Dwight Howard Endorses The Movement

by Atma Brother ONE on Jun 5, 2007 10:36 AM PDT in Humor

The man child that is Dwight Howard is in many ways Baby Shaq. He's an absolute beast on the glass and throws it down like Shaq in his Orlando days where the backboard was simply at his mercy. Last season Howard was good for nearly 18 points a game and a shade over 12 rodmans a game. He has the potential to dominate the paint for years to come. If he can work on his passing especially against double teams and pick up a few more offensive moves, he could be an All NBA 1st teamer in the very near future.

Baby Shaq is currently touring China and running into some difficulties with the language, but one thing's for sure- he's feeling The Movement:

Howard also talked up 7-foot Chinese forward Yi Jianlian, who's expected to go in the first round of this month's NBA draft. Howard was the first choice overall three years ago, and the two faced each other last year in the World Basketball Championships in Japan.

It might happen again for real in next year's Olympics in Beijing.

"I think he's going to be one of the best rookies to come out this year in the draft," Howard said.

"He's pretty physical, he can shoot, and he's quick for a 7-footer. But coming to America for somebody from China or any other country, his biggest trouble will be off the court -- as far as learning the language and our culture."

The Black Yi Jianlian?
(AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Howard also had some nice things to say about that other Chinese guy in the NBA that some of you might have heard of:

Asked to name his top five NBA players, he named Yao Ming twice.

And who is his favorite tennis player?

"Yao Ming," Howard replied again, pausing for a few seconds for effect, and then substituting Roger Federer's name.

"I love Yao Ming," he said. "I love playing against him. We're probably going to be rivals until we retire from the NBA."

I never realized Yao was so good that he had two spots in the NBA's top five player list. I guess when you're that good getting out of the 1st round of the NBA playoffs doesn't mean much. (Yes, I still can't get over the Rockets losing to the Utah Classless- the fans, not the players- in that 7 game series this past May.)

Is Dwight Howard just hyping up Yi because he's in China or is he sincerely down with The Movement?

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What Are Your Priorities for Next Year?

There has been enough information shared--lots of good opinions and solid information--about our options regarding trades, the draft, extending Baron, and so on.

With Atma mission to lead us to land Yi, I am wondering out loud and in print what are our priorities? Is moving up to sign Yi really our highest priority?

What are the Dubs highest priorities? IMHO I would list them as:

Create a trade for the defensive post player we so desperately need;
Make sure we have the cap money to extend AB and Monta assuming one of them is not involved in an earlier trade to meet priority 1;
Depending on who we do draft, decide on signing at least Barnes if not MP;
Find a servicable PG to back up Baron and even hope Law is available at 18 to draft.
Offer Baron a reasonable extension.

I think if do what we need to do, and that means a lot of input and influence by Nellie, we won't need to make finding a new coach one of our top priorities.

I just can't get behind believing our future depends on drafting Yi. Sorry Atma.

by commish on Jun 5, 2007 12:17 PM PDT 0 recs

It doesn't depend on Yi

I should clarify, I don't think the Warriors' future depends on Yi. Again, I see him as a great fit for years to come. The Dubs should try to make a move for him (and it looks like they are). I hope and don't think they'll do something silly like trade Baron Davis for the #5 pick, but they should be looking to have a little fun and kick off this important summer with a bang.

by Atma Brother ONE on Jun 5, 2007 12:53 PM PDT up 0 recs

I'm still trying to understand #1

1. Who do you have in mind? It would have to be someone who could switch and guard the perimeter as well as run the floor. That in a low post defender, rebounder shot blocker is not readily available other than maybe KG who, I'm guessing, isn't exactly what you had in mind.
If you're thinking about more of a defense and rebounding guy, then they're going to have to play a different style otherwise Foyle would have received more (any) minutes. He can at least rebound an block shots.

I agree except I would not trade Andris for Foyle 2.0 or Zach Randolph (Murphy 2.0?).
Both are replaceable. The easiest hole to fill would be an athletic SF/SG tweener. I think Kalenna fills one of those two spots next year with a more clearly defined role. I wouldn't spend the money Barnes is going to command next year.
I still have some hope for the point Monta experiment. Plus, this offense doesn't need a "point guard" that just initiates the offense. Jackson and Monta can both play the "point whatever" in this system. Maybe use one of the #2 picks on a raw point guard with upside.
No extension talks until the ed of the season and be clear about that up front so to minimize the perceived disrespect. He's too fragile. If he pouts and dogs it this year, do you think he's going to opt out? With his attitude and deteriorating health nobody is going to pay him that much (due $17,180,000 in 2007/08) for two years much less give him a multi year extension worth more per year.

The #1 priority has to be to draft the most versatile and athletic basketball player who can rebound and play "Warriors defense" as well as run the floor. The Warriors ave an abysmal history of drafting for need.

#2 Sort out the Andris and Monta situation. Hopefully they could get Monta at the Barbosa contract price since Barbosa is clearly better at this point. Andris is going to be expensive.

#3 Retain the coach. Actually that should be #1. If not, hire a coach that will commit to Nelson's style of play.

by bloodsweatndonuts on Jun 5, 2007 6:19 PM PDT up 0 recs

priorities

1. Mikki Moore (FA). He's not going to command huge $$$ and he fits the bill. We aren't going to trade up for Yi or trade for Sheed (gawd these are fun ideas to read though). We aren't going to trade for KG, Oneal, etc. so stop fantasizing. Adding MM to BD, Al, and hopefully a good #1 pick (see below) will keep us competative for WConf playoffs and beyond (not championship, not yet). Because the FA pool is so shallow, and he fits our needs/style, snatching him is actually a higher priority than it would be in other years (like last summer) imho.
2 & 3 & 4 are interrelated and key issues - let both Barnes & MP go. They will both command more $$ than they're worth both next year and in the future (especially the future) and in the case of MP, we could follow Travis' sage wisdom and do a sign & trade in a package to get something in return. We found Barnes on the scrap heap and we have two second rounders to fill out the back of the bench with energy guys in addition to our #18 pick (who better be the BPA - Green???) BD, Monta, JR, and Jax provide us all the flexibility we need at guard. Unless we're trading one, we don't need a guard in the first round.
5. Explain to BD that a) we rescued him when we traded for him and ditched Monty for Nelson, b) we gotta resign Monta and AB first, and c) repeat the last month of last season next year and the sky's the limit ...

by hardcore on Jun 5, 2007 8:22 PM PDT up 0 recs

adding Moore to BD & Al

Baron makes AB better by drawing the defense to him and feeding either AB (inside) or Harrington outside - he'd do the same for MM

by hardcore on Jun 5, 2007 8:25 PM PDT up 0 recs

I like your thinking

and couldn't have said it better myself (or I would have)

by commish on Jun 5, 2007 9:37 PM PDT up 0 recs

I've always said...

Depth can disappear in an instant. Wat may seem like a quick, versatile, run and gun team could fall apart in a moment with a couple twisted ankles. Because rebounding and defense are generally the easier qualities to find in lower draft picks, I do think it's important the Warriors go after this guy. He figures to be a legit matchup nightmare every game out.

by Zack Vank on Jun 5, 2007 2:05 PM PDT 0 recs

So what if

we traded J-Rich to Boston for the #5 which may end up being Yi?

Would that be worth it?

I love J-Rich but i think he's better in the halfcourt game cough*UtahJazz*cough and i would rather trade him for a player who was dominant in the open court cough*AK*cough.

by sadleavy on Jun 5, 2007 2:08 PM PDT 0 recs

J-Rich for #5

I would do that in a minute but I think, as Atma Brother One and many others have pointed out, our love for J-Rich does not correlate with his perceived value throughout the league. No point into going into all the reasons as they've been well-covered, but I for one would make that deal depending on who else would need to be traded to make the numbers work. I would definitely NOT take on some long term dead weight contracts to make the deal work.

by commish on Jun 5, 2007 7:46 PM PDT up 0 recs

Yi might be impossible to get but

Acie Law is a possibility! Acie Law would be the perfect backup to Baron Davis.

"Intensity, Integrity, Intelligence" - Kurt Angle

by ballin on Jun 5, 2007 2:22 PM PDT 0 recs

PLEASE!

We need some real ball handlers on this team. Considering that our offense is based on driving and dishing, watching Jax take over when Baron is out is almost painful. No one else on the Ws can handle the rock when pressured. Please draft a PG! Or get one via free agency! Acie Law IV can be that dude!

by dj fuzzylogic on Jun 5, 2007 4:31 PM PDT up 0 recs

my sentiments exactly.

i don't know about law since i haven't really seen him play, but the dubs seriously need more ball handlers on this team. basically, jax is our second best ball handler. out of the guys that play, whose our 3rd best dribbler, barnes?

the strength of a team full of athletic swingmen is attacking mismatches off the dribble like jax & bd did in the mavericks series.

next series, when the defenders on those two were upgraded to dwill/fisher & kirilenko the natural shift would of been to attack giricek (in games 1&2) & boozer/okur off the dribble, but neither jrich or al could handle the ball sufficiently enough. i know i'm grossly oversimplifying things - but i still feel my point remains true.

and, contrary to popular opinion, dribbling is one of those things that is difficult to improve once you're at that age. that's probably one of my biggest skepticism's of monta's game. though i like him as a 3rd guard coming off the bench ala vinny johnson(det) / bobby jack(sac).

by the evil monkey on Jun 5, 2007 6:11 PM PDT up 0 recs

YES!

I find synergy with your comment about handles being difficult to learn at that age. I wrote about in the diary about Monta comparisons...just being able to dribble with two hands isn't enough to be a PG. It involves a lot of instinct that comes through YEARS and YEARS of practice. I say he avgs like 3-4 assists per game, max, but not as like a primary ballhandler...espeecially now with handles like that.

by dj fuzzylogic on Jun 5, 2007 7:17 PM PDT up 0 recs

PG

If we trade up in the draft we could get Conley and then take sean williams with our second pick. Monta plus something?? might get us high enough for conley? These two would make more sense than Yi.

by Skeptic con Urquell on Jun 6, 2007 8:23 AM PDT up 0 recs

i would

sell high on Baron and and include POB for Ratliff and the #5 pick.

from there i would:

Take Yi with the 5th overall pick.
Take Javaris Crittenton with the 18th overall pick.
Swing a deal to the Bobcats to get Brevin Knight. Say a sign and trade deal with MP2. That way we won't be completely handicapped right now. Although i would kiss the playoffs away if we gave away Baron. But we'd be stronger for years to come

we could then have Knight and Critt at the point, Monta and Jrich at the two, Jacko at SF, Al Harrington at 4 with Yi behind him (i'd look for Yi to be starting by mid-season), and Dris' at the 5.

We'd still be handicapped at center, but, we always are.

This team would have a lot more upside, and more cap flexibility for years to come to resign Dris and other FA's.

Warriors, Stupidest franchise in the league. Purgatory is thy home.

by kenntoe on Jun 5, 2007 10:30 PM PDT 0 recs