Props to Mike Dunleavy Jr.

by Atma Brother ONE on Feb 15, 2006 6:46 PM PST in News

Admittedly I am one of Mike Dunleavy's harshest critics. When he got drafted, I almost jumped off a cliff with the Warriors Jam Squad. After the Warriors beat the Spurs opening night in his rookie season a reporter asked then new head coach Eric Musselman why Dunleavy didn't play. Muss responded "Because we were trying to win the game." Fantasy Junkie and I were rolling on the ground in laughter. Muss was the man and Dunleavy, well wasn't the man. After the Warriors traded fan and Golden State of Mind favorite Antawn Jamison, Dunleavy was handed the starting small forward spot even though he never earned it. Dun started and stunk it up for 152 games. When the Warriors management inexplicably gave Dunleavy a 44 million dollar contract, we were all shocked, but Fantasy Junkie and I took it to another level (see 44 Reasons why giving Mike Dunleavy 44million wasn't the brightest idea Part I | Part II | Part III | Part IV ). After a horrendous start to this season, Dunleavy had the nerve to call out his teammates and coaching staff (see Dunleavy Needs to Shut Up). When he lost his starting job to MP2, I thought it was about time.

Today, I'm going to surprise everyone and give Mike Dunleavy Jr. some serious props. No, I'm giving him props for hitting an open jump shot or for anything game related. No, I'm not giving him props for the great Funleavy Foto Fun he's supplied us with over the years. I'm giving him props for sticking up for his teammate Mickael Pietrus the other night. Check out MVN- The City for the sound clip and make sure to thank Dave for his exclusive. Aside from having a potty mouth, Dunleavy deserves some credit for calling out a reporter who was just trying to make Pietrus feel bad and stir up some controversy.

I can't wait till the day Dunleavy's ridiculous contract comes off the Warriors payroll, but tonight against his dad's Clippers I'm pulling for Mike to blow up. Go Funleavy!

Today (and probably only today) Mike stands tall!

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You guys are cool!

Nice piece. Even though you don't like dun's game you realize he did good here! Right on Atma Bro!

by kirkkazas on Feb 15, 2006 8:07 PM PST reply actions

Why the hate?

I like Dunleavy. I may be one of the few, but I like that he gets fired up and he's confident in his game. For all the crap Bay Area fans have given him, he's stuck it out and he's playing well. I certainly don't think he's the reason we've struggled the last couple months.

Where have you gone Jud Buechler?

by Chris Gatling on Feb 15, 2006 10:10 PM PST reply actions

i hate dunce-leavy too...

but when he called out his teammates on selfish play, i liked what i heard... ok, he doesnt have the credentials to call out his teammates but he is part of the team, and he shud have a voice...

i never liked dunleavy even when he was in HS... i watched a video of the mcdonalds all american game and i thot this skinny white boy was hyped up waay too much...

the dubs shud trade him to daddy... the clips need a swingman with the loss of maggette, and we need to get rid of his ridiculous contract...

cmon mully... do something.... u just let the trade exemption pass with nothing to show for it... dont let the trade deadline pass without making a good move...

by smashed mike on Feb 15, 2006 11:42 PM PST reply actions

But did he say it wearing the proper dresscode?

Dunleavy is my hero for the week. Pietrus sounds suprised by the outburst, I can just see them have a moment like in Major League when Charlie Sheen's character, Rick "Wild Thing" Vaughn, is on the mound and Corbin Bernsen's character, Roger Dorn, says to him after finding out that Rick slept with his wife:

Let's cut through the crap, Vaughn. I only got one thing to say to you: "Strike this mother fucker out."

Think he'll get any kind of fine from the league? If it was Ron Ron or Kobe saying something like that I'm sure it would be a scandal. Sometimes obscurity pays.

J.cob -greatest accomplishment: coming up with the Golden State of Mind name.

by jdotcob on Feb 16, 2006 2:27 AM PST reply actions

Definitely

I think race also plays a role here in why Dunleavy probably won't get in trouble. If it was Kmart... you know the rest.

by Atma Brother ONE on Feb 16, 2006 8:18 AM PST up reply actions

Dunleavy id the Key Right Now

Glad to see the site's starting to remove its foot from Dunleavy's neck. In case anyone's watching, he and Fish are literally carrying the team this week. Also, as to last night's fourth quarter near meltdown, only Fish and Dunleavy were able to hit free throws back to back. (I noticed JR fell into old habits -- skying in the first quarter, dying in the fourth -- and at one point missed 5 of 6 FTs. Oh well.) Even tho his shooting remains poor, his all around play -- and, most important, his increased urgency -- has made him invaluable on this team, and I remain convinced he'll become a terrific sixth man, though that may take a bit more time to fully flush out. But two points: first, Dun's contract is big, but hardly huge -- when he was starting, he was the lowest paid starter, in some cases by quite a lot; second, that nonsense about Dunleavy getting breaks cuz he's white is unbelievable, especially since he's been everyone's whipping boy all year (even though his play in 2006 has been consistently good, even with bad shooting nights) -- and the KMart analogy is ludicrous since KMart shows he can play hard and DIRTY while MD just plays hard -- and remains the ONLY guy on this team who'll give the hard foul (as KMart can attest; since it shut him down for the rest of the game in the W's last tilt with Denver). So, please, keep watching Dunleavy with open eyes: when he and Fish space the floor out, as they have, they're getting this team to play with anyone, even tho there's virtually no size (with Murph and Biedrins out) and no BD. He's playing a team game, and he understands the concepts (even off the floor, when he protected MP after that bonehead play Monday.) Enjoy this guy!

by johnl on Feb 16, 2006 10:08 AM PST up reply actions

JRich = unclutch

I have to agree with you about the free throws. Fisher and Dunleavy were the only ones to hit some key free throws last night down the stretch, but they were not spectacular at it. They both missed a couple. But I'd rather have those two at the line than anyone else right now. Actually can Cheaney hit some clutch free throws?

And when is JRich going to stop choking? Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't recall him ever hitting a game winning shot. I remember the game against the Rockets where he had the ball in a tie game and a few seconds left. TMac's guarding him, he goes up for a shot and it gets blocked. Anyways, he missed a ton of free throws in the 4th quarter last night. It could get ugly, teams might start fouling him in the 4th if they're down, employ the hack-a-shaq game plan.

by Fantasy Junkie on Feb 16, 2006 12:28 PM PST up reply actions

JRich's game

I don't think the Ws win if BOTH Baron and JRich are out. Seems like they can win with Baron out but if JRich is out I think last year the Ws went on like a 6 game losing streak.

I have friends who think JRich is overrated. They say he can't defend and can't shoot free throws and all he can do is dunk. But I think he has improved in all aspects of his game other than free throws. The question is can Pietrus become a bigger star than JRich? I would have to say yes. MP is a better defender and can shoot the three when he's set and just as athletic.

Yeah, JRich has hit a game winning shot before. JRich came out of nowhere to dunk the ball in Shawn Bradley's face a couple years ago to beat Dallas at home and break their 12 game losing streak in Dallas. He also hit a jumper with 27 seconds left to silence the Kings last year after the Baron deal.

by kirkkazas on Feb 16, 2006 11:33 PM PST up reply actions

Multi-dimensional scorer

One thing that doesn't get mentioned enough about JRich is that he's just an excellent all around scorer. He's a good mid-range and 3point shooter, he can finish around the basket nicely, and his post-up game has really come on. And oh yeah- he can dunk.

JRich's defense and passing have also improved this season.

If anything I think JRich is underrated.

MP2 is going to be a good player and I like his energy, but when it's all said and done I think JRich will be the better overall player.

by Atma Brother ONE on Feb 17, 2006 8:54 AM PST up reply actions

clutch play

JRich shot terribly after the first quarter last night, true; and he's had some memorably disappointing clutch moments. However, he does not quit hustling in the fourth quarter, and he often does hit tough shots that silence an opponent's run or bring the team back into contention--also clutch moments, if not game-ending. Last night offered a good example: with his shots clanking everywhere, he came up with two key rebounds as the Ws were losing their lead, in both cases relying on his athleticism to beat someone else to the ball. He played good help defense all night, too; in fact, that was the part of the game that impressed me most, for the whole team. The double-teams and hard digs tied up Kaman and Brand completely in the first half, which in turn took the Clippers out of their game plan. I couldn't believe my eyes part of the time: the Warriors were all alone on the defensive glass on play after play. We could get used to this!

by mikej @ Golden State Of Mind on Feb 16, 2006 11:10 PM PST reply actions