Hornets.com’s 1-on-1: Golden State’s Mike Dunleavy, Jim Barnett
January 2, 2007
Hornets.com and Hoop magazine writer Jim Eichenhofer chatted with Golden State forward Mike Dunleavy and Golden State television analyst Jim Barnett prior to Tuesday’s game at the Ford Center.
Dunleavy is well-known among hoops fans for his exploits in college as a Duke Blue Devil. The fifth-year NBA veteran is also the son of current Los Angeles Clippers head coach Mike Dunleavy Sr.
Barnett played 11 seasons in the NBA after being selected as the No. 8 overall pick of the Boston Celtics in the 1966 draft. He has been with the Warriors as a broadcaster for over two decades.
Golden State forward Mike Dunleavy
Q: The Warriors have been in the vicinity of .500 during the first half of several recent seasons but are still trying to end their streak of missing the playoffs. What is different about this year’s team that makes you think you can halt the postseason streak?
A: We’ll see. It’s obviously a long year. We are exactly at .500 right now and in the thick of things. I think the difference for us is going to be winning the close games that we’ve dropped in the past. If we can pull some of those out instead of dropping them like we have in the past four or five years, it could be the difference between 43, 44 wins, or 37 to 38.
Q: You are the only player in the league whose father is a current NBA head coach. Does your father ever talk trash to you because the Clippers are 9-3 against the Warriors in the three seasons since he took over as Los Angeles’ head coach?
A: [laughs] He lets me know about it a few times. They’re off to kind of a slow start this season, so I’ve been kind of razzing him for that. We’re ahead of the Clippers in the standings, so I can kind of spit back at him.
Q: Was it a coincidence that most of your stats were below your norms, for example, in the four games you played against your dad’s Clippers last season? Doesn’t he have a better scouting report on you than any other coach in the NBA?
A: [laughs] I don’t know. But let’s be honest: Once you get out there on the court, you’re not going up against the coach. It doesn’t matter who the coach is. You’re going against other players. I don’t know if it’s a coincidence or not, but this season I’m looking to change that.
Q: Chris Paul said recently that if the NBA’s 30 head coaches held a one-on-one tournament, he would consider Byron Scott the favorite. How do you think your father would fare?
A: Well, if the tournament was only a day long, I think he’d have a good shot. If it was anything longer than that, I know he would get pretty sore, whether it was his back or his knees. He can still really shoot, though, so he’d have a chance.
Q: Your brother Baker just completed a four-year basketball playing career at Villanova last year. If the Wildcats had played against Duke in the NCAA Tournament, which team would you have rooted for?
A: That’s tough. I’d probably be pulling for my alma mater. Obviously I’d want to see my brother do well. I was actually hoping that Duke and Villanova would meet in the championship game, so I could get to go it, but it never happened. I think I’d always stick with Duke.
Q: You purchase tickets for children’s groups to every Golden State home game. How can you be sure that none of the kids using your tickets are North Carolina Tar Heels fans?
A: [grins] I can’t. But you know what? I’ll take whatever fans I can get. If they come out to support us, then that’s good enough for me.
Golden State broadcaster Jim Barnett
Q: When Don Nelson took over as the Warriors’ head coach this summer, it was one of the biggest stories of the NBA’s offseason. What are some of the most important differences he’s made in improving the Warriors so far?
A: He’s taken some players who were young and inexperienced, and given them a shot to play. Two in particular – Monta Ellis and Mickael Pietrus. Pietrus did not have a good season under Mike Montgomery last year. He’s the type of player who you have to put him in a position to succeed and play to his strengths. His strengths are shooting the three-pointer from the corner, running the floor and getting to the rim; not handling the ball. Don has done a great job with that. He wants Mickael to run the floor.
With Monta Ellis, Don used to hate rookies and hate young players. But he’s given Monta a green light and a lot of room for error. Because Don likes his quickness and likes what he can do. He’s given Monta the freedom to make mistakes, and Monta has responded very well.
But the biggest change in this team is that since they’re not a great shooting team, Don knows they have to run and run and run, to get easy baskets. Now they’re one of the best teams in the league in terms of field-goal percentage, because they’re getting good shots. He’s clever in that way and keeps emphasizing it.
Q: Of the three teams that are the closest pursuers to the Warriors in the standings – Timberwolves, Clippers and Kings – which one concerns you most?
A: The Clippers were good last year and started out nicely this season before they had a big slump, but they’re dangerous. I don’t think Sacramento is that good right now. I don’t think they have that leadership right now. Minnesota is always an enigma, because when you have Kevin Garnett, I don’t know how you can’t have a .500 team.
The important thing for the Warriors is to (win) when they go head-to-head and beat those teams. The other big thing is to get healthy. Jason Richardson has been hurt and has not had a very good season – Don Nelson has not seen the best of Jason Richardson – and they’ve got to get Monta back. They’ve also got to learn how to win on the road [Golden State was 3-11 in away contests entering Tuesday’s game].
Q: Let’s put you on the spot. If you had to bet your Bay Area residence on it, would you pick the Warriors to make the playoffs and end their 13-year postseason drought?
A: Yes. I think it’s going to happen. I think Don is getting the most out of his players. Even the peripheral players, such as a guy like Matt Barnes who has kicked around the league a lot. (Nelson) gives them confidence and free reign.
Q: What is your opinion of how former Hornets guard Baron Davis has performed over the first 32 games of the season?
A: Superb. He’s been all that Don Nelson has asked and more, on and off the court. He’s been a great leader who has put up good numbers and is shooting a career-high in field-goal percentage. It is absolutely imperative that he stays healthy for this team. If he gets hurt, you can recant my (earlier) statement about the Warriors making the playoffs [grins].
Q: The Warriors’ media guide says that even though you retired as a player from the NBA in the mid-1970s, you remain a competitive basketball player in Masters competition. What kind of shape is your game in right now?
A: Well, I’m darn good for being 62 years old! [grins] When I play against 62-year-olds, I’m in really good shape. I can probably shoot better than most of the guys on the (Warriors), but that doesn’t mean anything. I can go out and hit 10 three-pointers in a row, which is something I’ve done this season.
I can’t jump any more, and it’s tough to guard people. Unless they’re my age.
Hornets.com and Hoop magazine writer Jim Eichenhofer chatted with Golden State forward Mike Dunleavy and Golden State television analyst Jim Barnett prior to Tuesday’s game at the Ford Center.
Dunleavy is well-known among hoops fans for his exploits in college as a Duke Blue Devil. The fifth-year NBA veteran is also the son of current Los Angeles Clippers head coach Mike Dunleavy Sr.
Barnett played 11 seasons in the NBA after being selected as the No. 8 overall pick of the Boston Celtics in the 1966 draft. He has been with the Warriors as a broadcaster for over two decades.
|
Q: The Warriors have been in the vicinity of .500 during the first half of several recent seasons but are still trying to end their streak of missing the playoffs. What is different about this year’s team that makes you think you can halt the postseason streak?
A: We’ll see. It’s obviously a long year. We are exactly at .500 right now and in the thick of things. I think the difference for us is going to be winning the close games that we’ve dropped in the past. If we can pull some of those out instead of dropping them like we have in the past four or five years, it could be the difference between 43, 44 wins, or 37 to 38.
Q: You are the only player in the league whose father is a current NBA head coach. Does your father ever talk trash to you because the Clippers are 9-3 against the Warriors in the three seasons since he took over as Los Angeles’ head coach?
A: [laughs] He lets me know about it a few times. They’re off to kind of a slow start this season, so I’ve been kind of razzing him for that. We’re ahead of the Clippers in the standings, so I can kind of spit back at him.
Q: Was it a coincidence that most of your stats were below your norms, for example, in the four games you played against your dad’s Clippers last season? Doesn’t he have a better scouting report on you than any other coach in the NBA?
A: [laughs] I don’t know. But let’s be honest: Once you get out there on the court, you’re not going up against the coach. It doesn’t matter who the coach is. You’re going against other players. I don’t know if it’s a coincidence or not, but this season I’m looking to change that.
Q: Chris Paul said recently that if the NBA’s 30 head coaches held a one-on-one tournament, he would consider Byron Scott the favorite. How do you think your father would fare?
A: Well, if the tournament was only a day long, I think he’d have a good shot. If it was anything longer than that, I know he would get pretty sore, whether it was his back or his knees. He can still really shoot, though, so he’d have a chance.
Q: Your brother Baker just completed a four-year basketball playing career at Villanova last year. If the Wildcats had played against Duke in the NCAA Tournament, which team would you have rooted for?
A: That’s tough. I’d probably be pulling for my alma mater. Obviously I’d want to see my brother do well. I was actually hoping that Duke and Villanova would meet in the championship game, so I could get to go it, but it never happened. I think I’d always stick with Duke.
Q: You purchase tickets for children’s groups to every Golden State home game. How can you be sure that none of the kids using your tickets are North Carolina Tar Heels fans?
A: [grins] I can’t. But you know what? I’ll take whatever fans I can get. If they come out to support us, then that’s good enough for me.
|
Q: When Don Nelson took over as the Warriors’ head coach this summer, it was one of the biggest stories of the NBA’s offseason. What are some of the most important differences he’s made in improving the Warriors so far?
A: He’s taken some players who were young and inexperienced, and given them a shot to play. Two in particular – Monta Ellis and Mickael Pietrus. Pietrus did not have a good season under Mike Montgomery last year. He’s the type of player who you have to put him in a position to succeed and play to his strengths. His strengths are shooting the three-pointer from the corner, running the floor and getting to the rim; not handling the ball. Don has done a great job with that. He wants Mickael to run the floor.
With Monta Ellis, Don used to hate rookies and hate young players. But he’s given Monta a green light and a lot of room for error. Because Don likes his quickness and likes what he can do. He’s given Monta the freedom to make mistakes, and Monta has responded very well.
But the biggest change in this team is that since they’re not a great shooting team, Don knows they have to run and run and run, to get easy baskets. Now they’re one of the best teams in the league in terms of field-goal percentage, because they’re getting good shots. He’s clever in that way and keeps emphasizing it.
Q: Of the three teams that are the closest pursuers to the Warriors in the standings – Timberwolves, Clippers and Kings – which one concerns you most?
A: The Clippers were good last year and started out nicely this season before they had a big slump, but they’re dangerous. I don’t think Sacramento is that good right now. I don’t think they have that leadership right now. Minnesota is always an enigma, because when you have Kevin Garnett, I don’t know how you can’t have a .500 team.
The important thing for the Warriors is to (win) when they go head-to-head and beat those teams. The other big thing is to get healthy. Jason Richardson has been hurt and has not had a very good season – Don Nelson has not seen the best of Jason Richardson – and they’ve got to get Monta back. They’ve also got to learn how to win on the road [Golden State was 3-11 in away contests entering Tuesday’s game].
Q: Let’s put you on the spot. If you had to bet your Bay Area residence on it, would you pick the Warriors to make the playoffs and end their 13-year postseason drought?
A: Yes. I think it’s going to happen. I think Don is getting the most out of his players. Even the peripheral players, such as a guy like Matt Barnes who has kicked around the league a lot. (Nelson) gives them confidence and free reign.
Q: What is your opinion of how former Hornets guard Baron Davis has performed over the first 32 games of the season?
A: Superb. He’s been all that Don Nelson has asked and more, on and off the court. He’s been a great leader who has put up good numbers and is shooting a career-high in field-goal percentage. It is absolutely imperative that he stays healthy for this team. If he gets hurt, you can recant my (earlier) statement about the Warriors making the playoffs [grins].
Q: The Warriors’ media guide says that even though you retired as a player from the NBA in the mid-1970s, you remain a competitive basketball player in Masters competition. What kind of shape is your game in right now?
A: Well, I’m darn good for being 62 years old! [grins] When I play against 62-year-olds, I’m in really good shape. I can probably shoot better than most of the guys on the (Warriors), but that doesn’t mean anything. I can go out and hit 10 three-pointers in a row, which is something I’ve done this season.
I can’t jump any more, and it’s tough to guard people. Unless they’re my age.
