<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">After hearing his name repeatedly mentioned in trade rumors, injured forward Troy Murphy said Thursday that he's no longer sure where he fits into the Warriors and coach Don Nelson's new system. "When you come up in everything, it makes you wonder," Murphy said from Southern California, where he was seeing a foot specialist for his sore Achilles. "If you think the fit isn't that great and your name comes up in rumors, you think that maybe the front office feels the same way." Murphy's name began surfacing in trade speculation last season when Ron Artest was being shopped by Indiana, and again over the summer as the Warriors pursued forward Al Harrington. It was assumed coming into this season, however, that the 6-foot-11 Murphy would thrive under Nelson as a big man with shooting range. But Nelson scrapped his plan to have Murphy start at center after one game, and it's clear that the pairing hasn't meshed as expected. </div> Read More
His name has flown around for the last year or two. I feel for him, but he really doesnt fit in here. I enjoyed him playing hard and I hope the best for both teams...
I'm frustrated too...that none of the trades have gone through. I wish the best for Troy, I'd just like to see him flourish elsewhere.
I've been frustrated for the last few years that Murphy doesn't appear to play much defense. He just stays flat footed waiting for the defensive rebound and keeping his hands down. He usually lets some other warrior teammate bail him out on D, which usually ends up in somebody else getting the foul call against them. Plus, with our lack of inside game, lack of big guys who play above the rim, and guys standing around on offense, I'm sure he's the type of guy that won't defer to others and pass. He'll shoot it like he's second option offense (which at times he really is). He seems to be one of those guys that adds to the standing around and just kills the offensive ball movement like Derek Fisher sort of. But to be fair, he's also displayed the willingness to try and make a high % move rather than chuck off a set shot or off the dribble (the Murphy move which is probably going to be jab step, jab step, pump fake, pump fake, stepback jumper and nobody cuts because they clear out for him since he's calling for an iso. It's an iso that always ends up in him taking a jumper instead of driving all the way to the bucket where he'll possibly get rejected by a stronger defender waiting for him inside or some 6'2 guard stuffin him.) I like the fact Murphy is a lefty, but he seems to go to his left hand quite a bit when he does go inside whereas right handed Jrich or Baron try to use their left hands or go left. The big Murphy steps to the basket are nice, but from what I recall, he's kind of turnover prone being that tall of a player and trying to put the ball on the floor one or two times before taking steps. He loses it or some guy strips him when he tries to move down the lane. Oh well, I admire a power forward that can at least handle the ball some, even if it's a slow as hell move, the big steps off the dribble make up for it. Zarko uses this all the time. Dun's also pretty good at this when defenders respect his shot enough to leave their feet or almost leave their feet to contest a jump shot pump fake. He just drives right around them when the defender is off balance. The big steps, the defensive player's position, and the angle of attack favor the ballhandler.
I'm still hopeful Nellie will figure out what's needed for Murphy to be the multi-skill big man we need. The Warriors only find a usable big man occaisionally and I hate the idea that we should be able to fix any problems rather than just dump Murphy and end up with less,while elsewhere he reaches his potential. Since Nellie intended Murph to play C,he didn't shed weight. He should have. 10 lb could make enough difference in his hops and agility for him to become a decent defender. With Nellie's Murphy project incomplete,with injuries,with trade rumors,I'm not surprised Murph feels frustrated and insecure. It's ironic teams want players to be loyal,team oriented-but it's a one-way street,and everyone knows it.
