In our endless search for a power forward for our team the Warriors, we have come up with literally hundreds of trade scenarios and draft possibilities. Less than five months ago we drafted 18-year- oldAnthony Randolph, all 6'10" and 197 pounds of him, making him the youngest player in the NBA.
The majority of Dubs fans watching the draft were turned off by the selection because of the comments made by NBA draft analyst Jay Bilas. As video played of the skinny power forward, Bilas stated that Randolph was "painfully thin and makes Brandan Wright look like Mr. America."
Like Brandan Wright, he was labeled a project player at least 2-3 years away from being able to contribute anything of significance. Immediately after the draft, writers were hesitant to praise the Warriors for their draft because of Randolph's physical similarities to Brandan Wright and slight build. The Warriors were applauded for the selection of second round pick, Richard Hendrix, who was called a 2nd round steal, which lessened the sting from the drafting of Anthony Randolph in the 1st round.
Feelings of angst subconscioulsy settled on the psyche of the Warriors faithful in regards to the selection of Anthony Randolph at 14.
During the start of the summer leauge most Warrior fans were excited to watch the play of last years first round draft picks Brandan Wright and Marco Belinelli and this year's second round pick Richard Hendrix, who was being compared to 2006 2nd round stand out Paul Millsap. There was little excitement about Randolph and the post draft comments made by Chris Mullin in regards to Randolph possessing "star quality" were interpreted as words used by Mullin to justify the pick.
His comments were dismissed as hogwash and typical GM speak for a project player. In turned out the Chris Mullin was not lying about Randolph and his star quality.
After the first Las Vegas summer league game what was more impressive than Randolph's stat line; 30 pts, eight rebs, two steals, two blocks, was how he obtained those stats and who he was matched up against.
Randolph faced second year players Thaddeus Young and Jason Smith. In Young and Smith, Randolph was not playing against the typical summer league fodder. Combined, both these players averaged close to 40 minutes a game during the regular season and the playoffs for the 76ers.
Randolph played like Lamar Odom—
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about 1 month ago
I disagree with Randolph as Power Forward. I believe that you hit the hammer on the head Randolph is a Small Forward. I have yet to see any post game from Randolph in the games I've seen him play. He's played well defensively averaging 1.5 blocks per game so far.
The problem is offensively is he's too busy trying to shoot from the outside that he doesn't use his ball handling ability to get him to a better shot. He's going to have to learn that quickly otherwise he's not going to be playing much. Currenlty Randolph is only shooting 32 percent from the floor.
At Power Forward I believe that Brandan Wright is more of the future there. He's got soft hands and has the ability to post up and has a lefty hook that is so sweet. The thing that Wright will have to work on to become even more effective is a right handed hook shoot. Other then that Wright has proven to be a better answer down in the block.
I think the Warriors have a better chance at winning with Randolph playing a point forward position similar to Lamar Odom and having Wright at Power Forward in the block. If Randolph magically finds his shot and the range he could surprise a lot of people this year.
about 1 month ago
You really think Don Nelson views Anthony Randolph as Small Forward? Honestly how long have you watched Nellie coach 2 seasons?
Look at Dirk Nowitski, he does nothing but shoot from the perimeter, but he also grabs close to 10 rebs a game. Dirk plays like an SF, but because of his size and mismatch ability he plays PF.
Randolph has the skills of an SF in the size of a PF much like Lamar Odom and Dirk Nowiski. Coaches know that if you play these guys at the PF position they are a mismatch night in and night out. If played on the wing, their ability to rebound and block shots is decreased as is their ability to drive and shoot on quicker more athletic wing players(see Dirk against Steve Jackson 2006 Playoffs).
In Nelson's system I see Randolph being used as a PF in small ball, actually, Randolph if he continues to develop could play multiple positions. To maximize his talents in a Nellie coached squad, he should play PF to take advantage of the mismatches and decrease the amount of time the ball is in his hands as he is VERY turnover prone.
By the way, if you haven't seen Randolph in the post, then you obviously didn't watch any Warrior Summer league games. Early in the summer league, he got the ball in the post and had some nice up and under moves and ball fakes, despite one getting swatted by Thaddeus Young.
about 1 month ago
Randolph has a LONG way to go. But hey, I totally agree that he's the power forward that fits Don Nelson's system perfectly. However, the fans want an immediate spark to the front-line and the word "future" is really becoming a tedious word for the W's fans. You're spot on when you say that Randolph is a perfect fit for the team, but right now he isn't. Like you mentioned, he is waaay turnover prone that anyone on our team. He's really bringing some intensity to the squad. However, I would rather go with Brandan Wright, at the moment, and have AR come off the bench.
B-Wright has really become the forgotten man on this squad and I think he deserves more time with this squad. On any other club, he would have earned much much much more minutes that he is right now. I think people, this year, are starting to understand B-Wright a bit more, sensing that he's not the flashy player AR is. Like Jim Barnett always alludes to during his partner up with Bob Fitz, B-Wright does not need any plays called for him, which helps the team play their natural style of ball more consistently.
AR, I thought, was going to be a beast on the offensive end and a problem on the defensive. It has been reversed, however. Speaking for myself here, I really get uncomfortable watching him dribble through three players and always getting the ball knocked out of his hands. He's showing it on the defensive end with some major blocking abilities, but sooner or later opponents will figure out that he is a "block first" defensive end player. Of coure, he's only 19, and you expect all of the errors. He's a really really really gifted player, but right now...my pick at PF would be Brandan Wright.
Thanks for the article.
about 1 month ago
Khalid,
I agree, AR is a way off being ready, but he's improving, works hard, is the youngest player in the league and is still not done growing with 1-2 inches left. He's 2 years younger than Wright (who's 21 months older), basically if he were Wright this would be his freshman season at UNC.
Wright has improved, but I'd rather have the increased rebounding, shot blocking, ballhandling and energy of AR. Coach needs to tell him not to do too much and just focus on those things and let Crawford find you.
We don't need scoring, we need more reboudning and shotblocking, (which Turiaf brings, and I wish he played more).
The West PF’s we have yet to face:
Amare Stoudemire, Zach Randolph, Carlos Boozer, Tim Duncan, Dirk Nowitski, Pau Gasol, Luis Scola. All these guys are past All Stars except Luis Scola.
Last night Andray Blatche looke like an MVP candidate.
Our Beanpoles are outweighed by an average of 50 pounds !!!
People wonder why Maggette is playing PF? Because he outweighs our beanpoles by 20-25 pounds and is 4 inches shorter!!!
The Beanpoles can get weakside blocked shots, but GOOD DEFENSE IS ABOUT POSITION AND NOT BLOCKED SHOTS!!!
What made 6′7″ Dennis Rodman and Charles Oakley all Defensive team selections. Solid post positioning and toughness. Oakley couldn’t block a shot to save his life, but he was an All Defensive team selection.
Brandan Wright is OVERRATED!!! I have yet to see a soft, underweight PF excel in this league. The West PF’s play with fire and passion, I don’t see that from Wright. We have a soft, skinny, nice PF. Kiss of Death.
In the past 20 years of the NBA, I have not seen a sold PF starter who weighed 205 pounds!!!
Nellie drafted a Brandan Wright clone 15 years ago by the name of Carlos Rogers. He didn’t amount to much at all.
We have no big guy at PF except for Turiaf, but the guy can’t board or score, but he sure can block some shots. I would love to see Turiaf at the PF spot, but against the driving Garnett, he would get driven on all night long.
about 1 month ago
Dubs 67 Celts 54 at the half.
Randolph 2 fouls out of the game going for blocks. But you have to like the aggressiveness.
Wright scored and played well, but we were losing the game when he was in there.
Rony Turiaf: 4 blocks in the first half in limited time. His energy and defense helped spark the Dubs to a 13 pt. lead.
We don't need more scoring. We need Turiaf to play more at PF. Hopefully with Crawford on board, Nellie will realize that we don't need any scoring at the PF spot that we'll have scorers at the 1-3 spots at all times with Craw, Jack, Maggette and the back-ups Buike and Morrow.
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