Ball Don't Lie - NBA


Should you expect him to be dropping 47 points in a regular season NBA game any time soon? No. 

Should you be surprised if Anthony Morrow(notes) does drop 47 in an NBA game any time soon? No.

Morrow did drop 47 in a summer league game last night, and I have to tell you, that's significant. It's worth our attention. The kid is no joke. He can play, and while you would think he's right at home on Don Nelson's Golden State Warriors, understand that nobody (save for, strangely, Stephen Jackson(notes)) is really "right at home" on Nellie's roster.

Also understand that, while I appreciate the attention others are paying to the summer leagues, and the way the NBA puts this together, there is absolutely no value in what we're seeing right now. There is no history of any of this summer play translating into anything significant come fall and winter.

Too many oddball defenders, too many strange contexts to consider, too many motivational factors that make spring training baseball look downright prescient by comparison. Don't read anything into it.

But know that, whether Morrow drops 47 or averages 4.7 points in the summer league, this kid can play. And he's stuck on a joke of a team and a joke of a franchise, and it's really not fair.

The chortles, and people are right to chortle, started soon after news hit of Morrow's 47. That's fair. I just spent 30 seconds of your time telling you why you should chortle at the summer leagues. And the name I kept hearing was "Marco Belinelli," who played exceedingly well in Golden State's 2007 summer league outfit.

Here's the problem with that. Marco's international stats translated horribly to the NBA. He was not, nor should have ever been, on any team's radar. The Warriors, smitten with the idea of an international big guard named "Marco," went ahead anyway. And a month after drafting the guy, seemed pretty happy when he went off in the NBA-sponsored offseason tournaments.

But Marco went right back to being Marco once the NBA season started. And it's not a case of the guy not getting the minutes he deserved. I'm sure Belinelli is a lovely chap, but he's not NBA material.

Morrow is. Morrow proved that in 2008-09, not in the summer leagues, and Thursday's 47 should be a reminder of such.


The Warriors, who I must remind you are "a joke of an organization," probably don't want to know. Not while Nelson is running things, especially. He gets bored, and he plays to the ignorance of fair weather fans.

The ignorance, and this isn't their fault (they'd rather pay attention to the 49ers) that tells you that Morrow's hot 2008-09 start was a bit of a fluke, and it's OK to slowly decrease his minutes until you get to 7.6 minutes per game in February.

(Well, Kelly, he shot 36 percent in February. Which came first, the low minutes, or the bad shooting? Nellie's been at this since the 1960s, and he's reacting to Morrow's cold touch.)

No, he's being Nellie. You try coming off the bench for seven minutes toward the end of a 20-point loss and firing up a 24-footer two and a half hours after warming up. It's bound to go in, no matter how good a shooter you are, about 36 percent of the time.

Of course, Morrow averaged nearly 41 minutes per game in April, but that's how this joke of an organization works. Poorly.

The point I'm getting at is that, overall, Morrow is a stud. The guy shot 47 percent on three-pointers last year. Couple that with a 6-6 frame, and you have a player that should be starting, or at least playing more than 22 minutes a night (his average). Or, and I know I haven't been doing this since the 1960s, playing consistent minutes, as opposed to 41 minutes in April, and 7.6 minutes in February.

The problem here is that, as unorthodox as Nellie is, the man completely falls in line with NBA orthodoxy when it comes to sitting or starting guys he likes. He'll twist things to his advantage, every time, just as long as it leaves him looking like a plucky upstart who was thisclose to taking down the well-heeled favorite.

Morrow's an unheralded shooter? Then you can move him around a bit. He's always replaceable. He'll always be on the bench, ready to shoot.

Anthony Randolph(notes) doesn't have much of a jump shot? He hasn't put on weight? Well, then there's no way he can score, consistently. Even though he's scoring, you know, pretty damn consistently. Even though he's giving you eight and six with a block and a steal in only 18 minutes AT AGE 19, without you running any plays for him.

So just remember this, in January. Morrow's no fluke. Randolph is still a stud. They can both play, even if they aren't, and while Stephen Jackson is still averaging 41 minutes a night.

UPDATE -- So many mugs have missed the point, that I have to come back for an add on.

I never called Warrior fans "fair weather," in any way. I pointed out that Nellie takes advantage of the sort of Warriors fans that are fair weather fans, a group of sometime-observers that every team boasts. But I never concluded that the fan base of the Warriors was in any way dominated or even sparsely populated by "fair weather fans."

In fact, those who have read me for years would recall me pointing out how unfortunate that a passionate and intelligent fan base like Golden State's gets wasted on one of the worst organizations in sports.

Of course, that would involve reading, so I might be asking too much of people. Carry on. 

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  1. jano
    1. Posted by jano Fri Jul 17, 2009 11:05 am EDT

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    I liked the article until you said they were a Joke. Douchebag.
  2. rocky63215
    2. Posted by rocky63215 Fri Jul 17, 2009 11:11 am EDT

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    You are an idiot if it wasn't for Don Nelson he wouldn't have even been playing very much last year and show what he could do in last year's summer league. Could Morrow drop 47 in an NBA game? Hell yes he could! Obviously you didn't pay attention to his 37 points against the Clippers in his first career start. Wow only 10 points off of 47 in an NBA game.
  3. jm
    3. Posted by jm Fri Jul 17, 2009 11:15 am EDT

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    Fair weathered Warrior fans, eh? Obviously you've never been to a warrior game. As loyal as any fan base out there, period.
  4. djturtleface
    4. Posted by djturtleface Fri Jul 17, 2009 11:15 am EDT

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    I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that summer league does have some value, but only if you actually watch. If you just read the box scores there are too many non-NBA factors involved, but if you can watch then you can evaluate a players basketball skills. For instance, Blake Griffin's handles are clearly better than advertised, it's just obvious when you watch because he dribbles like small forward. Bad defenders or not, the handles are real. Just like, bad defenders or not, it's clear that Morrow can flat out score. His jumper is just excellent and he has a good eye for the flow of the game in the context of getting his own shot off.
  5. Ryan S
    5. Posted by Ryan S Fri Jul 17, 2009 11:17 am EDT

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    i think we knew that anthony morrow was a baller when he went undrafted and averaged 10 points a game and had multiple high scoring games throughout his rookie season? what is the point of this article? it's not like morrow is a huge surprise dudee..
  6. Ryan S
    6. Posted by Ryan S Fri Jul 17, 2009 11:19 am EDT

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    you have nothing nice to say in your articles and everyone who comments has nothing nice to say about your articles haha
  7. JD
    7. Posted by JD Fri Jul 17, 2009 11:20 am EDT

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    So you're saying that I SHOULD be upset that STEPH CURRY(always all caps) is stuck on this team? I'm running out of bandwagons to jump on, KD.
  8. roscoe s
    8. Posted by roscoe s Fri Jul 17, 2009 11:42 am EDT

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    Kelly Dwyer... do us a favor and NEVER write about the warriors again. you know nothing about what your saying. warriors fans are fair weathered...? are you crazy? we have gone through losing season after losing season and have the 9th best attendance in the league. how do you explain that meat? nelson did a great job with both the Anthony's last season and our team is looking to be strong in 09. I dont know if you are Chris Mullins BFF or what but your a horrible writer(totally wrong about a couple things) and should do your homework before you go bashing an organization and its fans.
  9. GaRY s
    9. Posted by GaRY s Fri Jul 17, 2009 11:46 am EDT

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    Kelly Dwyer is a moron. Give some more respect to the fans around here. You obviously wrote this article off highlights and stats.
  10. Roger Mason Jr. = Hero
    10. Posted by Roger Mason Jr. = Hero Fri Jul 17, 2009 11:52 am EDT

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    "(Well, Kelly, he shot 36 percent in February. Which came first, the low minutes, or the bad shooting? Nellie's been at this since the 1960s, and he's reacting to Morrow's cold touch.) "
    Quit interrupting my internal monologue.
  11. t dog
    11. Posted by t dog Fri Jul 17, 2009 11:53 am EDT

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    Morrow's only draw back is his confidence issue. When that guy is feeling confident he is on fire... and if he not he lets it get to him and he starts making poor decisions... i watched every GSW game last season and payed particularly close attention when he played because i know hes good and when hes on fire its something amazing... now if he would realize that or at least use that when things aren't going good he will be one of the greats IMO. Anthony Randolph is in the same situation plus add in the maturity factor. i foresee next year as being The Anthony's show on nights that they get minutes and confidence. add a healthy Monta the heart of Turiof and ... stack jack (when hes hot) we will compete with the best of them.
  12. Jimi K
    12. Posted by Jimi K Fri Jul 17, 2009 11:54 am EDT

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    i hate being a warriors fan
  13. does it matter?
    13. Posted by does it matter? Fri Jul 17, 2009 11:58 am EDT

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    Kelly Dwyer u need to go to a warriors game and call the fans "fair weathered" and see what happens to you, your a wasted of human life and should never be allowed to speak, think or write ever again. Ask any other writer who has been to a warriors game and they will tell you your a moron for saying that warrior fans are "fair weathered". There aren't words to describe how much you are hated by all warriors fans.
  14. john m
    14. Posted by john m Fri Jul 17, 2009 11:59 am EDT

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    Remove Don Nelson as the head coach and get someone who is not an egotistical moron. Nelson is too set in his ways and refuses to adjust his "coaching style." He is living on past glories and absolutely has not shown any desire towards developing new talent. Why does Stephen Jackson get so many minutes and take so many shots and make so many mistakes and still not get the response from Don that other players would. Let's be fair, let's reward players for their performance and give them enough playing time to be fairly judged before we put them on the bench and say, " he's not working hard enough during practice."
  15. oaklandas2009
    15. Posted by oaklandas2009 Fri Jul 17, 2009 11:59 am EDT

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    Lay off the drugs before writing an aritcle. The most erratic, rambling blog I've read in days. But a blog about something other than Obama's pitch or his love of the White Sox or whether or not his pitch hit the ground or not is a nice change.
  16. MC
    16. Posted by MC Fri Jul 17, 2009 12:00 pm EDT

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    we already know morrow and randolph are good
    however, you are an idiot for saying the franchise is a joke. right when everything was turning around and we had 2 straight awesome seasons (06-07,07-08), we had a season where essentially all of our starting 5 were injured ridiculously. and if we dont have an awesome season while everyone is injured, then the franchise is a joke? this article and your writing skills are a joke.
  17. seth
    17. Posted by seth Fri Jul 17, 2009 12:01 pm EDT

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    QUESTION 1:Is kelly a girl?
    QUESTION 2:Does (he or she) ever write anything positive?
    im in houston (go rockets!!) but dang the guy has been in basketball probly longer than you have been alive.
  18. Dj
    18. Posted by Dj Fri Jul 17, 2009 12:05 pm EDT

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    Us Warrior Fans HAVE THE BEST FANS IN THE WHOLE WORLD. why dont you come down here in the bay area and say that warriors are a joke. your pathetic, i dont even know how you became a sportswriter/article writer. This wasted my time, we already know morrow is good, The whole warriors roster is good.
  19. JD
    19. Posted by JD Fri Jul 17, 2009 12:08 pm EDT

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    I don't think KD's a moran.
  20. James B 007
    20. Posted by James B 007 Fri Jul 17, 2009 12:08 pm EDT

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    Fair-weathered fans? You are an ignoramous. Oh P.S. Anthony Randolph is the starting PF, so how does that fit in with him "not playing"? You might want to think about what you're about to write before you write it, so that your ignorant thoughts don't hit pen to paper.
  21. KD
    21. Posted by KD Fri Jul 17, 2009 12:09 pm EDT

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    Did I call Warriors fans "fair weather," or did I discuss "fair weather Warrior fans?"
  22. Jonathon F
    22. Posted by Jonathon F Fri Jul 17, 2009 12:10 pm EDT

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    HAHA. Kelly Dwyer FAIL.
  23. DT
    23. Posted by DT Fri Jul 17, 2009 12:13 pm EDT

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    It's been said, but I'll say it again: fair-weather fans? Ignorant fans? Have you been covering the NBA for long? Do you research your articles at all? Because those statements are absolutely false. I'll put Warriors fans up against *any* other fan base in the NBA. To say the fan base is "fair weather" is the most absurd thing I've read in quite some time. How can a fan base be "fair weather" when the team has had 2 winning seasons in 15 years? They still show up, they're still loud, and they still support their team. Just because you read about Anthony Morrow putting up 47, you think you can use it to denegrate an entire fan base? Did you even see Morrow play last year? Or Anthony Randolph, for that matter? Or are they just names that you read about and thought, "Hey, I can write an anti-Warriors article!" Terrible. Oh, and one last thing: the fans would rather follow the 49ers? Are you out of your mind? I'm not sure if you know this, but the Warriors haven't played in San Francisco for quite some time. They play next door to the Raiders, and if you think *anyone* cares about the Raiders, then you need more help than I thought.
  24. FreeBonds
    24. Posted by FreeBonds Fri Jul 17, 2009 12:17 pm EDT

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    "Did I call Warriors fans "fair weather," or did I discuss "fair weather Warrior fans?"" Wow, way to split hairs to cover yourself. Maybe if your writing was better, you wouldn't have to clarify.
  25. Team Schubdogg
    25. Posted by Team Schubdogg Fri Jul 17, 2009 12:19 pm EDT

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    Kelly, a girl sports writer? Better write about something you know best.......washing dishes!!!!

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