What Should I Do About Anthony "Blow-out Boy" Randolph?

Written by Erik

Thursday, 12 November 2009 01:18

Like many people, I bought into the pre-fantasy-draft hype and expectations that surrounded Anthony Randolph. I drafted him in three out of my eight Yahoo leagues. At this point in the season, I am at a loss for words as with regards to the confusion I am experiencing about the playing time he has been getting. He's only been getting a lot of time and opportunities when the Golden State Warriors are either blowing out their opponents or are the ones being blown out. When he does play and gets decent time, he does produce well. He's like a fantasy basketball superhero whose powers only get activated during a blow-out game and so "Blow-out Boy" seemed like a good nickname.

In the beginning, I was being patient with Randolph, thinking that he was being nursed out of his injury slowly and was limited due to precautionary reasons.

In spite of injuries to Andris Biedrins and Ronnie Turiaf, Don Nelson has insisted on starting Mikki Moore, Kelenna Azubuike and Stephen Jackson in the Warriors' frontcourt.

What gives Don? Was the coffee Randolph spilled on your lap during a practice still scalding your thighs? I mean, seriously, I cannot even fathom your method in this madness.

don-nelson

Let's take this evening's game against the undermanned Indiana Pacers, for example. Danny Granger and Roy Hibbert were just eating up the Warriors, and soon enough the game looked like Indiana was on its way to blowing out GSW.

*Play dramatic entrance music* (Enter stage left, Anthony Randolph)

And so Randolph gets some time on the floor, then and only then, did the Warriors get within striking distance to make a fourth-quarter run to actually contest the win. Well sort of, perhaps it was too late as the Warriors fell to the Pacers 94 to 108

Would the result have been the same if Nellie actually started Anthony in the first place? Didn't he foresee Roy Hibbert wiping the floor with Mikki "Why the hell is this guy starting?" Moore?

To Randolph's credit, he finished the game with 17 points, 13 rebounds, three steals, two blocks, no (as in nada, zip, zilch) turnovers!

It's hard to part with Randolph at this time, his talent and potential output just gives him such a ridiculous upside. Unlike his coach, who at this point, just appears ridiculous.

The losses are piling up and frustration should be setting in for Nelson soon. He, ideally, should get into "maybe I should mix things up a bit" mode and start Randolph. Then perhaps, the Warriors will get blown out less...

Another potential monkey wrench in the mix is Stephen Jackson and his seemingly inevitable departure from the franchise. Will the Warriors get a big man in exchange?

For now, my advice is to hold onto him (Randolph) and keep your fingers crossed.