Anthony Randolph getting more individual attention, and he seems to prefer it

January 18, 1:58 PMGolden State Warriors ExaminerMatt Steinmetz

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Anthony Randolph 

Something seems to be clicking with Warriors rookie Anthony Randolph.

Randolph still isn't playing a ton of minutes, and he's still a long way from being consistent but there has been definite improvement over the past couple of weeks.

He's played in five consecutive games, and coach Don Nelson has even found a reason to start Randolph in three of them ... with mixed results.

Randolph seems to be benefiting from a subtle change in how the Warriors' coaching staff is handling him.

There's been more of a hands-off approach when Randolph is practicing with his teammates, and more instruction in individual settings.

"I've been around players who sometimes function better in an individual setting rather than a group setting," Warriors assistsnt coach Keith Smart said after Sunday's practice. "He seems to have taken to that. He's made the commitment to come in early to practice. ... just slowing everything down. Work on simple things, footwork, where your shot should come from, what to do next with the basketball."

Reading between the lines a little bit here, it seems as though Randolph struggles when criticized in front of teammates.

"I think when a setting is small, the ego gets taken out of it," Smart said. "So, now I'm not trying to show my manhood. I can listen to constructive criticism in that type of settings. Some players respond better that way, and he seems to be a guy who has. ... When it's one-on-one, he's not looking over his shoulder to see what a teammate is thinking when you say something pretty strong to him."

Warriors captain Stephen Jackson said that Randolph is coming around.

"I'm going to tell you why I see growth," Jackson said. "The way he's been responding to coach saying different stuff about him, and him not starting to him playing a lot now, he sees how his attitude has to be to get on the court.

"He has to be humble. He has to respect what coach is saying, he can't talk back. He can't have that attitude or looking at the bench after every play."

According to Jackson, a lot of Randolph's issues stem from the fact that he is so competitive.

"The thing I like about him is he thinks he's the best player in the NBA right now," Jackson said. "That's what I love about him. Obviously, he's not there yet, but I love his confidence. I think coach has given him the same tough love that he would have given any young player at his caliber.

"I think he's starting to understand coach. He's not thinking someone's picking on him like he was when he came here. He understands people know he can be a great player and help this team and once he figured that out, that nobody was picking on him and that people are trying to help him, he's been coming to practice the last week, working on his game early. I think he's starting to learn to understand coach and that's a good sign for us as a team.