REPORT CARD: Mickael Pietrus

by Fantasy Junkie on Jul 12, 2006 11:26 PM PDT in Report Cards

Mickael Pietrus is up next. Air France never tookoff this year and now his future with the Warriors is in question as he's been rumored to be included in numerous trades. It will be an interesting summer for MP2.

At least he's not camping out on the 3 point line here. (Photo: unlimited.nba.free.fr)

Think this rookie card is worth anything? (Photo: CTCHoops.com)

Oops. (Photo: lahora.com)

Coast to Coast to finish on softie Brad Miller

MP shows us what he can do as he shakes Devin Harris with a crossover then crams in Diggler's grill:

Overall Grade: C-

Atma Brother #1 (Grade: C-)
We all had high hopes for Air France, but he struggled with injuries, the absence of Baron Davis, and poor knowledge of the game. Let's hope Mickael spends hours this offseason watching old games on NBATV and ESPN Classic. You gotta love his energy and his post game interviews though!

DJ Fuzzylogic (Grade: C)
MP2 reminds me a little of Gerald Wallace. High intensity, defensive minded, "nuclear-athleticism" and totally injury prone. However, unlike Gerald Wallace, MP2's game hasn't really improved over the last few seasons. The Bruce Bowen comparisons are even becoming a stretch after all the hype about being the French Jordan.

Fantasy Junkie (Grade: D)
Did he work on anything last offseason? I think he regressed as he spent more time outside the 3 point line and less time driving the ball to the basket. I just could not understand why he didn't use his athleticism to get by people and finish. Maybe he'll decide to work on his game this summer.

Hash (Grade: C-)
What to say about MP2... Throughout the season there were glimpses of brilliance, but at the end of the day, he seemed to only play well with Baron. Even then, peak performances were selective at best. There is potential in him for sure, however I'm afraid this season we just didn't enough of it.

YaoButtaMing (Grade: C)
What I thought would be his breakout season, just turned into a bunch of mush. No consistency or heart. Very disappointing. We didn't even get much of a trade value out of him. I'm hoping he turns it on next year. Air France was grounded like the concord!

What's your grade for MP2?

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Comments

Trade him later

At the deadline, I think his value will go up. It can't be any worse than it is now I think.

by DaAzNJRiCh on Jul 13, 2006 1:19 AM PDT reply actions

C

I agree with a lot of what YaoButta said.

That said, though, I still think he has a lot of talent and a lot of potential, but it's up to the Warriors (or whoever may so employ him in the near future) to coach him right and put him in the right system to succeed. Honestly I don't think Monty can do that. But the talent is there. He has the potential to be an outstanding, outstanding defensive player, and a pretty good offensive player too.

by jonathan on Jul 13, 2006 1:28 AM PDT reply actions

C

The thing that worries me about MP is that when he first came to the Warriors we kept hearing about how hard he worked at practice and how much enthusiasm he had. If that was true and now he's regressed then that's a bad sign. Usually when guys with potential don't improve it has to do with their work ethic but that doesn't seem to be the case here.

That being said, I'm not ready to give up on him and I hope we don't trade him.

by Googs on Jul 13, 2006 9:28 AM PDT reply actions

Where's the problem?

I can't argue too much with the C- average you all came up with. My question is, is this Pietrus' fault or Monty's fault. I put the blame on Monty. MP is a very energetic and emotional young man. Monty has taken away his enthusiasm for the game in a variety of ways. Giving him the shortest leash on the team is not a good way to encourage him, it's a way to squash him. Constantly putting him in position to fail in games is another. Monty's "offense" killed our running game all season, and forced a young, raw & creative player into the role of a robot. If we lose Pietrus to a coach who knows what they are doing, expect him to play closer to Arenas' style/level.

by chrisz42 on Jul 13, 2006 1:00 PM PDT reply actions

Oh just wait

Oh just wait for Monty's report card. I personally agree with you big time. Monty has stifled Pietrus' game. This kid is crazy enthusiastic and talented, but Monty seems like he has a vendetta against him.

It should have been a breakout season for him, but instead Monty refused to give him consistent playing time to let him develop. Why did Monty consistently give 30minutes a game to the wildly inconsistent Dunleavy?

Seems pretty unfair.

CWebb + Spree + Timmy + Mullin + Owens + Nelson = NBA Championship

by Atma Brother ONE on Jul 13, 2006 3:55 PM PDT up reply actions

Arenas? No

I'll agree that Monty stifled Pietrus's game, and that Muss was the one that got him to play tenacious D, but "expect him to play closer to Arenas' style/level"? Pietrus doesn't understand the game and can't SEE the game like Arenas can. He doesn't have the inherent feel for the game.

And the reason MDJ got so much PT is because Mullin just signed him to that monstrosity of a contract. There's no way management would let MDJ rot away on the bench.

by LancerEvoV on Jul 13, 2006 10:08 PM PDT up reply actions

I stand corrected

I purposely put in style/level to try and not say he would be as good as Arenas, but after reading it over again I failed. You're right, he would not be as good as Arenas. What I was trying to say is that MP should be given the same type of leeway that JR has and Arenas has in Washington. He is great at making things happen and going to the rim. Sure, his ability to see the floor is not good, but my feeling is that Monty is making him think too much. I just think that with the right coach/system MP will blossom into a player with some of Arenas' good points, though not as good.

by chrisz42 on Jul 14, 2006 2:42 PM PDT up reply actions

Need a coaching change

Is there a single good reason why Monty is still coach? We should make and sign a petition to fire Monty. C'mon clowns... do the right thing. If they wait until the end of this next season to get rid of Monty, I'm predicting another team grabs Mario Elie for a head coaching job. Maybe the Knicks to replace Isaiah Thomas.

by unblinded on Jul 13, 2006 11:29 PM PDT reply actions