8th ave wrote:
uptempo wrote:
32 wrote:Totally. This is all wild speculation.
But, keeping with the '14-'15 idea of plucking big fish via free agency... DeMarcus Cousins (SAC/SEA) and Greg Monroe (DET) are the prized centers on the market, both are restricted but both play in relatively medium-to-smaller markets. If Bogut is a failure and the team decides to go in a different direction, I'd like to see one of those two guys signed to an offer sheet. It's true, neither sew up the middle like Bogut, but both have the tremendous passing skills that make a Lee-Bogut tandem alluring, plus they're both ideal back-to-the-basket post scorers to pair with a face-up option like Lee.
Martin Gortat, Andrew Bogut, and Spencer Hawes headline the non-restricted options. You gotta figure, a LOT of teams will go after Gortat; he's exactly what teams are looking for in a 5: rebounds, blocks tons of shots, has size, doesn't need the ball a lot but scores when his number is called. Gortat will be handsomely overpaid as the marquee free agent center that year. I'd love to get him, but so would several contenders. Hawes is a spread-5, like Bargnani. I want nothing to do with him. And Bogut is a walking calamity, but assuming he pulls it together for a full season next year, we'll likely have first ups for him.
Why did the Warriors choose to draft Epke Udoh over Greg Monroe?
The expectation of Udoh contributing to more defense.
Precisely.
Monroe was a big touted for offense, Udoh was a big touted for his defense. And the fact is, the team's big acquisition (David Lee) needed somebody who could cover his inside flaws on D. While you'll find no endorsement from me in taking Udoh over Monroe at the time (or even the premise of drafting for need instead of talent), the pick didn't flop. In fact, Udoh (when he was here) proved to be the best shot-blocker of that draft class. Obviously now, sharing time with Larry Sanders, its been proven that Udoh was more of an out-of-the-box defender while Sanders' high-ceiling has by and away overtaken Udoh in the past season.
But getting back to topic...
I still believe Andrew Bogut is hurt. Anybody who saw Isaiah Thomas crash into him yesterday to prevent a two-handed slam understands that Bogut is not the type of player to be dissuaded from
thundering down on guards when he's 100% (
ask Cartier Martin). The question is: how much Bogut are we dealing with?
80%? 50%? His 30-minute game was a good sign, but if this season has proven anything about Bogut's condition, he'll rapidly begin to decline in production for 3-4 more games until the team shuts him down for a breather. He's always hot outta the gate; as shown by his two Toronto performances, plus his games against Phoenix and Dallas when he was still relatively fresh off the DL. The real talent of Bogut needs to be analyzed 4 or 5 games in, at which point we'll know what we're dealing with.
As it stands, he still has a nose for blocking shots, but the
at-the-rim, apex swats that made him a marketable stud have been largely replaced by
baby blocks coming from an opponents' rear directly under the basket. I have yet to see Bogut soar in for a block, nor have I seen him challenge a player who takes it at him above the rim. He's getting a couple blocks a night, but they seem to be in the general form of what Lee used to be accused of:
hollow numbers, not really in any attempt to help the team win. How many times have we seen Bogut block a shot, only to be so winded or out of position that his opposite number recollects the rebound and puts it back in anyway? So while Bogut is still getting his on defense, I think there's a reason the team seems to struggle on that end when he's in there.
And as far as everything else... I mean, lets be honest, Bogut is giving us zilch. He's grabbing opponent's jerseys and getting away with fouls to cover up for the fact that he's not grabbing any rebounds (and the ones he IS grabbing seem to bounce right to him). How many times did the Warriors call him number in the post? Or look for him on the cut after setting a pick? The answer is zero. Offensively, Bogut is there for put-backs and screens. Defensively, he's getting numbers, but League Pass veterans will affirm he's not dominating the defensive end the way he should be, and the rebounding game still hasn't fully gotten there yet.
I'm critical of Bogut because Bogut is MY FAVORITE TYPE OF PLAYER, when he's right. Gritty. Hard-nosed. Gives it his all EVERY game, not afraid to fight or bark or lay down the hard foul or step in front of the freight train. Bogut is my absolute FAVORITE kind of baller... and it absolutely rips me apart to see him not performing the way he needs (and wants) to be. I just want a straight answer out of the Warrior brass (fat chance, I know): is this chronic arthritis of Bogut's cartilage tissue around the ankle? Is there any rhyme or reason that he comes outta the gate hot, but his effort and mobility and general production sinks after 4 or 5 games off the DL? What's the inner workings of what's going on here?
Because, yes, Bogut is back. And, yes, he's cleared for 30+ minutes and back-to-backs and alllll that great stuff. But the guy in the Hulk Hogan 'stache last night, the big Aussie lumbering up and down the floor... Make no mistake, Warriors fans, THAT'S not Andrew Bogut. THAT's not what this management traded for.
Andrew Brogut is a GAME CHANGER, baby.
Thus far, we have yet to see the real Andrew Bogut, despite flashes in several games.