Has Vlad exceeded expectations? I think so. But that’s not saying much at all considering not much was expected from him out of the trade. Vlad who? He’s shooting at around 40% overall this season, and is shooting a lousy percentage from 3 point range in spite of the open looks that he gets every game. His game is such that it spreads the floor and brings the bigs out of the lane, and that somehow is supposed to help the team offensively. Whether fans think he helps the dubs in that regard is up for discussion, but the problem every single season for this team is that they can’t play any defense. Defense is the problem here, not scoring, and Vlad is an awful defensive player. The original poster makes a point, and it’s one that Bob Fitzgerald keeps bringing up all the time (and I’m rolling my eyes here), that Vlad plays decent perimeter defense by shuffling his feet and keeping his man in front of him. That much is true, but that’s about all he does well defensively. He’s a horrible rebounder for a guy his size; he plays horribly in the low post; and HE DOESN’T EVER JUMP ON DEFENSE. Anyone who has followed the Warriors every game this season knows that he gets beat up on the defensive end. I’ve never seen a guy of his size (6’10) who, when attempting to rebound, tap balls that are right in front of him, instead of corralling it with both hands. I’ve never seen a guy of his size REGULARLY refuse to jump when defending a point guard who drives to the lane for a layup. That’s the definition of soft. That’s the definition of being passive and lacking in confidence (he doesn’t jump because he doesn’t think he can block the shot). In addition, his play at times really reminds me of Mikael Pietrus in that he does some really stupid things sometimes that really leaves you puzzled. Who in the world bounce passes the ball when a defender is between you and your teammate?

The mistakes, boneheaded plays, and missed opportunities are far more glaring than the 3 point shots that he makes, and that seems to be the big problem. From the fans’ perspective, the good doesn’t outweigh the bad, that’s why they hate on ’em. (For another current example, see Corey Maggette).

If we could simply get Turiaf and Biedrins back fit and a solid/star PF with Randolph in behind in rotation, I actually believe we have a very good squad in the making. Especially if we can play Hunter more.

How good do you think we’d be if we had Scola or Landry with a healthy frontline…. Still think we’re heavily lacking @ wing.

You start out the post by saying that its ok to attack the front office, but not our players. Then you go on to talk about Randolph as, paraphrasing, a chicken with his head cut off, thats constantly trying too hard to get blocked shots, has no idea how to position himself, and should never bring the ball up the court himself (as he often does).

he is trying to make steals and play defensive on what is a very poor defensive team.

I agree that he’s playing hard on defense, but I’d rather that he look for blocks than steals… he gives just about everyone a free pass to the rim. He’s literally done a couple toreador moves as guards drive towards him. The numbers bear out that he’s been a defensive negative: teams shoot better and score more often against us when he’s on the floor.

Looking at Randolph’s numbers this year…. if he can finally understand that he needs to have the composure he had toward the end of last year, he might actually take the most improved player award by a country mile….however, the headless chicken that we often see, over stretching to make wild swats , or poor positioning on offence or bringing the ball up himself when he should be outletting the ball much faster to our quick PG’s….HE…ANTHONY RANDOLPH…. is actually the one that is holding back his own minutes right now and for once…I can truly understand where the coaches are coming from.

The “headless chicken” we can is playing extremely high-level basketball, better than any other Warrior by a good bit. And his bringing the ball up on offense is clearly a coaching directive, not something he’s just aimlessly doing himself.

I am wondering who is next on the target list of people to have a go at? Maybe George is going to get it next from you.

I hope so. I can’t stand George. He’s definitely up there with Kirilenko when it comes to players I simply cannot stand.

HE…ANTHONY RANDOLPH…. is actually the one that is holding back his own minutes right now and for once…I can truly understand where the coaches are coming from.

I won’t argue that he’s played poorly at various points, and poorly enough to get pulled from games. The difference between you and I, though, is I think the coaching and prevailing perception of him (reckless, wild, immature, not under control, not a MAN) is now an active detriment. By which I mean, if Randolph makes a mistake regardless of the nature or the motivations behind it, it’s being chalked up to this idea that he’s like a twelve year old who just downed ten pixie sticks. Anthony Morrow gets off his feet on pump fakes constantly, but so far as I know he isn’t chastised for being overly effusive; Maggette falls in love his his deep jumpers which have been quite the vice this season, same as AR. I’m not saying there aren’t players who’ve deserved to land in the Don Nelson doghouse, just that I think he’s too rigid at times to let people out of it, and I wonder if there isn’t a permanent pall over his view of Randolph because of it.

Also, while it’s well and good to hear Monta spouting “team leader” platitudes with the best of them, his comment is steeped in the same sort of empty, jingoistic crap that I’d like to see less of in pro sports.

But rolling out lineups with Vlad, Moore and Maggette just equals lose right there.

That’s been the plan for 15 years running, and yet the fans still show up and Cohan still pockets a profit….