Rumor: Mike Dunleavy Won't Airball Wide Open Jump Shots Anymore

by Atma Brother ONE on Jun 28, 2006 10:40 AM PDT in News

From a "little birdie" who sent a tip to the Golden State of Mind team:

Thanks to the newly released NBA game ball Golden State Warrior and first round bust Mike Dunleavy Jr. will dramatically decrease the number of times he airballs a completely wide open jump shot next season.

I don't know about you guys, but this is BIG. Bigger than any mock draft or any rumor floating around about today's NBA Draft. Anything that decreases the chances of another "silky smooth" airball from Mike Dunleavy could pay big dividends for the Golden State Warriors. Playoffs here we come!

From NBA.com's press release for the new official game ball:

The interlocking cross-panel design has one-third the channel area of the previous official ball to provide more material coverage, better grip, and... less airballs from the Warriors Mike Dunleavy.

99% of rumors never happen, but you can be 100% certain that this one doesn't.

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Cheap Rim Shot. . . .

Let's see. Who had more airballs (and a worse shooting percentage) last year, MD or BD? Hmmm. Hope the "new ball" penetrates and passes better than the ol' leather seemed to.
Now, as to the draft, rumor has it the W's worked O'Bryant out yesterday in NYC. I don't see how they can possibly pass on this legit seven footer, if he's available.
If not, I share your view: they might as well go with a 3, since MD hasn't done it and Pietrus has been putrid. I also agree with you that Carney's a better choice than Brewer (Tho Janny HU, a good observer, sees it otherwise.) An interesting predicament, though, could occur if there's a flurry of trades, since it's possible Gay would be left at the 9 spot. Would the W's take him over O'B? I would, and try to get my 5 through a trade.
Finally, explain how the Murph and 9, for 2 and 16 would work: that's an enormous amount of cap space for the Bulls to eat. Do they even have it? But if this pipe dream could work, I'd jump on one of the 4s -- Aldridge or Thomas.
Should be fun tonight, regardless! (And when you're a W's fan, you take your fun when and where you can.)

by johnl on Jun 28, 2006 11:05 AM PDT 0 recs

Hahahaha

How did I know johnl was going to call out BD on this?

I have to been honest, I had to think quick on this. The Warriors as a whole are all low % shooters (minus JRich and Fish as a spot up shooter). The thing is Dunleavy is the only one who consistently airballs his jumpers. You can peg him down for 1 a game.

I'm really hoping for a trade or Rudy Gay slipping to the #9 spot.

Hopefully, the Warriors don't just give away Murphy. His weaknesses could be masked better if didn't share the frontcourt with two of the worst starters in the league- Mike Dunleavy and Adonal Foyle.

by Atma Brother ONE on Jun 28, 2006 11:16 AM PDT up 0 recs

BD's at least a one-airball-a-game guy; when he's (mis)firing those threes, the percentage climbs much higher. I agree MD airballs a lot of open shots, too, but his failures aren't what makes Murph so useless on this team: that guy just WON'T play inside; won't set up there. Listen, if the W's can get to the point where they can use Dun as a sixth man -- you're gonna love him (even if you won't admit it) because he does do so much, and he plays team BBall. If they wewre so lucky as to get Gay (or even Carney) they could package Murph and Pietrus and probably get a Magloire or Boozer or KMart (who then won't have to deal with MD shutting him down -- as he did last year). How's that for full circle? And isn't it peculiar that we're both high on Carney? Tho, again, it's hard to pass on a true seven footer who's got such nice hands in the air, like O'B. (Cf. Foyle and Dampier -- especially at the end of Game 6.)

by johnl on Jun 28, 2006 1:11 PM PDT up 0 recs