REPORT CARD: Jason Richardson

by Fantasy Junkie on Aug 5, 2006 12:58 AM PDT in Report Cards

We got Jason Richardson coming up next. You all know he was the heart and soul of this team. He's been stepping up his game every year so we're all excited to see what he's got in store this year. His only weakness last year was his free throw shooting, but he really improved his shooting from the field, especially from 3. So, I expect him to work on his free throws this off season and up his game to the next level.

(Photo: www.basketball4fans.de)

(Photo: www.bearkey.com)

Ahhh, good times...

Jason Richardson Mix by nes1us

J-Rich Mix by pacmanik

Overall Grade: A

Atma Brother #1 (Grade: A+)
For many parts of the season Jason was the only reason to watch the Warriors. Can't knock the hustle! 2005-2006 season was his coming out party offensively. Let's hope in 2006-2007 he breaks out as a defensive force. Unlike the clowns, he's a real man.

DJ Fuzzylogic (Grade: A+)
I curved my grades for the team since it would be unfair for no Warrior to receive an A (as if not having an All-Star for the umpteenth time wasn't bad enough...gotta cut em some slack somewhere, right?). There has been much debate about JRich's worth lately. Is he just a rising superstar because he's on a bad team? Is he just the next Michael Finley? Aren't scoring swingmen the most ubiquitous in the NBA? Well, whatever he's worth, I think he was the most important, if not most valuable, Warrior last season. Jrich came back with a new arsenal of moves (particularly notable a drive, spin fadeaway) in addition to his electrifying dunks; he put up career highs in pts and shooting and 3pt shooting %. Although his handles are not quite ideal for a 2-guard, he has greatly improved over the years at Golden State. Usually resorting to jumpers, Jrich has also tried to have a more balanced attack taking it strong to the hole; worth noting is that he avg. 5.5 freethrows a game. Now if he could only make his freethrows...

Fantasy Junkie (Grade: A)
I absolutely love his game. At the end of the year, he started to emerge as a dual threat with his driving and finishing ability combined with a much improved jumper. On top of that, he learned how to be the leader and carry the team. He gave his all every single time he stepped on the court. A true Warrior, just work on those free throws.

Hash (Grade: A)
The embodiment of a Warrior. JRich not only shouldered way more than his load this season, he showed a lot of leadership traits. Namely playing injured and publicly blaming himself for losses. While none of us here in Warriors Nation can blame JRich for anything less than constant explosiveness, his attitude this season may very well lead him to emerge as the solid leader that this squad so desperately needs.

YaoButtaMing (Grade: A-) The only reason I'm not giving him an A is the fact that he is not a Wade or a Kobe yet. He could be. With a little more time and practice I want Jason to turn into the elite player he can be. Someone all teams should fear. He isn't there yet, but he will be! I can't give anyone an A who doesn't make the all-star team.

What's your grade for JRich?

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Comments

A+

Just look at my name. Nothing else needs 2 be said

by JRichIsStillAGodButBiedrinsIsABeast on Aug 5, 2006 1:54 AM PDT 0 recs

J-Rich!

Easy A for J-Rich. In fact, A+ for what he has done for the pathetic Warriors.

by Yoyo on Aug 5, 2006 9:41 AM PDT 0 recs

B for BottomLine: He didn't get the job done.

JRich is my favorite player on the team. He's markedly improved and is tough. But the Warriors didn't make the playoffs again. A true star makes everyone better. JRich DIDN'T put the team on his back, shoulder the burden and take us to the Promised Land.

Kirk

by kirkkazas on Aug 5, 2006 12:03 PM PDT 0 recs

Can't ask for more

Richardson has improved every single year he's been in the league. While he can't get it all done himself, this team struggles to win 20 games without him. A-.

by jae on Aug 5, 2006 2:03 PM PDT 0 recs

A-

I can't help but love J-Rich's game, desire and passion. I can't help but wish he made a few more free throws, thats the only real reason for the minus. He was the one thing warriors fans could count on last season, other than not making the playoffs. Now if only Baron had the same tougness and Dunleavy had the same passion, we'd be a team to watch out for. Looking for a deserved All Star selection for J-rich in 2k7

Well theres always next year x12

by FoyledAgain on Aug 5, 2006 3:30 PM PDT 0 recs

JRich is an All-Star

JRich is the true Warrior franchise player. He is also an All-Star player at the level of Kobe and DWade who just hasn't been discovered yet because he's playing for the Warriors.

by pineriver on Aug 5, 2006 6:22 PM PDT 0 recs

Ummm...

I love J-Rich and the Warriors... But he's clearly NOT on the same level as Kobe and DWade... He doesn't have that killer first step or handle those other guys have. Kobe and Wade can single handedly dominate a game.

I do agree that he's been playing at an All-Star level tho. But the guard position is stacked and without team success he won't get the same kind of recognition.

by LancerEvoV on Aug 6, 2006 1:15 PM PDT up 0 recs

JRich

JRich:

Works hard in the off-season...
...Improves his game every year
Plays He-Man minutes per game
Plays hurt
Won NBA Slam Dunk Contest
Bounced ball off Carlos Boozer's head -- Cleveland Cavs' favorite moment in the Rookie-All-Star-Game
Considered untouchable by Mullin

by joe sez on Aug 5, 2006 8:07 PM PDT 0 recs

But. . . . .

I love JR, too, and think he was by far the best -- and only improved -- player on last year's horrendous W's team. BUT, and it's a big BUT, until he can start stroking those fourth quarter free throws he'll always be a highlights guy: we'll see great, early game shots, but the W's will still lose. If this team (JR's hardly alone in his penchant for missing game-on-the-line free throws) could start hitting those free throws they could easily win six to eight more games without any other improvements.
So, I'd give JR an A- and hope that this winter he focused on pressure free throws. (As Timmy H used to say: "That's why they call 'em FREE throws.") Also, other readers are right when they say (1) JR lacks that quick first step for a drive and (2) he can't yet carry a team like true stars do (though improved late game free throws would help a lot in that regard).
The big Q for the W's, thjough, is whether Boom Fizzle will approach his potential this year or will we just have another year of a talented but fat, lazy, out-of-shape, oft-injured, three-point lobbing, Monty-igmoring point guard who, when he fails, takes his team down with him. Here's hoping, but BD's history is against us.

by johnl on Aug 7, 2006 9:17 AM PDT up 0 recs

JRich & BD

Can JRich pull BD up to his level by calling him out to play team ball? to be the pro JR is? It can be in the locker room, practice, or private but it can only come from the team's best player. Is that in his personality to demand the best out of his teammates? It (almost) doesn't matter who the coach is, the best players on the team set the culture for the team. He's proven himself on the court without a doubt, now if he's to become a true super star he needs to improve the play of his teammates in whatever way is necessary to get the job done, and ya, make them damn freethrows.

by hardcore on Aug 7, 2006 12:46 PM PDT 0 recs

A-

Terrible passer, terrible freethrow shooter for a 2 guard, and he still gets an A-. J-Rich is bad ass. You hear all this talk about Joel Pryzbilla being a good defensive big man, then J-Rich dunks on him. Classic.

by thebigva on Aug 9, 2006 1:40 AM PDT 0 recs

I hate to rain on a parade

JRich is a B.

The very fact that Warriors fans are willing to compare Richardson to "the level of" Wade & Kobe is just another reason they are willing to accept another playoff free season.

Richardson is good, not great. Good scorer. Awful passer. Mediocre defender at best. Terrible from the line.

Is that an A player in your book? God the Warriors need a real franchise player.

by clem on Aug 9, 2006 9:17 PM PDT 0 recs

Wow

Terrible passer WOW. only like 2 TO a game and thats better than Wade. I dont understand how u can say he is a terrible passer. Hard worker on tha defensive end, always one of tha best rebounding gaurds. And thats an A in my book

by JRichIsStillAGodButBiedrinsIsABeast on Aug 10, 2006 8:53 PM PDT 0 recs

B-

My grade is fair but firm. J-Rich was outstanding. He is now a proven scorer. He would have been a B+ at most had he been more consistent from the charity strike. I see all these A grades and I can definitely feel the love, but giving him an A means there's not much improvement left for him, hence the B-. He should be wearing a captain's armband next season and hopefully gets his free throws down. Then he can definitely be given an A grade. Also I see a possibility of him making the All-star team and being 2nd all-nba at best. It's not required, but thats how much he has improved. We should give him an A if he can help the Warriors get to the playoffs. If you look at Kobe, J-rich has to hog the ball to carry him to the playoffs. So we shouldn't hope he carry the team on their backs but hope he can boost up player morale and confidence and put B-Diddy in check. Cuz if there's a face for the team it is J-Rich.

by j richmark on Aug 18, 2006 9:31 AM PDT 0 recs

A. No doubt about it.

A. A. A. Lemme put it this way. JRich is no Kobe or DWade. He doesn't make his teammates better. But how do you expect him to? Look who he's got with him. He's got people who can't put the ball in the hoop. He's doing all the work. Even if he called out BDiddy, would that REALLY make BDiddy work harder? And I'm not gonna lie, JRich has to work on his freethrows. But he's been working hard. Working hard like a true Warrior should.

by WarriorFanForLife on Sep 1, 2006 7:19 AM PDT 0 recs