Williams Feels Ready to be Starting PG

Shapecity · Sep 28, 2008

OAKLAND — It's been a long time since the spotlight has fallen on new Warriors point guard Marcus Williams. Perhaps the last time was in the 2006 NCAA Tournament when he was the star for the top-ranked Connecticut Huskies.

The spotlight passed over him in the 2006 NBA draft as he dropped from expected lottery pick to late in the first round. There was little left over for him during his two years in New Jersey, where All-Star point guard Jason Kidd was the central attraction.

Now in Oakland, the spotlight is suddenly on Williams again, with the brightest beams being the curious eyes of coach Don Nelson and executive vice president of basketball operations Chris Mullin.

The warmth of the spotlight, he said, feels good.

"It's something different from the past two years I went through," Williams said Friday. "That whole situation was a gift and a curse. When you're playing behind J-Kidd, you learn all you can, but you don't get to play. So I think now, this may be an opportunity to showcase my talents, showcase what I can do and what I learned. I'm looking at it like it's my one chance." A perfect storm has Williams entering training camp as No. 1 on the depth chart. Because the Nets signed point guard Keyon Dooling, Williams was available. Because Baron Davis bolted for Los Angeles, Williams was wanted. Now that Monta Ellis is out after severely injuring his left ankle, Williams is needed.

For the first time in his career,

he has a clear path to the starting job. Better yet, he's already been handed the keys. How long he holds them depends on how he performs during training camp (and how long Ellis is out).

Free agent point guard Shaun Livingston, whom the Warriors like, has yet to decide where he wants to sign. There are still some trade options out there, but for now, the Warriors are content to let Williams win or lose the gig.

"We looked at him not so much as an insurance policy, but more of a pure, true point guard," Mullin said. "We still look at it that way. We probably have to fast-track him into playing a bigger role. "... The one thing is when opportunity knocks, you have to be ready. And he (is). He's put in a lot of time. He's in really good shape. We'll see how he does."

Williams has more in common with Davis than Los Angeles roots and the No. 5 jersey. Like Davis, Williams has a reputation for being injury prone and not being in the best condition. To that end, Williams has spent the last two months getting in shape.

He said he's at 212 pounds, the lowest he's been since his rookie season, and he's 100 percent healthy.

Williams, 6-foot-3, isn't as special an athlete as Davis and Ellis. But of the three, Williams is considered the truer point guard.

That's why this training camp is so important. Not only will the Warriors be finding out if he is ready for the role but whether the system works with a point guard like Williams. Williams is a floor general who relies on his craftiness and instincts more than his physical attributes. He also relies heavily on his teammates to finish and convert.

"(He's) going to help us because it gives Al (Harrington) a chance to get into a good groove from the jump," guard/forward Stephen Jackson said. "It gives Andris (Biedrins) a chance on offense. "... And then we still can get out, me and Corey (Maggette), and get easy baskets. Without having B.D., we need somebody to come in and make plays. He'll come in and fill that role and help make plays and help our offense until Monta gets back."

Note: The Warriors signed free-agent center Justin Williams to a contract as a training camp invitee. Williams, 24, has appeared in 49 NBA games over the last two seasons, averaging a combined 3.4 points and 3.3 rebounds in 9.3 minutes per contest with Sacramento (48 games) and Houston (one game).
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Source: InsideBayArea

Custodianrules2 · Oct 1, 2008

He's a nice prospect, but he's got to earn his way in. He's like a Deron Williams, but probably not as athletic and I don't know about leadership. If he's not the Chris Paul, Kirk Hinrich, TJ Ford or Deron Williams personality, he's probably not going to be the starter. The point's got to be the quarterback and an extension of the head coach. Baron did that pretty well for Nelson because of how much he knew the team game and how natural everything came to him despite how fast the game is played.

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Williams Feels Ready to be Starting PG

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Custodianrules2 Cohan + Rowell = Suck

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Williams Feels Ready to be Starting PG

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Shapecity S2/JBB Teamster Staff Member Administrator

Custodianrules2 Cohan + Rowell = Suck

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