Tell us what you really think.

er maybe not defending the “players on the team” but defending the new rookie

Defense is exactly what we lack.

So you think Udoh will help; we get it, we heard you the first time. No need to make a new post every 10 hours expressing how much you love the pick or how you think Udoh is going to “help the team” where everyone else apparently can’t.

I’m guess I remain hopeful it wasn’t a poor selection, but am not yet optimistic.

I didn’t see Baylor play a lot this year, but specifically commented to others about Udoh being a real talent when I originally saw the Duke game in the NCAAs. As a Duke fan I happened to still have that game sitting on my Tivo, so rewatched it yesterday focused on watching Udoh’s game. In so doing, a couple of thoughts.

1) Udoh did look good, demonstrating a nice mix of skills on the offensive side of the ball as well as the defensive. What I really wanted to see was what he might bring that doesn’t simply duplicate Randolph and Wright. To me, the pick only makes sense from a team need perspective if management thinks that Udoh can play the 5 or that either Udoh or Randolph legitimately can play the 3, because otherwise Randolph, Wright and Udoh are too similar at the 4.

Re: Udoh playing the 5, the Duke game wasn’t a terrible one to see as Baylor’s starting Center was in foul trouble for much of the game allowing Udoh to create a tough mismatch for Duke’s true Center, Zoubek. Zoubek may actually make an NBA roster as a (reasonably) skilled true-7 footer and Udoh was a matchup nightmare for him. Nevertheless, for all his strengths, Zoubek is uncommonly challenged as regards his lateral quickness and explosiveness, so this doesn’t prove too much one way or the other. While Udoh showed solid hands and instincts for rebounding, he’ll need to significantly strengthen his base to gain/hold position against true-5s in the NBA.

Re: Udoh playing the 3, before watching him again, this seemed an even more unlikely proposition. I now wonder whether this possibility, even for short stints, is what intrigued the Warriors. He does have a few unexpected skills for a player his size. He looked decently comfortable handling the ball in the half court, made several nice passes, showed an outside shot to near the college 3 point line, and perhaps most importantly demonstrated the ability to guard the 3 or the 2 out on the perimeter. Though the sample size was very small and the context was a zone defense, Udoh ended up out on the perimeter a few times matched up against (reasonably quick 2-guard) Nolan Smith and he actually got down into a defensive stance out there and effectively applied pressure. I know that his most talked about talent is shot blocking, but if he is capable of guarding the 3 at the next level then that is a useful addition to Wright and Randolph’s skill sets.

2) On the other hand, watching him again and now knowing that he is 23 years old, he wasn’t as dominant as one might hope given that I believe this was considered one of his best career games. (also, from other things I’ve read, I wonder if his performance that game was due to his rising to the occasion of a huge game (which would be good) or his having formerly been a Duke/Coach K fan which provided him added preparation and motivation). Were he 20 or 21, as I originally had thought, his performance would have impressed far more. Also, while Udoh was impressive, that was a pretty talented Baylor team around him so Baylor success was not entirely due to him. On the other hand, I suppose, his less than overwhelming scoring and (very good but not dominant) rebounding numbers may be attributable to sharing with their guard talent as well their playing zone defense and at a modest pace.

In the end, I felt and largely still feel that (once they soured on Monroe, perhaps correctly), Udoh may end up being a good pick. But it’s hard not to see Aminu as a superior long-term prospect given his youth, more apparent fit at the 3, similarly advanced defensive ability and stellar rebounding ability. Really, all 3 of these players seem to be high character guys. Basically, picking the 6’10" 23 year old who only made 2nd team all Big-12, over a 6’9" 19 year old who made 2nd team All-ACC (6th overall in the conference) seems a concerning choice with the 6th pick in the draft.

But as a Warriors fan, whether deserved or not, hope springs eternal!!!!! Often it is all we have.

Go Ekpe!!!!!!!!! Go Warriors!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

uggggh…

But it will take a lot more than Udoh.
It will take moving Monta and (maybe) AR
It will take new coach who tells guys, produce at both ends or go to D-League
It will take a new owner who’s presence helps upgrade franchise rep, is willing to pay max bucks for a legendary GM and coach, and can convince a SF whose talent, star power and bball IQ is in the range of Granger to Carmelo.
then we’d really have something.
I like the Udoh pick, but we have a ways to go here.

I’m getting so tired of the Randolph is better than Udoh because he is younger logic. Or the X per 36 stat claims he’s better. Randolph may grab a lot of rebounds, I can’t once recall him ever doing it in a clutch situation, ever putting a staple on a game. Like half this squad, he has inflated stats created by Nellieball.

I’m optimistic about Udoh mainly because I trust Nellie and Riley’s eye for talent. I question Riley’ ability to get creative with deals, but he knows a good basketball player when he sees one. Stephen Curry (who half this blog blasted for not being athletic enough when drafted) is direct proof. Do I think Udoh will ever be a star? Nah, but on flip side, i don’t think we passed on any stars either. The only player who truly intrigued me was Paul George.

Point is, from what Ive seen in NCAA tourney + all scouting reports. Udoh is a smart basketball player. Something Randolph is not. And while some people can get sucked in by some ‘raw athlete’ give me bball iq anyday over it. I mean unless you prefer monta to Curry