is showing that they want to take their game to the next level. Even Jrich said he's going to play PG in the summer league to better his handles and BD is planning on working on hist freethrows so next year the team is going to be even better, especially with the 3 draft picks and whoever the MLE lands them. </div> Hey welcome! Did you sign the Warriors guestbook by chance If Jrich plays point guard, that will open up so many possibilities. I wonder if he's going to do it in the Summer Pro AM in SF.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting jzblaze:</div><div class="quote_post">Although Duncan isn't as athletic he has excellent footwork, that's what separates him from others.</div> Duncan is awesome. He's my favorite power forward by far. He's not clutch, he's not athletic, but he's not weak either and he's not ungifted in his shooting touch and ability to make defenders work a lot harder to stop him. Plus good footwork is so rare in big men these days, it's to be admired. He's a good defender too. Very few flaws in his game that he couldn't overcome (free throws).
Yeah, and free throws are all mental, too. If J-Rich can improve his handle to match say, Paul Pierce, it'll also ease his ability to get to the free throw line. You can tell he did work last offseason or at least built up enough confidence to start driving as he did it way more often this season, and I think that was what enabled a lot more facets of his game - opening up more passing and scoring from him and drawing attention away from others. While it's tough on the body to take a lot of hits, the best players get to the line a lot and make their living there. J-Rich also will need to make more freebies to take advantage of it, but I'm thinking he can. I'm not sure if Troy can get a lot of low post moves, but he should at least be able to work in a baby hook/half hook. He's used head fakes before effectively enough, but as noted, his footwork is bad so it doesn't fake out the defender enough. Footwork is tough because if you screw it up, the Refs will call traveling on you. Adonal worked on his footwork for years and years at the Pete Newell camps but still hasn't got it, either, so while I hope Troy can improve in a short amount of time (he's done well to improve his jumper and his 3 point shot in the past offseasons), I don't expect a huge jump because footwork is not a natural thing to learn.
Very true. If footwork were so easy to learn, there'd be better quality centers in the league. But there aren't. Murphy is a face up guy and I don't expect him to learn much besides a simple drop step move.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting custodianrules2:</div><div class="quote_post">Very true. If footwork were so easy to learn, there'd be better quality centers in the league. But there aren't. Murphy is a face up guy and I don't expect him to learn much besides a simple drop step move.</div> Just getting an effective drop step would be an improvement, especially if he could make it effective on the non dominant side. Good example was the drop step Yao put on Dampier last night on the baseline. The one thing Murphy has shown is that he will do what the team asks him to do (ie the 3 pointer). He did have more of a post game in college. Essentially abandoned it in the pros because that was not what the team at that time was asking him to do.
I have a feeling Murphy is going to come back next year with some new post moves to suprise everyone. I think he was still recovering from his injury this year, so with a little rest and some work he'll be better.
I agree as well dsigns. Murphy seems to improve every season and i while i dont think he will ever be an above average lowpost player, if he can get a bucket from within 8 feet without getting stuffed we're good. Also hopefully he works on his D. I also would like J-Rich to start implementing a strategy more like Richard Hamilton; lots of midrange 2 pointers and more driving. He is a better finisher than Hamilton and has a good midrange game already so once he gets those ball handling skills he could be a top 5 SG. (i think now hes around 8-10) I also wanted to ask what people think of Fisher. This will be practically the first no playoff offseason of his career. I'm torn as to whether i want him back or not. He is a great leader and very clutch yet he also gets stuck defending great SGs (Mobley scorched him on the post) and he seems to stop fast breaks if there are two or more defenders. Theres also his large contract. I could see Clevland wanting him alot if we offered. They need shooting, good attitudes and veteran leadership all of which clevland desires.
Nice sig, Dsigns. Yeah, Run BJM, I think there was another post where Fisher could be moved to the Cavaliers because of the owner who is willing to spend and their need for a 3 point shooter and a point guard. At the same time, there's no doubt Fisher is huge when it comes to catch and shoot, and we have nobody that is money from downtown the instant they set their feet and receive the ball. Only Dunleavy and Pietrus have become consistent recently, but Fisher has been pretty much money all his career so long as he doesn't pick up and dribble or shoot off the dribble. He's probably the clutchest guy when it comes to the set shot. If we had no way to retain Zarko or Pietrus because of the budget, I'd want Fisher gone because he takes up way too much space and he's like here until he is 35 basically. Although Pietrus might want to do his own thing and same with Zarko, I think contributing on a winning team and possibly playing for a championship (if they make it that far) will be something to play for rather than having a starting job so long as they get the minutes. It probably means a lot to the players that were there originally and saw the franchise turn around. Fisher/Pietrus has been pretty scary when it comes to those alley oops. DFish has some pretty excellent delivery on lobs and there seems to be chemistry between the two as well as with Zarko feeding Pietrus under the hoop after he steps into the lane.
I also noticed Jrich doesn't hit as many midrange shots as he used too, probably because of Baron Davis getting defenders to collapse on to him in the middle. I guess he's trying to spread the floor like everybody else with the three point shot. If the Warriors can learn an offensive system that relies on cutting more and using screens, I think Jrich will be able to call his own shot from midrange and not rely on Baron Davis most of the time to create offense out of thin air. We're basically running the same offense as when we had Speedy. Give him the ball and get the hell out of his way.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Run BJM:</div><div class="quote_post">I also would like J-Rich to start implementing a strategy more like Richard Hamilton; lots of midrange 2 pointers and more driving. He is a better finisher than Hamilton and has a good midrange game already so once he gets those ball handling skills he could be a top 5 SG. (i think now hes around 8-10)</div> I put him at #12 overall last offseason, although I think that my evaluations were a bit off then. Nevertheless, I think he moved up to 6 or 7 already with his showing this season. (Behind LeBron, Kobe, T-Mac, Pierce, Allen, and Carter; ahead of Redd, Hughes, Ginobili, and Hamilton). I'm not so sure about his ability to work off screens and shoot on the move, which is why I think he should keep attacking the basket, though; but ball-handling is the skill that'll get him there as well. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting Run BJM:</div><div class="quote_post"> I also wanted to ask what people think of Fisher.</div> I thought Fisher did what he was asked to do mostly - provide leadership, take a few "clutch" shots, run the floor. But he didn't do it very consistently, as he was streaky in all aspects of his game at best. I'd be glad to trade him, personally, because another five years at $5 million per is a bit much.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting custodianrules2:</div><div class="quote_post">I also noticed Jrich doesn't hit as many midrange shots as he used too, probably because of Baron Davis getting defenders to collapse on to him in the middle. I guess he's trying to spread the floor like everybody else with the three point shot.</div> Yeah, this definitely happened. After the Davis trade, J-Rich started taking (and making!) tons of threes, something like 3-4 per game out of 6-9 chances. It was crazy seeing him rack up more threes than traditional shooters like Michael Redd or Ray Allen, even if it was only over a short period.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Zhone:</div><div class="quote_post">Yeah, this definitely happened. After the Davis trade, J-Rich started taking (and making!) tons of threes, something like 3-4 per game out of 6-9 chances. It was crazy seeing him rack up more threes than traditional shooters like Michael Redd or Ray Allen, even if it was only over a short period.</div> Considering JRich ties the the franchise record for most back to back threes, all Jrich needed were some good open looks (and a huge dunk to start off and get fired up). Guys like Ray Allen or Michael Redd are pretty much the playmakers for their teams, so I doubt they'd be launching as many 3's with defenses focussed on them most of the time. Ridnour's a good point guard, but he doesn't cause fear in team defenses and neither does Maurice Williams. You can definitely respect Ray Allen and Michael Redd as true shooting guards because they can get to the line, handle the ball, they can play point at duty and just flat out shoot.
Fisher = Great catch and shoot player. Good passer. Good defender. Great attitude. Lousy playmaker, too slow, some bad shot selection when he has the ball, lousy shooter off the dribble, and way overpaid for a role player. He frequently pisses some of us off when he starts jacking away posessions and having some "Kobe moments" at point guard. If anything gets in the way of Zarko or Pietrus wanting to be here and they can't get re-signed because of the budget, I'd probably be upset. At least you can feel Foyle's defensive impact, Murphy's rebounding impact, and Richardson's passing and near-all around game. With Pietrus' it's his fearlessness, explosiveness, aggressive D and ability to get fouled again and again. Zarko, it's his ability to get in the lane and dish, finish strong and cause a nighmarish matchup at either forward spot. I think they are more key than Dunleavy at starter or DFish at backup point, but Dunleavy/Fisher do add value to the team rather than take away, it's just the money you can't take back once you go with these guys is the problem.
I hope that Dun isn't given an extension during the season. We'll make him work if he wants the check. If he doesn't improve and Peitrus and Zarko do let him walk. We dont need his ball movement anymore and starting two unathletic shooters who cant D up is going to cost some games. Murphy is more valuble because once Baron kicks it to him from a drive the PF has to come out and play Murph or let him hit the J.(Zarko has the same effect but shoots better and is basically a wierd looking 6'11 gaurd)
I don't know, I always felt that one of the huge knocks on Redd was his handling of the ball - considering how much he has it in his hands, he doesn't share it enough (total team assists actually go down when he's on the floor). Allen is the total opposite in that regard, he's a great floor leader. The obvious difference is that Redd has way fewer offensive options - probably just Desmond Mason - and also his main role is to score, but I'd like to see him work the offense better.
