(I decided this post works better when people read onlxn's ode to Mikki Moore's craptitude)

Not a day goes by without a Bay Area media type sagely opining that Anthony Randolph should play 'under control,' or blaming Randolph's lack of PT on 'out of control' play.  Whenever the 20 year old plays well, he's given the backhanded compliment of having played 'under control' that evening.  I understand that the sentiment can come from a good place, but I chafe at the paternalistic tone with which Gary St. Jean uses it.  Actually, I chafe at anything Gary St. Jean says, and I hate how it always seems like he just woke up from a nap. Anyway, I fear that we're starting to drink the toxic Kool Aid that comes from our coaching staff, the same staff that works under management that has institutionalized destructive madness: We're starting to believe that Randolph hasn't earned a starting spot and is having a bad second year. Poor Nellie, he had such high hopes for the kid.

We're warming to this theme because humans seek order in their lives and can't stand the thought of authority figures doing irrational things. We want to think that Nelson has a tough love plan, that Randolph must be hurting the team, or that Mikki Moore brings veteran magic dust.  Our brains have trouble understanding why highly paid, motivated people would sacrifice game after game starting washed up scrubs like Vlad and Mikki. Poor management, with the injuries they're trying hard in a bad situation!

And we know how this thing usually goes in Warrior land. Management touts player, player gets blamed for team problems, player gets traded for crap, player flourishes elsewhere.  So before that happens with Anthony Randolph, I want to ask a simple question:

How bad has his second season been?

Let's check Randolph's stats and compare them to the 20 year old seasons of three realistic comps: Lamar Odom, Josh Smith, and Gerald Wallace.

First, here are Ant's numbers so far:

G    GS  MIN    FG           FG%    3P        3P%    FT           FT%    STL    BLK    TO   
19    1    22.3    4.2-9.7    .427    0.1-0.3 . 200     3.6-4.3    .829    0.80    1.20    1.4

    PF    OFF    DEF    TOT    AST    PTS
    3.1    2.4       4.6       7.0     1.1      11.9

I would add the Hollinger stat of 18.97 PER, which is higher than Randolph's 16.94 total from last year.  How did Anthony accomplish this while being so damned 'out of control'? The free throw line has a lot to do with it. Ant's reckless ways are getting him there 4.3 times per game, an impressive total a 22 minute run.  It also helps that Randolph made nearly 83% of his freebies.  This aides in offsetting his mediocre shooting percentage (so far his biggest flaw, but something that tends to improve with age).  Here's the part where I add that Vlad is averaging .7 FTs and Moore is racking up .5 per game. Only Donaughy could help those two get to the line at an average rate.

Obviously Randolph's main contribution isn't at the line.  He's out there to rebound.  And he's done that to the tune of 7 boards per 22.3 min run.  Throw in the solid 1.20 blocks as a bonus, and we have that shot blocking, rebounding power forward we always needed....if we weren't so totally stacked right now at that position (I hope Vlad Rad doesn't give a snippy Hall of Fame speech like MJ did!).

There is one particular area where Randolph isn't under control: He's picking up 3.1 fouls per game.  The fouling issue usually comes with the territory for shot blockers, but Randolph makes the occasional away-from-the-ball hack, and he leaves his feet too often. 

As for the turnovers, well they're at a staggering 1.4 per game (gasp!).  Per 36 minutes, that's a "whopping" 2.2 TOs.  Oh no, a super careful PG like Monta won't stand for that kind of blundering! Okay, I'll stop with the sarcasm.  Just know that it's a decent rate, especially for a 20 year old kid who frequently takes it to the rack. Now for the three Randolph comps at age 20:

Lamar Odom

G      GS      MP      FG      FGA      FG%      3P      3PA      3P%      FT      FTA      FT%     
76      70      36.4      5.9      13.5      .438      0.8      2.2      .360      4.0      5.5      .719     

ORB      DRB      TRB      AST      STL      BLK      TOV      PF      PTS
    2.1      5.7        7.8      4.2         1.2        1.3          3.4        3.8       16.6

Josh Smith

G      GS      MP      FG      FGA      FG%      3P      3PA      3P%      FT      FTA      FT%     
80      73      32.0      4.1      9.7      .425      0.4      1.4      .309         2.6      3.7      .719     

ORB      DRB      TRB      AST      STL      BLK      TOV      PF      PTS
  2.2          4.4       6.6        2.4       0.8      2.6        2.0       3.3      11.3

Gerald Wallace

G      GS      MP      FG      FGA     FG%      3P      3PA   3P%      FT      FTA      FT%     
47      7      12.1      1.9      3.9      .492        0.0      0.1      .250      0.8      1.6      .527     

ORB      DRB      TRB      AST      STL      BLK      TOV      PF      PTS
0.8         1.9           2.7      0.5         0.5      0.3       0.9          1.4      4.7

I'd say Anthony Randolph matches up pretty well with those guys.  The criticism is really what's out of control here. That, and our criminally insane coaches who think height is a disadvatage in basketball.