Brandan Wright: slowed by toe and lack of aggression
It hasn't been a stellar training camp for Warriors forward Brandan Wright, and it didn't get any better for him on Tuesday.
One look out onto the court at the Warriors' practice facility and it was clear: Rookie Anthony Randolph was scrimmaging with the first unit and Wright, now in his second season, was playing with the second team.
Not good. For Wright, that is.
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Anthony Randolph: Ahead of Wright
Warriors coach Don Nelson was straightforward when he said Wright and Randolph are competing for backup minutes at the power forward spot.
And Nelson was also straightforward when he said where that competition stands.
"It hasn't been close," Nelson said. "Brandan's got a bad toe right now and that's held him back. But it hasn't been close so far."
Wright didn't play much under Nelson during his rookie season, and there was much debate about why.
Some suggested Nelson wasn't being fair to the kid, and that it was another example of Nelson being tough on a rookie; others said Wright hadn't earned the right to get more playing time.
It seems possible the same discussion could be taking place this season.
"Randolph is getting better every day and at this point he's ahead (of Wright)," Nelson said. "Wright needs to be more aggressive and show that he can play in his second year in the league. He's got to start stepping up."
♦ ♦ BELINELLI HAVING NO SUCH ISSUES
Comments
VERY interesting revelations...although i'd like to see wright at the pf when beli is in the game, because him and beli have developed some rapport
i take this with a grain of salt. could just be nellie trying to light a fire under wright.
i don't think of nellie as a defensive coach, but he won't play a guy of say last year's version of marco belinelli on defense which in relation made BD look like DPOY.
My friend in NO was at that preseason game and basically said that, at this point, Randolph is like tissue on defense. and that he looked a little lost.
i don't know that Wright's any better on d (heard from that same friend that Brandan struggled against Julian Wright), but at least he knows where he's supposed to be.
Nellie traded Jason Richardson - an All-Star caliber player - for Wright, so if he's not working out we know who to blame, don't we.
Nellie's idea of working with rookies is to bring in a D-league guy and give him the rookies minutes, screwing up the rookies head for the next two years.
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