SB Nation User Blog: unblinded

Fitz Interviews Kelenna Azubuike

unblinded — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 22:54:48 -0000

http://media.knbr.com/knbr/1011azubuike.mp3

Entertaining interview by Bob Fitzgerald. I thought I'd post the link for those that don't check KNBR's site. Fitz is so much better than everyone else at KNBR. Also, I agree with Jim Barnett that it was important Kelenna got the start on Monday. It's going to be interesting to see how Kelenna and Marco vie for the 2 spot. And then you've got to figure in Monta's playing time as well.

NBAE via Getty Images

Poll

Who should start at SG?

K. Azubuike

107 votes

M. Belenelli

7 votes

M. Ellis

21 votes

135 votes | Poll has closed

BD Defensive Team Snub & Elie Interviews for Coaching Job

unblinded — Wed, 02 May 2007 00:56:37 -0000

First up,

Why was Baron Davis not selected to the all-defensive team? He got snubbed. He is tied for the lead in steals, with 2.1 per game, and gets 0.5 blocks per game, which is as good as any other point guard. And he stops the "dribble penetration" as good as anyone. I guess its because he only played 63 regular season games. Its all good - being overlooked and underestimated is nothing new.

Secondly,

Mario Elie has been interviewed for the open Bobcats coaching job. I was one of the ones who thought Elie should have taken over Mike Montgomery's job throughout Monty's tenure. When Nellie was announched as coach last fall, Elie became no longer an assistant coach, and Mully said he would remain in the organization. But I haven't heard much about Elie all season - no interviews, and no presence during the dubs playoff run so far.

Elie told Houston television station KRIV-TV he thinks he has a shot at the job.

"All I can do is wait. I'm sure they are going to meet with other people. I think I am as qualified as anyone," Elie said.

Lastly,

Go Warriors! War against the World!

(Jed Jacobsohn/NBAE/Getty Images)

4 Losses, Powell/Azubuike, Dris' Fouls, Play Calling...

unblinded — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 05:52:46 -0000

4 Losses. Dang Frustrating. Trying to keep it somewhat positive and so here are just some thoughts.

Interesting Five:
Biedrins
Powell*
JRich
Azubuike*
Monta

Just my opinion... based on consistency, mental toughness, shot selection (reducing ill-timed threes), shooting percentage, playing with heart/intensity. I like how Azubuike attacks the basket and plays smart. I think between MP2, Barnes, and Azubuike, Azubuike deserves the most to be a Warrior next year. They better not overpay to keep MP2 and/or Barnes. In this five, Powell, JRich, Azubuike, Monta can all hit midrange jumpers well. Dris, Powell, JRich are maybe our three best rebounders, although Foyle can rebound pretty well. I'm not saying Powell and Azubuike should be starters, but they deserve good playing time.

Regarding Dris' fouls, I think only maybe half of them are fouls. Its getting ridiculous, and I'm surprised that he or coach are not saying anything or getting some technicals. They need to send some tapes to the league. Dris will put his hands straight up and not jump, and still be called for the foul.

Regarding the play calling. It seems like nearly every half court set starts with the center (Dris, Foyle, Powell) getting the ball passed to him at the top of the key. Why? Anyone else notice this? Its not a pick and roll. Its often passing it back to who gave it, or to the other person on the perimeter wing. I'm guessing the purpose is to take the defending center away from the basket, but Dris/Foyle are not gonna drive or shoot from that far out. Its too repetitive and not doing much good.

Any thoughts?

I won't be surprised if Don Nelson is not on KNBR tomorrow morning.

Warriors Draft History

unblinded — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 05:19:42 -0000

2006
1 9 Patrick O'Bryant
2 8 Kosta Perovic

2005
1 9 Ike Diogu
2 10 Monta Ellis
2 12 Chris Taft

2004
1 11 Andris Biedrins

2003
1 11 Mickael Pietrus
2 11 Derrick Zimmerman

2002 NBA
1 3 Mike Dunleavy
2 1 Steve Logan

2001
1 5 Jason Richardson
1 14 Troy Murphy
2 2 Gilbert Arenas

2000
2 26 Chris Porter

1999
1 21 Jeff Foster
2 27 Tim Young

1998
1 5 Vince Carter

1997
1 8 Adonal Foyle
2 9 Marc Jackson

1996
1 11 Todd Fuller
2 11 Marcus Mann

1995
1 1 Joe Smith
2 5 Andrew DeClercq

Just some thoughts:
If you look at the Warriors Draft history, draft position doesn't mean a whole lot. We could draft another Joe Smith (over Rasheed Wallace, KG), Todd Fuller (over Kobe, Peja, Nash), Adonal Foyle (over TMac), Mike Dunleavy (over Amare, Caron Butler, Krstic, Drew Gooden, Chris Wilcox), or Patrick O'Bryant. Or we could trade away another Penny Hardaway or Vince Carter. Or we could draft another Monta Ellis or Gilbert Arenas in the 2nd round. So lets hope for some good scouting and smart selections when its draft time, but for now, Lets Go Warriors! Playoffs! Lets finish 18-10 like in 2005!

Superman!

Chris Farley Chippendales Impression?

Warriors Hire Free Throw Specialist

unblinded — Thu, 05 Oct 2006 19:37:57 -0000

CC Times reports on the state of Warriors' free throw training.

Step one in Wissel's plan is to make any necessary corrections to a player's shot. Richardson and Baron Davis -- who ranked last and next-to-last out of 64 guards who qualified for last season's free-throw shooting title, with marks of 67.3 and 67.5 percent, respectively -- were both guilty of using too much arms and not enough legs. Murphy, on the other hand, has had a persistent hitch he's trying to quell. In case that's not enough, Wissel and coach Don Nelson are also grabbing the Warriors' attention by using the NBA's universal language: money. Players who don't better their percentage from the previous day's shooting have to pay a penalty.

Man, trying to make everything based on money. I can name a few Warriors who don't care about money, fame, etc. - all they want to do is win.

Also, considering Ike Diogu had the best FT% from last season, bar Derek Fisher, hopefully he'll get a lot of playing time.

Good shooting form...

JRich out for most of camp, BD at SG?

unblinded — Wed, 04 Oct 2006 06:44:56 -0000

Contra Costa Times reports that JRich is out for most of camp, as he needs time for his knee to repair completely from surgery.

The arthroscopic surgery Warriors guard Jason Richardson had on his left knee Aug. 22 is going to keep him out of training camp, which runs today through Oct. 11 at the Warriors downtown practice facility here.

"I probably won't be able to play until the last two preseason games," Richardson said Monday at the Warriors media day. "That's fine with me."

I'm not too worried, and I'm confident JRich will be working just as hard as he always has on and off the court. Plus, he should still be able to practice free throws while he regains strength in his knees.

CC Times' Marcus Thompson II also reports that Baron Davis will play some SG?!

Even more, Davis will have to play some shooting guard, a fairly dramatic change for such a ball-dominating point guard. In his stint with the Warriors to date, he's had the lion's share of the creating and playmaking on his plate. Now, Davis will have to show he can be effective without the ball in his hands -- setting screens, cutting effectively and spotting up.

So who plays PG during those times? I'm guessing Monta Ellis, Dajuan Wagner, maybe Keith McLeod, and possibly... Mike Dunleavy?

Lastly, A Vigorous Training Camp is reported.

So not only will they, as Richmond said, not be able to feel their legs, they'll be responsible for digesting a substantial amount of information. All of this under the watchful eye of a reputed perfectionist brandishing an unabashed tongue.

"Our team needs that," Richmond said. "We need to be pushed."

Lets hope that there are no freak injuries and no motivations lost. Let's go Warriors!

Tights?

unblinded — Tue, 03 Oct 2006 17:32:24 -0000

To continue my "Community Discussion" posting frenzy...

Did the ban on tights go through? I haven't heard news about it since this March 31, 2006 article,
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2390599

It's believed that the league office, which already has regulations in place to curtail short lengths, can unilaterally outlaw tights by simply amending its uniform code before the 2006-07 season.

Sources say that the NBA informed its 30 teams at last month's competition committee meeting in Houston that tights would be banned immediately after All-Star Weekend. But the league wound up holding off on that ban, perhaps to avoid a new controversy after the initial furor sparked by the off-court dress code faded quickly and quietly.

Players who wish to wear tights are required to send the league a written request from a team doctor detailing a "medical need" for the leggings. That's because the league, according to sources, believes that some players are merely wearing them because they like the look.

Considering all you need is a doctor's note, it doesn't seem enough to deter their use. I think they should be allowed, considering they help keep muscles warm and reduce tightness.

Comments/thoughts?

2006-07 NBA Rules Changes

unblinded — Tue, 03 Oct 2006 17:25:12 -0000

http://www.nba.com/rules_changes_060420.html

Calling Timeouts
2005-06 Rule: The head coach may request a timeout (20-second or full) only if there is a suspension of play due to a player suffering an injury where bleeding occurs.

2006-07 Rule: The head coach may request a timeout (20-second or full) at any time during a game as long as his team has possession of the ball or there is a suspension of play.

Substitutions
2005-06 Rule:Free substitution is permitted only during 20-second timeouts called in the last two minutes of the fourth quarter and/or overtime period. During all other 20-second timeouts, the team calling the timeout may only substitute for one player, and if that team replaces a player, the opposing team may also replace one player.

2006-07 Rule: Free substitution is permitted during all 20-second timeouts.

Clear-Path-To-The-Basket Fouls
A clear-path-to-the-basket foul is called if a personal foul occurs (1) when the ball and an offensive player are positioned between the tip-of-circle extended in the backcourt and the basket in the frontcourt, with no defender between the ball and the basket, (2) the possession originates in the backcourt, including throw-ins, and (3) the foul deprives the offensive team of an opportunity to score.

2005-06 Rule: The team that is fouled is awarded one free throw attempt and the ball on the sideline.

2006-07 Rule: The team that is fouled is awarded two free throw attempt and the ball on the sideline,

Active List Violations
Prior to the start of the game, a member of the officiating crew checks the Active Lists maintained by the official scorer against the players who are in uniform.

2005-06 Rule: If a player not listed on a team's Active List participates in game play, the officials, upon noticing or being made aware of the ineligible player, will disqualify the player at the first dead ball.

2006-07 Rule: If a player not listed on a team's Active List participates in game play, the officials, upon noticing or being made aware of the ineligible player, will disqualify the player at the first dead ball and the player's team will be assessed a technical foul.

Free-Throw Procedures
2005-06 Rule: Players occupying lane spaces during free-throw attempts are permitted to extend their bodies into adjoining lane spaces.

Players not occupying a lane space during a free- attempt must remain behind the three-point line until the ball is released by the free-throw shooter.

2006-07 Rule: Players occupying lane spaces during free-throw attempts are prohibited from extending any part of their bodies into the space in front of an opponent until the ball is released by the free-throw shooter.

Players not occupying a lane space during a free- attempt must remain behind the three-point line and above the free-throw line extended until the ball is released by the free-throw shooter.

Flagrant Fouls - Penalty 1
2005-06 Rule: If a flagrant foul/penalty 1 is called and the fouled player is unable due to injury to shoot his free-throws, the opposing team's coach selects a replacement free-throw shooter from among the players on the fouled player's bench, and the injured player is not permitted to return to the game.

2006-07 Rule: If a flagrant foul/penalty 1 is called and the fouled player is unable due to injury to shoot his free-throws, his team's coach (not the opposing team's coach) selects a replacement free-throw shooter from among players on the floor (not players on the bench) at the time of the foul, and the injured player is not permitted to return to the game.

Note: The rules for unsportsmanlike acts (elbow and punching fouls) and flagrant fouls/penalty 2 state the fouled player's coach selects the replacement free-throw shooter from any eligible player on his team (whether on the playing floor or the bench) and the injured player is permitted to re-enter the game following the free-throw attempts. There is no change to this rule.

My thoughts,
Calling timeouts: I wonder how many times a coach is going to try calling a timeout during play and the ref won't see it.
Free Throws: I think this is gonna be near impossible to enforce clearly.

Any comments/thoughts?

New NBA Ball

unblinded — Tue, 03 Oct 2006 17:10:08 -0000

Here's what Shaq and DWade had to say,
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2610976

"Feels like one of those cheap balls that you buy at the toy store, indoor-outdoor balls," O'Neal said. "I look for shooting percentages to be way down and turnovers to be way up, because when the ball gets wet you can't really control it. Whoever did that needs to be fired. It was terrible, a terrible decision. Awful. I might get fined for saying that, but so what?"

Sounds like an excuse for more missed free throws!

Wade said the biggest complaint players have with the new ball is the slippage factor, as in how much grip will be lost when players' hands sweat and that moisture gets on the ball.

I've never heard a player complain about the old, trusty leather ball. It does look a bit like a toy ball. And less grooves.. less grip. Maybe this is the NBA's way of reducing costs and increasing profits?

Pic of the new ball... and Dajuan Wagner looks ready to play!

Poll

As of now... Do you prefer the new ball?

Yes

1 votes

No

13 votes

14 votes | Poll has closed

Warriors Sign Barnes, Thompson, Roberson

unblinded — Tue, 03 Oct 2006 00:55:50 -0000

http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=134238

Barnes has played for Sacramento, New York, Philadelphia and the Los Angeles Clippers in his three NBA seasons, splitting last season between the Knicks and the 76ers. An athletic defensive player, Barnes averaged 3.1 points and 2.2 rebounds last season.

The Warriors also signed two veterans of the NBA's developmental league: forward Dijon Thompson and guard Anthony Roberson. Thompson, Barnes' former teammate at UCLA, played in 10 games with the Phoenix Suns last season, while Roberson made 16 appearances for the Memphis Grizzlies.

This makes, what, 19 players in training camp? So 4 will have to be cut, correct?