THE MOST disturbing aspect of the NBA playoffs this year has been watching the Suns' thoroughly entertaining Boris Diaw and asking: Didn't Mickael Pietrus used to be better than this guy?
In fact, he did. A lot better.
Pietrus was considered the superior shooter, scorer, defender and all-around athlete when he was selected 10 spots ahead of his former Euroleague teammate in 2003. And for two years, their NBA numbers reflected that assessment.
But Diaw got a break this season. He got dealt to a team tailor-made for his style of play — the Suns.
All of a sudden, a point guard in a small forward's body got a chance to play to his strength, demonstrating a versatility somewhat similar to another player his size — LeBron James.
He and coach Mike D'Antoni are perfect for one another.
The same certainly cannot be said of Pietrus and Mike Montgomery. Two years after the promising marriage of a back-to-the-basics type of coach and fundamentally unsound potential star, Pietrus is in a state of confusion — having gotten away from his strengths (defense and athleticism) and transformed into a long-range shooter, like many of his teammates.
So, not surprisingly, while Diaw was a runaway winner of the NBA's Most Improved Player this season, Pietrus would have been a candidate for Least Improved Player if the league offered hardware for that distinction.
The 24-year-old desperately needs a change of scenery, which no doubt would come back to haunt the Warriors some day.
Better yet, there's a way to prevent that: Don't change the scenery, change the coach.
After all, Pietrus wasn't the only Warrior left off the Most Improved Player list this week. They all were.
In fact, he did. A lot better.
Pietrus was considered the superior shooter, scorer, defender and all-around athlete when he was selected 10 spots ahead of his former Euroleague teammate in 2003. And for two years, their NBA numbers reflected that assessment.
But Diaw got a break this season. He got dealt to a team tailor-made for his style of play — the Suns.
All of a sudden, a point guard in a small forward's body got a chance to play to his strength, demonstrating a versatility somewhat similar to another player his size — LeBron James.
He and coach Mike D'Antoni are perfect for one another.
The same certainly cannot be said of Pietrus and Mike Montgomery. Two years after the promising marriage of a back-to-the-basics type of coach and fundamentally unsound potential star, Pietrus is in a state of confusion — having gotten away from his strengths (defense and athleticism) and transformed into a long-range shooter, like many of his teammates.
So, not surprisingly, while Diaw was a runaway winner of the NBA's Most Improved Player this season, Pietrus would have been a candidate for Least Improved Player if the league offered hardware for that distinction.
The 24-year-old desperately needs a change of scenery, which no doubt would come back to haunt the Warriors some day.
Better yet, there's a way to prevent that: Don't change the scenery, change the coach.
After all, Pietrus wasn't the only Warrior left off the Most Improved Player list this week. They all were.
