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Former Rocket Torres has great debut with Warriors

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by Sane, Nov 4, 2002.

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Sane Member

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Salt Lake City -- Down five points with 47.8 seconds left, coach Eric Musselman huddled the Warriors before their inbounds play and said, "We're going to get a layup."

They didn't, one of a few things Musselman didn't get that his team needed in a 101-92 loss to Utah on Saturday, the Warriors' 16th in a row at the Delta Center and their 29th defeat to the Jazz in the past 31 meetings.

Launching a six-game, 10-day road trip, the Warriors nearly rallied from a 15-point, fourth-quarter deficit despite Jason Richardson's 2-for-15 shooting from the field, a sluggish offensive start that carried into the second quarter and, excluding newcomer Oscar Torres, an ineffective bench.

Leading 95-92, Utah's Scott Padgett converted an off-balance 7-footer at the one-minute mark. Warriors center Erick Dampier then rimmed out a left- handed hook, but the Warriors retained possession and called a timeout.

Musselman said Gilbert Arenas, the second option on the inbounds play after Torres, was "completely wide open" for a layup, with no one "within 10 feet of him," but Antawn Jamison, inbounding from the sideline, instead tried to hit Troy Murphy near the top of the key just before the five-second count.

Karl Malone deflected the ball to Padgett, who found the 39-year-old power forward for a dunk 14 seconds later, the Mailman's 25th and 26th points of the night, as the Jazz won their home opener and avoided their first 0-3 start since 1979-80.

"I've never seen a guy that open on that play," Musselman said of Arenas.

"I thought Gilbert was open for a short second, but I waited a while," said Jamison, who made 11 of 13 at the line as part of his team-high 23-point effort. "I thought the pass to Murphy was safer. I shouldn't have hesitated."

The coach did not hesitate to yank Richardson with 7:10 remaining in the fourth quarter and insert Torres, who provided 16 points in 25 minutes in his Warriors debut, four days after signing with the team. Torres struggled to line up properly on some offensive plays, but did not require directions to find the net, hitting 4 of 5.

"Every time he puts me in," Torres said, "I have to earn the coach's confidence."

No other reserve perimeter player has done it. Mike Dunleavy went 0-for-4 in 10 minutes, making him 1-for-11 the past two games, and fellow rookie Jiri Welsch missed both attempts in three minutes, lowering his season total to 3 of 13.

"We went through our normal rotation and didn't get much," Musselman said. "When you're playing on the road against a playoff team, you can't wait for guys to produce. We need someone off the bench to make some perimeter shots. We've played eight exhibition games and three regular-season games now."

Said Dunleavy: "I don't think anyone can say I'm overmatched. I think I've shown in the preseason and in the opportunities I've had in the regular season that I can do stuff. A lot of this is just a matter of putting the ball in the basket, and that will probably get things going for me."

The Warriors had little going before Torres entered for the first time three minutes into the second quarter. At that point the Warriors trailed 30- 18 and were 7-for-27 with two assists, both from Dampier, who also had four of the baskets, all in the first five minutes of the opening period.

Within 90 seconds, the right-handed Torres had spun inside and finished with his left hand, then fed Arenas for the first of the point guard's three second-quarter 3-pointers. In Torres' nine first-half minutes, during which he collected six points, the Warriors outscored Utah 29-20 and reached halftime down only 50-47.

E-mail Brad Weinstein at bweinstein@sfchronicle.com.

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Sorry if ti's already been posted. He had a lot fo fans here, so I thought it would be interesting to some people to see. Apparently, he's circled us on the calendar. ANOTHER Rocket killer?

Who knows.

#1 Sane, Nov 4, 2002
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Someday we will look stupid for letting him go like that.

#2 HotRocket, Nov 4, 2002
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I wonder what other teams think when they pick up Rocket players that kick @ss??

Do they wonder what we (The Rockets Organization) were thinking when we let him go? Or are they grateful that they were able to get our "rejects" (which is too harsh a word) or players that didn't make our cut?

#3 rockHEAD, Nov 4, 2002
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Glad he's doing well and sorry we ever got rid of him, but I think it had to be done. Wouldn't doubt that he holds a grudge against the rox.

#4 Nova, Nov 4, 2002
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Torres is an excellent scorer at guard. The Rockets already have this in Mobley and Francis so Hawkins is definately the better fit. The Rockets made the right decision.

#5 The Real Shady, Nov 4, 2002
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Agreed, to the rox, Hawkins is much more valuable in the defense that he brings with him and the willingness to the dirty work. Torres was a nice backup to Mobley, but we already have enough guns on the team.

#6 Nova, Nov 4, 2002
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Originally posted by Sane

I think I've shown in the preseason and in the opportunities I've had in the regular season that I can do stuff. "
Click to expand...

I LOVE this quote by Dunleavy Jr. This should be the new season slogan on the Warriors media guide.

"Come see the Golden State Warriors. They can do stuff!"

EDIT: That's new sig material

#7 RunninRaven, Nov 4, 2002
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That guy will never be what everyone expects him to be. He'll be like the 4th best player on a contender. Nothing special. Role player. Not a bust, but not a star.

Not worth a #5 pick in last year's draft, that's for sure.

#8 Sane, Nov 4, 2002
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I think some people take the "Hell, even the slower people in the group can talk about ex-Rocket Tracy Murray" line on the BBS front page a LITTLE to far...

Maybe it's their way of admitting that they're in the "slow" group.

#9 A-Train, Nov 4, 2002
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Originally posted by Sane
That guy will never be what everyone expects him to be. He'll be like the 4th best player on a contender. Nothing special. Role player. Not a bust, but not a star.

Not worth a #5 pick in last year's draft, that's for sure.
Click to expand...

If you are referring to Dunleavy, he was actually #3 pick. If you meant someone else, then just disregard.

#10 HoRockets, Nov 4, 2002
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Originally posted by Raven Lunatic
I LOVE this quote by Dunleavy Jr. This should be the new season slogan on the Warriors media guide.

"Come see the Golden State Warriors. They can do stuff!"

EDIT: That's new sig material
Click to expand...

This is so funny. You laugh, but the Warriors have had a bad slogan or two. I specifically remember that in the early/mid 90s, their team slogan was "The Team That Came To Play". That is awful. Gee wiz, I sure as hell hope the team came to play or else what am I paying $100 a seat for seasont tickets??????

#11 codell, Nov 4, 2002
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Originally posted by Sane

Not worth a #5 pick in last year's draft, that's for sure.
Click to expand...

It's even worse than that. He was the number 3 pick. I don't think Dunleavy will ever be much better than a typical NBA role player in the league. He pulled some serious magic pixie dust out of his ass in order to blind some NBA GMs to that fact, because that is the only way I can explain him getting drafted as high as he was.

#12 RunninRaven, Nov 4, 2002
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Originally posted by HotRocket
Someday we will look stupid for letting him go like that.
Click to expand...

gimme a break.

#13 Free Agent, Nov 4, 2002
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Originally posted by HotRocket
Someday we will look stupid for letting him go like that.
Click to expand...

Someday we'll look stupid getting rid of a back-up SG. Yeah, ok.

#14 RocksMillenium, Nov 4, 2002
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Oh My God, #3??????

The Warriors really are stupid.

What's strange is that every one on their team has trade value, believe it or not, but no one does anything about it.

Eric Dampier and Adonal Foyle have trade value. Lots of teams need C's. Fortson is somethigna lot fo teams need. Mills is i the last year of a MONSTER contract. Sura has a little less trade value.

They sure can transform that team. Arenas, Richardson and Jamison AT THE 4, is already a great start. Dampier or Foyle, backed up by Murphy is great. What they're lacking is a tall SF who can defend the 3 and 4, and can play on the perimeter.

#15 Sane, Nov 4, 2002
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Originally posted by RocksMillenium
Someday we'll look stupid getting rid of a back-up SG. Yeah, ok.
Click to expand...

No but you compare Oscar to the people we kept in his place and you also take a gander back at some of the other players either selected, let go, or signed to rediculous contracts and you will easily see this could be a much better team if the right player personnel people were in place.

#16 TheHorns, Nov 4, 2002
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Did you guys know that if the Rockets couldnt get Yao Ming out of China that they were either going to trade down or sign Mike Dunleavy. I dont think he will be a bad player. But come on a number 1 pick. When you have Jason Williams and other good players. Thats a joke, but you never know he could end up being one of the better players in this rookie class, but I doubt it.

#17 peleincubus, Nov 4, 2002
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Still asking myself up this time on why we let OT go while Maddox and Mikael doe'nt fit in with the rosters. Someday this whole thing will hunt RT!

#18 KALIKULI, Nov 4, 2002
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this is not about Maddox and Mickael, imo. This is about making the active roster.

Guys, Terence and Hawkins force Collier to the IR, as is, right? Where would Torres fit??? Only on IR.

Rudy likes Torres and did him a favor to help pick up with another 12-man active roster. It is unfair to stash Torres on IR as a practice dummy. He would not be happy.

Terence and Hawkins beat him out for the active roster.

#19 heypartner, Nov 4, 2002
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I could have told you Jerry West smoked a cigar when the Warriors picked MD2 allowing him to take Gooden at #4. It could be Carter-Jamison PR disaster deja vu all over gain for GS. Of course they are not looking so bad for that one these days. But I don't ever think they are going to be glad they took Dunleavy over Gooden--I think anyone who watched them should have known who was the better player and who was more of an impact player. Gooden-Jamison would have been one heck of a pair of matchup-problem causing forwards. MD2 coming out early was the smartest financial move he could have done.

On Rockets topics: good going for Oscar. The question wasn't whether Oscar can be a contributer at some level in the NBA. But would you rather give Hawkins' minutes to Oscar? Based on Hawkins play I think the Rockets kept the player that better fit what they needed now (Hawkins) and kept the player for upside (Maddox). Now OT over Mickeal, I admit a little strange based on what they can do now, with OT it must have boiled down to team chemistry (how would he do playing behind Hawkins), maybe he could not accept being behind Hawkins either. Again, if OT made it him versus Hawkins--I think the Rockets kept the one they should.

#20 Desert Scar, Nov 4, 2002
Last edited: Nov 4, 2002

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