Number 3?

Any predictions on who might have a breakout season on the squad besides J.R. and B.D.? Pietrus for the Sixth man?

 

I think its gonna be Dunleavy. With a full training camp with Bdiddy and crew Dunleavy will be the third option. Bdiddy will get him the ball anywhere on the court. Dunleavy will be good in the open court and if he has success posting up, after all his offseason work, his game will grow and maybe even blowup.

Ike has some potential, he reminds a little of Malik Rose. I think its gonna take Ike a full season to learn how to score over all the bigs in the NBA and especially in the west.

 

Pietrus is going to blow up, I think. Everyone loves scoring and tenacious D. Here's the thing, Dunleavy is such an in-the-flow type of player that I think with such starters as Baron, Jrich, and Murph, all the attention will go to the backcourt and Murphy. Off the bench it will be either of Pietrus/Biedrins/Diogu/Zarko because of their energy and hustle. But I think Pietrus is going to catch people's eyes because Dunleavy doesn't need to score as much as his main job will be to set up other players off the ball (a setup guy). Some people have the balls to shoot a difficult shot not knowing their role on offense and then make it and I think that's the kind of guy Pietrus is. You get annoyed by him if he misses with plenty of time left but then you love him again when he nails something clutch or in huge bunches or takes it all the way to the rack for the and1 foul or the wide dunk on somebody. Crazy point per minute production. Piety's streaky sort of like early Manu Ginobilli, but he can have everything going for him continously hitting shot after shot. One thing though, is he plays better D when he's getting involved on offense more as becomes more focussed and more confident about staying on the floor. He's a pretty entertaining open court baller. He needs to stay out of foul trouble and learn to make better decision on the fly.

 

I think it's Ike. He's going to give the warriors something they've needed for ten years. The guy already knows how to score, inside and out. He'll struggle at times on defense, but since Mnoty knows him and likes him, he's going to get the benefit of the doubt, where as Foyle & Pietrus did not. Hopefully everyone will remain healthy throughout training camp, so that everyone knows where to be on the floor.

B-Diddy's gonna set everyone up. Diogu's used to 2 and 3 guys hanging off of him. In the NBA he's not gonna be double teamed until teams realize how good he is. Until then he'll make people pay.

He'll play in the rookie game, and contend for rookie of the year. He'll end up finishing games over Foyle because he shoots 80% from the line.

When he learns how to pass out of the block, everyone will be taking wide open shots.

Breakout season:

1) Diogu
2) Dunleavy
3) Pietrus
4) Biedrins
5) Cabarkapa
6) Foyle
7) Ellis

Baron, J-Rich, and Murphy will give you what they already give, but better as they learn to play together for an entire year.

 

Ike and Pietrus are who I see as real breakouts. I see Murphy improving some of the things we have criticized. Biedrens and Zarko will also progress well,though they won't get quite enough role to be a real breakout. I am real curious about just how good either will get,this year and beyond. Monta probably won't get his minutes-or be rady,before Christmas. Whatever gains we see this year from Monta or Taft will be a bonus.
Ike was the #1 MAJOR college scorer in the draft---Coppenrath did score more,but in minor college competition. Ike was a good FG% guy-and got to the line a bunch. He was a standout rebounding and on D and he was not playing against turkeys.
The tough thing for a rookie with skills is the way NBA refs call games. Often,too often,NBA refs regard themselves as minor dieties on a mission to redefine the game. College refs generally are content to call by the rules. Pro refs feel a need to reward the box office stars and school the rookies. For Ike a few BIG games early can get him respect from the refs. If he is getting fairly short minutes here and there,he will find it harder to establish himself within the team's flow and to get a fair shake from refs. Ike was great at drawing fouls,so he will adapt,but if there's a lot of bad calls early,it could set him back,not knowing what "rules" apply in any given moment. I still feel that whistle happy refs mucked up Murphy's D when he was a rook

I still feel Pietrus will win the main role at SF-and Dunleavy will thrive as a versatile 6th man. I saw Pietrus seize the moment and dominate games last year and that's big.

 

My guess is Pietrus. He's got everything Dunleavy needs, he is a great energetic player, has a great first step, and despite is small size, he can lock down tons of wing players on the perimeter. He will probably take over by Christmas and we will move Dunleavy to the bench as our versatile sixth man.

 

Somebody's got to make Dunleavy a point guard or a power forward. It seems like the only two postions where he stood out and seemed most noticeable. Ever see that?

But I'm fine where Pietrus is as an offensive/defensive spark, he's the new Brian Cardinal and Earl Boykins combined with defensive players we've never had unless we're counting Latrell Sprewell or Mitch Richmond. Piety's always winding up on the floor or landing on his butt especially after taking to the air. While he's a raw player, he's still a difference maker and that's what counts. He looks out of control, but he's not. It's just his style and as long as he gets us results and changes the game in a good way he should be more important than Dunleavy as underappreciated as that might sound towards Dun.

 

I'll go with Dunleavy. He has improved with every season and I see the same thing happening this year. I think he is going to mature right in front of our eyes and will finally be in there in the clutch.