Steinmetz blog: Write back at you: on Randolph's weighty i..

Write back at you: on Randolph's weighty issue, Azubuike and Avery
Johnson
POSTED July 23, 11:36 AM
Keep the e-mails coming. I'll be responding more frequently in the
future, except to this guy ...

Salsberg RemoveThis @pacbell.net wrote: Not Many Positives for Matt Steinmetz and
Plenty to Work On. You have no real expertise on body frames, so why
pretend that Anthony Randolph can put on significant weight or that it
really matters. You haven’t done any real research into Randolph’s
previous teams and have no idea how their lack of success reflects on
Randolph. Randolph doesn’t need to demonstrate anything the rest of
the summer league season. He will need to play in Nelson’s rotation,
but the summer league is pretty irrelevant to that.

MS: I’ve been working on not letting guys like you get under my skin
but it’s a constant struggle. Let’s talk about some of your points,
genius.

First off, do I have “expertise” on body frames? You really got me
there.

You don’t have to be an expert on body types, pal. One look at the
shoulders on Randolph and Brandan Wright and it’s clear Randolph will
have more success carrying weight.

And if that’s not enough for you, various members of the Warriors’
staff _ coaches, support staff, training staff, etc. _ have indicated
Randolph should bulk up and get stronger. As for Wright, he’s going to
have more difficulty. Not what I say … what they say.

And if you think it doesn’t matter whether or not Randolph can put
weight on, well then you really don’t have much of a clue and come to
think of it why am I even responding?

As for “researching” why Randolph’s teams haven’t had success,
apparently you got me there again. I haven’t studied his game films in
college and high school.

But should I simply disregard that I’ve heard from a few people over
the past few days in Salt Lake City that there are concerns about
Randolph never playing on a top-level team or about whether or not he
can be productive for a successful team? After seeing him this week, I
think he can; but he hasn't yet.

It doesn’t really bother me that LSU went 13-18, but yes it does worry
me some that a player with as much talent as Randolph couldn’t lead
his team to a playoff win in high school in either his junior or
senior year.

As for you saying summer league is irrelevant, I guess if you say so
then it's true. Apparently you think all the skill Randolph has shown
so far is irrelevant. That's your prerogative. But I don't think what
he's shown is irrelevant at all ... quite encouraging, in fact.

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

Garlicboy wrote: You're a fool if you think Nellie can find someone
out there who does what Kelenna Azubuike does for $3.1 million.
Azubuike is a steal and you can never have enough quality players on
your roster.

MS: Apparently Chris Mullin and Don Nelson just found someone out
there who does what Azubuike does for less than $3.1 million. And that
would be Maurice Evans. There's no reason to take Azubuike at $3.1
million if you can get Evans for a million a year less. And please
don't try to tell me that Azubuike is significantly better than Evans.

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

Pustoolio wrote: If Avery Johnson were still with the Mavericks where
would you rank him on your Official NBA Coaches Ranking List?

MS: Probably between 10 and 15.