2005-2006 REPORT CARD: Ike Diogu

Polarizing performance.  When offense went through Ike, good things happened.  Monty kept him off the floor, however, citing his ineptitude on the defensive end.  Didn't we know that going in to the season?  Too slow and undersized to defend premiere low post players? It would have been nice to see our best defenders, Foyle and Pietrus, on the floor with him to make up for his deficiency. Would have liked to see him force Monty to have played him more by doing the little things.  But, as a rookie, I can't give him lower than a B since Monta was given such high marks for his spark at the end of the season.  

He lost all that time early in the year.  It did affect his ability to play with the team, for the entire team to get the flow of him on the court.

It seemed to me towards the end, when all was lost, some nice things started to develope.  Ike was one of those nice glimpses of the future.

If he'd have had more minutes and a better start to the year I could go as high as a B+.

I kind if agree with Rick Barry that defense in the NBA is overrated.  IF the Warriors had just MADE more shots, played the same D, they would have won enough games to make a huge difference.

Screw Ike's D.  Send him out there with the direction to outscore the opponents PF and don't foul out.  Let damn Foyle guard the rim, that's all he CAN do!

If I could clarify, I mean individual defense.  TEAM defense is very important.  The Warriors just switched too often on D and then suddenly a 45% 3 point sharpshooter was wide open...

Let Ike score his 24 and hold the other PF to 18 and we're good.

B

Ike did one very important thing very well: he got to the FT line.  In addition to this being an easy way to score, it puts opponents in foul trouble.  It's also something that will likely remain a plus with more PT.  

He shot the ball rather well.  If he can continue to do this in more PT, he'll be a real asset.  He was an adequate rebounder for a powerforward, but not exceptional.

And he was a defensive liability.  I don't know many  players who are solid defenders as rookies, let alone above average.  Adjusting to the NBA is tough here.  The guys who make a defensive impact immediately are either big (e.g. Duncan or Shaq) or the rare freak (Augmon or Grant Hill, who prior to foot injuries, could lock down guards and forwards).  Ike is going to have problems because he's not big, nor was he the defensive freak, but he can learn and improve.  However, Monty's going to have to try to make it easier for him and giving him major minutes as a center wasn't a wise choice.  There his height will be exploited.  While he may be able to match up with his man even giving up inches, the center has to be a last line of defense and make sure the lane is a difficult place for guards to invade.  The undersized rookie PF playing center is about as adequate for this as Adonal Foyle is at bringing the ball up court.

If he pans out with his potential, A. He can be a 20-10 guy.

However, if he doesn't, C-.

Guy was great when he was used!

Get the prik out there and work off him in the half court at the very least