Q&A: Tim Kawakami from the San Jose Mercury (Part 3 of 5)

by Atma Brother ONE on Feb 5, 2008 11:00 PM PST in Interviews

The Super Bowl's biggest winner (second only to the Giants' defensive line)? GSoM friend Tim Kawakami. He nailed it:

Haha you gotta love Tim!

Back to hoops. Make the jump for another segment of our Q&A that you simply do not want to miss. We've got Tim's thoughts on if the Warriors are better without Jason Richardson, the impact of Chris Webber starting on other Warrior players, and the Warriors' trade deadline activity.

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Golden State of Mind: You've been pretty critical of Jason Richardson's game in the past and a big fan of the draft day trade that sent him to the Charlotte Bobcats for Brandan Wright and a $10 million trade exception which the Warriors have yet to use. In early December you wrote that The Warriors are better without Jason Richardson, plain and simple.

When you asked Don Nelson if the Warriors were better minus J-Rich back then he said no. Do you think Nellie or his former teammates miss him now or do they think they're better without JRich? Do you still think the Warriors are better off this season without JR in the lineup?

Tim Kawakami (1/14/08): First off, Nelson told me he'd never say the Warriors were better without Richardson. But what's he supposed to say? He wants no part of downgrading such a pivotal part of the Warriors' recent past--someone who played so hard and was/is such a favorite of Chris Mullin's. Really, Nellie was saying that he wouldn't say it even if he wanted to say it. He has been plenty happy to say the team's better without Dunleavy/Murphy, but that was blatantly obvious. Richardson is more of a subtle thing and Nellie doesn't gain by saying it. So I'll say it.

Yes, they are better without him. Now they could've used Jason to start the season, no question, because they were without SJax AND Jason for seven games and that was tough. But once Jackson got back... I'm not sure I can see where the Warriors are hurt without J-Rich... Monta Ellis is playing more, and that's a different kind of scorer--as we saw in the Indy game, that's bonus scoring. Azubuike is fine in spot minutes and does a lot of the grinding stuff that Jason did. Belinelli might at some point hit some shots.

And the key part: Jason is just not a good defensive player. In Nellie's system, his medium-sized players must be able to switch and run and guard everybody--he switches screens, so he must be able to depend on his wings to guard bigs, smalls and mediums. But with Jason, he couldn't do that. He had to try to hide Jason on defense, and Nellie's system just can't deal with that very well.

Are the Warriors a good defensive team without J-Rich? No. But they're better than they were. And I never, ever just use the tired formula: Well, you lost 18 points a game and won't get replaced. It's not the points that get replaced, it's the SHOTS, and any added shots they get out of Monta, Azubuike or Pietrus are about the same or more efficient than the shots they were getting out Jason.

I thought that last loss in Portland was the first one I noticed they could've used Jason, but I'm not sure it would've meant much even there. He's a rhythm scorer, who needs the ball, and who can shoot you in and out of games--like Jackson, who does it better, if you ask me, because he can also pass and he can dribble to the hoop.

We haven't even talked about Wright yet. Who might be the key to a lot and who probably is a better big-man hope than anybody the Warriors could acquire right now.

And the $10M exception may never be used--it'll just go to pay the Ellis/Biedrins/Baron extensions. The Warriors really, really needed that money. They got Wright, the money and they got better... That's a good trade.

Golden State of Mind: Don Nelson recently declared Chris Webber his fourth permanent starter next to Baron Davis, Monta Ellis, and Stephen Jackson. What made Nellie make such a quick, bold decision before Webber even played a single minute for him this season? Who is this good news for? Who is this bad news for?

Tim Kawakami (2/5/08): I've learned never to be surprised by Nelson's roster declarations, particularly when they involve a new player. He loves his new toys, and I think putting Webber right into the starting line-up is only slightly more reasonable and permanent than his Dajuan Wagner fixation last year and Belinelli-Mania this year.

It's just typical. By the way, as I've written, I totally disagree with the Webber signing and though I'm not surprised that Nellie is starting him immediately, I think that's all part of his grand illusion: Nellie never thinks his current players are good enough, he wants to make sure we think they're not good enough so that if they succeed, it's mainly Nellie's triumph as a coach. Fine, he is a very good coach, unquestionably good. And a manipulator.

This is the exact psychological model we've always seen out of Don: He's has to be the underdog, always searching for new players, always burnishing his image as the giant-killer. He never wants to be the giant. You know, sometimes you should want to be the giant.

You think Chris Mullin wants Webber starting? I don't think so. I think Mullin was assuming from the outset that Webber would play 8 to 12 minutes, maybe more in the playoffs. So what does Nellie do right away: He's starting! Forever! 30 minutes! Webber is going to collapse if Don plays him 30 minutes. He's going to be terrible for 22 of those minutes, too. But if that costs Don some games, he doesn't mind too much. He's making a point.

Nellie's wonderful at rebuilding and re-organizing--he proved that last year; he's proving it now; my problem with this move is that I think it foreshadows Don being continually restless, and continued restlessness is probably not necessary for a team that is tracking towards 49 wins.

I think this is going to turn out very badly for Biedrins' minutes. I think Nelson is planning to cut Al Harrington's minutes--I think this move was made for Nellie to cut Al's minutes and for Nellie to make a point about how Brandan Wright is horrible right now (I TOTALLY DISAGREE)--but I'd bet that Webber is so poor shooting the ball that they're going to need Al out there on the floor with him. So that means Biedrins will see his time cut way back. Which I think is very problematic.

Golden State of Mind: With the Webber signing, CJ Watson being extended for the remainder of the season, and the Lakers getting Pau Gasol for basically nothing are the Warriors done dealing? Do you expect them to be quiet till the 2008 NBA Draft? Are they looking to cash in on the $10 million trade exception or on their youth (Brandan Wright, Patrick O'Bryant, Kosta Perovic, or Marco Belinelli) before the February 21st trading deadline? Are they targeting any of the big names rumored to be on the trading block (Jason Kidd, Jermaine O'Neal, Ron Artest, Mike Bibby, Andre Miller, or Sam Cassell)?

Tim Kawakami (2/5/08): We'll see if Shaq ends up with Phoenix, though I doubt that would trigger much panic out of the Warriors. It shouldn't, anyway. There's not much for the Warriors to do, I think, which is what probably led them to Webber--Mullin doesn't want to trade any of his guys except Pietrus, who isn't worth much, so if they're going to scratch Nellie's big-man itch, it had to be with a free agent. Therefore: Webber.

Maybe they move Pietrus for Elson or Villanueva, maybe not. I really don't know. I'll say this: I'm not sure Nelson can put his full faith into Azubuike as the main backup 2/3, so Pietrus does have some worth this year.

Just don't see the Warriors using the 10M exception unless they can get into one of the superstars and I think that's pretty much limited to Elton Brand and I don't see that happening. That 10M is allotted to Monta Ellis, Baron, Barnes, Biedrins... You know the list of free agents or possible F/As. They use all or some of the exception for new players and they're immediately into luxury tax, which Cohan will not do unless Mullin can tell him it'll lead to a shot at a title.

So no on Kidd, no on Bibby, no on Jermaine O'Neal. Mullin has always been intrigued by Artest (St. John's, remember), but he duplicates some of what they have and I doubt they'd give up much to get him.

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Also take a look back at the other Q&A's we've done with Tim:

Pre-2007 NBA Draft Q&A w/ Tim Kawakami (6/26/07)
Round 2 Playoff Q&A w/ Tim Kawakami 5/7/07: Part I | Part II
GSoM Playoff Q&A with Tim Kawakami 04/20/07: Part I | Part II
GSoM Q&A with Tim Kawakami 11/15/06: Part I | Part II | Part III | Part IV | Part V
Golden State of Mind Q&A with Tim Kawakami: Part I | Part II

Parts 4 and 5 coming at you soon!

Are the Warriors better off without JRich in the lineup this season? Who will be positively/ negatively impacted by CWebb? Do you think the Warriors are done dealing this season?

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Comments

Time will tell, but

Totally disagree with his predictions on C-Webb and analysis of Nellie.

Webber was not brought in here to add that extra 8-12 minutes a game and he wasn't signed to play 30. I'm comfortable with a number somewhere in between those two, although in these first couple weeks I'd be very impressed with our reacquisition if he can play at a high level for more than 10-15 minutes.

He saved some harsh ones for coach. Yea, Nellie's a manipulator and yea, he plays the underdog card whenever he gets the chance but he also has expectations for the team and players. What Kawakmi neglects to say is that we don't know what he's like with the team. If I were an NBA coach, I'd toy with the media too! What do I care what they have to write (and usually its not negative) if I'm making history and earning W's.

In terms of the on court stuff, I don't think Biedrins and Al will see their minutes reduced. Sure, Nellie opts for Barnes, Pietrus, and Jackson over POB and Wright in the frontcourt but CWebb is no skeletal rookie. Webber has the passing, range, and size to play with either Andris or TMNT, and this season Nelson has been much quicker to reduce the minutes of Barnes and Pietrus than of our two bigs.

by BingBluNT on Feb 6, 2008 12:34 AM PST reply actions

Wow

I usually dig Kawakami's analyses but, in this Q&A, his cynicism toward Nelson is baffling.

by TotallyWasted on Feb 6, 2008 12:59 AM PST reply actions

Wright Time

Kawakami's feelings concerning Wright are shared by a number of posters on this board, and I don't know why. I'm the first to admit that some areas of his game are promising: all-star-potential-promising. But given his size, performance against the bench units of other teams, and the fact that there are also areas in his game that need work, what's the fuss about throwing him into the fire?

Here's how I see it: First and foremost, Wright is not a perimeter player. He's shown some range on his jumper but he cannot consistently hit from a couple feet inside the arc, and sure as heck won't be putting the ball on the floor anytime soon. On defense, he's just as limited, as he's not used to being out there, or on an island, and his coordination and footwork simply aren't there.

Thus, its going to be tough to match him up against 90% of the small forwards out there, especially since almost all of them don't even give up any weight on him. Quite frankly, he doesn't have the bulk to compete with NBA power forwards either, so until he gets stronger, more coordinated, and more polished offensively, he just won't be able to play significant minutes. Once he does those things though, he'll be a match-up nightmare and jogging buddy (i.e. running mate) for Monta.

by BingBluNT on Feb 6, 2008 1:15 AM PST reply actions

I like Tim

I think Tim is wright about Nelson's twisted sense of still needing something to prove through alchemy and magic; he is the ultimate trickster and not happy unless stirring the pot. And he is all about misdirection and spin and that is why the hoopla about signing Webber. It is a smokescreen to take our eye off what we really need to move up in the West. We will be fighting for the 7 or 8 seed this year and presumably next if the TPE isn't used by the trade deadline or draft to strenthen our team.

But for all his faults, he creates an exciting form of entertaining basketball and got us to the playoffs. But where do we go from here is the question. If we weren't in the playoff hunt we could be developing Wright and Belinelli with more playing time; but that makes little sense now.

I like Tim for calling Nellie out for the spin, hype and not seeing his own weaknesses. If you remember, no one did that when Nellie's and Webber's ego clashed and everyone sided with the genius Nelson and we know the rest of the story. Nelson is quite an "old dog" and even though he knows lots of tricks, he doesn't seem capable of learning any new ones.

CWebb is undoubtedly the answer but I forgot the question.

by commish on Feb 6, 2008 4:20 AM PST reply actions

couldn't agree more

But where do we go from here is the question.

Firstly, can Nelson after this season. He did what he was brought here to do: end the drought. With that pesky decade-long business out of the way, we need to prepare ourselves for the future.

Nelson is not a championship level coach; his psychological warfare and jedi mind-tricks take a back seat to half-court sets and execution during the playoffs. He may never win a title, certainly not with this roster, so why prolong the inevitable? Just a glance at the western conference table shows you a BUY IN of kobe/gasol, nash/shaq (maybe), kidd/dirk (maybe), the spurs, the jazz...etc. Who is Nelson trying to fool with Webber? It's downright laughable when you put the Webber "acquisition" along side the moves and rumors of this week around the western conference.

So "where do we go from here," for me, boils down to dumping nelson and playing the rooks. Build some value in them, flip them for a big to toss our hat in the ring, and hope for the best.

by GameSix on Feb 6, 2008 6:48 AM PST up reply actions

Horrible analysis...

Who's to say the rookies will actually impress people enough to garner interest in any kind of impact big man? What "big man" are you targeting? Brand is injured, Kaman ain't goin' nowhere, Jermaine O'Neal is waaaaayyy expensive, etc. Even if money weren't an issue there's no way we make a serious run at anybody worthwhile by "playing the rooks" and "flipping them for a big." And money is an issue, we'll have to match the salary of anybody we acquire. It's downright laughable that you think it's as easy as "playing the rooks and trading them for an all star."

What needs to be done? We need to keep the core: BD, Monta, Beans, Jax at decent contracts. The championship is not ours to win this year, or next. When Foyle comes off the books (or if Cohan can be convinced to go into luxury tax), we can make a run at a FA to put us over the top.

How do you win a championship? By going through the playoffs of course. Let's get our core some VALUABLE playoff experience this year (and hopefully next), so that in two or three years, they'll be "seasoned playoff vets." Heck, by that time those "rooks" you mentioned might be useful basketball players. Be patient, Rome wasn't built in a day. It's not that easy.

by Dubs fan in Boston on Feb 6, 2008 10:42 AM PST up reply actions

lol

Dude your reading comprehension is sorely lacking. Or you don't know much about bball.

Who's to say the rookies will actually impress people enough to garner interest in any kind of impact big man?

That's the point. You play your rookies to find this very important fact out. No nba minutes = no way to know what sticks. You fail, from the get go. Don't address that question, because it doesn't make sense. Especially when you freely admit that this season and next we will not win the championship. I will allow you time to rewrite your arugment.

by GameSix on Feb 6, 2008 12:32 PM PST up reply actions

If we used the rookies

to add a veteran big, we would not have enough money to resign both Monta and Andris. It's as simple as that.

Given his potential and the possibility of actually contributing next year, Wright is the best way to spend $2 million for this franchise.

by BingBluNT on Feb 6, 2008 12:56 PM PST up reply actions

yup

one way or the other, not playing wright hurts this team beyond this season

by GameSix on Feb 6, 2008 2:08 PM PST up reply actions

You still fail to mention anybody who we'd get

Who could we possibly get right now for Beli, Wright, MP, and Barnes? Who's going to push us over the top? Assuming of course that the 4 of them come in and throw down good percentages, don't make stupid mistakes, the rookies bulk up and stop getting pushed around, etc... Assuming Beli, PoB, Kosta, and Wright come out and play well, who are we going to go after that will actually make us a championship contender? Please tell me who.

We are not Boston. We do not have a spy GM out there willing to trade us their best players for crap. Please actually find somebody instead of saying "We should play our rookies so that we can flip them and fleece a stupid GM of a quality big."

It is VALUABLE to get our young guys playoff experience. Outside of Jax, Al, and maybe BD, nobody really has much playoff experience outside of last year. This year, they should get some real playoff experience. Playing BWright, Beli, PoB, etc. does not help us attain that goal. If we were not in the position to make the playoffs, sure let's play the rookies to see what we have. But the playoffs should be our first and foremost goal. Playing rookies doesn't help that. Our core group is young, not old. So we have a longer window than "right now." Heck, if the young guys perform, I'd be happy to wait a year or two for them to develop so that we could KEEP them.

by Dubs fan in Boston on Feb 6, 2008 1:05 PM PST up reply actions

Not a championship Caliber coach???

Can Nelson? Wow, brilliant. You and Tim should date. Nelson is the single greatest reason this team is winning right now. As an astute observer of basketball I can tell you without a doubt that since his arrival our team has been outcoached maybe four times total. Sometimes the shots don't go in and we lose, but Nellie always has a gameplan that puts us in a position to win. His defensive schemes are as sophisticated and effective as his offensive gameplans and when it comes down to the end of the game, I like the way the Warriors scrap. They are no pushover defensively.

And Webber? I hate him, but he will do wonders for this team in terms of flexibility and matchups. I love him and Biedrins against a big team and he and Harrington against a smaller team. What this will do, in essence is move Barnes to the bench and give us one of the best benches in the league. Imagine Buke, Barnes, Harrington coming off the bench!

The a team is always about the sum of the parts. Webber makes all of our other pieces better. THis team will get better and they are already damn good. Why don't all the haters just sit back and enjoy the ride?

by garin423 on Feb 6, 2008 1:14 PM PST up reply actions

dont go crazy overstating your credentials there

lol astute bball observer! well let me just tuck my tail and run, then. dude, i said i appreciated what he has done. But, guess what: he has never put together a championship team. Period. You can crack homophobic jokes all you want, but that fact remains. It's not like he hasn't had the opportunity or the time.

I enjoyed the ride. We tore it up, biggest upset ever. I had just moved to Dallas and I was quoted in the paper, interviewed on local TV, for being a warrior fan facing certain doom. You don't have to resort to calling me a "hater" just because I'm not a huge fan of cwebb, or because I think Nelson is the right coach for this team going forward.

by GameSix on Feb 6, 2008 2:15 PM PST up reply actions

Haterade

With all due respect, when you have a HOF coach who just gave us the first winning season since I was in middle school and you want to can him you are a hater. It's that simple. Forget my observer skills, foget C Webb, that alone is enough to qualify you as a hater.

Who would you hire?

And please explain to me when Nellie had a GM that actually GOT what he is trying to do and tried to get players to accommodate him? If any coach can lead this team to the promised land, its Nellie. With Mully in the background pulling the trigger to get Nellie his kinda ballers we have a winning team in place.

Fire Nellie!?! and you aren't a hater? Come on!

by garin423 on Feb 6, 2008 3:18 PM PST up reply actions

i hear ya

but calling don nelson a hall of fame coach really isn't that big a compliment when you realize that the basketball hof "enshrined" the harlem globe trotters. they're kind of a joke as far as the major sports' hall of fames go.

that aside, i cant argue that nellie is a bad ass regular season coach. his tinkering and tampering are tailor made for the regular season, where you can mess w/lineups and get away with starting of small dudes.

keep callin me a hater man. nellie is going on 75 years old, but you're telling me the best is yet to come? be serious. i may be a hater, but you're a delusional fanboy!

by GameSix on Feb 7, 2008 6:53 AM PST up reply actions

Delusional Fan Boy Fo Sho

Look man, I was hyping Mookie Blaylock when we got him and was trying to convince people Mark Price was a good pickup. I am definitely delusional when it comes to my home teams. But the warriors hold a special place in my heart so maybe I am beyond delusional at this point.

I can't agree that Nellie is a bad ass regular season coach and not such a great playoff coach. He has been on the winning end of three of the most improbable playoff victories that I have ever witnessed: The obvious one against the mavericks, Utah, and San Anton (going back to the old school warriors days).

I think the allowing of the zone D and the changing of the rules to make scoring easier have played into the hands of the Dubs. At least agree with me on this. Nellie is the best small ball coach of all time. D'antoni? That guy can kiss my arse. The game is moving in that direction (when is Duncan going to break a leg?) so really we are primed. We are literally one skilled big man away from being a serious contender.

Damn, I am getting excited. All differences aside, as warriors fans we family, so I will leave the hater tag for the Fakers fans. GO DUBS. I call at least one no look C Webb pass to Jackson for three in the corner.

I love this game.

by garin423 on Feb 7, 2008 10:22 AM PST up reply actions

Kawakami is a fun read...

...but like Ric Bucher, he's typically wrong 90% of the time. And his weird, self-serving Dunleavy piece a few weeks back was just bizarre.

by Sleepy71 on Feb 6, 2008 11:33 AM PST reply actions

blah

typical glass half full cynicism from Tim. That's his perogative to have that attitude. BUT, the webber signing was not "bad". It cost the W's a whopping 300K and the lost NO prospects/players...NONE. It is a nonfactor signing at worst. And a huge coup at best.
Taking some minutes from Beans while not the greatest thing in the world is definitely not the end of the world. He has a great "team" attitude and will continue to play hard whether it be 10, 20, or 30 minutes..I ain't worried about Dre'. Nellie often sat Dre' down due to matchups even when we didn't have webber...so nothing different now. I actually forsee them playing together some minutes anyway. With Webber providing the midrange game and Beans hanging down low. To me this is a win-win.
Is it Thursday yet!! Let's ride.

Let's Go Oakland! Gas, Brake, Dip.

by OaktownFunk on Feb 6, 2008 1:06 PM PST reply actions

I think you meant.

typical glass half empty cynicism from Tim.

by Psion on Feb 6, 2008 2:15 PM PST up reply actions

Amen, brother

You hit it right on - we have nothing to lose by signing Webber.

One aspect of the Tim K interview I agree with is that Nelson is a manipulator and you really have to read between the lines of what he says. For example, Nellie actually said on his radio show last week, that we have nothing to loose by bringing in Webber. Of course he phrased it differently, because he's trying very hard to give the impression that we can't win without CWebb and that he's going to play him 30 minutes a night the rest of the season (although he obviously knows that's not realistic). The bottom line is that Nellie understands NBA players and he knows how to get the absolute most out of his team.

Regardless of any Nellie mind games, I can't wait to see the CWebb experiment on Thursday! You know it's gonna make this team even more exciting to watch. I have a feeling that when the dust settles, it's going to be Damon Bruce on KNBR after the game proclaiming Don Nelson's everlasting genius for bringing in Webber.

by EternalWarriorsOptimist on Feb 6, 2008 3:18 PM PST up reply actions

Oooh Charlie V on the Dubs?

Now that is interesting, definitely would be an upgrade over Pietrus but definitely wouldn't turn us into a contender or get us in the finals. Gamesix I don't know if I agree about Nellie not being able to win it all but this is HIS team and to fire him right now makes no sense. At least give him 3 more years before you start asking for the axe. He doesn't have the team he wants in place yet. And people need to stop talking all this Dirk BS and recognize Josh Howard as the best player on the Mavs. I'm way more concerned about what he will be doing in the playoffs than Choke-viski.

by ScorpioSnake on Feb 6, 2008 2:19 PM PST reply actions

that's what i'm saying thou

is nellie gonna be around for three more years??? He's only locked up thru next season, and he's getting older with each passing day. I'm all for Mulson tactics but it just feels that there is no eye at all to the future. Altho the jrich trade does kinda fly in the face of that...why couldn't we have just gotten KG and won it all this season??!!

by GameSix on Feb 6, 2008 3:03 PM PST up reply actions

I think counting this year Nelly's here for 3

If the team plays well and finishes around 50 wins (let's just say 48). And show strong signs of progress (a strong showing in the 2nd round, maybe even a trip to the Western Conference finals should the seeds work out). Then I don't think he'll leave for the simple fact that he isn't a champion yet and wants that before he quits. Not to mention this team has got to be as fun to watch for him as it is us (except when he can't boo and curse the shitty refs like we can haha).

I think Nelly will keep pulling the one year extension trick to maximize his payday and hype (can't blame him there).

The only way I don't see Nelly here through 2010 is if he or his wife have life threatening health problems, or maybe if management screws the roster up and lets Baron or another key cog get away.

Am I the only person here that's at all excited about Charlie V? Like you wouldn't dig up your Goonies movie and get a still shot of BABBBBY RUUUUTH!! (since Charlie V. is kind of a close resemblance despite being a baller)

by ScorpioSnake on Feb 6, 2008 6:41 PM PST up reply actions