'cept Troy can drive and has arc on his jumper. The unsaid (but obvious) factor from the following NY Times article is pretty plain to me. Learning the Ropes On the surface, Keon Clark's elbow to the head of Troy Murphy on Wednesday night was just another knucklehead, roughhouse play perpetrated by an impetuous young player. But the suspension that followed Clark's flagrant foul in the fourth quarter of the Warriors-Raptors game — one game without pay and a $7,500 fine — may have hinted at something else. One of the plays not shown on television during the game was Jerome Williams's apparent swing at Murphy while he was on the ground after Clark elbowed him. Murphy, the Notre Dame rookie taken in the first round of the draft by Golden State, was also involved in an altercation last Sunday against Portland. After Dale Davis and Murphy were assessed double technical fouls for tangling under the basket, Murph dunked over Davis and briefly stared at him. He was assessed a technical for taunting and ejected from the game. Murphy is averaging 7.8 points and 6.6 rebounds a game. He can shoot, drive and bang inside. Because he is one of those defenders who annoys — fronting the post, swiping at the ball, basically acting like a gnat — the consensus is that veterans are testing the rookie's resolve. Preceding Clark's elbow in the Toronto game, Murphy drove past Clark twice, drew fouls and completed consecutive 3-point plays, prompting an irate Lenny Wilkens, Toronto's coach, to send Clark to the bench. One veteran official said on condition of anonymity: "I don't know why, but a lot of players are going after this Murphy kid. I don't think it's because he's dirty or too physical. I think it's because he can play a little and he doesn't back down."
I don't remember how Laimbeer's arc was, but he was one of the best shooting big men in the NBA. Also, Laimbeer has 2 more balls than Murphy has.
Yeah, Laimbeer could shoot the lights out. I was referring to that line drive shot he used to nail from the top of the key. We used to imitate his mechanical looking jumper on the court all the time. As for the "balls" comment... is that in reference to some kind of birth defect or surgery that T.Murphy has/had? I vaguely remember reading something to that effect, or maybe you're just effing with me.
Would-be intimidators like Davis and Clark don't realize that Danny Fortson made a particular point of beating the crap out of Murphy every day during training camp. If Murphy didn't understand why then, he understands now. (photos and captions courtesy of nba.com) Portland's Dale Davis introduces rookie Troy Murphy to the NBA...... ...and Murphy introduces himself to Dale Davis
Knutts(appropriate name for this post)-I was just talking about how tough of a guy Laimbeer was. To me, Murphy is soft, or at least appears soft, in a Tom Gugliotta kind of way. Laimbeer was flatout mean.
Yeah, Dale Davis thought the same thing ... at least until Murphy put a "Spalding" tattoo on his forehead.
Murphy is not soft. Now is he another Laimbeer? He hasn't done enough yet to deserve that comparison. But the ref is right, Murph does not back down.
Yeah, I should make clear that I don't buy into the Murphy=Laimbeer notion either. He's got some toughness, but he doesn't dish out the pain ... that's Fortson's job. In fact, the abuse opponents are attempting to inflict on Murphy may be a passive-aggressive way of responding to the punishment they're taking from Fortson in the paint. I mean, what would be the point of retaliating directly against Fortson? He likes it.
What I meant by the above statement is the whole *hushed voice* "white" factor. Has anybody read "Black Planet" by David Shields? In it (a race-obsessed writer's chronicle of a season covering the Sonics), he talks about the (perceived) blatant lack of respect -- by both opponents, teammates and refs -- shown to Detlef Schrempf. Shields implies that it's because Schrempf was the only non-white Sonic at the time. Don't you think Murphy's whiteness (coupled with his refusal to back down) is part of the antagonizing effect he's having on opposing players? I'm not trying to be inflammatory. Just reading that piece I quoted, I'm surprised that the writer didn't even mention it. The referee who was interviewed almost says it -- you can tell he wants to -- but he held back for some reason. Just a thought.
BGM: LOL! Don: Thanks for clarifying -- I think mentioning Laimbeer caused everyone to miss that point. But then, I'd also note that no one is throwing any elbows or cheap shots at Bob Sura. (Do you think he gets an exemption of some kind because of the hair? )
Don: But then, I'd also note that no one is throwing any elbows or cheap shots at Bob Sura. (Do you think he gets an exemption of some kind because of the hair? ) [/B][/QUOTE] Ha, true about Sura. And I don't remember Mike Miller being so hated as a rookie last season either. I just think it's something to think about in Murphy's case. This dates back to college, playing for Notre Dame in the Big East. I think Murphy will be a good all-around villain for the rest of his career, especially if GSW ever become a playoff contender. Also, in re: the "Murphy Effect," the anonymous official said, "I think it's because (Troy) can play a little and he doesn't back down." That's a little bit patronizing, wouldn't you say? It's not like he was a free agent pick-up. The guy was almost a lottery pick, going #14 in the first round.
Who knows? Danny Ferry's cranium attracted a roundhouse by Marcus Camby's fist last season. Ferry has a rep as a 'dirty' player, or at least one who frustrates his opponents. Perhaps race is a factor, perhaps it is not. The way I look at it, Murphy is a rookie who is not backing down and is taking heat for that.
