Steinmetz blog: Ws think Randolph might have some intangib..

Hey, take a break Matt. You might get carpal tunnel syndrome! ;-) -AL

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Warriors think Randolph might have some intangibles to go along with
his skill
POSTED July 22, 4:11 PM


Anthony Randolph got off to an awful start in Tuesday’s summer-league
game against the Dallas Mavericks.

Randolph started the game by taking a horrendous 20-foot contested
fadeaway jumper that didn’t hit the rim and followed that up by
fouling Reyshawn Terry after he’d been beaten badly on a drive.

It wasn’t long after, however, that Randolph put the ball down at the
top of the key and went by Terry, getting fouled and making two free
throws in the process. Randolph’s ability to drive by bigger opponents
has been the signature part of his game thus far, and the one that has
many Warrior fans excited.

But the Warriors’ coaching staff is more impressed with two other
parts of his game: His nastiness and work ethic.

There were questions about Randolph’s attitude coming out of LSU but
so far this summer it’s been all good. Randolph does call for the ball
a lot and isn’t always happy when he doesn’t get it.

He does want to be the playmaker most of the time but it’s more
eagerness and enthusiasm than head-case.

What might be more accurate is that Randolph is just surly on the
court, refuses to give up an easy basket and isn’t afraid to go to the
rim and absorb contact, his rail-thin frame be damned.

It seems pretty clear that the kid is more than willing to take on a
challenge. Randolph seems to get personally offended when the
opposition tries to guard him with a big on the perimeter.

Randolph’s work ethic is drawing praise, too.

At about 9 p.m. on Monday night, I was talking to some of the
Warriors’ staff about Randolph. I asked them what a guy like Randolph
might be doing in Salt Lake City after dark.

“He’s probably in the gym,” one of them said.

Apparently, Randolph is one of these players who is always looking for
a game and never wants to call it a day when it comes to basketball.
On the day he was introduced to the Bay Area media, Randolph said he
was planning on “living in the gym.”

It seemed like nothing more than a good thing for him to say at the
time. But it may be the truth. According to assistant coach Keith
Smart, one of the adjustments Randolph is going to have to make is to
play and practice less and take care of his body more _ getting more
sleep, eating better and resting between games.

That’s a nice adjustment to be asking for.