Bleacher Report - Articles by Ishak Kang

Monta Ellis Returns To Defend Home Court Against The Vaunted Cleveland Cavaliers

Ishak Kang — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 17:48:44 -0500

With just over 24 hours notice, and a couple days after an auspicious meeting attended by Monta's agent, Jeff Fried, Don Nelson, Chris Mullin, Robert Rowell, Larry Riley and Chris Cohan, the Warriors faithful will get a chance to welcome Monta back on the court. Fans have been trolling YouTube for snippets of video showing him practicing full speed with the team.

Coach Nelson has stated that he is back at full-strength, but I remain suspicious. Looking at his feet and ankles, it appears to me that Monta is moving around rather gingerly. Maybe its just his new-found caution.

After giving up $3M in salary and jeapordizing his whole $66M contract for a little joyride on a moped, he may have adjusted his gait from one of a galloping youngster to one better-suited for a franchise saviour.

I noticed Michael Jordan's plodding adjust after breaking his foot in his second NBA season. He maintained such a distance between himself and the rest of the NBA that his diminished physical gifts were hardly obvious.

But, there was a difference in hang time from his rookie 63-point game in the playoffs against Boston than it was when hit the game-winner over Ehlo four years later. The key was that MJ developed his outside shooting and defensive positioning to make up for a couple inches shaved off his vertical.

Does Monta find himself in a similar position? He does have that big-time aspect to his game that can be ratcheted up to eleven. The question is: can he rely on his quickness and vertical leap the way he did before the accident?

The reports from the official Warriors blog is that he has worked extremely hard and negotiated a release from the provision that allowed the Warriors to void the $66M contract as well as the suspension when team president Robert Rowell publicly usurped control of this franchise from his VP/GM Chris Mullin.

That's all water under the bridge now. Monta is flying again in the frenzied atmosphere of the Oracle. He has many new faces and shooters to keep happy on his team. Is he ready to take over the point guard duties and create for others? Can he spearhead the defensive effort and overcome the lapses from the journeymen veterans that have been added?

Its too bad he can't come back with Biedrins, his very capable pick-and-roll partner from the 2nd half of last season. It's going to be slash and dump. I'm going to be in attendance for the first Dubs game all season, and I can't be more excited. I believe in Monta 2.0. He will adjust his game and succeed beyond our expectations because he is that kind of talent.

Even though his new limited-edition MLK shoe is kind of ridiculous because it so recklessly ties their legacies together, they both share a similar dream, gloryland (playoffs). I just expect a little more marching with his teammates and a little less flying on his own to get there.

Jason "Gee, I Am Bad" Giambi and the A's: Don't Hate the Playa, Hate the Game

Ishak Kang — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 06:13:47 -0500

His career, like many of his contemporaries, has not followed the script that he, his father, or his agent imagined. There have been glitzy signings, heroic appearances on late-night TV, accusations, mea culpas, public demotions, unusual contract clauses, and shockingly negative fan receptions in Oakland and New York.

All this from a guy that is extremely well-liked by his teammates, honest and forthright with the media, and charitable in his support of the community.

Nonetheless, Jason Giambi does personify the "Juiced" era of baseball because he has been the flashpoint of Moneyball realities and public humiliation.

After all that, Giambi is nearing a return to Oakland, according to The Associated Press.

I attended Giambi's first game back in Oakland as a highly paid member of the visiting Yankees. I remember it well, not only for the sheer volume and intensity of the reception but because there was a group of 12-year-old female Yankees fans that I shouted down all afternoon. (I never realized that you could shout yourself into a cold).

It was Giambi therapy. He represented everything that I hated about the game. Team leader turns down a generous contract with his home team to sign a better contract featuring a pivotal no-trade clause with George Steinbrenner and the Evil Empire.

He was the first to leave from that upstart crew of homegrown talent. In eight short years, they're all gone, save Eric Chavez—possibly the nicest guy in the game. The oft-injured third baseman can probably not wait to see his buddy back in the rowdy clubhouse he once ruled.

The beer is gone, but there is a lot of water under the bridge, as well. Oakland fields an odd team of talented youth with little or no experience. Billy Beane typically signs an aging vet as a second bench coach (David Justice, Frank Thomas, Mike Piazza); this time, that leadership will come from their own.

Why does Giambi stir such emotion from A's fans? We all respect his talent and personality. It's his decision-making and naivete that drove us batty. He thought that he could go to New York with that flawed swing and .300 average and garner the same love he received from the grateful East Bay. Wrong.

It seems that Yankees fans looked at Giambi as a prospect and that his accomplishments in the heart of the Quadruple-A A's were irrelevant. As a Bronx Bomber, he changed his approach so drastically to hit that right-field short porch that his contact, bat speed, and eye went out the window. Bad move.

A's fans were happy when he was on the basepaths starting a two-out rally from the third spot in the order. His heroics in New York seemed to be only of the ninth-inning-homer-to-right-field type.

But chicks dig the long ball, right? Maybe he would have escaped the intense scrutiny if he stayed a complete player instead of a DH looking for 50 or bust. A's fans quickly realized that Giambi paid in full in embarrassment and diminishing skills in the Big Apple, and the bad feelings subsided. So is this signing pouring salt in the wounds or the coronation of the returning king?

At $3-4 million guaranteed for a year, not that much will be expected from the prospective cleanup hitter. Protected by Matt Holliday and Jack Cust will be an amazing opportunity for this vindicated slugger to find many gaps and pile up the RBI.

Most of all, Oakland needs some publicity badly as they try and build their ballpark complex in Fremont. A little ESPN attention and rock-n-roll lifestyle could help entice Holliday into signing longterm with this team and its glitzy plans for Cisco Field.

It's a good move with little downside. I think that Oakland welcomes back their bad boy with the hope that the magic returns and rubs off in the right way on this young team.

NBA On Display In China: No Olympic Stars, No Chinese Players, Still Fan-Tastic?

Ishak Kang — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 16:11:20 -0400

Well, the Milwaukee Bucks and the Golden State Warriors meet for the second time in this preseason trip to Guangdong and Bejing, China. And, even though Yi Jianlian is on the East Coast, the Bucks will apparently still draw a crowd.

The first game featured sloppy play which you can chalk up to the 15-hour flight, possibly.

Golden State Warriors perspective

Don Nelson is more interested in finding out what players will make the final roster. One rookie who looks to be safe due to his outstanding rebounding, bulk, and guaranteed rookie contract is Richard Hendrix.

Originally considered expendable earlier in training camp because of his lingering thigh injury, his personality really shows as he walks around Guangdong with Dan Dickau.

This second game in the very stadium the USA Olympians dominated just months ago should be much more competitive. At some point, you got to get the guys firing on all cylinders. I'd like to see what Corey Magette and Stephen Jackson are going to do on the court together.

Milwaukee Bucks Perspective

Trading Yi and Bobby Simmons for Richard Jefferson seems like a great move for the Bucks. They will count on Charlie Villaneuva to contribute as a solid starting power forward. Also commendable is acquiring Luke Ridnour while dumping Mo Williams. Ridnour's 7.7 assists and 50 percent three-point shooting this preseason is pretty impressive.

Andrew Bogut has looked pretty unstoppable against the weak post defense from the Warriors. Michael Redd now has a solid starting lineup that could really gel under his leadership. Redd's fifth coaching staff in his nine-year career, Scott Skiles and assistant Jim Boylan bring their hard-nosed philosophy north 100-odd miles from Chicago.

While I expect Skiles and Ridnour to thrive together, will Villaneuva step up into his role as a tough power forward?

I'll be watching and commenting on this article as the game is on ESPN2 tonight at 8:30 p.m. PDT. Are you watching, too? Let me know what you think.

To LPGA Commissioner Carolyn Bivens: Jingoism Less Profitable than Globalism

Ishak Kang — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 18:15:34 -0400

In Kyung Kim, a 20 year-old Korean woman, drained a 30-foot birdie putt on the final hole of the Longs Drug Challenge in Blackhawk, Calif., yesterday.

But the story was not the massive winds or the three-shot victory for this former US Junior Golf Champion. Rather, it was tension over whether she would speak English in her post-tournament interview.

Welcome to Women's Golf, 2008-style. Thanks to the unbelievable stupidity of their Commissioner, Carolyn Bivens, the LPGA has been a public relations disaster ever since she announced in August that they would kick out any players that did not speak English "well enough" to please their sponsors during their Pro-Am tournaments.

After concerns were voiced from their key sponsor, State Farm Insurance, and certain Asian-American lawmakers in California, the LPGA modified its suspension policy with a fine-based one.

The most compelling critique of this policy was voiced by John Paul Newport, who pointed out in the Wall Street Journal, that the LPGA actually has to buy its TV coverage in the US, mainly to package money-making opportunities in Korea.

Some may argue that this is not a policy that targets the Koreans, even though they make up 45 of the tour's 121 International players. However, it was only the Koreans who were assembled on Aug. 21 to be told of this new policy.

Carolyn Bivens then went into scramble mode over the next two weeks to cover her ass. Even though she got Kate Peters, the tournament director of the State Farm Classic, to back her, it was obvious that Kate clammed up when the company's PR department took over.

The singular Carolyn Bivens video on YouTube is an amateurish interview about the State Farm Classic that notably leaves out any mention of Korean players. Something tells me that Carolyn does not root for Kims, Kangs and Lees to beat her golden girls, Creamer and Gulbis.

This myopic attitude is laughable. Why can't the LPGA take a more entrepreneurial approach to their marketing challenges? What corporate sponsor wouldn't want to increase business opportunities in countries like China, India and South Korea?

Sadly, the LPGA succumbs to more of the same elitist groupthink that the sport of golf is trying to disavow.

Korean women golfers seem to have accepted these threats without complaint (they could be cursing in their native tongue, for all we know), but they should also realize that they have the leverage in this situation.

The LPGA has been gifted with a much higher level of competition and talent. But, the future of the game is in Asia. David Stern can understand this. Why not Carolyn Bivens?

Today, there is still no definitive answer from Bivens on exactly what the English policy for players will be in 2009.

No player will have their card removed or face suspension. But, without a strict policy for fine guidelines and enforcement, this issue will not go away.

My recommendation is to sack Bivens immediately and replace her with a competent, multi-cultural leader.

Golf is a global sport and the way to capitalize on its growth is to embrace the opportunities, not to protect your own.

Spinal Tap finally figured out at the end of their movie, that playing arenas in Japan was better than the Holiday Inn in Poughkeepsie. Do we have to turn it up to "11" in order for that message to get through?

Welcome DeMarcus Nelson, Welcome Back Marco Belinelli

Ishak Kang — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 18:16:35 -0400

While franchise player Monta Ellis has plenty of time to reflect on his $3 million moped joyride, Warriors fans are desperate to see if anyone can seize the opportunity. Saturday night at the Oracle it didn't take long for two newcomers to distinguish themselves on the court.

The second year player from Italy, Marco Belinelli, started the game by connecting from long range on the team's first two possessions. He finished the game playing over 45 minutes and scoring 22 with six assists and two steals, all while playing impressive defense on the 6'9" Rookie of the Year, Kevin Durant.

Has this former rising star of the European League finally shown NBA fans what kind of basketball resides within his 6'5" frame?

Of course, Warriors fans were fooled before. When he arrived in his rookie season, Marco scored 30 points in his first summer league game in Las Vegas, shooting the lights out.

He never shone as brightly until last night. Here's hoping that his reported hard work on defense and intangibles give him and his coach the confidence to let him fire away and take over games.

One undrafted rookie, who just happens to also be a hometown hero, before playing four seasons at Duke also surprised many critics with a show-stopping preseason performance. DeMarcus Nelson collected 18 points, seven assists, four steals, and four rebounds in 33 minutes in his NBA preseason debut.

Everyone knows this 6'4" ACC defensive player of the year, with a huge 6'10" wingspan, can disrupt passing angles. Though, he has been an offensive nightmare the entire training camp, unable to hit open shots.

They surprised the starters of the lowly OKC Thunder. Will they be able to build on this success against real competition in the regular season? Will Nelson even make the team?

I think last night's performance won Nelson a spot because Dickau just doesn't have the upside on defense. And, if you're looking for a complement to Ellis, you're going to need a backcourt player who can muscle up and contain an opposing point guard.

For the first time in the post-Baron era, we can see a glimmer of playmaking. Definitely, we see a team that can run a deep, 10-man rotation full of fresh, eager bodies to play both ends of the court.

Golden State Warriors YouTube Channel Has All the Latest Scoops

Ishak Kang — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 17:06:21 -0400

Are you checking out the Warriors YouTube Channel?

Right now, there are only 203 views of today's lengthy interview of Don Nelson and a shorter piece with Corey Maggette.

Mags defends his defensive reputation and makes Dubs fans' cringe when he mentions "Dunleavy." But he was referring to his former coach, and talked about how good the help will be when he gets beat, oy.

CJ Watson was reinforced as his top point guard at this point, but newcomer Marcus Williams has been noted for his crisp passing and dry sense of humor.

Nellie lookes a little distraught when he reported that he gave his veterans Jack and Al the day off. He took a bit of a cheap shot, saying that while his vets are under 30, their bodies are closer to 40. Then he contradicted himself when he quipped that anyone who's played three years or more would be considered a veteran on this team.

Yesterday's interview with Monta Ellis was a debacle that resembled an interview with a certain Governor from Alaska. Shockingly, there were no apologies to the fans and organization. No reporter really set him up, but why didn't his agent coach him to apologize before he answered any question? Its nice that Monta is smiling all the time, but he should have cleared the air and put this to rest.

Someone who is getting a lot of praise is undrafted rookie Anthony Morrow. His ridiculous 73 percent three-point shooting in an offseason Utah tournament has continued into camp.

In yesterday's interview, Nelson notes that a third captain, while not necessary, will probably be picked at the end of camp. It would be awkward if Al doesn't get the distinction.

Something tells me Harrington is failing miserably at defending his position.

Nelson contrasted this year against last year's training camp, because of how long it takes to teach the new faces what they need to know. He also noted that Sidney Moncrief will join Nelson on the bench this year.

And, for the super-crazed Dubs fan, check out the dozer of an interview conducted by the seemingly ill-prepared SF Chronicle writer Janny Hu. She kept asking about Marcus, but Nelson only wanted to talk about CJ. He seems to be happy that he knows his system—but the subtext is that his point guards are extremely limited in their skill sets.

Golden State Lame Ducks: Chris Mullin and Don Nelson on Warriors' Chopping Block

Ishak Kang — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 10:35:17 -0400

When Warriors VP of Basketball Operations Chris Mullin was asked if he thought he did a good job in his tenure, he replied, "Pretty good, so-so."

That's a refreshingly self-deprecating answer right? His contract is over after this year, and the final verdict will probably be even harsher than that.

The fact is that Mullin failed to advance the financially-healthy team he inherited into the upper echelon of the NBA. This is hard to imagine, as amazing performances from NBA bad boys Baron Davis and Steven Jackson catapulted this franchise into the international spotlight.

With a legendary coach in position last year, expectations were high. But Mullin failed to bring the two or three veterans needed to make a serious run at the playoffs. Chris Webber? Really?

The leadership void was apparent when Steven Jackson surprisingly told reporters on Thursday that his co-captains Baron Davis and Matt Barnes' contract gripes were "cancers" in the locker room down the stretch last season. Apparently, Jackson claims that his own contract gripes expressed a month earlier to the media would never enter the locker room. He also swore that the team is better this year. So, maybe a career in politics is not out of the question for Mr. Jackson.

Mullin was found asleep at the wheel this offseason. After being outplayed by Baron Davis, he flailed about awkwardly, flirting with Brand and Arenas. In the end, he overpaid for two veterans with only slightly above-average NBA skill or potential.

Don Nelson does not play rookies not named Webber or Hardaway. He does not have NBA-ready talent to work with. It's hard to judge his ability to teach rookies. He so grossly over-estimated Bellineli's ability last year that it was embarrassing to watch the Oracle buzz up when Marco touched the ball.

Any success that Mullin had was by accident or luck. He misread Al Harrington's effectiveness, but got a future team captain in Steven Jackson. Monta Ellis fell into his lap in the second round. He gave up very little to acquire Baron Davis, but ultimately refused to make him the franchise cornerstone.

Nelson will have a tough time pursuing his all-time coaching-wins milestone this season. He doesn't have a difference-maker in his chamber anymore. He'll have to create matchups and tolerate rookie mistakes. I think he'll be loose, and hand over the reins to Keith Smart before the All-Star break.

On the bright side, the sooner a commitment to developing rookies and second year players the better. The adrenaline shot that Monta Ellis brings could come at a great time. Nelson will be tickled with the progress of both Wright and Randolph come January, and the Oracle will be rocking with the best fans in the NBA.

But, that's not what was supposed to happen to complete the "We Believe" era. A new, unnamed era begins now, in 2008.

Marcus Williams Shows Up Early to Golden State Warriors Camp, Stakes His Claim

Ishak Kang — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 18:38:08 -0400

What is more shocking than Monta coming clean about his still-unexplained injury is that SJ Mercury News writer Tim Kawakami likes what he hears in newly-acquired point guard Marcus Williams.

And, trust me, he's no fanboy either. This guy has run his fair share of players out of town with his scathing critiques of the early Mullin contracts. But Mr. Positive reported that the three possible point guards the Warriors are plugging in to the gaping hole left by the Bearded One have been active participants in the last six weeks of voluntary pre-camp workouts.

Working out

Showing some skin, Williams is reported to be looking fit, moving extremely well, and finding teammates much the way he did for the UConn Huskies. As Nelson and Mullie sport a man-lust for guards resembling Spartan warriors, this is a cautiously optimistic report. Lottery forwards need only to resemble pencil-necked geeks.

Musings

I imagine that Belinelli, Watson, Morrow, and probably DeMarcus Nelson are pushing each other during these sessions instead of cowing to last year's captains. I still think Williams needs to feel the heat from below in order to keep up his defensive intensity.

It will be imperative for him to deny penetration at least for stretches this season. Without veterans like Jackson, Maggette, Harrington or Biedrins around, I hope Williams is assuming a leadership role as well.

I wonder where Maggette has been working out, as he is not mentioned at all in TK's report. For a workout rat that marvelled at the Warriors practice facility in downtown Oakland, he's been kind of a phantom this offseason.

Conspiracy alert

Is it all part of Monta's secret plan to get out of playing the point to have taken out his own ankle much the way he manufactured his neck injury during last training camp? Is he giving Williams every opportunity to secure himself a legitimate NBA career, right now?

This is perhaps a little too Machiavellian for the Mississippi Blur—but if Williams can quickly morph into a prototypical-Nellie starting PG, then Mullin will deserve accolades for another fantastic buy-low trade.

Warriors Choose Quantity over Quality: 18 Players Under Contract to Begin 2008

Ishak Kang — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 16:13:58 -0400

You have to wonder if there's a plan to all the mayhem that is the GSW 2008 offseason. With the three additional free agent signings today, Mullin now has four undrafted rookies from their Summer League teams on the roster.

Will they ever see the court under Don Nelson? Hard to imagine they won't all spend time in the D-League.

One player who can break through because of the injury to Monta Ellis is Demarcus Nelson. Quite a bit smaller than the listed 6'4", Nelson's 6'10" reach helped him to be selected ACC defensive player of the year in his senior season. An Oakland native, he should have plenty of support if he can bring the perimeter defensive tenacity that is so crucial for Nelson-coached teams.

This training camp will prove to be quite a competition for back-up at all positions except for center. How many swingmen are on this roster? Add 6'7" Dion Dowell to the list headed by Maggette and Jackson.

Dowell excels at rebounding his position while competent at nearly every other facet of the game. At 6'9", Kurz, another four-year college player like the previous two, has Austin Croshere 2.0 written all over him.

Instead of premium prospects or veterans, Mullin has selected athletes that bring above-average rebounding and defense to the table. This has been sorely missing from the current roster of probable players. The point guard position has got to give way to point forward because there is just not enough pure point guard talent on the roster.

Nobody expects Marcus Williams to trim down the 25 pounds necessary to play major minutes the whole season. We're going to see less penetration from the PG, and more spot up shooting. I can imagine the turnovers will be extremely high this season with that much responsibility falling to Maggette and Jackson.

Don Nelson will be well-served employing the youth movement and playing a deep 10-man rotation. It's hard to imagine that he can trust any of his rookies to do the things he demands.

But, a sweet stroke bodes well for Anthony Morrow, just like the hands of Demarcus Nelson just may steal some PT with the club while they wait for Franchise Blur to heal.