SFGate
The good doctor explains the Warriors
Scott Ostler
Thursday, July 24, 2008
(07-23) 20:55 PDT -- Got a question about the Warriors or about a
pebble-grain rash? Ask Dr. Hoopz.
Q: Doc, Chris Mullin, the Warriors' executive vice president, talked
Wednesday about the team's "vision," which I assume means its master
plan. What is that vision?
A: What the Warriors are doing is shuffling the deck so furiously that
it will be November before anyone notices Baron Davis is no longer
around. It's an old casino trick. Some dealers actually toss the deck
into the ceiling fan.
Barring a monumental run of good luck, there's no way the Warriors
have covered the loss of Davis.
Q: So you're saying the Warriors made a mistake by not offering Davis
what the Clippers gave him?
A: Lord, no. There is a 1 percent chance that at the end of Davis'
five-year deal with the Clippers both sides will say, "Gee, that
worked out well!"
It was time for Baron to go. He had one more good season in Oakland,
tops, and it's better to start the rebuilding sooner than later (see:
Giants and Barry Bonds, 2007).
Q: Ronny Turiaf, what does he bring to the team?
A: For starters, he'll make Don Nelson look good.
Q: As a basketball coach?
A: No, as a poker player.
Turiaf, whom the Warriors plucked from the Lakers, said Wednesday that
Nelson invited him to Maui. Turiaf is an intelligent dude, he speaks
five languages. But if Don Nelson and Willie Nelson don't relieve
Turiaf of his bonus check in one of their all-night poker games, Maui
doesn't rhyme with wowie.
Q: Is Turiaf the answer to the Warriors' rebounding problems?
A: No.
Q: Care to elaborate?
A: Turiaf is a beefy 6-foot-10 guy, a tough inside player, but not a
great natural rebounder. He started 21 games for the Lakers last
season yet had double figures in rebounds only twice.
You know how (Don) Nelson always talks about Al Harrington being a
lousy rebounder? He is. Harrington averaged one rebound per five
minutes of playing time. Turiaf averaged one rebound per 4.8 minutes.
You want your big power guys to get at least one rebound every four
minutes. Andris Biedrins, not considered a stupendous rebounder,
snagged a board every 2.8 minutes.
Q: So Turiaf is a big stiff?
A: Gosh, no. He should be better than Harrington or Biedrins at
defending big inside power guys. Turiaf is a decent shot blocker.
Pretty good passer, runs OK. And he can't shoot three-pointers, so he
will not join the Warriors' We-didn't-score-on-the-break-so-let's-all-
spot-up-outside-the-arc-and-cast-off-like-ninnies Club.
Best of all (the Warriors hope), Turiaf is on the all-intangible team.
He brings a spirit and a vibe, on and off the court, the type of thing
that has fueled the Warriors the last two seasons.
"My job is to go out and have a good time," Turiaf said Wednesday.
I thought that was Hugh Hef- ner's job. But what Turiaf meant is that
he can provide a certain energy and exuberance that transcends (the
Warriors hope) statistics.
Q: If each Warrior has an average season, how will the team do?
A: Plan your draft-lottery party now.
What the Warriors need is a 5-to-10-percent improvement in the games
of any five of these seven players: Biedrins (can he improve that
much? Probably), Harrington (no), Monta Ellis (depends on how he
responds to the pressure of being top banana), Turiaf (probably not,
because he always has pretty much maxed out his ability), Brandan
Wright (oh yeah), Marco Belinelli (maybe, but he could prove way too
streaky), and newly acquired point guard Marcus Williams (maybe, but
Mullin sounded a warning Wednesday when he said, "Obviously [Williams]
needs to get into better shape because of the way we play.")
Stephen Jackson and Corey Maggette don't need to improve, merely to
play up to their standards.
Q: You paint a bleak picture.
A: So did Van Gogh, and people consider him a cool dude.
Q: How were the Warriors able to get Marcus Williams?
A: Once the Warriors lost Matt Barnes, they were well under the tattoo
cap.
Q: Can you give us a ray of sunshine to carry us until training camp?
A: Put on your shades, here he comes: Anthony Randolph.
The 6-10 rookie string bean lit up the Las Vegas summer league. Which
is like saying he lit up the nickel slots, but it's something.
Randolph impressed Turiaf enough in Vegas that Turiaf gave the kid a
nickname: "Smooth."
Mullin, in his fireside chat with the media Wednesday, was as laid-
back as a guy talking in his sleep. The only time Mullin showed any
real emotion was when discussing Randolph.
Mullin didn't slap his knee and say, "Boy, howdy!" but he did raise
his eyebrows and his voice, giving this doctor the distinct impression
that Randolph is the guy the Warriors are hoping will sneak into the
big picture and cause hearts to beat faster.
Q: Thanks, doc.
A: You're welcome. Pay the nurse.
Warriors vice president Chris Mullin says the team's roster would be
complete with the signing of a wing player. D3
E-mail Scott Ostler at sostler.DeleteThis@sfchronicle.com.
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/07/24/SPN911TS4D.DTL
This article appeared on page D - 1 of the San Francisco Chronicle
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