Steinmetz blog: Azubuike _ like a lot of Warriors _ needs ..

Azubuike _ like a lot of Warriors _ needs to improve, not flatten out
POSTED July 24, 7:51 PM


OK, so the Warriors matched the L.A. Clippers’ three-year offer worth
more than $3 million for Kelenna Azubuike.

Congratulations to both sides.

Now it’s up to Kelenna Azubuike to become the Mickael Pietrus that
Mickael Pietrus never became.

Without Baron Davis, it’s going to be up to every player to get a
little bit better next season and take advantage of an extra
opportunity or two that he may get now that those 40 minutes of Davis’
need replacing.

Azubuike has shown flashes during his one-and-a-half year career.
That’s been great on the one hand, an unexpected surprise and he’s
been a positive in one playoff season and another pretty good year
after that.

On the other, it’s nice to be an NBDL callup and get yourself a three-
year deal but now go out and give the Warriors something off the bench
most of the time. If you’re not scoring, rebound. If you’re turning
the ball over a little bit, keep your man at the offensive end in
check.

It can’t be this every other game anymore. There’s been too much of
that among yourself, Mickael Pietrus and Matt Barnes. Coach Don Nelson
has played a small role in those inconsistent seasons but it’s still
on them.

Azubuike has to interject himself into the offense more and begin to
take a few more chances. Can he be a better player? I don’t know. He’s
a pretty good shooter so I don’t see him getting much better at that.

His defense has gotten better but he’s never going to be lock-down.
He’s a good rebounder and should remain one, but he’s still a swingman
so he can’t be dominant there.

I see him far more of a spot-up shooter than creator, so where does
that leave him?

Well, hopefully for the Warriors a $3 million player who can
contribute in a few categories every night: scoring, rebounding and
maybe a steal here and there, a couple of assists, a block, whatever.
Azubuike has yet to do that on a consistent basis.

Azubuike is only 24, and young like Monta Ellis, Andris Biedrins,
Brandan Wright, Anthony Randolph, etc.

Everyone keeps saying how young the Warriors are, and that’s all great
and everything. I don’t care how young the Warriors are, if their
young players don’t improve much it doesn’t really matter that they’re
20-ish.

Davis was an easy guy for the Warriors to lean on, and he liked being
leaned on when it was on his terms.

If the Warriors have to fill Davis’ void by committee, then Azubuike
needs to do his share like all the rest.