IN THE DOGHOUSE by: Peter Vecsey December 5, 2004 -- THE Hornets are so deci mated by injuries — Jamal Mashburn, Baron Davis and Jamaal Magloire — you can't even blame Bye-Ron Scott for their 1-13 record. I hate when that happens. In retrospect, Davis and Magloire may have been on to something in training camp when they pitched a b**** about George Shinn's alleged reluctance to go deep into his pocket to recruit quality talent; as it turns out the majority owner was saving his spare change to buy out minority owner Ray Woolridge. I'm not saying Glenn Robinson would've made much of a difference for New Orleans, but he's better than what they've got (Lee Nailon and George Lynch) at small forward. Sources say before the season, GM Allan Bristow rejected the 76ers' proposal of Robinson for Mashburn, all but formerly retired. Evidently, eating 20 percent of Mashburn's remaining two-year $9M/$10M obligation (the insurance picks up the rest) is more appetizing than paying Robinson $12M for one. Then again, it's not as if Scott is overly fond of Big Dog. "He gives you 20 points and gives up 30," Bye-Ron unloaded a couple weeks ago when trade talk resurfaced, a rather smug statement for someone so susceptible to denigration. Still, I must admit, Robinson is probably saving the Sixers 10 points a night by not playing this season. Fuming at losing the starting job to rookie Andre Iguodala, Big Dog has been sulking and making himself scarce since. Unable to deal him without giving up a young player, or assuming a long-term guarantee of an undesirable (for example, before paying off Shandon Anderson the Knicks tried to pawn off his $22M, three-year burden on Philly) the 76ers are stone stuck. Having come to grips with this realization, last week coach Jim O'Brien urged Robinson to return to active duty. Told him the starting job was up for grabs (Iguodala had been shifted to off guard) if he wanted to compete for it. Robinson wasn't exactly receptive. Said injuries to both ankles wouldn't allow it. On second thought, Bristow and Scott knew precisely what they were doing. * Robinson's sorry snub opened a slammed door on Kenny Thomas, one of the NBA's few manufacturers of double/doubles last season (13.6 points and 10 rebounds), who has been moping in direct proportion to minuscule minutes of late. His lack of enthusiasm for team goals, defensive oomph and perimeter shooting permitted Josh Davis (last season's CBA MVP) to displace the undersized macho forward in O'Brien's starting lineup. Friday night in Memphis, Thomas got back into the coach's rotation and good graces (?) by recording 14 points and eight rebounds in 33 energized minutes. Either that or it was a perfectly executed opportunity to stimulate some interest in his services. The Sixers have been marketing Thomas' wares/$41M, six-year responsibility. The Grizzlies are desperate for a tough guy to do the dirty work who isn't stat-conscious, which might eliminate Thomas. Jason Williams and Bonzi Wells are the bait, especially the profane point guard, said to be Hubie Brown's and Jerry West's least favorite. That's where they did agree. Where they didn't agree (zeroing in one specific problem) was the exile of Bo Outlaw, a tough guy who does dirty work and isn't stat conscious. Last week I had it completely wrong; Hubie wanted him waived despite a $6.585M guarantee, not West. Against his better judgment, West went along with his coach. What mortal sin did Outlaw commit against Hubie? He stood up for Lorenzen Wright, say sources. Hubie was repeatedly harpooning him and Outlaw told him to get off his case. Louie Orr had the people skills and personality to intercede on behalf of Knick teammates Truck Robinson, Darrell Walker and Trent Tucker when Hubie got especially humiliating, and not suffer any backlash. That's because he'd do it privately. Outlaw did it in front of the whole team. * Rafer Madness reached an all-time low Friday night in Boston. With just under a minute left in third quarter, up 6, Rafer Alston and Raptors teammate Loren Woods were assessed technical fouls for kicking the ball/arguing with the refs. Coach Sam Mitchell immediately held them accountable (he'll never last doing stuff like that) for costing the team unnecessary duress and points (actually, only one; Paul Pierce aborted one of two Ts) by benching and scolding them. The Celtics wound up coming from nine down to win. Afterward, Alston blathered to reporters about not knowing if he fit in with the team, blithered about being tired of fighting with teammates/coaches and threatened to Skip To His Lou out of here. Yeah, right, and leave a $27M, six-year guarantee behind. Just what we need, more bad acting from another Queens' kid. This is what happens, I suppose, when you're put into a positon of having to subsidize Ron Artest. Things can get a little tense. Oh, yeah, by the way, Alston delayed his defection long enough to lead the Raptors in scoring (20) and assists (10) off the bench in last night's 105-97 loss at Cleveland. * The Cavaliers are looking to deal Dajuan Wagner and DeSagana Diop for players on the end of their contracts. . . . Warriors are looking to do the same with regards to Michael Pietrus . . . <b>Powerless forward Maurice Taylor (zero rebounds in 29 minutes Tuesday against Detroit) might very well be sitting alongside Juwan Howard in Jeff Van Gundy's doghouse if the Rockets weren't so eager to trade him. You can't make Houston' an offer for Taylor it'll refuse. </b> Carmellow Anthony is starring in so many home videos (not to mention idiotic Nike commercials) these days, he ought to cut to the chase and simply move in with Paris Hilton.
Hmm... the second-to-last paragraph confused me. From my understanding, Pietrus has been playing very well and is paid less than Murphy, Richardson, Foyle, etc. Why would the Warriors trade him?
What position Pietrus play? I like what I saw out of him How big is his contract will they take Mo? Rocket River
upgrade over JJ .. . or good guy to have behind JJ and Tmac Peitrus and Boki off the bench? Rocket River
From what i have seen last year and basically his stats he is a scorer but not an overall good shooter. He doesn't have great range for a player his size. He would probably be Behind Boki in my opinion. He doesn't rebound the ball well enough for a SF and doesn't have the Range of Boki or JJ. He is a good slasher, and can get to the basket much with the same ability as boki but Peitrius actually looks for it and does drive. Not like boki who is a bit hesitant to drive. His defense is better than Boki though. Shoots under 40 percent from 3 point range and right about 41% from the field....more average bench player in my opinion right now and less the lottery pick he was. Stats http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/statistics?statsId=3714 Scouting Report http://www.nbadraft.net/profiles/mickaelpietrus.htm
i haven't seen much of pietrus but he's a pretty good defender when i do watch. he frustrated the hell out of francis last year (though that was francis under jvg) and he just played kobe well and held him to 10 points. granted, kobe was looking to pass a lot and couldn't shoot even when he had good shots, but pietrus did a very nice job of staying in front of him. so at the very least he gives some speed and athleticism on defense.
Pietrus is a smaller Bowen without the outside shot but a much better slasher. A very good on ball defender. I would think Van Gundy would like him a lot.
Good slasher, great defender, still on his rookie contract. Played for my home team in France, where he was a stud with Boris Diaw. ALA
"JVG would like him a lot"...sure, but then remember that the SF's here turn into spot-up shooters within the offense. If he can't shoot, he'll be more like *Ryan* Bowen on this team..
Spot on. That is what I remember of him too. The Warriors must be out of their mind for even contemplatimng trading this guys or this guy must be a problem unknown to many of us.
They do have Richardson and Dunleavy, a pair of guys more highly thought of than Pietrus, at the wing spots. I think the article is still erroneous, and means that the Ws would be willing to package Pietrus with a long term contract- but every long term contract they have was created by them in the last 6 months, with the exception of Najera.
He is the darling of Warriors fans. I doubt they'll trade him, unless it is a trade they can't refuse.
Since when did Peter Vecsey have so much credibilty that you need to try to come up with reasons that his article is full of crap?
