From: terry@leland.Stanford.EDU (Terry Wong)
Subject: Re: Warriors big men
Organization: DSG, Stanford University, CA 94305, USA
Date: Fri, 8 Jan 93 02:37:13 GMT

In article <57521@olivea.atc.olivetti.com>, rsmith@strobe.ATC.Olivetti.Com (Russ Smith) writes:
|> In article <1993Jan7.023619.20406@leland.Stanford.EDU> terry@leland.Stanford.EDU (Terry Wong) writes:
|> >Don Nelson loves Schrempf and I agree with him -- he is one of the ten
|> >best all-around players in the game today, and should be at that level
|> >for at least a few more years.  Schrempf is an excellent scorer, both
|> >inside and outside, and a better rebounder than Owens.
|> 
|> But he is neither a lowpost scorer or a low post defensive intimidator 
|> which is what we need. Smits is better than what we have but he is not
|> much so this trade would key on how well Detlef plays for us.
|>

I agree that the two most pressing needs on the Warriors are a shot-blocker
and a low-post scorer.  Smits is a very good shot blocker, averaging about
120 blocks per year in his career.  Neither Smits nor Schrempf are particularly
good low post scorers.  On the other hand, Schrempf is better in the low
post than Owens.  I believe that Owens will never be as good as Schrempf.
 
|> 
|> >This trade hinges on how good you believe
|> >Owens can be.  The Warriors are not all that sure on that point.  They
|> >were disappointed that Owens came into camp weighing 240 pounds this year
|> >and before his knee injury, disappointed in his play.  While his outside
|> >shooting has improved, he is still a lousy free throw shooter, and
|> >has shown an inability to guard bigger men.  Owens has the tag of having
|> >great potential -- the Warriors are not sure that this potential will ever
|> >pan out, and perhaps Owen's trade value will never be higher.
|> 
|> Billys first big problem is simple, he is and has been since the trade
|> playing out of position. Billy is a small forward who can swing to 2 guard
|> every now and then, he is not and never will be a power forward. How come
|> he cant guard Larry Johnson(which Nellie made a big stink about after the 
|> Charlotte game a few weeks ago), because Larry is too strong for him as
|> is Barkley and Thorpe etc. However as long as Mullin is at forward and
|> Sprewell/Sarunas at 2 guard, they are forced to play Billy out of position.

Agreed, I said much the same thing before.  Billy needs to be at small
forward.  Occasionally, he can be a 2 guard or even a power forward against
smaller power forwards, but small forward should be his primary spot.
Howver, Mullin is already esconced at this spot.

|> 
|> Heres the thing I hate about Nelson he has this built in excuse of not having
|> enough big men to win. Lose a game blame Hill for not stopping Ewing, blame
|> Owens for not stopping Karl Malone. The problem is Don is the damn GM so 
|> its his damn fault they are playing a power forward at center and a small
|> forward at power forward, and a 2 guard at small forward! I cant remember
|> which quarter it was but in the Spurs game recently, he had Tim Hardaway
|> guarding SEan Elliott with Mullin on Del Negro, Sprewell on Ellis, Houston
|> on Robinson, and Grayer on Reid. Now who would have ever guessed the Spurs
|> would have gone inside and beat up the Warriors with those great matchups?
|> Of course after the game he mentions that Sprewell did not play well on
|> Ellis instead of pointing out the real problem, that everybody was helping
|> Hill and Grayer out inside so naturally Ellis was getting open.
|> 

You forgot to mention that Tim Hardaway did an excellent job on
Elliot.  Previous to that game, Elliot was averaging over 20 points per
game and was named the NBA player of the week the previous week.  Hardaway
did such a great job on Elliot that Elliot only scored 10 points and
was never a factor.  Also, the other matchups you mentioned certainly
didn't last long.  Neither Houston or Grayer played many minutes in this
game.  Sprewell was guilty at times of not extending enough on Ellis
as Ellis was bombing from 3-point range.

I think in general, as a coach, Nelson does a great job in selecting
matchups, both defensively and offensively.  He doesn't have the 
personnel to produce the best matchups sometimes.  You can blame Nelson,
the general manager for that.

|> 
|> >Byron Houston is the best bet on the Warriors at becoming an enforcer.
|> >He is already the team's best low-post defensive player and has guarded
|> >big guys like Hakeem Olajuwon and Shaquille O'Neal well.  It would be nice
|> >for Alexander to play more aggressively.  Of the 3 guys you mentioned,
|> >only Alexander has the physical attributes to become more of an intimidator.
|> \
|> I think you are too optimistic here, yes Byron is the best on the Warriors,
|> but look who you are comparing him to. If Byron Houston is your best chance
|> to stop the other teams big man, you will not win in the playoffs in the 
|> NBA. Alexander has always been a finesse player with a big body, Gatling
|> can do nothing but make a few spectacular plays, a dunk here a block there
|> but when you add it up he contributes little. They do not have the answer
|> to their problems on their roster. Its too late to deal for one now. The
|> best chance they have is to deal for a higher pick next year and hope they
|> luck out in the lottery, but who would deal a lottery pick before the lottery?

I think that you are not giving Byron the credit he is due.  He is getting
better, especially at not drawing fouls so he can stay on the floor.

Howver, I agree with your comments on Alexander and Gatling.  Also, I agree
that the Warriors don't have all the necessary components and it's extremely
doubtful, given the salary cap, they can make any moves this season. 
 I'm not sure if the
course of action you propose is the best though.  Next year's draft
is extremely weak, especially in big men.  Unless the Warriors get one
of the top 3 picks, they won't be able to help themselves out.  They
would have to trade somebody like Owens to Dallas or Denver or Minnesota
or Philadelphia to get that kind of pick.  Plus at this point, they
can't predict the order of finish, and because of the lottery system,
the worst team is only guaranteed at best the 4th overall pick.
They might do better to pursue some free agents or
to trade for some players already in the league in the off-season.
They'll have to evaluate whose available in the draft (especially influenced
by underclassmen), who other teams are willing to move, and what
free agents are available.  I'm not sure how much money they will have
under the cap -- certainly this will be Lister's last year, but Hardaway's
salary takes a huge jump next year.

|> 
|> >The Warriors tried Hill at center with Owens at power forward at the
|> >beginning of this year, and failed miserably.  Since Hill has moved over
|> >to power forward, his play has improved dramatically.  Hill is too short
|> >and too thin to be an NBA center.  His assets are his quickness and
|> >running ability.  Those assets would be diminished if he bulked up.
|> >Hill is definitely not the answer at center.
|> 
|> Agreed with one point, if you are attributing the recent winning ways to
|> the injury to Billy(which the local media is hinting at) you are wrong,
|> early they played a tough schedule, now they are in a weak schedule.
|> 
|> I like Schrempf alot, but I hate Smits, I would rather get Dale Davis.
|> 
|> 

I certainly am not attributing the Warriors victories to not having Owens.
That would be pretty ludicrous.  What I am saying is that the Warriors should
keep Hill at power forward where he is most effective.  Where Owens plays
then becomes a problem.   Perhaps he could spell Mullin so that Mullin
doesn't have to play so many minutes.  Also, Owens can switch to 2-guard
or power forward depending on who the opponent has on the floor.

Dale Davis would be an asset to the Warriors.  He is a better defensive
player and rebounder than Smits; Smits is a better scorer and shot-blocker.

					terry@garfield.Stanford.EDU

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