Richardson, Arenas are no-shows at practice
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The Warriors, in the midst of their best run in nine seasons, were flabbergasted Friday when starting guards Gilbert Arenas and Jason Richardson did not show up for practice one day after the team completed a sweep of the respective conference champions.
The reason for their absences at the late-morning workout was fuzzy. Agent Dan Fegan, who represents both second-year players, said Friday night that the two missed the practice because of "injury and illness," but the Warriors said they had no idea why Arenas and Richardson were absent.
The no-shows came one day after Arenas played a season-low 15 minutes and sat the final 21 minutes and Richardson rested the entire second quarter and logged three fourth-quarter minutes in a 105-97 victory over the New Jersey Nets.
The missed practices culminated a 2 1/2-week period during which Arenas admitted to being in a funk and hinted at displeasure over reduced playing time, and Richardson, irked by repeated benchings resulting mainly from defensive difficulties, met with Musselman to make sure the two were "on the same page."
But according to Peter Vecsey of the New York Post the issue lies squarely with coach Eric Musselman, who according to some of Vecsey's contacts is sacraficing the team's youth and future in exchange for wins now. The most hard-hit of the Warriors has been rookie Mike Dunleavy, the third overall pick in last June's NBA draft, but Richardson and Arenas are also feeling the veteran pinch with Earl Boykins and Bobby Sura getting key minutes down the stretch in games.
"The issue is trust," swears someone in the know writes Vecsey. "Eric was brought in here to develop young talent. Instead, he has alienated the team's top draft picks [Mike Dunleavy and Jeri Welsh] by telling people they can't play."
"What Eric has done to Dunleavy is dead wrong. What he's doing to Richardson and Arenas is just as unkind and uncalled for - he's undermining them by complaining about their deficiencies to outsiders. Sure, they have deficiencies - they're only in the second year in the NBA. What Eric doesn't understand is that a coach is supposed to be a custodian of his players' reputations."
"Eric has aborted his mission," continues Vecsey's contact. "Yes, he can coach. Yes, he has strengths. But this recent winning has gone to his head. Three and half months into his rookie season, the guy invites TNT into his locker room at halftime of the Nets game. Playing to the camera, he gave 'em the whole shebang - video, pep talks, individual stuff. Are you kidding me! That's not about the team! That's about the coach!"
"The Warriors have been mired in the mud for eight years. They've enjoyed short-term blips before. And this short-term blip is not necessarily an indication of great team chemistry. They're very talented, that' it."
"Eric has to make a decision. He has to understand the difference between winning 25 games and winning 35 at the expense of his young nucleus. John Lucas, Scott Skiles and Lon Kruger found out, if you can't bond with your young nucleus, you won't be coaching that long. Coaches who identify with young guys and bond built trust. There's none of that here."
So the Warriors are winning and that's not a good thing? So what Musselman uses the vets instead of the youngsters, as long as they are winning. And when was the last time the Warriors aren't a losing team anyway? Plus the vets are playing well, you can't blame the coach for playing them. And what he said about Dunleavy, gimme a break, that guy sucks, that's why he's not getting playing time. Vecsey is such a moron!
