<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> Speaking of Pietrus, Coach Nelson informed the media on Sunday that the 6'6" Frenchman will, at least for now, be his starting small forward. He has been very impressed with MP's ability to defend and shoot the ball in training camp....and stay within his limitations. Mickael was all smiles when informed of the decision after practice on Sunday and said that he welcomes the challenge on both ends of the court. He has exhibited some of the defensive tenacity that he displayed during his first year or two in the league and that has been a welcomed sight for Coach Nelson. Due to his quickness and athleticism, MP can be a great defender when puts his mind to it and makes it a priority. And, it appears that Coach Nelson has convinced him to do just that if he wants to remain on the floor.</div> SOURCE Pietrus as starting sf!?WTF!
Pietrus should be the shooting guard, and Richardson should be the small forward, but maybe it doesn't matter? I mean Richardson has to make most of the decisions with the ball anyway, so that makes him the shooting guard. Whereas, Pietrus doesn't know what to do with the ball except drive or a shoot a 3. Richardson I think is stronger than Pietrus, whereas Pietrus is quicker than Richardson. So to me, that makes Richardson more like the small forward because he won't be outquicked and he's strong enough to hang with guys who weigh 225 or 230 lbs. Plus, Pietrus is really effective defensively when he's guarding shooting guards or combo guards than Jrich. Pietrus weighs 215 to 220 with excellent lateral quickness whereas Richardson moves side to side like he's dragging lead feet.
<div class="quote_poster">AnimeFANatic Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Darnit, I was hoping it'd be Baron Ellis JRich</div> yeah same here, but as long as this produces good results, i'll be happy!
Nah, Nelson knows what he's doing. I mean you have to have bench depth in order to close out games, especially at point guard. I think Ellis should be a reserve guy at point because it gives the other team's backups something to worry about when Baron goes out and he comes in. Ellis IMO is a way better passer than any of the guards we have right now and he could pick up where Baron left off when he goes out for a rest. Plug in Wagner/Mcleod at SG and you have two guys who can offer some great crossovers and dribble penetration and you don't have to worry about who plays backup point to get the ball moving to everyone else. We shouldn't have crappy ballhandling in our guard depth this year, but I still worry about our shooting, defense, and passing ability.
True.. But Ellis is very good defensively, better offensively, and much much MUCH smarter than Pietrus.
pros: steals, 3 pointers, rebounds, points cons: free throw %, fg %, turnovers, inconsistency. I would have picked him though but I hate having two players on the same team as each other. Picking Earl Boykins at the last minute was just something I had to do because he gives about a three pointer per game, a steal, almost no turnovers, good free throw %, and 3 or 4 assists a game. Piety might be the shooting guard version of Antoine Walker, except no assists.
I'm sure Pietrus will do better than last year in this new system. He was my very last pick, I can't complain. The potential to be a steal is there.
Oh yeah, well if it's a last pick then yeah go for it. I went for D-miles instead: same problems as Pietrus, no threes, more blocks and occasionally a nice passing game. I was trying to shoot for starters that are pencilled in for opening week. Check out D-Miles' opening stats for November and they were pretty impressive. BTW nice pickup on Diogu. I totally was thinking, "yeah let's get him", but I have no clue what Nelson plans for him. My J.R. Smith move I cannot explain. I figure upside and the fact he'd almost be an automatic starter would have him rolling in to about 14 points, a steal, some assists, and lots of threes. Maybe a few rebounds too. There was one game I saw where he got to the foul line a bunch of times because nobody could stop him. But he is streaky. When the kid was in high school he looked awesome, but in the pros he looks like another player who is just lost.
Yeah I REALLY wanted Diogu. Cause I know if he's a starter he's a solid fantasy pick. But theres way too many questions with how Nelson is going to run things that I decided not to pick him up. I just went with Brewer instead since I read about him in this article http://fantasysports.yahoo.com/analysis/ne...gue=fantasy/nba haha
Oh yeah that was Run BJM that picked Ike. Okay yeah good pick up on Brewer, AF. I dunno about how Sloan might use Brewer, though. I mean Deron Williams was pretty good until he yanked him for some reason and put in Keith Mcleod or some guy. That's why I can't stand rookies unless its an nba ready ROY candidate like Paul/Bogut or somebody. Even Sheldon Williams may be in question because of Lorenzen Wright or what the coaches want. The Montgomery and drafting of Ike Diogu was ridiculous and I hope that doesn't happen to Shelden. The one player that could have helped Montgomery's system in terms of good hands, passing, free throws and scoring big men he sits on the bench. WTF? If Murphy and Foyle suck that much, sit their butts down and play Ike. I mean I like Montgomery's philosophy in college ball but I hate the way his philosophy works when it comes to earning playing time when he knows guys like Foyle, Dunleavy, Fisher, Murphy suck. I'm even more mad because Mullin signed those guys for big deals without even thinking about what happens if we land an Ike Diogu or a Monta Ellis? If they cannot start right away anyway, why lock their veteran backups up for 6 years each? So that's why I'm more pissed off and blame Mullin for everything instead of coaching. He's just doesn't know what the heck he's doing because he's never done his job before and he's just not that smart IMO to figure out a winning formula. Mullin ain't no Billy Beane or Brian Sabian that's for sure.
Defensive-minded Pietrus tabbed as starting small forward <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">OAKLAND -- Each day at the Warriors' 2006 training camp, Don Nelson has met with the media and piled more and more praise onto the shoulders of swingman Mickael Pietrus. Sunday, the coach gave out his ultimate compliment: an invitation to Golden State's starting lineup. Nelson -- who came into camp not even certain if Pietrus was good enough to get off the bench -- anointed the 24-year-old Frenchman as his starting small forward, a move that means Jason Richardson will stay at shooting guard and thus quashes the starting hopes of Monta Ellis and Dajuan Wagner. "That's a no-brainer, so far," Nelson said. It's a world of change for Pietrus, who suffered through his worst NBA season in 2005-06, setting career-lows in every shooting category. Handed a golden opportunity to take over as small forward in February after Mike Dunleavy had slumped badly, Pietrus bobbled it away. He shot less than 40 percent for the month and fouled out four times before then-coach Mike Montgomery banished him to the bench. "That's great news," Pietrus said of the starting assignment. "Last year was last year. This year is a whole new world for me." Nelson said he came into camp planning to slide Richardson to the small forward spot and install Ellis at shooting guard. But Ellis, who showed flashes of brilliance last season as a rookie, was hampered by missing the first three days of training camp with a strained thigh and passing that at times has been a little too casual for Nelson's comfort. Pietrus, meanwhile, has simply played too well to be ignored. And at 6-foot-6, he has size that neither Ellis (listed at a hopeful 6-3) nor Wagner (6-2) can match. "(Pietrus) has claimed the (small forward) spot," Nelson said. "I don't know if that's really fair or not (because of Ellis' absence), but I've got to make those decisions. I don't see, no matter what happens now, that anyone's going to move MP out of the (small forward) spot. He's been terrific. He's guarded every day. He's done everything." Pietrus said the move to full-time small forward, after bouncing between there and shooting guard, suits his game better, allowing his rebounding and defending to flourish. "I like the (small forward) spot because it will allow me to play everywhere on the floor," Pietrus said. "I'm starting to learn who I am now." Along with Pietrus and Richardson, Nelson will start Baron Davis at point guard, Dunleavy at power forward and Troy Murphy at center. With Richardson still sidelined because of his August knee surgery, Nelson said Wagner will open in his place at shooting guard with the No. 1 team in tonight's intrasquad scrimmage at the Arena. Off the glass Nelson split his team into blue and white squads for tonight's scrimmage. The blues have the starting five plus Matt Barnes, Andris Biedrins and Ike Diogu. The whites will feature Ellis, Zarko Cabarkapa, Adonal Foyle, Keith McLeod, Patrick O'Bryant, Andre Owens, Anthony Roberson and Dijon Thompson.</div> http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives..._small_forward/
This will be interesting - Mike Dunleavy and Troy Murphy as the starting front court. I will not be surprised if Mickael Pietrus improves more than Mike Dunleavy this year. I personally would rather see Ike or Andris be one of the starters in the front court by some point in the season. I am a little skeptical about Dunleavy and Murphy as the starting 4 and 5. Also, if Mickael does improve more than Dunleavy, I wouldn't be surprised to see Dunleavy coming off the bench being the sixth man at some point in the season.
<div class="quote_poster">custodianrules2 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Oh yeah that was Run BJM that picked Ike. Okay yeah good pick up on Brewer, AF. I dunno about how Sloan might use Brewer, though. I mean Deron Williams was pretty good until he yanked him for some reason and put in Keith Mcleod or some guy. That's why I can't stand rookies unless its an nba ready ROY candidate like Paul/Bogut or somebody. Even Sheldon Williams may be in question because of Lorenzen Wright or what the coaches want. The Montgomery and drafting of Ike Diogu was ridiculous and I hope that doesn't happen to Shelden. The one player that could have helped Montgomery's system in terms of good hands, passing, free throws and scoring big men he sits on the bench. WTF? If Murphy and Foyle suck that much, sit their butts down and play Ike. I mean I like Montgomery's philosophy in college ball but I hate the way his philosophy works when it comes to earning playing time when he knows guys like Foyle, Dunleavy, Fisher, Murphy suck. I'm even more mad because Mullin signed those guys for big deals without even thinking about what happens if we land an Ike Diogu or a Monta Ellis? If they cannot start right away anyway, why lock their veteran backups up for 6 years each? So that's why I'm more pissed off and blame Mullin for everything instead of coaching. He's just doesn't know what the heck he's doing because he's never done his job before and he's just not that smart IMO to figure out a winning formula. Mullin ain't no Billy Beane or Brian Sabian that's for sure.</div> I can't compare Beane--push the farm raised talent-and Sabean-spend $ on the twilight years of name stars. However-each has had some success-and Mully is still looking for a winning season. I agree that Dun-Foyle-Fish were contract blunders. Mully did well salvaging the Fish screw up and finally pulling the plug on Monty-a pretty decent idea-at first-but a flop. Mully overreacted to Arenas escape. Oops. I think he sees that now. He's just about used up his quota of bad moves-so don't expect another Dunleavy gift contract-or a risky-expensive trade. Mullin needs a few successes before he goes high risk again.
<div class="quote_poster">Clif25 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">This will be interesting - Mike Dunleavy and Troy Murphy as the starting front court. I will not be surprised if Mickael Pietrus improves more than Mike Dunleavy this year. I personally would rather see Ike or Andris be one of the starters in the front court by some point in the season. I am a little skeptical about Dunleavy and Murphy as the starting 4 and 5. Also, if Mickael does improve more than Dunleavy, I wouldn't be surprised to see Dunleavy coming off the bench being the sixth man at some point in the season.</div> Yeah-I also have doubts about Dun-Murph as the 4+5. I tend to see Ike in-Dun out rather early. It could be Biedrens stepping in-could be that Ike + Biedrens don't start-yet get about the same minutes as Dun-Murphy. I have always had relatively higher hopes for Murphy than Dunleavy. Nellie has tended to follow the Rerem plan for fixing many of the W's troubles-so I hardly can bitch about that-the main difference so far being I'm not so optimistic Nellie turns Dun into a plus. Custodian an I talked about a lineup with MP an J Rich starting last summer-and ironically,I'd converted to seeing J Rich as more tuned to SF. Nellie is now sayinbg both start-but Air France at SF. I figure in a run fast offense-the roles may be nearly the same.
People said Dirk couldn't guard anyone and he's done pretty well. I have faith that Nellie will put Dunleavy in position to get the most out of his talents. I'm not saying he's Dirk, just that he has unique talents which can be used. Monty did not demand that players get Dunleavy the ball, Nellie will.
<div class="quote_poster">REREM Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I can't compare Beane--push the farm raised talent-and Sabean-spend $ on the twilight years of name stars. However-each has had some success-and Mully is still looking for a winning season. I agree that Dun-Foyle-Fish were contract blunders. Mully did well salvaging the Fish screw up and finally pulling the plug on Monty-a pretty decent idea-at first-but a flop. Mully overreacted to Arenas escape. Oops. I think he sees that now. He's just about used up his quota of bad moves-so don't expect another Dunleavy gift contract-or a risky-expensive trade. Mullin needs a few successes before he goes high risk again.</div> I think we pretty much agree on the same things sort of. We can't really wish for a team like the Spurs or the Pistons, so we just have to roll with what we got. This whole Nelson thing is still a smokescreen, though. Mullin messed up so badly, he needs a guy who he can defer to. Fans also need the same guy who we can give trust for the timebeing. That is, until the whole Dun PF and Murphy center thing falls apart. Mullin just couldn't defer to another rookie like himself as his head coach when he first started out. Mullin should have gotten an experienced head guy from day one, because he wasn't going to supply Montgomery with his Stanford type of guys who can run motion offense (see Collins twins, Curtis Borchardt, other mediocre stanford bigs etc). The head coach selection from '04 should have been somebody that Mullin could defer to, but maybe he didn't want that (ego and power control)? Maybe starting earlier than that, Cohan should have just hired somebody capable and experienced in the first place! I mean, the Mullin hire seemed like the same smokescreen that we see now with Don Nelson being hired. We think of Run TMC and we forget some of these Run TMC guys are experienced front office type of guys with a winning process. The coach Montgomery hire could have been a PR stunt as well because he was a local bay area hall of fame guy. Top to bottom, I'm pissed with everything especially when we've drafted some good players and we might lose some for nothing because of the luxury tax and the fact guys like Foyle, Dunleavy are not desirable and Pietrus/Biedrins/Taft are still projects. The only players I am really scared about is Ike Diogu and Monta Ellis. Ike because I don't know where he fits under Nelson. The other is Ellis because I don't know what the Warriors intend to do with Baron Davis long term. Holding on to him is an injury waiting to happen. I'd rather we practice risk aversion if we find out Monta Ellis is comparable to him in terms of intangibles and playmaking/scoring skill.
<div class="quote_poster">philsmith75 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Monty did not demand that players get Dunleavy the ball, Nellie will.</div> Probably because Monty and the other players knew Dunleavy was going to miss a lot of shots. Let's just say him and Foyle were switched around the roster a few times because those two positions of small forward and center just weren't getting it done. The only reason Foyle and Dunleavy didn't get fully knocked out as starters was because their euro-backups were just as unreliable in other departments like free throw shooting, decision-making, understanding the English language and staying out of foul trouble. I hope Nellie gets the most out of Dunleavy as well. I want to see twice as many drawn charges than blocking fouls this season and even smaller guys than Tyronn Lue throwing him around and getting us flagrant foul type ones. No seriously, I think Dunleavy could only shine if he's got his inside/outside shooting dribble penetrator at shooting guard or point guard, and he's got somebody with good hands who pounds the ball inside the paint. Without those two components, Dunleavy gets lost. He's no leader by example and certainly not a captain. He's forever "Dungina" until he can start making his shots and making them at least close to going in. He's too much of a utility guy to be a starter. I mean some areas like against Indiana, it might be better to play him at point guard. Other times, it might be better to play Dunleavy at power forward against guys who will not come out to challenge him. I just don't see what the hype is when we could get a comparable guy at a lower pick like Danny Granger, Ronnie Brewer, or one of those guys who at least has athletic upside as well as the mental/skill part of their game down.
<div class="quote_poster">Clif25 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">This will be interesting - Mike Dunleavy and Troy Murphy as the starting front court. I will not be surprised if Mickael Pietrus improves more than Mike Dunleavy this year. I personally would rather see Ike or Andris be one of the starters in the front court by some point in the season. I am a little skeptical about Dunleavy and Murphy as the starting 4 and 5. Also, if Mickael does improve more than Dunleavy, I wouldn't be surprised to see Dunleavy coming off the bench being the sixth man at some point in the season.</div> We still do not have an inside game. And that will be sad when we shoot low % points and can't defend worth crap. If we're a good fastbreak team that means we have to make stops to get out on the break. If we're stopped, we have nothing to offer in the halfcourt unless a substitution is made to get back in it. I think Nelson should know that in order to get high % points in the paint we can't have power forwards bombing threes on the arc and guys that can't catch to save their own life.
