Instead of giving you a Raptor fans’ opinion about what the Warriors bring to the table, it’s better to get somebody who has covered the Warriors on a daily basis for more than a decade. I had a chance to preview tonight’s game with Matt Steinmetz who is an analyst for Comcast Sports Bay Area and a writer for Examiner.com. I think it’s all you need to get ready for tonight’s game but if that wasn’t enough Matt’s outlined 5 things to know about the Warriors on the court and 5 things to know about the Warriors off the court. Check it out, it’s a great read. You can listen to the interview by simply clicking on the play button however I recommend clicking here to let your browser play the file or let it download it. It’s much better quality.
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We covered a lot of topics including Al Harrington, Monta Ellis, their PG situation, TJ vs. Jose, Chris Bosh’s perimeter game, Steven Jackson, Don Nelson’s style of play, Corey Maggette, their rookie Anthony Randolph, Jermaine O’Neal, Olympics, Leo Rautins, Lenny Wilkens, Chris Mullin’s contract, his prediction for tonight and more. I thought of getting into get into the “best fans” debate but thought better of it, I think we’ll lose right now.
The Opening Tip was a big hit and Dinosty’s back with another hilarious edition for the Warriors game. Download it here in PDF format.
The game itself is a tough one even though Monta Ellis is out and Baron Davis has left for the Clippers. The Warriors’ length, athleticism and high-tempo game has given the Raptors fits over the years, we lost both meetings last year in 100+ point affairs. Remember, you can easily find past games by drilling the Stat-O-Meter 3000 as I’ve done here. It’s going to be a very different game than Philly because they’ll look to get away from the half-court as much as possible and force the Raptors to defend and get back in transition. Unlike Philly, they want to take jumpers. Their quick-shot mentality will result in a lot of rebounds being up for grabs and its imperative that we clean the defensive glass because expecting a win with Philly rebounding numbers is impossible improbable. O’Neal’s touching on the rebounding issue by saying in order to get those long rebounds you need better rebounding guards:
“There were a lot of long rebounds that hit around the free throw line area that we collectively need our guards to get in there and rebound. When they talk about rebounding, everyone thinks the two bigs are supposed to rebound but good rebounding teams have good rebounding guards. We can’t run out without the ball.”
Excellent point. Long shots generate long rebounds and Calderon, Ukic, Parker and Kapono must all help out if don’t want Golden State’s swingmen swooping up those rebounds. Andris Biedrins will likely matchup with O’Neal and it should be a matchup of strength vs. length. Biedrins can bother O’Neal with his reach and can effectively take away his fadeaway but O’Neal’s physicality and dipping shoulder can work the other way around. We’ll see which coach is more successful in using his weapon.
As Matt pointed out in the interview, Don Nelson has always found a way to slow down Chris Bosh – last year he put Stephen Jackson on him to counter his quickness and it was very effective. Nelly is sure to be brewing something for O’Neal and Sam Mitchell must match him for wits if we want to avoid an opening night home defeat. The advantage for the Raptors lies at the PG position where Jose Calderon is up against DeMarcus Nelson and C.J Watson. Our man Corey Maggette’s coming off a 8-11 shooting night where he ended up with 27 and 8 and who’s going to guard him might be the question of the day.
It’s always concerning when we’re playing a player like Ronny Turiaf who’s liable to dominate the glass by hustling 24/7. He could be the Dalembert of this game if he’s not kept in check by our big. He’s likely to come off the bench and be matched with Andrea Bargnani who cannot afford to be ball-watching this game. The pace and quickness this game will be played at will determine the winner and if we manage to slow things down we’ll be fine. Bargnani’s the one Raptor that – when he’s in form – can play at a high tempo and match-up with those lanky GSW PFs and C’s. This could be a breakout game for Bargnani if his jumper’s falling, but that’s any game for him really.
Roko Ukic is coming off a successful NBA debut and he’d like to thank the coaching staff and his teammates. His reaction to playing his first NBA game:
“It was just cool to be there”
No Roko, you’re the only one who’s bringing the ‘cool’ to this team. And you’re the first Raptor since Keon Clark that I would buy a jersey of.
The Raptors are picking Obama in a landslide. No “Bradley Effect” here. Who would you vote for..if you had a vote?
AltRaps gathers around all the daily papers and press and puts it in one nice widget on the front page of this site under “Latest Web Articles”, do check it out. Remember, tonight is our first event at Philthy McNasty’s on King St. Festivities start at 6:30PM and we also have contests, prizes, drink specials, food specials and more. Try to make it. Also, the live chat/blog starts at 7:00PM EST.
39 Raps
Baron Davis looks remarkably like Lenny Kravitz – nice Halloween costume.
I like Matt Steinmetz. I’ve read numerous good articles by him on the Examiner about the Warriors. Good guest and interview, good info on the Warriors.
Warriors have been playing better than I expected while without Monta Ellis. Difficult team to match up with.
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re: “There were a lot of long rebounds that hit around the free throw line area that we collectively need our guards to get in there and rebound. When they talk about rebounding, everyone thinks the two bigs are supposed to rebound but good rebounding teams have good rebounding guards. We can’t run out without the ball.”
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This is precisely the sort of thing which Jermaine O’Neal should not be saying at this time … given the rebounding numbers from the game vs Philadelphia, and his own performance relative to that of Samuel Dalembert’s.
IMO, this is the type of statement which an individual like Larry Bird would classify as being ‘inconsistent’ with an authentic ‘team leader’.
If Chris Bosh had said this, in the aftermath of his performance in Wednesday’s game, it would be acceptable; but, not Jermaine O’Neal.
Arse: great interview and guest. I echo Dave’s point in that I have had great respect for Matt’s work. Better interview than the Chisholm one both in host and guest.
Khandor: couldn’t agree with you more. My jaw dropped when I read that quote today. I know it’s an open-ended statement that could be taken a few different ways, and he is right in saying the guards need to look for a long rebound as well, but after game 1 isn’t the time to publicly speak about your teammates lack of effort. It’s not like they called out JO and said he didn’t do his job down low to start the game.
If it’s a consistent problem from games 1-30, have it at. If it’s not, keep it in-house, suggest it to your teammates and coaches, and insist it gets worked on.
Oh..and McCain.
(and I meant “have at it” above)
Alt.
you’re right, khan. best that he say nothing, and pretend that the guards don’t have any responsibility for rebounding.
and you’re right as well to compare JO & sammy’s rebounding #s, he (JO) definitely has to do more in that regard. as the primary shot-blocker in the post, though, if he’s challenging every shot (like he was), it does make it harder to maintain good rebounding position…which is why it’s so important that jamario stop picking his arse out on the perimeter & do the only goddamn thing he’s actually good at.
mccain? really? wow…
Great read and great interview. Keep up the excellent work.
Alt and khandor, JO’s not saying anything that is wrong. I think its good that he’s challenged his teammates. I lights a fire under the players and challenges them to be better. Enough nice guy shit, we know that doesn’t work.
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re: you’re right, khan. best that he say nothing, and pretend that the guards don’t have any responsibility for rebounding.
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LOL …
Funny, how that has absolutely nothing to do with what I wrote. : )
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re: and you’re right as well to compare JO & sammy’s rebounding #s, he (JO) definitely has to do more in that regard. as the primary shot-blocker in the post, though, if he’s challenging every shot (like he was), it does make it harder to maintain good rebounding position…
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And, what is it you ‘think’ Dalembert was doing at the other end of the floor? ROTFLOL.
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re: which is why it’s so important that jamario stop picking his arse out on the perimeter & do the only goddamn thing he’s actually good at.
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It can be hilarious to read what some Raptors fans think a player’s ‘best & only’ attribute actually is.
Raptors2009,
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re: Alt and khandor, JO’s not saying anything that is wrong. I think its good that he’s challenged his teammates. I lights a fire under the players and challenges them to be better. Enough nice guy shit, we know that doesn’t work.
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Being a ‘nice guy’, or not, has nothing to do with it.
When you personally get waxed on the glass … i.e. O’Neal [8] vs Dalembert [17] … then, as an authentic ‘team leader’ you best not be calling out your teammates, who play a different position, in that specific area of the game.
Could the Raptors have done a better job rebounding at the #1, #2 & #3 positions vs Philadelphia?
Yes, they could/should have.
That said … Jermaine O’Neal, of all people should not have been the one to call them out on it.
IMO, that’s not what an authentic Team Leader does.
re: you’re right, khan. best that he say nothing, and pretend that the guards don’t have any responsibility for rebounding.
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LOL …
Funny, how that has absolutely nothing to do with what I wrote. : )
uh, what’s this: ‘This is precisely the sort of thing which Jermaine O’Neal should not be saying at this time…’
i get what you’re saying…that someone who was beaten like a rented mule on the boards shouldn’t be the one to call out teammates for their lack of rebounding, i get it. and maybe that is the way it should be, it’s not his team, after all. but maybe it’s also an appropriate wake-up call, that someone on the raps, after just one game, is standing up & not only holding himself accountable (which he did), but also asking for the same accountability from others.
as for moon…please, enlighten me, oh wise one, as to the many attributes that moon is bringing to the table RIGHT NOW. he COULD do many good things, but hasn’t, and doesn’t seem overly inclined to try. i’m sure you’ll point out he’s being misused (your favourite excuse when your pets play like shit), and that smitch doesn’t run plays for him, yada yada. from what i see, he can’t knock down the jumper consistently, so his man slags off him…making it difficult to drive, which is further compounded by the fact he’s not close to being a decent ball-handler. if he does manage to get to the hole, unless he has a clear dunk, he doesn’t have the strength to finish when his shot is contested. on D, he’s mastered the blow-by (i.e. allowing it), while at the same time, playing off his man (a rare feat indeed), and ‘makes up’ for that by stuffing his stat line with steals (usually where he leaves his man & jumps the lane) & weakside help blocks.
it’s amazing how SOME fans continually overlook the obvious…of course, we know by now that you see past the obvious, and see what no one else is capable of recognizing. ’cause you’re just that cool.
Yertu, Khandor go to your rooms until you’re BOTH ready to be nice to each other.
And, by the way, Yertu’s (and Rap2009 is) right on this one. JO’s a talker. I think he always has been. But he’s a leader of the team along with Bosh and that’s just how it is and how it will be. Seems to me JO was talking to Jamario who seems to have his head up his ass so far this season. If he wants to help this team (and his future earnings in the process) he better D up or we’ll be debating the merits of Joey Graham, starting SF in short order. It wouldn’t surprise me if Smitch told JO to say what he said or at least ok’ed it.
And to anyone and everyone going to the game tonight, give those pansy-ass, West Coast MF’ers hell tonight. One way to make the Toronto Raptors a team real players want to play for is good fans. Leave your blackberry at home and cheer, dammit!
The part which had nothing to do with what I wrote is this, right here:
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“and pretend that the guards don’t have any responsibility for rebounding.” – yertu
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Hopefully you can see THAT … but, something tells me you might not be able to. : )
For YOU … saying that something isn’t the type of thing which Jermaine O’Neal should have said, at this point, is the equivalent to saying that what the Raptors should do is,
“‘pretend’ that the guards don’t have any responsibility for rebounding”.
Hmmmmmm ….
Really now? That’s what I said, according to you?
LOL.
See … what you’re trying to do, right there, has nothing to do with understanding properly what I wrote or understanding the game better than you do already, and everything to do with your attempts to attack a viewpoint of someone else, whether it happens to be accurate or not.
You seem to be the type of person who enjoys trying to put words in the mouth of another and equating what that person said with something other than what those words actually mean … for your own insidious purposes.
LOL.
Until your attitude changes … it might not be worth my time & effort to respond to your comments any more, incorrect as they might be. : )
Sam,
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re: And, by the way, Yertu’s (and Rap2009 is) right on this one.
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I think Larry Bird might not agree with you on that.
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re: JO’s a talker. I think he always has been.
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Describing JO strictly as ‘a talker’, rather than ‘a walk-the-talker’, is something which I could definitely see Larry Bird doing, given the quotes attributed to Larry since O’Neal’s departure from the Pacers, and Larry’s take on being an authentic Team Leader.
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re: But he’s a leader of the team along with Bosh and that’s just how it is and how it will be.
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IMO, one of the most interesting things to watch for on this team this season is going to be what develops in terms of the ‘Leadership’ question.
Time will tell exactly who Jermaine O’Neal is with this team, in Raptorville.
The Rebounding Conundrum: Inside rebounding is tough for the defensive team because of a temporal problem.
Defensive big men are always playing with their backs to the basket, and to rebound they must first turn around and then jump … and this takes extra milliseconds at the neuro-muscular level. Most of the offensive players are facing the basket and just run in and jump. The turning around takes time and you must them flex and jump. Things move too fast to rebound and it becomes a timing problem.
If the defensive rebound is uncontested because the other team is running back on defense after the failed shot, the defensive rebound is a gimme. Some of these gimme rebounds even bounce on the floor before being caught. That’s why we see the offensive player elevating before the defensive players can set themselves to jump. Boxing out takes away the advantage.
It even shows up when there is a long rebound and the outside offense players pick up the rebound before the defense can turn around and figure where the ball is going. The offensive player also have a better bead on the long rebound than the back to the basket defensive players.
Boxing out is the only thing you can do to take away the temporal advantage. It will stop the offensive player from their rebounding flow. The brain can only process at a certain speed and send messages to the muscles. Big players are usually rather slow and need time and space to be effective. That’s the conundrum. (Sorry for the lecture.)
Sam,
Btw …
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re: Yertu, Khandor go to your rooms until you’re BOTH ready to be nice to each other.
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I have only ever ‘been nice’ to yertu. : )
Wow, this forum has some people on the ends of the spectrum. I think JO’s comments are totally fine. He’s challenging his teammates but I don’t think he’s doing it in a way to embarass them. khan, you’re reading too much into them.
Arse, very good interview and insightful. No better way to prep for the game.
My point above is not JO-hate…I just don’t like when ANY player does it, via the media, and so early.
It’s one thing for us to shoot back and forth at each other with theories and know-it-all type posts, but as a professional player and someone who most would look at as a co-leader of this team, I still think after one game you bring it up during the video session or simply pull your guards aside and state your point. I didn’t read where the guards were saying JO couldn’t box out a stationary tree to save his life, for example.
You want to talk about Humph’s hair, fine, fire away using your favourite journalist. You want to light a fire on how you think a teammate is letting you down, wait until it happens consistently and then chastise through the papers.
There is no ‘conundrum’ when it comes to Rebounding, in the the NBA.
There are, in fact, 5 ways to do it:
1. Regard your check then go after the ball.
2. Regard the ball then go after your check.
3. Disregard your check and go after the ball.
4. Disregard the ball and go after your check.
5. Disregard your check and disregard the ball; stand still and watch what happens.
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re: #4 … it is highly recommended that you practice this technique when your individual check is someone like Dennis Rodman otherwise you are going to get your rear end handed to you on a silver platter.
re: #5 … it is not recommended that you practice this technique if your team ever has serious designs on winning a NBA championship.
re: #2 … it is not recommended that you practice this technique unless your individual check is Jason Kapono or Benoit Benjamin. : )
re: #3 … it is highly recommended that you practice this technique if you are a mega-athlete like Dennis Rodman and your individual check is not another mega-athlete like Dennis Rodman.
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In general, an NBA team’s level of ‘Commitment to Rebounding’ is determined by the number of players it has willing to engage in techniques #1 & #4. : )
Enjoy the game tonight!
The Raptors should be able to win this one handily … if their team is going to have a solid shot at a Top 6 finish in the EC.
khandor … you have just proven my point with your #1 to #5 points..!!!!
The defensive player’s rebounding decision-making requires two steps … regard/disregard and then take action ….. whereas the offensive player only make one dominant decision … get the rebound. The offensive player is facing the basket and can judge the developing situation and then act quickly. The defensive player must make a decision and then physically execute his decision. Things move too fast for the defensive player to make the mental and then physical action …. unless the offensive team decides to run back on defense and abandon rebounding because they can make that decision quickly.
How many times have you seen the player on offense just take one step forward and snag the rebound while the defensive players are still flat-footed and looking up? There is a rebounding conundrum for the defensive team, and the only consistent way to solve it is to box out and physically disrupt the offensive team from rebounding.
That’s why on defense you first box out and then jump for the rebound.
Re: Khandor: I have only ever ‘been nice’ to yertu. : )
Well, you’ve been nicer than him… and always calm in your statements.
But your comments are often swipes at his style of conversation and his character.
“You seem to be the type of person who enjoys trying to put words in the mouth of another and equating what that person said with something other than what those words actually mean … for your own insidious purposes. ”
That there’s not being nice, no matter how founded (or not) that stance may be.
I’m not trying to attack you here, as I feel you are usually one of the more reserved and civil posters.
Oh, and my take on the issue: everyone needs to get better (except maybe CB), so someone had to say something. CB didn’t say it. Why not JO? Who else (besides CB) was qualified (by having a good rebounding game)?
oh khan, you’re awesome. how ’bout you take a poll of the posters here, asking who writes the most incoherent, nonsensical posts, and i’m guessing you’ll be at the top of the list. whatever…no argument against an opinion of yours ever sticks, ’cause you always fall back on the ‘you just don’t understand what i’m saying’ schtick.
for those who don’t know, khan & i have had a regular back/forth thing for the last year, give or take, over on grange’s blog. we just don’t see things the same way, which is cool (normally), as differing viewpoints can lead to some interesting discussion. except, he doesn’t seem overly interested in anyone else’s perspective, just on ‘educating’ others as to the ‘correct’ (read: his) way of thinking about things. we all know people like that, the guy who’ll argue over anything, no matter how trivial (like, if it’s raining outside, and i were to say, ‘boy, it’s raining outside,’ i have a strong suspicion that khan would argue that it’s not really raining, i just haven’t learned how to look past the rain to see the sunshine.’)
it’s a lot of fun.
Dan H,
Thanks for providing your take.
IMO, it is always interesting to see how certain individuals react when someone else says that they’re wrong [incorrect] about something … e.g. angrily, defensively, positively, happily, neutrally, attackingly, passively, dismissively, visciously, etc.
There are those who take it as a personal affront of some sort; and, those who do not.
I think you, and many others here, as well, fit into the 2nd category.
Hopefully, you believe that I do, too.
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IMO, Bosh, and only Bosh, should have been the player to say something about the poor job the Raptors’ #1’s, #2’s and #3’s did [overall] on the glass against Philadelphia.
If Bosh let it go, then so be it. If he didn’t, and decided to address the matter opely, then so be it.
Anyone who failed to pull their own weight … on that Rebounding Line from last game, should have simply kept their mouth closed … and concentrated on improving their own performance in this specific area.
Then, for example, this discussion wouldn’t be happening here, in the first place. : )
If Khandor and AltRaps are right and the rest of the 2008-09 Toronto Raptors are so emotionally-fragile that they can’t take Jermaine O’Neal mentioning to the press that everyone on the team should be taking responsibility for rebounding, then screw them, I’m cheering for New Orleans.
C’mon guys I think you’re over-analyzing a tad.
I found JO’s comments refreshing. It’s ’bout time someone stands up and tells it like it is for this team. And sure, he got out boarded by Sammy D., but as the game progressed, JO was in there battling, trying to block shots and draw charges, and preventing easy buckets by giving hard fouls.
When was the last time we’ve been able to say that about a Raptor? “Preventing easy buckets by giving hard fouls”. It feels so good to type.
I seriously doubt the players are making as big of a deal out of JO’s comments as this forum is. In fact, the guards would probably be the first to agree. The Team D was the best I’ve seen in recent memory, and I credit JO with leading the way.
I’m with Baadass!.
When I pasted that comment in the post I didn’t even think about how the other players would perceive it. I think it’s way too early in the season for the players to make anything of JO. I want the players to be critical of each other and be angry when something wrong happens on the court, I think this team’s been too ‘nice’ for too long and saying the politically correct things for too long. Challenges like these are a breath of fresh air to me.
khan – for what seems like the 1000th time (but is probably only the 50th), i don’t mind one bit when someone disagrees with an opinion of mine, or thinks i’m ‘wrong’…but in order for me to respect that person’s opinion, i have to see some tangible proof that the reasoning behind the assertion i’m ‘wrong’ is valid. this is why it’s so frustrating having any kind of discussion with you…very rarely do you stick to the facts or salient points that would support your opinion. if someone counters one of your assertions/theories, instead of providing some tangible evidence to back up your assertion/theory, you merely state that they ‘don’t understand what i’ve written.’ let’s be realistic…we’re not breaking down the theory of relativity here, we’re talking about basketball. if you can’t provide something more substantial to back up your arguments than ‘i know how the game of basketball, at the NBA level, in 2008, in the Western Hemisphere, on planet earth, works), then maybe the argument shouldn’t be put forth in the first place.
as for moon – i’m still waiting to hear about what, exactly, he’s bringing to the table. not what he COULD bring, or in what way he SHOULD be used…just tell me what he’s doing well.
Khandor,
Your gonna drive me away from the comments section. Long winded, boring and frankly usually wrong. Where do you get the time?
Here we have an established veteran, brought in to address specific needs, one of them being leadership, addressing a weakness this team has has for how many years now. Ask his teammates if he has earned the right to speak his mind. Ask Sam. ask Chris. Ask BC – HE HAS GOT 22 MILLION REASONS TO SPEAK HIS MIND.
Yertu – I’d like to by you a drink.
That is an excellent interview, very good coverage of the Warriors. I just recommend that you also do a recap of the interview in the post because there are those who are very lazy here and just wouldn’t click on it and would prefer to read. I wish we had more people like Steinmetz covering the Raptors.
yertu and [now] Tinman,
As I’ve said to you before, there is only one of us … i.e. between you and me … who is trying to convince the other or someone else of something, and it sure isn’t me. : )
Enjoy your weekend, one and all!
Mark, thanks for the suggestion. I’ll do that next time.
Yes, Steinmetz is a very knowledgeable analyst. Definitely someone I could get used to.
My posts are usually short and sweet – yours seems to be attempting to show your intellectual superiority with the reverse effect. Don’t get me wrong, I like a good discussion but you come across as a lecturer, and not a good one at that.
I didn’t get to listen to the interview cuz I’m at work, but here’s a link to Steinmetz’s blog:
http://www.examiner.com/x-441-Golden-State-Warriors-Examiner~y2008m10d30-A-quick-Warriors-primer-for-Toronto-Raptors-fans–in-time-for-Friday-nights-game
With regards to the JO non-issue.. for years Raptor fans have been complaining about how soft this team is. For years, we’ve been looking for someone to step up and incite their teammates to contribute, and we finally have one in Jermaine O’Neal… and people are still criticizing! I don’t get it.
Although overly analytical ;) , FAQ’s analysis is spot on. The issue with our weak rebounding stems from our poor performance at boxing out. Oftentimes, we’ll see the likes of Bargnani and Moon watching the ball rather than sealing off their man, leading to offensive boards for the opponent.
Honestly, Moon’s not even that great of a rebounder. His rebounding numbers are inflated because he’s great at snagging boards that aren’t contested. There are countless times when I’ve been wowed by the tenacity that he grabs a defensive rebound, only to be reminded a second later that he’s actually flanked by his teammates and the opposing team is already making its way up the court.
Now how do you improve boxing out? By improving our court awareness and communication, and in instilling a sense in everyone that rebounding is a group effort.
Regarding O’Neals comments re the guards/SF’s needing to be more involved in long rebounds, which is obvious to all concerned. He was responding to a media question, was he not? How do you know it was not already a locker room discussion by Mitchell, O’Neal, Bosh etc.? O’Neal is very obliging in responding to media questions.
Johnn19…again, in my opinion (and mine alone and GENERAL, not just to this situation), you keep stuff in house. Say you as a team need to rebound/shoot/defend/practice/weight train better, not ‘man, our small forwards have to try harder’. While I agree it is refreshing to hear someone be open with the media, again I feel there is a time and a place. That said, this whole issue is waaay too blown up here.
Badass: “The Team D was the best I’ve seen in recent memory, and I credit JO with leading the way.” Guess JO didn’t feel the same way.
ALT.
We’re making SUCH a big deal out of nothing. As Johnn19 said, they were in response to a question and not meant to be criticism, just plain facts.
AltRaps, he wasn’t airing out dirty laundry, just saying how guards need to rebound. He wasn’t saying “AP did not rebound” or “Calderon needs to rebound”, he was speaking generally and saying, “Guards need to get long rebounds” and that’s a fact which happens to be true! So yeah, go JO!
People, try to tune in for the live chat/blog at 7PM if you can..it’s open ended and not moderated this evening because I’ll be at Philthy’s along with Raps Fan, AltRaps is somewhere in Ottawa and Dinosty is going to the game…so the shop’s going to have to run itself. I’ll try to chime in if they have Wifi at Philthy’s but it doesn’t look like it.
BTW, I just got served Omar Cook in the Random Raptor, any interest in him?
2004-05 5 0 14.8 41.67 50.00 0.00 0.40 1.40 4.40 1.20 0.20 4.60
Re: Migs – Oct 31, 2008 4:31 pm
Although overly analytical ;) , FAQ’s analysis is spot on. The issue with our weak rebounding stems from our poor performance at boxing out. Oftentimes, we’ll see the likes of Bargnani and Moon watching the ball rather than sealing off their man, leading to offensive boards for the opponent.
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I didn’t intend to be “overly analytical”, just explanatory …. because everybody talks about “more and better rebounding” without seeming to appreciate what it involves and why defensive rebounding is different than offensive rebounding. The brain functions differently because it requires different reactions. For those who have played bball at higher levels, they will appreciate the conundrum.
Let’s watch this Warrior game and see how the rebounding differs and how different player’s rebounding skills show up. The coaches can only shout “box out” to their players to get results, and to stop them from just standing there in confusion that even happens in the NBA with slow bigs.
I always liked Omar Cook. Last I heard he was playing out in Serbia (last season), and playing very well, knocking down a lot of three pointers too.
and JO couldn’t box out.
:)