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A Way to Strategically Tank the Season

2012-02-10T12:28:00.000-08:00

Ok, the Warriors are in a rut, there's no question about that. They finally got Stephen Curry healthy but seem to be getting more and more exposed as the season wears on and it's become quite obvious that, based on a pure talent standpoint, there's no mystery as to why this team is 8th worst in the league.

The big issue with the Warriors, as we've picked apart at length here at WRD, is whether or not they should tank and try to get a 7 pick or lower in the lottery, or make a push to try and actually make the playoffs, or at the very least show a winning second half in order to help lure free agents. As much as I wish they were in a position to do so, this team ain't making the playoffs. They're not getting Dwight Howard and they're not going to add any big time talent before the trade deadline. What they should do though, is turn into sellers. Deal away every single player on that roster, not named Ellis or Curry and maybe even them if they're blown away with an offer. As we've harped here at The WRD, the Warriors need changes in a bad way and if they aren't going to get a draft pick this April, they have to free up as much cash as possible to throw at some of the premium talent this summer (another area where not amnestying Biedrins destroys them). The strength of their team, with Steph back, is supposed to be the backcourt offense and play-making ability, but it's just not happening for them right now. It's like the second unit gets in a better rhythm than the first does a lot of the time. So what I'd do in order to better my chances at tanking while not coming out and blatantly saying "We're going to lose for the rest of the season", would be to deal away some of these guys who could help a contender. Brandon Rush should be a hot commodity. Nate Robinson should be able to fetch a decent return and even Dorrell Wright should be dangled in order to garner what his return value may be, especially if they have plans on using Klay Thompson at the 3 spot down the road as early as next season (most likely, unless Monta gets dealt and a guard spot opens). David Lee's contract is one that may force the Warriors to hang onto him, and I'm not opposed to that cause at least he produces, they just need to get someone in the center to help Lee down low, and allow Lee to play PF and not Center all the time. It's something that would not only make Lee better and more versatile especially defensively, not needing to guard someone 4 inches taller and 50 pounds heavier than him on a nightly basis.

So, the strategy I'd implore in attempt to loose as many games as possible while still developing players and giving the fans a good show, is try and deal away as many guys on the roster as possible before the trade deadline. Get young players in return, get draft picks, try like heck to get a first rounder for 2012 because this draft is stocked! I mean, shoot, I'd even consider dealing Curry for a draft pick if it were in the top-5. One team I look at that could use Steph to start their post-CP3 era is the New Orleans Hornets. Jarrett Jack is their current starter at PG, and has done a fine job, but I think they'd like to have him coming off the bench as the 6th man if they had their way (used much like the Warriors use Rush and Thompson). Since loosing Paul then David West, New Orleans has gone from one of the best teams in the West to a laughing stock, and Steph Curry would be a huge get for that team. I'd send Curry, Biedrins and either McGuire or Charles Jenkins to the Hornets for Okeafor and their 2012 first rounder (likely to be a top-3 pick) without blinking twice. Biedrins has become useless, a waste of space on the floor a waste of a roster spot thus far and looks like he badly needs a change of scenery. Okeafor would give the Warriors some sort of stability in the middle and a center who isn't afraid to go to the basket while playing some pretty good defense. It's a deal that I think could benefit both teams in the long run, especially considering the type of talent they could land with a top-2 or 3 pick. I think Anthony Davis is the guy to target, as he's got the size (6'10") and ridiculous athletic ability. Plus coming out of Kentucky, his game mirrors that of a mature version of DeMarcus Cousins, who's game is outstanding. He just needs to add about 25-35 pounds of bulk and muscle, which will come with a little more time at just 19 years old. Just look at this brief footage from a game last month vs. St. Johns and you see the uncanny athletic ability Davis' possesses. He's just a freshman though so he may stick another year, but if he's guaranteed to go top-3 which is looking to be the case, It's tough to see him turning that down.

This draft certainly certainly has no shortage of top-notch talent, including big men as UNC's John Henson (6'10"/215), Ohio States Jared Sullinger (6'10"/280) and UConn's Andre Drummond (7'0''/275) are all expected to go in the lottery. Any of which would help the Warriors immensely, but I really like the Davis kid if they could only find a way to get into that top-3. Also, as far as a pure talent standpoint/best player in the draft vote, I'd lean towards UNC's small forward Harrison Barnes, who some see as the consensus top pick in the draft, yet some pundits see him dropping as low as 7. He reminds me a bit of a mix between Rudy Gay and LeBron James, who are two of the better small forwards in the NBA. He's got James' body-type, size and strength with a lot of the same skill-sets, but also has speed, range and quickness and finesse and control that Rudy possesses and should thrive in one-on-one situations. I think he'll be a guy who comes into the league a starter and provides instant impact to whatever team grabs him (see: Kyrie Irving).

Jeremy Lin: Another One That Got Away

2012-02-09T14:54:00.000-08:00

Perhaps the biggest name in the NBA over the last couple of days resided at the end of the Warriors' bench for all of 2010/11, and boy does he have them kicking themselves for letting the talented 23 year-old get away.

To their credit, nobody could have foreseen this outburst from Palo Alto's own, 6'3", 200 pound point guard. As one of the Warriors front office members said on KNBR this week, "we liked him, and wanted to keep him but had no idea he had this capability". He also alluded to the fact that the Warriors tried to re-sign him after waiving him, which makes little to no sense at all whatsoever. I mean, why in the hell would you cut a guy if you have hopes that you'll be able to bring him back when money is not an issue? They had him on their D-League team a lot last season, so it's not like he was using up a rosters spot and would have started their this season as well had they retained him, which is exactly where New York sent him. At the same time and to be fair, the W's aren't the only team that passed on the point guard this offseason. He was cut off of the Houston Rockets before the season, then landed with point guard-starved New York for the start of the season and spent much of the first month in the D-League. However, since his insertion into the Knicks starting lineup, they've gone 3-0 while the sophomore has averaged 26 points, 9 assists and 3 rebounds. The one area that Lin hasn't yet polished up, and quite possibly the reason why the Warriors did end up letting him lose, is he's not yet a polished jump-shooter. He's not much of a threat from beyond the arch and most of his points and assists come off of dribble penetrations. The Warriors probably figured they were already set at the guard position, so much so that they had two guys in Brandon Rush and Klay Thompson, who were destined for big minutes and just didn't see any room for Lin.

But boy how they were wrong. Had Lin stuck around in a Warriors uni, he would have gotten his shot when Curry went down earlier this year and probably would have taken right off like he did has in New York. Now, again, this is all coulda, woulda, shoulda talk, but just think what would have happened if he did stay and bust out like that in Steph's absence? I'll tell you what I would think. The Warriors would have felt a lot more comfortable packaging up either Monta or Steph, along with maybe Udoh and gotten themselves a much needed man in the middle. I know, surprise, surprise, here I am talking about needing another big man again, but if the Warriors had a guy like Lin still on the roster, it would sure as hell make dealing away Steph for that big man a whole lot more logical. I mean, I know Warrior fans may scold me a bit for saying it, but I just don't think Stephen Curry is all that and some like most W's fans believe/want him to be. He's an injury-prone tweener-guard, who isn't strong enough to guard shooting guard and although he looks good running the offense at times, he's a subpar defensive player. That said, he's got special talents and he's a pure offensive wizard when he's right. But when he can't drive with authority, like now with that ankle a major problem, then he basically becomes a slowish spot up shooter who can handle and pass a bit. I've never made any bones about it that the guy I'd trade between Monta and Steph would be Steph, and I look more and more right each game.

2012 NBA All-Star Picks: WRD Edition

2012-02-03T18:35:00.001-08:00

The NBA all-star lineups have been announced, and although the fans did a fairly decent job of selecting the deserving players, here's the truly deserving starting lineup, based on the performances so far this season, from both a quality and quantity (games played) standpoint. Not just taking offensive stats into account either, we take into account the defense the player has played as well, which may clear up a few of the picks. Here's my pick as to who I would have liked to see start the game, as well as 10 reserves for each team that deserve to make it.

Western Conference All-Star Picks

Lineup:
PG Russell Westbrook Oklahoma City
SG Kobe Bryant LA Lakers
SF Kevin Durrant - Oklahoma City
PF Kevin Love - Minnesota
C LaMarcus Aldridge - Portland

Reserves:
F Danillo Galinari - Denver
C Marc Gasol - Memphis
G Chris Paul - LA Clippers
G Kevin Martin - Houston
C Andrew Bynum - LA Lakers
F/C Pau Gasol - LA Lakers
F Blake Griffin- LA Clippers
G Tony Parker - San Antonio
G Monta Ellis - Golden State
G/F James Harden - Oklahoma City

Eastern Conference All-Star Picks

Lineup:
PG Derrick Rose - Chicago
SG Joe Johnson - Atlanta
SF LeBron James - Miami
PF Chris Bosh - Miami
C Dwight Howard - Orlando

Reserves:
C Greg Monroe - Detroit
G Brandon Jennings - Milwaukee
G/F Andre Iguodala - Philadelphia
F/C Carlos Boozer - Chicago
F/C Ryan Anderson - Orlando
G Deron Williams - New Jersey
F Danny Granger - Indiana
G Kyrie Irving - Cleveland
F Carmelo Anthony - New York
G John Wall - Washington

Judging by how things have gone through the first 6 weeks of the season, these guys are the ones who have been making the most impact, and deserve to be in the all-star game. The only quandary I was thinking about was LeMarcus Aldridge as the starting center for the Western Conference. He splits his time between center and power forward, but I think he's having the best year of any other center eligible player in the Western Conference. If not Aldridge, my second choice would be Bynum, just cause he's probably the most dominant center in the West. In the East, it was kind of tough keeping Melo out of the lineup, just because outside of Kobe and LeBron, he's been one of the top scorers in the NBA, even battling injury issues (take away his bogus 1-point performance vs. Charlotte last week and he'd be right behind Kobe in scoring avg.). The one guy in both starting lineups that may not even go to the game is Joe Johnson, but he's been easily the best all-around 2-guard in the Eastern Conference this year, thanks to Dwayne Wades off-and-on injury battles. Because of those injuries, I don't think Wade even deserves a spot on the Eastern roster, but of course, since he's Dwayne Wade and plays in Miami, he'll be there... As far as Warriors players are concerned, even with Monta's recent struggles, that 30 point breakout game got him right back on track and he's been one of the best scoring/distributing combo guards in the NBA, so hopefully he gets a spot.

Andris Biedrins Fading Into Irrelevance

2012-01-31T14:25:00.001-08:00

WRD Co-writer, Brian Wright, made in interesting comment in our last post, questioning why this team decided to amnesty Charlie Bell instead of Andris Biedrins' huge, useless contract.

I really think the lockout and non-existent offseason is what ultimately led to Biedrins' staying in Oakland. This team basically had no center options outside of Biedrins heading into the year, and even though they made large efforts to lure Tyson Chandler and DeAndre Jordan, the only other center they were able to obtain before the season started was Kwame Brown. I think, if the Warriors brass would have had their way, they would have inked one of those top centers and could have then amnestied Biedrins. However, I think they saw that they didn't have a great shot at luring a big man here, and thought it would be a safer bet to hold onto Biedrins for depth at a spot they're paper thin at. Now, I understand that logic to a degree, but at the same time, as Brian stated in his comment, they decided to rid themselves of Charlie Bell's contract, which was set to expire and wasn't even that outrageous. I think the only person worth using the amnesty clause for on the Warriors roster is Biedrins, and they should have known that. They're locked into him long term for big money and now have no way out of that deal since they decided to jump the gun on the new amnesty rules. They should have been smart enough to save that luxury for a time when they really needed it. For a time when they could have freed up payroll in order to add an impact player via free agency.

I wasn't expecting them to use the amnesty this year since they failed to get their center of choice. I knew they were going to need to use Biedrins this year just based on lack of depth up front, but the fact is, Biedrins has steadily declined over the last few years and has gotten to the point where he's basically useless. I mean, he's still the starting center, but he plays all of 12-15 minutes per game, contributes a few boards, the occasional block and easy bucket, but is probably the most overpaid, underachieving player in all of the NBA. Had the Warriors foresaw an even further drop off in production in Biedrins like they've gotten, maybe they would have amnestied him even without any depth at center. Again, this all goes back to the absence of a regular offseason and training camp, which if the Warriors had, maybe they see the useless center Biedrins has become earlier and figured out they don't need him on the roster. As they are now, David Lee is pretty much getting most of the minutes there anyway. It may not have made much difference in the 2012 squad, but the decision to blow their amnesty on Charlie Bell, could very well come back to haunt this team for the next couple of seasons. Especially when you take into account that the Warriors will likely lose their first round pick this year, which in turn would cost them an opportunity to get a cheap, talented big man in the top part of the draft, placing even more emphasis on free agency and available cap space.

Ekpe Udoh... The New Age Adonal Foyle

2012-01-26T13:13:00.000-08:00

Warriors fans got a first-hand look at a player they missed out on during the last road trip. A player, who if they drafted, probably has this team racing for a playoff birth rather than staring down another losing season. That player is Detroit center Greg Monroe.

Now, to their credit, at that time, the Warriors had just given a huge deal to Andris Biedrins and figured they have their center of the future in tow already, but as we all know, that just hasn't been the case. While Ekpe Udoh has been stuck on the Warriors bench for much of his young career, Monroe has flourished into one of the top young centers in the league and I'm sure, already has the Warriors brass kicking themselves thinking about what they missed. Now, this is no knock on Epke Udoh, who's transcended into a very potent defensive big man, but just doesn't give you squat on the offensive end. He, to me, is the new age version of Adonal Foyle. A big man taken way higher than he probably should have who has essentially become as useless as one can be on the offensive side of the floor. On defense and crashing the boards, Foyle was a beast would never get out-hustled, but he just never lived up to his lofty draft status or crazy contract the Warriors gave him. Unfortunately for the Warriors, I see Udoh following in very much the same path. I know he's still just 21 years old and has a ton of time to grow and develop, but after watching Monroe really burst onto the scene this year after a solid rookie campaign, I can't help but think what could have been. Just imagine a starting five right now of Curry-Ellis-Wright-Lee-Monroe! That would be a lineup full of young players with huge upside that would probably have translated in a return to the playoffs for the 2012 Warriors. Instead, they're stuck with a defensive minded PF/C, who's lack of offense will likely keep him from ever becoming a starting caliber player.

Now, this isn't a post to just bad mouth Udoh. He's doing more for the team this year than he was last season, and he's improving, but the comparisons to him and Foyle are just uncanny. He's probably the best defensive player over 6'8" that this team has on the roster which is no matter to overlook for a 21 year-old. He's certainly got a place on the roster, but I don't understand how the Warriors brass looked at him and Monroe together and ended up going with Udoh? The reason I'm bring this up now, is because the Warriors are headed down a path that could very well lead them to a lost season; no playoff birth coupled with no first round draft pick. As they stand now, they'd miss out on both if the season were to end tomorrow, which means that this team isn't going to be finding it's center through the next draft. They're going to have to go out and sign someone, or trade for someone, and judging by how they struck out going after Tyson Chandler and DeAndre Jordan probably doesn't bode well for their chances at luring a big man to the Bay Area. They'll have their chance again next summer though, as the guy I really want this team to go hard after becomes a restricted free agent, and that is JaVale McGee. For some reason, McGee seems to be the one drawing most of the brunt in terms of taking heat for the Wizards horrible start, though I'd take him in "The City" uniform any day.

Warriors choke in fourth quarter, commit 24 turnovers

2012-01-23T22:10:00.000-08:00

The Warriors disappointed fans with a clumsy come-from-ahead loss to the Grizzlies at home thanks to a season high 24 turnovers. The Warriors lead by 20 points toward the end of the third quarter. The Grizzlies punished the Warriors on the boards, especially in the second half and had a 20-2 second chance points advantage. This is no surprise. The Warriors have historically played with small players and have struggled with rebounding the ball.

Here's my problem: If you play with a smaller line-up, shouldn't the smaller players be better ball handlers, thus take care of the ball and limit turnovers? Not only did the Warriors get man-handled inside, but they were dominated on the perimeter. Frankly, I felt embarrassed for them, specifically Ellis and Curry, who combined for 12 of the 24 team turnovers.

It would be tough to say that Robinson and Klay Thompson would have done better, but those two sparked a big second quarter bench run. Maybe Coach Jackson will take a chance if this situation arises again.

It's difficult for Mark Jackson to change the culture when he plays a team that Charles Barkley would call "a bunch of midgets", a Don Nelson style lineup. This team has a weak front court and no true point guard. Curry and Ellis can light it up, but sometimes it's equally important to have players who can control the ball and settle a team when struggling. The Warriors could have used someone like that in the fourth quarter tonight.

...But all is well. If the Warriors keep losing, they can nab that protected top seven draft pick this off season, as this lockout shortened season is just a long pre-season for next year..."Playoffs, playoffs!?"

Warriors try to bounce back from "the kick"

2012-01-23T12:55:00.000-08:00

The Warriors need to rebound from a tough loss on a missed call. They should have had the last shot of that game, but the officials missed George Hill's brilliant kick save that was obviously intentional. Some media people, including Comcast's Matt Steinmetz, said in the post game report that "the kick" was unintentional. I respect Steinmetz as a guy who has a good pulse on the Warriors, but he might need glasses. If you watched that game, you saw Hill point his toe upward, as he would have been beaten by a Monta Ellis crossover. There is no reason for a defensive player to poke a toe in the air while defending, other than to make contact with the ball.

It was a bad break, but let's not overlook how badly the Pacers beat the Warriors in the paint. I could almost argue that losing Kwame Brown has been more devastating than the initial loss of Steph Curry. Without Brown's low post presence, teams with solid front courts (David West, Roy Hibbard, Tyler Hansborogh) are eating up the Warriors and parading to the free throw line.

The Warriors host the Memphis Grizzlies tonight, who are without Zack Randolph, but have been on a six game win streak. It will be interesting to see if Tony Allen, an elite defender, can slow down Monta Ellis, as all attention will be on number 8. Warriors fans are also waiting to see if rookie big man Jeremy Tyler can get in the game and help Biedrins and Udoh.

Warriors End up Splitting on Road Trip

2012-01-19T13:01:00.000-08:00

Things were looking up for the Warriors after beating the Cavs in Cleveland while getting almost nothing for star scorer Monta Ellis. Monta surprised me by playing just a night after taking an Anderson Varejao elbow straight to the nose, but even his 30 points, 5 assists and 6 steals couldn't push the Warriors over a reeling Nets team that absolutely dominated the glass.

I don't know why but the Warriors team free-throw shooting this season has been putrid and it was once again below par Wednesday night. They shot below 70% as a team and you aren't going to win many games when your team shoots under 70% from charity stripe. Ellis was much better vs. the Nets but was something like 4-10 free-throw shooting the previous night, and David Lee, who's normally money from the line, shot just 50% there Wednesday. Also, the Warriors were exposed in another area that's really killing them. No real post presence in the middle. They were out-rebounded as a team, 48-25, and I don't care who you are, if you shoot poorly from the line and get dominated on the glass to that extent, your going to get beat. So the Warriors gave a Nets team that was struggling worse than they were an opening and the Nets jumped right through it. The now infamous Kris Humphries, was going to call him Mr. Kardashian, but he put the Lee to shame after Lee looked like he was finally gaining some consistency. Humphries ended up with 18 points, 15 boards and 4 blocks, while Lee struggled horribly from the field and line and ended up with only 12 points, though he did have a double-double with 10 boards. As much of an impact player Ellis is, the team kind of goes as David Lee goes right now, and if he dominates, this team tends to play well. Essentially, in other words, they're getting very good guard play win or lose, but it's when they actually get some post scoring and out-rebound teams that they win ballgames. Proving, as the previous NBA champions have, it's really tough to win in the NBA without at least a quality center on one end of the floor, either a defensive wizard (a la Tyson Chandler) or an offensive juggernaut (Gasol, Shaq, Duncan, Garnett).

This Brings me to my next topic. I said in my last post that this time around I'd present a different Eastern Conference center that the Warriors should take a long, hard look at. Let's face it, Dwight Howard isn't coming to town folks, he doesn't even want to. The next guy I'd look at is Mr. Javelle McGee, who's show-boating ways have him in Flip Saunders dog house in Washington, but you'd be hard-pressed to find a better, 23 year old 7-footer. McGee's a guy who could dominate the glass, dominates defensively and can score inside. All three areas which the Warriors are struggling at. I'm not sure what Washington would want for McGee or if they'd even consider parting with him. Although things haven't materialized for the Wizards, they do have a very solid young nucleus there. One spot where they're pretty set though is in their backcourt with guards John Wall, Nick Young and Jordan Crawford. They really don't need a Steph Curry or Monta Ellis. They also have Andre Blatche, who they could easily slide into the center spot should they deal McGee. It just all comes back to what he Warriors would have that Washington would want, and an uncertain status with their upcoming first rounder isn't helping things.

I know Warrior fans hate to hear it, but I'm going under the assumption that the Warriors won't end up with a top-7 pick, especially if Curry comes back soon, which is looking likely. Again, I see this team finished right around the middle-to-low end of the pack, but not the bottom 1/4 of the NBA. And since they likely won't have one in 2012, I doubt they consider toying with their 2013 draft pick. Meaning, if they are to make a move for McGee or any center, it's going to have for players they have on their roster right now? Would Udoh, Thompson and Wright be enough? Doubt it, but I'd try like heck if I were Larry Riley!

Two Straight Getting Warriors Back to Relevance

2012-01-17T19:29:00.001-08:00

The Warriors moved to 5-8 with back-to-back wins in Detroit then Cleveland, both teams who had equal or better records than Golden State coming in. What's even more important is that Steph Curry has returned to full practice and is closing in on a return. He could be ready as soon as Wednesday night's tilt in New Jersey, however, my money's on him returning when the team comes home Friday night.

So, they'll have to endure another game without their star point guard, but if they get another effort from David Lee and the bench like they got Tuesday night, they should be just fine against a New Jersey squad that even a Curry-less Warriors should be able to handle. Now, the Warriors have lost to a lot of teams they should have beaten early on this season and won games they weren't favored in, much like Tuesday's tilt against the 6-6 Cavaliers. It wasn't all roses for the Warriors though, as they got a scare late in the game after Monta Ellis took an elbow straight on to the nose from Anderson Varejo, which knocked Monta out of the game and possibly gave him a broken nose. Now, if that's indeed the case, Ellis is likely out for Wednesday's game in New Jersey as well, so the team will lean even more heavily on David Lee, Brandon Rush and Nate Robinson than they have the last few nights. Speaking of which, I wanted to touch on David Lee a little bit, as he's really come out of his shell and has broken out and now scored 20+ in 5 straight for the first time as a Warrior. During this last 5-game span, the Warriors have gone 3-2, and Lee has averaged 26 points, 12.4 rebounds, and 3.5 assists. He's given the team some consistency in the paint and been huge on the boards and they've responded with winning basketball.

Now, again, probably without Monta, it's going to be a real challenge for this team, but it's one I think they can handle. They'll probably slide either Brandon Rush or Nate Robinson into Monta's spot in the lineup alongside Charles Jenkins to at least start the game, but I'd expect a lot of Klay Thompson and Brandon Rush, possibly 25+ minutes for each. Rush was getting a lot of play at SF as Dorrell Wright's slump continues, so as much as the Warriors like having Robinson's energy coming off the bench early, I think they're going to have to insert him into the starting lineup until Monta or Steph are ready. It's either that or Klay Thompson, and I kind of like Klay in the role Jackson has been using him in lately, just to go in and take as many open shots as possible, cause the dude hit's better the 60% of his shots when he get's an opening on a catch-and-shoot. He's not much of a shot creater yet and doesn't shoot as well off the dribble, but you give him just a split second of an opening for a catch and shoot and he's already getting a reputation as one of the better ones in the league. I still would rather have seen this team take Markieff Morris, just based on team needs, but I'm starting to see what Jerry West and Mark Jackson saw in the 6'7" guard who tied his career high of 14 points, coupled with 2 assists on 5-9 shooting (4-4 from 3 point range) in just 16 minutes of play on Tuesday. That's getting it done, flat out. Anytime your scoring nearly a point-per minute, that's something to talk about and it should net Thompson some big minutes Wednesday if Ellis and Curry are both out again and Wright's struggles continue.

Roster Note: The Warriors added another big man in place of Kwame Brown this week, inking F/C Earl Barron, and waiving guard Ishmael Smith. I was kind of pulling for defensive prowler and 7'1" center Joel Przybilla. I'd never even heard of this Barron guy before the signing, but would have gone with the sure-handed vet Przybilla over the lesser experienced Barron. I also don't get why this team isn't using high 2nd round pick Jeremy Tyler more often. This guy was supposed to be the next Monta Ellis, the steal of the 2nd round for the Warriors, but they seem skittish at just using the 20 year-old. I'd like to see why the Warriors where so high on this guy and see him given some shots in certain situations.

Next Up: Another Eastern Conf. center the 'Dubs should look at, outside of Mr. Howard!

Injuies could earn Warriors a protected draft pick

2012-01-13T11:12:00.000-08:00

The Warriors beat the Heat with a brilliant performances by Nate Robinson, Dorell Wright, David Lee, and Monta Ellis. Actually, every Warriors player gave a little something in that win. The Warriors didn't play a perfect game and the Heat may have had their focus on the following night's match-up against the Clippers.

The W's also deserve credit for hanging tough with the Orlando Dwight Howards for most of last night's game, considering their seriously depleted roster. No Curry (ankle), no Dorell (knee), no Kwame (torn pectoral muscle)...It was the worst possible time to lose Kwame with the NBA's most dominant center in town...

Let me clarify a previous post where I suggested the Warriors should tank. Tank is an ugly word. It conjures up images of players missing lay-ups on purpose or playing dummy defense. The intention of 'tank' is better described as the Warriors saving their best for next season and not mortgaging the future with 'win-now' type of moves where they give away young talent and draft picks. Let's be honest, the Warriors are the youngest team in the league, they have had minimal time to adjust to a new coach, and despite these conditions, they are not awful. The Warriors need to continue to build their base of young talent, they need that top 7 pick in this upcoming draft. It doesn't matter what position type is available, they need talent, even if that talent is there as an asset for a possible trade when the time is right.

No dummy defense or intentionally missed free throws are needed. Tanking is ugly. But giving Monta Ellis rest in a blowout is okay. Giving rookies like Klay Thompson and Charles Jenkins more minutes is not tanking, but letting them get their rookie mistakes out of the way when the season isn't on the line. Like Trevor said, injuries to key players may get the Warriors that protected top 7 pick without any questionable maneuvering (not that Mark Jackson would ever consider any of those tactics, he obviously wants to win).

I think it's safe to say that no one will question coach Jackson if he doesn't make good on his playoff promise. There are somethings that a coach cannot control (i.e. injuries, lockouts, front offices decisions). Warriors fans have been conditioned to have the lowest expectations of any in the NBA. We understand this thing isn't going to turn around overnight. Coach Jackson needs some more talent to work with and the Warriors need that lottery pick this year.

Kwame Brown Suffers Season-Ender

2012-01-12T13:42:00.000-08:00

The Warriors biggest weakness just got a lot weaker, as they lost their best defensive center, and a guy who was instrumental in the team's 3 victories this season so far. And it couldn't have come at worse time as Dwight Howard and the Magic role into town for a game at Oracle Thursday night.

Apparently Kwame tore his pectoral muscle in Tuesday night's victory over the Heat, providing a solid 8 points and 6 boards but also limiting Chris Bosh and both Dwayne Wade and LeBron James' abilities to just drive the line at will. Was just listening to Yahoo Sports' Mike Spears on KNBR and he made a very good point about other players having to step their game up in Kwame's absence. Even though Biedrins was the team's starter on the depth chart, Brown was collecting more minutes and providing more quality minutes than Biedrins was, so Andris has to be that guy that steps it up and gets back to his double-double ways. Another couple of guys who need to start pulling their weight are Epke Udoh (who was selected 6th overall in last years draft, but has yet to really show why). There are players who were selected after Udoh like Detroit's Greg Monroe, who have already paid huge dividends for their team, and the guys taken ahead of him, like DeMarcus Cousins, John Wall and Wesley Johnson are already young NBA stars. So yeah, I expect Udoh to get more minutes, and I'm expecting him to start showing us why the Warriors thought enough of him to take him when most draft experts had him as a late-first round pick at best. It's also time to see Jeremy Tyler, who had a lot of hype surrounding him after his selection, but the 20 year -old has yet to play even 5 minutes yet this year.
With Curry's ankle a huge question mark, and something that could slow him down all year long, and probably keep him out the rest of the month, if not longer. Now with the loss of Kwame Brown on top of that, the team's best defensive big man and a huge bench presence, this team is just another bad break away from their season ending by February. Our writer Brian suggested in his last post that the Warriors tank the season to ensure they get a top-7 pick and keep their first rounder (if they finish with anything higher than 7, it goes to Utah). However, if they keep losing players at this rate, they won't have to do any tanking, they're just going to be plain bad. As they stand now, without Steph and Brown, it severely mitigates their strength as a team and they really are probably one of bottom five teams in the league. I mean, outside of Monta, some inconsistent play from Dorrel Wright and a below-average start for David Lee, this team really has nothing left in the tank. I still like Nate Robinson and Brandon Rush, but those guys provide guard depth, and now this team's big man depth is basically paper-thin. Now you see why it's so urgent that either Epke Udoh or Jeremy Tyler step into Brown's role and provide at least what Brown was, if not more, because even with a healthy Kwame, this still went 3-6 team.

The Ghost of the '06-'07 Warriors Returns

2012-01-11T11:34:00.000-08:00

After looking like one of the leagues worst squads in their previous four straight (2 of which should have been "gimmies"), but tapped into their "We Believe" state against the leagues best team at Oracle Tuesday and beat the Miami Heat in thrilling, overtime fashion.

The Warriors were starting to look like they just couldn't cut it playing without their leader and point guard, Steph Curry, as they failed miserably against the Suns and Jazz, two teams they have more talent than and should have beaten. But on Tuesday night, we finally saw someone take hold of the offense, and no it wasn't Monta Ellis. Monta is Monta and will bring it every night, but he showed in the previous 4 games that the team doesn't run as well when he's running the point (for whatever reason, I don't know). The man to step up and take control of the offense was 5'9" Nate Robinson, in his 4th day as a Warrior, took the lead and led this team into overtime when things looked all but over with about 3 minutes left in the game. Robinson stepped up to bring 25 points, 5 assists, 4 boards and 4 steals off the bench in 36 minutes of play, basically handling PG duties from the 4th quarter through OT. I mentioned to our other writer here at the Rundown, Brian, the other day that I thought the Warriors should be running Robinson at point and Ellis at two while Steph is shelved. I don't like putting a green rookie like Charles Jenkins into the starting lineup, and it's not to knock Jenkins, there are just better options.

Even though Robinson was huge and helped lead the charge, the Warriors finally helped out their leading scorer Monta Ellis, as Dorell Wright and David Lee each had their best nights of the young season. In a game when Monta shot worse than he would have liked (9-25, 1-7 on 3's), he still managed 22 points with 3 assists, steals and rebounds. His big problem on the night was turnovers, as key ones late almost cost the team the game, and he ended with a whopping 9 on the night, half of the teams TO's. Luckily for him though, he didn't have to have his "A" game vs. LeBron and Wade, as David Lee stepped up with a 20/14 night to go with 4 steals. Dorell Wright also busted out, as he had by far his best night of the season popping off for 20 points (6 three's), and 10 boards himself. The Dubs were playing shorthanded as they were again without Curry and Andris Biedrins, so it was key for those bigs to dominate the glass and beat Miami on the boards. The W's can also thank the fact that the Heat struggled at the line, shooting just 65% as a team, cause the Warriors shot barely 40% from the field.

So what does this win mean in the grand scheme of things? Nothing really. It did prove the Warriors can play with the leagues elite when they're on, even without Curry, but they still sit at 3-6 and the fact they're being so hush-hush about Steph's injury makes me worry that it might be a little more serious than the club is leading on. Why else is Steph in Charlotte when the Warriors are back home playing the heat? If he's close to returning, he'd be with the team working out but that's not the case. So this team is still behind the 8-ball, but I really want to see how this team finishes out January before I make my guess. After Orlando on Thursday, the W's face 4 teams in a row that they should beat, and if they do so, that could turn around their season. Still way early folks, but let's see if this beating of the Heat without Steph becomes the huge momentum shifter this team was looking for!

Warriors Should Tank Season...Seriously

2012-01-09T08:51:00.000-08:00

The Warriors kicked off the season with impressive wins against the Chicago Bulls and New York Knicks, but lately they've been in free fall and are losers of five straight (make it six with Miami coming into town tomorrow). Sure, the absence of Stephen Curry and his 20 points, 10 assists, and efficient shooting factor in, but the Dubs were still a borderline team with a healthy Curry.

Coach Mark Jackson set the bar high with promises to make the playoffs and I was sold after the Warriors beat the Bulls soundly. Now, as the season progresses, we are beginning to see there are too many leaks in this poorly designed ship and we should not be surprised as it sinks. It doesn't matter if the Warriors have new ownership with deep pockets, the sagely Jerry West as a consultant, or a solid coaching staff in Mark Jackson and Mike Malone. Winning in the NBA comes down to the talent on the floor, a commodity the Warriors are short on.

Here is a strategy: tank. Yes, tank the season. Continue to walk the ball up the court and struggle in a half court offensive set, rather than utilize the talent on the floor and run. Continue to sit back in zone defense and get killed on the board. Continue to not have a true point guard and shoot yourself in the foot with a slough of turnovers.

The Utah Jazz own the Warriors first round draft pick, but it is a protected pick. That means the Warriors get that pick back if it is a top seven pick. In order to get that pick, they would have to play poorly and continue to lose. The Warriors need to add talent and a top seven pick would be a big step in the direction of improvement.

Dwight Howard talks have hushed recently, meaning the Magic probably wanted too much for Howard (i.e. Monta Ellis and a future first round pick) compounded with Howard probably refusing to commit beyond this season. So where does that leave the Warriors? Right where they've been: rebuilding mode. They've been rebuilding for decades and have been left in the dust by teams like the Thunder and Grizzlies, former cellar dwellers like the Warriors that have built their teams through the draft.

I hope the Warriors don't trade away the future and have some patience. I hope Mark Jackson continues to start Charles Jenkins, runs half court offense, and rest Curry for extended time. Mark Jackson isn't going anywhere, Warriors die-hard fans aren't going anywhere...Losing is nothing new to Bay Area basketball. I'd like to see the losing go somewhere. Have a plan for the future.

Warriors Show Glaring Weaknesses in LA

2012-01-07T11:38:00.000-08:00

Well, there you have it folks, you saw first hand what this teams problem is last night in LA. My mistake, there are actually three problems haunting this team right now.

Problem #1: You can obviously see why they're pursuing Dwight Howard so aggressively. If Andrew Bynum makes his free throws last night, he ends up with a 16-16 night, as he and Gasol dominated the glass. The Lakers beat the Warriors on the glass all night 47-34, a huge disparity. Granted, Kwame Brown did a decent job limiting Bynum offensively to just 9 points and forcing him go to the line, but the Lake Show's front line ate the Warriors' alive. Why? The Warriors are stocked with undersized, backup caliber centers. David Lee is the only legit big man they have so when he's off like he was in LA, it's "good night" Warrior fans.

Problem #2: Neither Monta nor Steph (when healthy) are big enough to guard 2-guards like Kobe Bryant, who went off for a cool 40 points vs. the W's last night. Dorrell Wright has been missing all year and did a wretched job defensively. Not only that, but Kobe reeled in 5 boards and dished out 7 assists. He had his way with the Warriors small forward. D-Wright has to improve tenfold or else we're in for a long season.

Problem #3: I saved the best for last. Without a center like Howard, I don't know why Mark Jackson is intent on having his team run half-court offense's so often. I know Steph wasn't out there, but the Warriors still have the personnel to run, and run they should. They need to win shootouts 115-108 or something, not these 85-79, low scoring games, that's not the W's style, at least with this group of players. I hope Jackson realizes it soon, when Steph comes back, they need to run at every chance they get momentum that way. They can still play good defense, but they have to push the ball down the court, not walk it!

Outside of those thoughts from the LA game, I thought Nate Robinson was a delight to watch (well listen to actually, my NBA Internet TV spot was down for some reason last night), but it sure looks like he's bringing the kind of energy off the bench this team needs, exactly as I thought he would (just scroll down to paragraph two)! The thing is though, with Steph shelved for at least a week one would think, I would insert Nate into the starting lineup with Monta and let Nate run the point. He showed he's more than capable last night, granted he did show some rust on mistaken passes, but It's a better set-up than starting green-as-ever rookie Charles Jenkins out there. I personally would have started Rush at 2 and Monta at 1 last night, as Rush could have matched up with Kobe better, and Monta could have destroyed both DFish and Steve Blake. I can't believe Jackson threw Jenkins into the starting lineup when he hadn't even played a combined 20 minutes in his NBA career yet?! C'mon Coach, I was expecting better from you. I know it's still early but I've been less than impressed with Coach Jackson so far, hopefully he gets better as he learns his players a little better. But with the short season, that probably means no playoffs again Warrior fans, and they're not a bottom 1/3 team either, so in all likelihood, no #1 draft pick to look forward to either! My guess for the W's win-loss record with the way things are looking 28-38 (66 games) and giving Utah pick #13, or somewhere neighborhood!

Would you package Curry or Ellis for a Dwight Howard trade?

2012-01-06T10:26:00.000-08:00

The quest for a game changing big man continues with the news that the Warriors are making a strong push for a Dwight Howard trade. The Warriors have been unsuccessful in attempts to attract Kevin Garnett, A'mare Stoudamire, Tyson Chandler, and DeAndre Jordan. The latter two in that list are difference makers, but Dwight Howard is a franchise cornerstone superstar.

Reports say that the Warriors are willing to part with either Monta Ellis or Stephen Curry, among other players. Should the Warriors give up major pieces to get Howard without the guarantee he will stay after the end of the season when he will be a free agent? Yes. This is the ideal time for this franchise to take a chance. This is the time for Joe Lacob to show the rest of the NBA that he is serious about turning the team around, even if Howard is only a rental. If the Warriors acquire Howard in a trade this season, they will be able to offer the big fella $30 million more than any other franchise via the bird law (LeBron turned down the extra $30 mil he could have taken in Cleveland to take his talents to South Beach).

The next difficult question: Who should the Warriors move in order to get Howard? Ellis or Curry? In 2008, it looked like Monta's "scooter-gate" incident would make his ankle the problem, but recently Curry's ankle has been the bigger concern. At the beginning of the year, I would bet that at least 51 percent of Warriors fans would chose to keep Curry over Ellis, but now...I would say the momentum has swung in the favor of keeping Ellis. Ellis is leading the league in minutes, eighth in scoring at 23 ppg, and eighth in assists with 8 apg. I think Warriors GM Larry Riley is proposing Stephen Curry, Dorell Wright, Ekpe Udoh, Andris Biedrins, and Klay Thompson for Dwight Howard, Hedo Turkoglu, and a throw in like Quentin Richardson or Von Wafer. The Warriors need to get Dwight Howard, whether it costs Curry or Ellis. Let's say the Dub's find a way to get Howard, there is still the chance that Howard will bounce out in the off-season. That's a big risk, especially if Curry and his shaky ankle is the only guy left after the dust settles.

If you're having trouble making a decision between Curry and Ellis, here's a question: Is Stephen Curry still the guy to build the franchise around? Block out the Howard trade talks and consider it. Is Steph's ankle going to limit his career? Well, it already has. I see Steph and see Grant Hill, an ultra talented player who's career was sidelined with ankle problems. Steph will be a productive NBA player for a long time, but staying healthy will be a problem. Ellis is extremely durable and the guy to keep. If the Warriors have to give up Ellis, they should get a better package in return.

W's Witness What they Missed In Morris

2012-01-04T12:22:00.001-08:00

The Warriors brain-trust, ultimately you Larry Riley, saw first hand what they could have drafted instead of the stand-up shooter, and not much else guard Klay Thompson, when Markieff Morris helped the Suns torch the Warriors on Monday!

I can tell the Warriors' brass, ha ha, told you so! At the time, I didn't understand why the Warriors would add another wing-player when their real need was a post presence who could dominate. Maybe they were banking on the ability to sign Tyson Chandler or Nene or something, but I immediately thought a trade was on the way after they drafted Thompson. Well, since then, there has been no trade, and the Morris brother I wanted the Warriors to draft has been absolutely dominant for the Pheonix Suns, doing exactly what the Warriors have been lacking inside so far early on. All Morris did vs. the Dubs was put up his best game, with 16 points and 9 boards and 2 assists in just over 30 minutes. For a big man to be that polished so early on just shows the potential this 6'10" 250 pounder has. Not saying that Dominc McGuire and Kwame haven't done a nice job off the bench, but imagine having Markieff Morris in there taking minutes from Biedrins! That would be a delight.

Onto real Warriors news, it was announced Tuesday that the Warriors and guard Nate Robinson have agreed to a deal for the 2012 season. On the surface, I actually like this move a lot as it strengthens the Warriors bench substantially. Robinson knows Jackson well from the time Jackson spent around the Knicks organization. If Robinson weren't in a position to come in and help this team out then Jackson wouldn't have endorsed signing him, but I'm behind it 100%. It basically last year (2010 really) when he was scoring 14 points and dishing out 4 assists per 23 minutes played, so the 5'9" guard can produce in a hurry! Robinson should come right in and enter the guard rotation. I think Jackson and Riley realized that Klay Thompson is a little raw and not quite ready for big minutes yet and Ishmael Smith has been a nice surprise, but isn't the scorer Robinson is if the Warriors need quick points. Robinson will probably take minutes from both of those two in Coach Jackson's guard rotation. With Brandon Rush and Nate Robinson now, the Warriors have some proven instant scoring off the bench, now if they could only get the same type of offensive player, just a foot taller for the inside (Udoh and Brown are defense-first types). Definitely behind this move though, excellent, low-risk/high-reward potential type deal!

Warriors Should Make Run at Cousins

2012-01-02T20:28:00.000-08:00

If disgruntled Sacramento Kings' center DeMarcus Cousins is truly at complete odds with coach Westphal, and is seriously demanding the Kings trade him, then the Kings will likely cave into that pleading/whining.

Now, whining aside, I don't care what kind of differences Cousins has with Paul Westphal, I can almost guarantee Mark Jackson would get that dude to straighten up in second if it meant points in the paint! As far as I know, he's actually a good teammate, just had an incident with Westphal that seems almost like a way less violent or crazy version of Sprewell's way back with P.J. (probably some choice words thrown out and just a pure dislike for one-another). Probably some kind of misunderstanding that he and his coach can't come to is really what it's sounding like, but again, I'm a Warriors blogger, not in the Sacramento media circulation. Either way, I think DeMarcus Cousins is one of the finest young centers in all the NBA and if he is indeed demanding a trade as Adande at ESPN is putting it at ESPN, the Warriors should be all over it. Since he's demanded the trade, I wonder if it will bring his return value down, but then I think about the fact that he's an accomplished 21 year-old center, it quickly brings me back to reality. Maybe something like Udoh, Biedrins and a first rounder would do it, especially if the Warriors paid most of Andres' salary, so it offsets. Chances are though that they'd want an accomplished NBA player at least though, and the Warriors would likely have to part with someone like a Dorrell Wright or David Lee. With the emergence of Brandon Rush, I would include Wright and a first rounder in order to get the monstrous Cousins, exactly the type of player this team has needed in the paint for years and years. The Kings would probably want David Lee, but I'd try my darnedest to acquire DeMarcus Cousins wihout giving up the big-three of Steph/Monta/Lee.

Again though, Cousins has only been around a year, so you can't trade the house for him as he's not fully proven quite yet, but from what he's shown, he'll certainly be in high-demand (unless the Spurs figure out how good they'd be with him next to Duncan in TD's twilight years). The part that may give the Warriors an edge if he is indeed on the market, is not many contending teams need starting centers. Then again, at 21, he'd be a nice piece for a rebuilding team to start around. Either way, if Adande is right and the reports are to be believed, DeMarcus Cousins should be in a new Uni very shortly!

Brian's post season preview

2012-01-01T20:42:00.000-08:00

Trevor laid down his playoff predictions, here are mine.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

First Round

Heat over Bucks (sweep)
Bulls over 76ers (6 games)
Knicks over Hawks (7 games)
Celtics over Magic (7 games)

Semi-Finals

Heat over Knicks (sweep)
Bulls over Celtics (6 games)

EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS

Heat over Bulls (5 games)
_________________________________
WESTERN CONFERENCE

First Round

Thunder over Warriors (5 games)
Blazers over Grizzlies (6 games)
Clippers over Spurs (7 games)
Lakers over Mavs (6 games)

Semi-Finals

Thunder over Lakers (5 games)
Blazers over Clippers (6 games)

WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS

Thunder over Blazers (7 games)

__________________________

NBA CHAMPIONSHIP

Miami Heat over Oklahoma City Thunder (7 games)

I realize this pick is about as risky as buying stock in Apple computers, but I have to go with the ESPN the Magazines and Sports Illustrated's of the world. The Heat went through the pain of getting so close without smoking that proverbial cigar. LeBron, D-Wade, and Bosh have all the talent and the hunger to get the ring this year. The compacted schedule of this season should also be beneficial to this young and athletic team. "It won't be just one, but two, three, four, five, six..."(okay, we get it LeBron, you guys are good).

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2012 NBA AWARDS

Coach of the Year: Erik Spoelstra, Miami Heat
Most Improved Player: JaVale McGee F/C, Washington Wizards
6th Man of the Year: Jamal Crawford SG, Portland Trailblazers
Defensive Player of the Year: Deandre Jordan C, LA Clippers
Rookie of the Year: Ricky Rubio PG, Minnesota T'Wolves
NBA MVP: Kevin Durrant SF, OKC Thunder

Warriors Winning with Defense

2011-12-30T16:05:00.000-08:00

Boy, it sure is great to be talking basketball again isn't it? It's been almost a year since the Warriors played a relevant game, sure they played through April, but were out of it way earlier than that. This season, things look much different, and it's because of the defense.

After watching the Warriors hold the powerful offensive New York Knicks to just 78 points at Oracle Wednesday night, I've begun to get a feeling that we're going to see a much different Warriors team this season than we've seen in years past. So far, this team doesn't like to run quite as much as the Warrior teams before them did, they'll still run on you if the time is right, but they're not forcing it. That's where the difference is I think with this club, they realize they have some many different skilled players, from Dorrell Wright to Monta and Brandon Rush and everyone in-between. They have confidence in each other's abilities and they look like they've been playing with each other for years, much like that '06/'07 squad did, that this team is drawing so many comparisons to. So far, leading the defensive charge, has been the front-court play of newly signed center Kwame Brown, who's produced 17 boards, 9 points and 4 steals in 39 minutes of play through 3 games. Both he and Biedrins are defending the middle well and shut down Amare Stoudemire. Epke Udoh and Dominic McGuire also deserve some notoriety for the work they've done off the bench. Although it may not show on a stat sheet, Udoh and McGuire have been key defenders on other team's star big-men thus far.

The other quick point I wanted to make about this post, was just about the Brandon Rush/Lou Amundson deal. All I've been saying watching Rush this last week is WOW! I can't think of a more under-the-radar steal of an NBA trade in recent history. Rush is a star 6th man who, granted it's been 3 games, looks like he's going to make a case for 6th man of the year award, no doubt. I almost just did a whole post on this guy's worth so far, that's how much he's meant to them in their 2 victories, but that got me thinking about the defense and the rest of the bench. With Stephen Curry' bum ankle in question, they have a guy in Rush who's more than capable of stepping in and picking up minutes and points while playing excellent D at the 2-guard, while Monta runs the point. I thought Monta did a more than admirable job doing so against New York. It hasn't only been Rush though, while he's been the star, averaging 12 points/4 rebounds and 3.3 blocks/steals per game (like tha new stat I just made up there?) making contributions on both ends, it's been the guys mentioned above as well as new point guard Ishmael Smith. That kid looks like a high-energy spark plug coming off the bench and flying all over the floor. The Warriors have a strong bench this year, like really strong, something that hasn't been stressed as much in years past, and as long as Steph's ankle holds up, this team's in outstanding shape for the shortened 66-game schedule with this depth!

Playoff and Award Predictions

2011-12-28T15:28:00.000-08:00

Here is the way we see the 2012 NBA Playoffs shaking out, our final chapter of our crammed in, 2k12 NBA Preview, now on out, purely Warriors stuff!

EASTERN CONFERENCE

First Round

Miami Heat over Atlanta Hawks (4 games)
Chicago Bulls over Pacers (sweep)
NY Knicks over Orlando Magic (5 games)
Philadelphia 76ers over Boston Celtics (5 games)

Semi-Finals

Heat over 76ers (6 games)
Bulls over Knicks (7 games)

EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS

Heat over Bulls (6 games)
_________________________________
WESTERN CONFERENCE

First Round

Clippers over Warriors (5 games)
Mavericks over Trail Blazers (4 games)
Memphis Grizzlies over Oklahoma City Thunders (5 games)
LA Lakers over San Antonio Spurs (5 games)

Semi-Finals

Clippers over Grizzlies (6 games)
Mavericks over Lakers (5 games)

WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS

LA Clippers over Dallas Mavericks (7 games)
_________________________________
NBA CHAMPIONSHIP

Miami Heat over LA Clippers (6 games)

So, basically, the only real upset I see myself picking are the Clippers flying through everyone. I still think Miami is the best in the East, I don't care how much you hate LeBron. If the Lakers can get a Dwight Howard and another solid wing-man to help Metta and Kobe, then they immediately enter the fold. I just don't see anyone beating the determined Miami team this season folks, and remember, this year will favor younger teams and younger legs and Miami is full of 20-somethings, while a lot of the teams in the NBA don't have that luxury.

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2012 NBA AWARDS

Coach of the Year: Mark Jackson, Golden State Warriors
Most Improved Player: Jeff Teague PG, Atlanta Hawks
6th Man of the Year: Andre Miller G, Denver Nuggetts
Defensive Player of the Year: Amare Stoudemire PF, New York Knicks
Rookie of the Year: Kyrie Irving PG, Cleveland Cavaliers
*NBA MVP: Kevin Durrant SF, OKC Thunder*

Durrant was robbed last year for MVP, and I think this year he's going to get back to the 30-32 ppg., 6 boards, 6 assists. Basically a taller version of LeBron with a better shot, but a lesser ball-handling. As for the Coaching award, had to go with MJ, especially after watching him these first two games, he looks like he's going to have the W's in good shape, plus he's a rookie coach so he gets that much more credit. Improved player and 6th man award both go to point guards, Teague is going to be a rock in Atlanta's back court this year I believe, 15 points and 7 assists a night is very possible for the former bench warmer. For Miller, he's going to get 30+ minutes a night and he's going to produce starters numbers, he's shown it already. Defensive player, had to switch it up from Howard, who probably will get it, but Amare does just about as much for his squad on the defensive end, and with all the uncertainty around Howard, I think it's Amare's time. Finally the Rookie of the year, had to go with the obvious choice in Kyrie Irving. He showed why in game one by going just 2-12 from the floor, yet dishing out 7 assists, you can tell dude is going to be a stud. Very John Wall-like.

2012 NBA Preview: Pacific Conference

2011-12-27T12:47:00.001-08:00

Well, before I got into my Pacific Conference prediction, I wanted to do a small section for the Warriors win in Chicago. Now this won't be like a normal post dedicated to the W's, but I just wanted to make a few quick points about the win over Chicago before I got into my Pacific Preview.

First off, good to see Steph get back on track, but then to see that injury at the end of the game had me holding my breath. Luckily, it doesn't appear to be too bad, but he is out for Wednesday night's tilt with New York, a game which they really needed his scoring. Look for Brandon Rush to step in at 2 guard with Monta sliding to PG for the night. Both he and Monta had the team outrunning the slower Chicago team and that's what made the Warriors so good back in 2006. Ellis continues to show why this guy really needs to be considered untouchable in any trade scenario. He's going to score and now he's all the sudden rebounding like a small forward and finally handling the ball like a point guard. The Warriors had excellent perimeter defense, and Kwame/Andris/Lee did a bang-up job controlling Boozer and Noah. Brown showed you exactly why the Warriors hired him for the season last night. That's really all I want to say, I gotta do my preview, but if the W's keep up like that, which I think they can since they're young and can handle these back-to-back games, then look out Pacific!

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Pacific Conference

1st Place: Los Angeles Clippers (#1 seed)

Lineup
PG Chris Paul
SG Chauncey Billups
SF Caron Butler
PF Blake Griffin
C DeAndre Jordan
6th: G Mo Williams

The Clippers have overtaken the balance of power in LA and the Pacific with the add of Paul and Billups, who basically fell on their lap when they needed him the most. The Paul/Griffin connection should light it up for years to come and with DeAndre Jordan in there disrupting shots, the veteran influence and scoring from Butler and Billups, you really have something. Look out Western Conference!

2nd Place: Los Angeles Lakers (#4 seed)

Lineup
PG Derek Fischer
SG Kobe Bryant
SF Devin Ebanks
PF Pau Gasol
C Andrew Bynum
6th: F Metta World Peace (aka: Ron Artest)

I just don't like the Lake show's makeup this year, they just lost too much with Lamar and then pissing off their number 2 by publicly trying to trade Gasol in the Howard offers. They're finally finding out what it feels like to strike out on going after players you covet. I just didn't get the Odom deal though, seems like they could have amnestied someone or something to get below the cap. Kobe will still put up 25/5/5, and if they get Howard without giving up everyone, it should improve their chances. They've also needed a new point guard for about 4 seasons now/DFish is not an NBA starting caliber PG. Actually, he's about 2-3 years away from coaching a team I think!

3rd Place: Golden State Warriors (#8 seed)

Lineup:

PG Stephen Curry
SG Monta Ellis
SF Dorell Wright
PF David Lee
C Andris Biedrins
6th: G/F Brandon Rush

No matter how you shuffle the top-2, most publications have the Dubs no higher than 3rd, where they may even have a shot at playoff basketball. So long as Curry/Monta/Lee/Wright stay healthy, they are going to score a ton, and it looks like they got some new defenders in there in Rush and Kwame Brown. Love how they added Rush 3 days before season and he's becoming their 6th man already! Biedrins still showed his Jekkyl and Hyde ways in the first two games, but he does look a lot better overall. I think Brown will push him to stay on his game. The W's are again fun to watch and should win 35+ if they defend decently.

4th Place: Sacramento Kings

Lineup:

PG Tyreke Evans
SG Marcus Thornton
SF John Salmons
PF Chuck Hayes
C DeMarcus Cousins
6th: F J.J. Hickson

I just love the Kings the depth, and I think Jimmer is going to be Jason Williams (remember him) 2.0, the improved version. Evans really should be a 2-guard and they should have Jimmer running point, but Thornton can play too. Their real star though lies in the center of the floor in DeMarcus Cousins though, as I think this guys is the next Al Jefferson, he's that good. The thing with Sac, like with the W's, will be their defense, but also for them, ball-sharing. They have a lot of guys that like to get their shots on their team, even on their bench, so coach Westphal needs to make sure that locker room stays focused on the goal of winning and not individual numbers. If Freddette lights up like he did in preseason though, this could be a sneaky 8th seed candidate!

5th Place: Phoenix Suns

Lineup
PG Steve Nash
SG Jared Dudley
SF Grant Hill
PF Channing Frye
C Marcin Gortat
6th: G/F Shannon Brown

I'm very surprised the Suns haven't dealt away Nash yet, as they are just inches away from landing into full-blown rebuild mode. They have two guys in Hill and Dudley who have no business starting on an NBA team and their PF Frye (granted he had his moments with Nash last season), is one of the worst starting PF's in a PF-rich league. Their brightest young star too, like with Sac, is their young center Gortat. What Phoenix needs to do is concede this 66-game season, deal Nash to LA or some other contending team lacking a real good point guard to give him his final shot at a Championship like Kidd got his in with the Mavs. He's still probably got 2-3 good seasons left in him, so he's running out of time! Give Telfair the chance to be the next Billups!

_______________________________

Note: That concludes our divisional previews, now we just have our Playoff/Award predictions next and we're done with our "sped through" NBA Previews! With P/A post only taking a small portion, look for the Warriors Rundown to again start running down the Warriors!

Dubs Get CP3'd on Opening Night

2011-12-26T14:52:00.000-08:00

They kept it close there for a while, really reminding me of the We Believe team back in '07, coming up with big rebounds, and running the floor like mad men. However, in the end Chris Paul showed the Bay Area why the Warriors and every other team in the NBA wanted the point guard running their offense. I just wanted to make a few points, bullet style, about the opener before we finish off our Divisional Previews.

Steph Curry did not look like the same player he was last season. The Warriors so-called "Franchise Player" proved again why Monta Ellis is the player to keep in the Dubs back court. He was so badly outplayed by Paul that it was hard to even watch. He ended with just 4 points and 4 assists and if his ankle was the issue, the Warriors are going to be in for a long season. With the quick-paced game schedule, he's not going to have time to really heal, which means it could hamper him all year, or he has to take a two weeks off, which in the 2012 season means like 12 games! It's a tough situation, hopefully he heals quickly.

A big reason the W's lost this game though, besides Steph's in-effectiveness and CP3's game-controlling dominance. The Warriors lost the turnover battle, and shot a horrific 39% as a team (23% from 3 pt.). It's not like they were taking bad shots, they just weren't dropping, and that happens some nights. Obviously the defense is ahead of the offense right now and it showed for the Warriors.

Couldn't leave today's mini-post without talking about the positives. Andris Biedrins looked lively on the court again, and if Jackson can get 10 points, 8 boards and 3 blocks with no turnovers each night, he'd take it. Also, the W's bench play did help infuse that late 3rd, early 4th comeback. In my first extensive look at Klay Thompson I see a more agressive version of Mike Dunleavy, can handle the ball and shoot, but isn't affraid to get inside and draw contact. Brandon Rush was also a beast off the bench, as I loved the pick-up, knowing the W's needed another veteran wing player, and he showed why with 12 pts., 3 boards, 2 blocks and an assist in 28 minutes. He does everything and can handle small forwards defensively... Finally Ishmael Smith, who I didn't even know made the opening night active roster, lit it up for 7 points in 5 minutes of play from the point. The W's showed they will have scoring off the bench in these three!

Other than that, things went kind of the way I expected. The Clippers are the better team, and even with the new nucleus, seemed to have gelled rather quickly. The Warriors need to shake it off quick with an even tougher Chicago team in Oakland tonight!

2012 NBA Preview: Northwest Conference

2011-12-26T14:26:00.000-08:00

1st Place: Oklahoma City Thunder (#3 seed)

Lineup:
PG Russell Westbrook
SG Thabo Sefolosha
SF Kevin Durrant
PF Serge Ibaka
C Kendrick Perkins
6th: G James Harden

Only think I worry about with OKC is their lack of depth, but they're going to score many points and be outstanding low-post defenders vs. teams like San Antonio and the Lakers when they get Bynum back or move for Dwight Howard. Durrant is slowly becoming the leagues best all-around player, take that LeBron, and should carry this team to an easy Northwest win.

2nd Place: Portland Trail Blazers (#7 seed)

Lineup:
PG Raymond Felton
SG Wesley Mathews
SF Gerald Wallace
PF LeMarcus Aldridge
C Marcus Camby
6th: G Jamal Crawford

Many are picking Denver as the 2nd team out of the Northwest, but I like Portland's depth and young talent. I think Aldridge is in for his best season yet without having to share the wealth with Brandon Roy and him no being "The Man". Wallace brings D and O at the SF and Crawford may end up starting at shooting guard. The only worry spot is at center were they're thin after the 37-year old Camby.

3rd Place: Denver Nuggets

Lineup:
PG Ty Lawson
SG Aaron Afflalo
SF Danilo Gallinari
PF Nene Hilario
C Kosta Koufos
6th: G Andre Miller

The Nuggets are deep, with guys like Miller, Rudy Fernandez and Al Harringon lined up on their bench, which suits them well for the shortened season, but I'm just not overly impressed with their starting five. I think Gallinari will be a stud, and Nene will be good for his 14/10, but still not sold on Afflalo as a starting, full-time SF and have never been overly impressed with the under-sized Ty Lawson at point.

4th Place: Utah Jazz

Lineup:
PG Deron Williams
SG Gordon Heyward
SF C.J. Miles
PF Paul Milsap
C Al Jefferson
6th: F Derrick Favors

The Jazz need to figure out a way to get Jefferson most his minutes at PF where he can just dominate and not need to focus on defending 7+ footers too. Still love Williams at point, even though they'll have trouble finding points in the backcourt outside of him. If Miles finally reaches his potential while Heyward and Favors each improve like they can, than Utah will be looking at playoff hopes!

5th Place: Minnesota Timberwolves

Lineup:
PG Ricky Rubio
SG Wes Johnson
SF Michael Beasley
PF Kevin Love
C Darko Milicic
6th: F Derrick Williams

The T-Wolves are lining up talent left and right, but they just can't seem to put the right pieces together. They draft Williams when they have their SF and PF taken care of well into the future (unless Beasley loses favor). Their success in my eyes though, lies with Rubio. If he can give them 12-15 pts. and 6-8 dimes per night, they may be competitive.

2012 NBA Preview: Southwest Conference

2011-12-23T18:01:00.000-08:00

On we move to the Western Conference, which has dominated play the last few seasons when it comes to Championships:

Southwest Conference

1st Place: Dallas Mavericks (#2 seed)

Lineup:
PG Jason Kidd
SG Jason Terry
SF Shawn Marrion
PF Dirk Nowitzki
C Brendan Heywood
6th: Lamar Odom

The reigning World Champs lost a huge piece of their puzzle in Tyson Chandler, but also brought in some very nice replacements. Lamar Odom should be a stud off the bench filling in at 3, 4 and 5. They also inked Vince Carter, who could play a similar role to Manu Ginobili's with San Antonio the last few years, but more importantly help them guard bigger 2 guards that give Terry trouble (a la Dwayne Wade). Nowitzki will again be MVP-like, I don't care if it's a short season and he's getting older. He and Kidd just seem to get more refined with age and I expect no different in 2k12. Also loving the re-birth of Shawn Marrion, who's become an impact forward again at age 31. They just need Heywood to revert back to his 2010 version and they'll be just fine!

2nd Place: San Antonio Spurs (#5 seed)

Lineup:
PG Tony Parker
SG Manu Ginobili
SF Richard Jefferson
PF Tim Duncan
C DeJuan Blair
6th: G Gary Neal

I just don't think the Spurs have the depth or youth to keep up in this fast-paced 2012 NBA season when 3-consecutive game nights will be frequent. Still love Parker at point and Ginobili can score with the best of 'em, but Duncan is aging big time and may need to take nights off or only play 20-25 minutes on back-to-back game days now. He won't be nearly as effective. They need Jefferson to step his game up, I think it could happen but he's looked so out of sorts with the Spurs for some reason because the dude can play he's right in his prime! They still have a winning team though, just the short season hurts them more than almost any other team with their biggest star being a guy who needs his rest and minutes limited already. Should hold off up-and-coming Grizz for #2 in Southwest, but they have to be ready for this fast-paced season to stay there.

2nd Place Tie: Memphis Grizzlies (#6 seed)

Lineup:
PG Mike Conley
SG Tony Allen
SF Rudy Gay
PF Zach Randolph
C Marc Gasol
6th G O.J. Mayo

The Grizz have a really, really talented bunch. I believe they'll finish right with San Antonio, who a lot of experts have as division favorites. I just like their starting five as they have a lot of guys who do a lot of different things for them and it showed last spring when they beat those top-seeded Spurs. It wouldn't surprise me the least to see them leapfrog the Spurs in the shortened season. There really isn't a hole anywhere in the lineup and they're all young players. Conley really arrived last season as an NBA top-10 point guard who had a big 2011 postseason and just turned 24. I think Rudy Gay is one of the most underrated players in the NBA cause he plays in Memphis, but he's a much better defending version with Carmelo Anthony's type of offensive skill. He's their MVP, but Randolph (20/12 in '11) and Gasol are nearly as important and don't get nearly enough credit! Gasol was a key restricted FA brought back and for good reason, one of the best young 7-footers in the game needs to get back to his 2009/10 form.

4th Place: Houston Rockets

Lineup:
PG Kyle Lowry
SG Kevin Martin
SF Chase Buddinger
PF Luis Scola
C Jordan Hill
6th: F Patrick Peterson

The Rockets have a team that can put up some points. Martin is one of the best scoring 2-guards in the league and Lowry and Buddinger are each above average scorers for their positions. Luis Scola is a very good defending power forward who's good for about 18 points and 7-8 boards per night, which is a solid output. PG Lowry is one of the more underrated PG's in the NBA today, as I see him averaging about 18 points and 8 assists this year based on how he finished up last season and surrounded by scoring players. Problem with Houston will be their defense and they have questions with their depth and at center where they'll miss Chuck Hayes more than people think. Still should be better than the Chris Paul-less Hornets though.

5th Place: New Orleans Hornets

Lineup:
PG Jarrett Jack
SG Eric Gordon
SF Trevor Ariza
PF Carl Landry
C Emeka Okafor
6th: F/C Chris Kaman

The Hornets sure are a lot better off after losing their superstar than the Cavaliers were a year back when James left town and left them with nothing but an undesirable place to go and play. The Hornets actually built for the future in the Paul trade and I feel they made out very well. I just think they should have made more of an effort to re-sign David West, who didn't find a home until just recently and seemed like he should have returned to the Hornets where he made his career. Landry is a capable fill-in and should provide about 15/7 per night, but not only will they lose some points and rebounds without West, they take a hit in the locker room. They'll be a fun team to watch this year though to see how they adjust to life without CP3 in a tough division and conference!

2012 NBA Preview: Southeast Conference

2011-12-23T11:37:00.000-08:00

1st Place: Miami Heat (#1 Seed)

Lineup:
PG Mario Chalmers
SG Dwayne Wade
SF LeBron James
PF Chris Bosh
C Joel Anthony
6th: F Shane Battier

The Heat didn't upgrade their center position or add a good distributor at point guard like they really needed too, but I absolutely love the add of Shane Battier. I could see a lot of lineups with Bosh at Center and Battier covering active PF's (probably wish they had him for Nowitzki). I expect a determined and focused LeBron and D-Wade will be D-Wade, good for 25/5/5. The wild card for me for this team and their championship aspirations lies in Chris Bosh. They need him to be the Toronto Chris Bosh and not the Bosh that showed up in '11. They need 22/10 at least, not 18/8 like they got in last year. That happens and the Heat are going to be tough. Jose Calderon would be a great add for this team!

3rd Place: Orlando Magic (#6 seed)

Lineup:
PG Jameer Nelson
SG Jason Richardson
SF Hedo Turkoglu
PF Ryan Anderson
C Dwight Howard
6th: F/C Glen Davis

If they end up hanging onto Howard, then move them up to 2nd, but even if they do deal Howard, they still should get enough value in return to at least have them in good position this season. If it were for Bynum and Gasol, I'd do that move if I were Orlando, and if they did, they'll be a playoff team. If they keep Howard, I'd put them as the 6th seed and move everyone back one. Love JRich and believe although Nelson isn't great, he's effective. Great example of a good team, but not great.

2nd Place: Atlanta Hawks (#8 seed)

Lineup:
PG Jeff Teague
SG Joe Johnson
SF Marvin Williams
PF Josh Smith
C Al Horford
6th: G/F Tracy McGrady

Only reason I have them ahead of Orlando is because I firmly believe Howard will be dealt before the end of January. Atlanta has a very nice up-and-coming squad with Smith and Horford finally taking that next step in consistency and the do-it-all Joe Johnson running the back-court. As long as Teague shows up like he did in the playoffs last year (reviews have been good), the Hawks will have a nice little squad. Added some veteran scorers to come off the bench, T-Mac and Jerry Stackhouse, to help put up some points. Still could use another big man as some depth though behind Smith and Horford, should have went after Kwame Brown!

4th Place: Washington Wizards

Lineup:
PG John Wall
SG Nick Young
SF Rashard Lewis
PF Andre Blatche
C JaVale McGee
6th: G Jordan Crawford

I don't know why a lot of critics are so hard on the Wizards, but I love their young makeup they have going. Their nucleus of Wall/Young/McGee/Blatche (all 25 or younger), is one of the better young bunches in the league, although they're still a year or 2 away from gelling and adding their final pieces. It would help their chances this season if Lewis could revert to his old days, but I think he's toast, and we could end up seeing Young at SF with Crawford at SG by mid-season. Wall gets all the hype but this McGee kid is amazing, averaging 13 points, 10 boards and 3 blocks over the seasons last 2 months and he's only 23. Team still lacks depth though.

5th Place: Charlotte Bobcats

Lineup:
PG D.J. Augustin
SG Gerald Henderson
SF Corey Maggette
PF Tyrus Thomas
C Boris Diaw
6th: G Kemba Walker

The Bobcats are a team in full re-build mode as they virtually have projects at every position outside of their strong point guard depth. You know your in trouble when the coach of the team is counting on the 33 year-old Corey Maggette to play big minutes and lead this team in scoring. If the 2nd half Gerald Henderson doesn't show up, they should strongly consider using Walker and Augustin together in the back-court, just to get Walker some minutes. They'll certainly be interesting to watch, but not in the normal sense. Should be one of worst teams in NBA.

2k12 NBA Preview: Central Conference

2011-12-22T15:38:00.000-08:00

Just as we did for the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference, here is our prediction for the Central:

1st Place: Chicago Bulls (#2 Seed)

Lineup:
PG Derrick Rose
SG Richard Hamilton
SF Luol Deng
PF Carlos Boozer
C Joakim Noah
6th: G Ronnie Brewer

The Bulls are the clear favorites in the division with the youngest MVP in league history running the point and a surprisingly strong supporting cast. The key for them remains to me lies in the health of their two big men, Boozer and Noah. As long as those guys give the Bulls 70+ solid games, they're going to give the Heat a run for their money in the East!

2nd Place: Indiana Pacers (#7 Seed)

Lineup:
PG Darren Collison
SG Paul George
SF Danny Granger
PF David West
C Roy Hibbert
6th: George Hill

The Pacers have a nice, deep team that should be perfectly suited for the shortened 62-game season. With Tyler Hansborough, Hill and Jeff Foster coming off the bench, all guys who would be starters on a lot of NBA teams right now. They need Danny Granger to be that top-20 NBA talent like he can be though, and not hold back. West was a huge add which really solidified the group, but he has to stay healthy!

3rd Place: Milwaukee Bucks (runner up if any key injury to top-8)

Lineup:
PG Brandon Jennings
SG Stephen Jackson
SF Luc Mbah a Moute
PF Drew Gooden
C Andrew Bogut
6th: Carlos Delfino

The Bucks could have a really good squad if Jennings can improve his shooting and Bogut gives them a full season. Jackson was a big addition and should be among the leagues leading shooting guards and Moute is a monstrous defender with an improving offensive game. They also are very deep, with Delfino, who could even start somewhere, coming off the bench with a healthy Mike Dunleavy and Beno Udrih backing up at point.

4th Place: Detroit Pistons

Lineup:
PG Brandon Knight
SG Rodney Stuckey
SF Tayshaun Prince
PF Jonas Jerebko
C Greg Monroe
6th: Ben Gordon

This team is actually deeper than most people are giving them credit for, they just don't quite have the credibility and consistency to keep up with the Bucks or Pacers. They're starting five isn't mind-blowing, but I like Stuckey a lot at 2, and Monroe is a vastly improving young big man. We'll see hoe Knight adjusts to NBA life, but he should be fine. It will probably take this team another year or so before they think about contending again though.

5th Place: Cleveland Cavaliers

Lineup
PG Kyrie Irving
SG Anthony Parker
SF Omar Casspi
PF Antawn Jamison
C Anderson Varejo
6th: Daniel Gibson

The Cavs are still in the early stages of the post-James era, but the Irving pick sure did help this franchise. The kid is the real deal and should be in the class of Rose, Paul and Westbrook before long, he's that talented. They still don't have too much outside of him, though Casspi is an underrated defender and Jamison should give them plenty of scoring.

2k12 NBA Preview: Atlantic Conference

2011-12-21T21:54:00.000-08:00

With the NBA set to tip-off in just a couple short days Christmas night, including a Warriors-Kings matchup, we here at the Warriors Rundown will do our annual NBA Preview, predicting each division winner, playoff winners, champion and award winners. Since the NBA lockout and with the holidays, it we won't finish the full predictions until after tip-off on Sunday, but should have them all up before all teams start their seasons!

Atlantic Conference:

First Place: New York Knicks (#3 Seed)

Starting Lineup:
PG Toney Douglas
SG Landry Fields
SF Carmelo Anthony
PF Amare Stoudemire
C Tyson Chandler
6th: G Baron Davis

As you can see, I like the Knicks this year. I think Carmelo and Amare are going to be like a Shaq and Kobe Part 2. They also have one of the best centers in the game in Tyson Chandler to compose by far the best front court in basketball. If Baron Davis comes back soon and healthy, they'll be even that much better. I even think a perfect fit for them would be a guy like Calderon who could distribute the ball to Amare and Carmelo. The one thing this team does lack, is depth. When Baron heals up in January, they'll be fine at guard, but up front, things are very thin after their starting 3. Al Thornton, AK-47 and Chris Douglas-Roberts (if healthy) are all players I cannot believe aren't employed yet and any one or two would be welcome additions to the Knicks depth-chart. With Ny's expectations this year, I think they'll make that necessary move when it comes time!

2nd Place: Boston Celtics (#4 Seed)

Starting Lineup:
PG Rajon Rando
SG Ray Allen
SF Paul Pierce
PF Kevin Garnett
C Jermaine O'neal
6th: F Brandon Bass

The Celtics are just about everyone's pick for the Atlantic conference this year, but in a shortened, back-to-back-to-back game season, I fear the aging Celtics are going to wilt. They'll still make the playoffs, but I think New York, especially if they can get a guy like Calderon in here who can distribute the ball to Amare and Carmelo, are going to end up the team to beat in the shortened season. If this were 2005, the Celtics would be kings of the univers, but in 2o12, they don't have enough youth, outside of Rando who they're shopping for some odd reason, to run with quicker younger teams night after night.

3rd Place: Philadelphia 76ers (#5 Seed)

Starting Lineup
PG Jrue Holiday
SG Jodie Meeks
SF Andre Iguodala
PF Elton Brand
C Spencer Hawes
6th: F Thaddeus Young

Young's so good they had to pay him starters money to keep him around, prompting all the Iguodala trade-talks. As much as Young helps this team off the bench, I think they would have been better off spending that money on Jason Richardson and an upgrade at center. They'd have done that, they'd be challenging the Celtics and Knicks for a playoff spot. Holiday, in my opinion is the 2nd best PG from the 2009's draft behind Steph Curry. They have a lot of talent on this squad and if they put it together, look out Atlantic!

4th Place: New Jersey Nets

Starting Lineup
PG Deron Williams
SG Anthony Morrow
SF Damian Jones
PF Kris Humphries
C Brook Lopez* (out for 2 months)
6th: G MarShon Brooks

The re-signing of Humphries saved their season in a sense. In the dudes last 30 games in 2011, he averaged nearly 15/15 a night. Very similar to former Knick Derek Lee in my opinion. They also have the exciting MarShon Brooks who they drafted in the first round this summer. He should get plenty of time as a 6th man and could overtake Morrow's starting 2-guard spot by mid-season if he plays like he has this pre-season. What they need is a solid wing scorer, a team a guy like Caron Butler would have been a perfect add for.

5th Place: Toronto Raptors

Starting Lineup
PG: Jose Calderon
SG DeMar DeRozan
SF James Johnson
PF Andrea Bargnani
C Amir Johnson
6th: G Jerryd Bayless

The Raptors are a team in full re-build mode and they really should try and pitch Jose Calderon to a team like the LA Lakers who need a point guard badly. Jerryd Bayless is their future there, and they need him, DeRozan and Bargnani all getting valuable time together this season if they want to eventually become contenders. Bargnani needs to start rebounding too, not 5 a night, more like 8-9, he's 7 feet tall and needs to be down low more often.

Opening Night & Christmas around the corner

2011-12-16T10:23:00.001-08:00

The Warriors Christmas night match up against the Clipppers just got extremely interesting with the recent additions the Clip Ship has made, mainly Chris Paul. The other team in LA looks like they have a playoff team on paper. They have a stable of point guards in CP3, Chauncey Billups, Mo Williams, and up-and-comer Eric Bledsoe. Blake Griffin should continue where he left off as a dominant post player who commands a double team. Caron Butler is coming back from a serious knee injury and has a history of knee issues, but if he can stay healthy he brings tough defense and solid scoring. And DeAndre Jordan will be expected to play a bigger role after inking a big contract and the movement of Chris Kamen.

I am still not ready to hand the game to the Clippers and jump on the band wagon. I am not trying to be a homer, but I don't think this Clippers team will hold up over the fervent pace of the compacted season. I won't say "same old Clippers", but I have to see it before discounting the Clipper Curse.

Enough Clippers talk, let's shift focus on the Warriors. Kwame Brown is not ideal, but one year for $7 million isn't a bad deal. I agree with Trevor when he said the W's avoided a bad signing in DeAndre Jordan. He's a special player, but they would have overpaid to win his services.

I am interested to see some of the Warriors rookies like Klay Thompson, Charles Jenkins, and Jeremy Tyler. Warriors fans are eager to see how Mark Jackson will use the tools he has in his box. This Warriors team still has the thumbprint of Don Nelson, meaning more scorers than stoppers and non-prototypical players for their positions.

Will Dorell Wright continue to be an elite three point shooter? Will Ekpe Udoh emerge as a dominant rim protector? Will Andris Biedrins rebound after a terrible season? Will the Warriors trade Monta Ellis?

Warriors choose Kwame Brown

2011-12-15T17:08:00.000-08:00

It was no secret Warriors wanted a center. They bid for Tyson Chandler, went hard after DeAndre Jordan, even enquired about Nene, but in the end, it's Kwame Brown who will be manning center for the GSW's in 2012.

First off, not a huge fan of the signing although for only a year, I do think they got a player comparable to DeAndre Jordan, who would have broken their bank to sign. I don't get the infatuation with Jordan, he can jump and rebound and cause havoc in the middle, but so can Epke Udoh and Brown will bring just that kind of presence if he's motivated and healthy. Not saying I think Brown's a better player than Jordan, just saying that the W's have overpaid their share for mediocre big men already. I'm glad they didn't waste a bunch of money in order to do so and got themselves a defensive presence in Brown. As a player, Kwame had his best seasons since '03/'04 last year with Charlotte and does seem to be maturing into a player who knows his limitations and is effective because of it. He's never lived up to his #1 pick billing, so people will always look upon him with a frown, but he's a Warrior now and he's got my full backing. If the W's get the player who showed up in Charlotte in the 2nd half (10/7 per night), then he'll probably take the starting job from Biedrins without much of a fight. The only other center being possibly discussed was Samuel Dalembert, so Brown doesn't look so bad considering. What surprised me the most upon hearing this signing was that Biedrins was not amnestied, instead they used it on Charlie Bell. Should make for an interesting short preseason!

So, assuming Brown wins the mini-starting competition vs. Biedrins this preseason, the W's lineup looks pretty set, especially since Chris Paul has been dealt and the Warriors down figure to make any more significant moves before opening night. There lineup is a little stronger overall with the addition of Brown, but I'd have liked to seen them beef up their small forward position a bit as well. Without Reggie Williams, they don't really have a true backup to Dorrell Wright unless they go with Klay Thompson, while also using Wright at 4 and Lee at 5, which could be the plan when they run on teams. There aren't really any wing players left now that everyone signed withing a 72 hours of free agency opening, though Yi Jianlan could be a nice fit as wing with quick outside scoring potential off the bench when Wright is out. But the player, or type of wing especially, this team needs most is a defensive hog like an AK-47 (Andrei Kirilinko), though he'd be a pricey 6th man and may not even take on a non-starting role unless he was paid handsomely. Unfortunately though, that's the kind of player the W's need, a tenacious defender who can shut down a Kobe/Durrant guard or the Lebron/Carmelo-type small forward. I'd go 2 years between $15-20 million for AK, but he probably wouldn't come here with all the players they already have. The W's would have to convince him to be like their version of Lamar Odom, coming off the bench and playing his 3-4 positions and still get 30+ minutes a night, just not as a regular starter. Problem is, you'd still have to pay him starter's money, but that's exactly the type of player they need. They've missed that since JRich has been gone. Brown was a nice, logistic signing that improves the team with an emphasis on defense, now lets see them keep building off that solid move!

Warriors Depth Chart/Free Agent Needs

2011-12-05T13:58:00.000-08:00

We're about to hit the NBA's mini-offseason/preseason on December 9th when teams can begin to sign free agents, but don't expect the Warriors to be too active in free agency.

Their has been talks throughout the Bay Area media since the lockout ended that the Warriors could potentially be a sleeper for one of the free agent centers on the market. Although this free agent class pales in comparison to those in the past, the one spot where it is deep is with quality centers. That also happens to be the spot where the Warriors have the biggest question mark. Andris Biedrins has been a major disappointment since signing his big contract extension a few years back, and is in danger of possibly becoming a roster causality do to the new amnesty clause. Basically, the W's could axe Andres without having his salary count towards their salary cap, though they'd still be on the hook for the remainder of his contract. It's going to be a tough decision for Larry Riley and Mark Jackson to make, but if they indeed have a shot at landing a Nene or Marc Gasol and getting a skilled post player in here then it's something that has to be done. Biedrins has become a liability on the floor at times, and unless Mark Jackson can bring something out in him that hasn't been there since early '08, then there really is no place on the roster for him. There's a really good piece on the whole Biedrins/Amnesty possibilities up at the Merc's Fast Break, where they also mention Tyson Chandler as a possibility for Golden State. Chandler is supposedly in the Bay Area right now and will be meeting with the Warriors on the first day of free agency, but I'd prefer someone with more offensive upside like Nene or Gasol. Marc Gasol is a little tricky because he's a restricted Free Agent, but after the postseason he had last year (Avg: 16 points, 11 boards, 2.5 assists, 2.5 blocks) and the fact he's just entering his prime makes him very intriguing.

As they sit now, the Warriors don't really have the financial space to add a premiere free agent, so unless they decide to use the Amnesty on Biedrins, they won't really have any wiggle room. Here is their current depth chart as we get ready to hit free agency:

Guards: Stephen Curry, Monta Ellis, Klay Thompson, Charlie Bell, Jeremy Lin, Charles Jenkins
Forwards: David Lee, Dorrell Wright, Louis Amundson, Reggie Williams
Centers: Andris Biedrins, Epke Udoh, Jeremy Tyler

NBAPA/Owners Finally Agree to End Lockout

2011-11-28T17:25:00.000-08:00

Well, they've already missed about a month of regular season action do to on-going discussions regarding the new CBA, but things finally took a turn for the best over the weekend. As soon as the new deal is ratified, which should happen any day now, the National Basketball Association will be back in business.

Now, don't expect to see free agents signing anywhere once the CBA has been ratified, as free agency wont start until December 9th. However, do expect teams and players to start discussions immediately, and deals to be unofficially announced even before that date. Speaking of free agency, this class isn't necessarily stocked with premium talent and has nowhere near the star power it did in summer 2010, but there are still a few nice players on this market that could come in and help a team like the Warriors. I've been thinking that the W's best chance to upgrade their roster would be via trade, but the one spot where the Warriors are weak happens to be the most stocked position on the free agent market, center. Andris Biedrins is currently the starter and is making over $10M this season, but has really had a rough couple of seasons since Barron Davis left the Bay Area. I'm not sure the Warriors are confident in starting the season with the thought of giving Biedrins huge minutes at center. They could deal him, or cut his work load way back, but it shouldn't keep them for exploring ways to improve themselves. The two guys I'd like to see them at least inquire about are Nene Hilario and Mark Gasol. Nene would bring the type of defense that Biedrins has failed at while Gasol would bring consistency, athleticism and scoring to the front-court. Nene is unrestricted, so would be an easier target, yet he's the consensus #1 free agent out there, so he could be tough to snag.

Now, as far as the details in the new Labor Agreement, I'm not going to go through each thing and ramble about it here, although here is a list of the changes to the new agreement. The only thing that jumped out at me when glancing over the new agreement is that the league will still be able to squeeze a 66-game schedule out of this by having teams play on back-to-back-to-back nights on numerous occasions throughout the season. Tip for Warriors head coach Mark Jackson, get your team in shape and keep youngsters for that bench because those 3 consecutive game nights will drain a team. Luckily for the Warriors, their average age in their starting lineup is 25, so it could be an advantage for them especially if Jackson has them running offensively. We don't know yet exactly when the tip-off for the regular season will be, as the new CBA has yet to be ratified, but NBA officials have stated they're shooting to be open before Christmas, which is their biggest non-playoff night of the year as far as television ratings. David Stern is way too greedy to let that cash cow slip by him, so I fully expect the NBA to be in regular season mode by the end of December. The real question is, how long is it going to take teams to start playing their brand of basketball after such a long layoff and virtually no training camp? Time will tell, but it's certainly great to have the NBA back... Fantasy Draft Time!

Charity Games Give Bay Area Quasi-Pro Basketball

2011-11-21T17:53:00.000-08:00

Earlier this month, it was the "We Believe" charity game held in San Jose to the tune of 4,000 spectators. Sunday, it was the "Make-A-Wish" game, and although it didn't have as many Golden State Warriors in the mix, it was still another glimpse at professional basketball for NBA-starved Bay Area.

The We Believe game was actually very entertaining from what I hear, and according to the score board, lived up to it's hype. The current W's, led by Stephen Curry, Dorrell Wright and David Lee, barely squeaked by the "We Believe" generation led by Jason Richardson, Gilbert Arenas, Corey Maggette and Antawn Jamison, by the score of 158-153. Wright, the only Warrior to play in both charity games, led all scorers with 41 points vs. the former W's, while Curry chipped in a triple-double, 34 points/13 rebounds/12 assists. David Lee also stood out with 23 points and 16 rebounds. As for former Warriors, Gilbert Arenas looked pretty good in the video I saw, and ended with 26 points. The leader for the ex-Warriors though was Corey Maggette with 34, but the guy who was getting all the buzz after the game was Jason Richardson. Richardson will be a free agent when the NBA starts up again, and the Warriors, who haven't been the same team since they lost the physical 2-guard, could be in the mix. Right now, they are over-stocked with potential 2 guards though, after drafting Klay Thomposon with their top pick in June's draft. However, it's been no secret that they could be open to trading one of their guards, most likely Monta Ellis, for help in the front court. If that were to happen, I'd be all for adding J-Rich to split time with Thompson there.

There weren't as many Warriors for Drew Gooden's "Make-A-Wish" charity game this weekend, but Dorrell Wright was a starter for one of the teams and again excelled. I know it's just basically rec basketball, but Wright was one of my favorite players on the 2010-11 team and I really think this kid has a bright future ahead of him. For the first time in a while, the Warriors have themselves a true, legit young small forward who can really do it all. Another guy who came on strong at the end of 2011 and someone I would have liked to see compete in one of these games is Epke Udoh. The Warriors have really swung and missed on a lot of the picks they've used on forwards/centers and I'm hoping it ends with Udoh. He didn't shine in his rookie year, but showed that at the very least, he can be a serviceable backup center good for 20-30 minutes per night. All in all though, his rookie season was less than stellar, and it would have really helped this kid to have played in the summer league or play overseas until the lockout ends, just to get some experience. Speaking of underacheiving big men, I'm also a little surprised Biedrins didn't make it out to the We Believe game. He was/is a big part of both teams and certainly could have used the work.

As for lockout news, it really looked as if the players and owners were going to hammer something out earlier in November, but talks again fell through, and it appears we're no closer to an NBA season on November 21st than we were on August 21st. Now it's getting to the point where even if they did hit an agreement this week, We wouldn't see regular season basketball until the beggining of 2012. This has drawn on longer than I was expecting, and if it keeps up through Christmas, which is entirely possible, the threat of losing the entire year becomes the most likely scenario.

"We Believe" exhibition game

2011-10-27T10:41:00.000-07:00

The Lockout has been depressing for hoops fans as there seems to be no progress in the labor talks, but my NBA interest was awakened when I came across an article by leading Warriors beat writer Marcus Thompson II of the Contra Costa Times, regarding a possible charity game potentially featuring the "We Believe" Warriors versus the current squad.

I found this potential match-up very intriguing, depending on the players who can be recruited. Apparently Steph Curry is down to lace 'em up for the present Warrior Nation, along with Dorell Wright and as for the "We Believers"...wait for it...J-Rich and Matt Barnes. Imagine if team "We Believe" could recruit Baron, Stack Jack, and Harrington...even if the game had the matador defense of an All-Star game, it would still be entertaining...It would be like my NBA 2K11 team on XBOX 360. Yeah, that's right...I had to put together a squad of assassins (starting five: Curry, Ellis, Jackson, Lee, Biedrins, with Baron coming off the bench) and the name of my franchise..."We Believe II".

The game is scheduled to be played at the San Jose Event Center on Oct. 29 and I really hope each squad is able to recruit the big names, like Ellis and Lee for current Warrior Nation and Stack Jack and Baron for "We Believe". With a basketball starved Bay Area, this event would be a highly entertaining exhibition of hoops.

Also, it would be a way for the players to say, "Hey Stern, we're the show, don't forget that! That's why we should get the bigger piece of the BRI pie. We are the ones the fans love and we are the individuals who put it on the line....and if an agreement cannot be reached (highly unlikely), we can take our show on the road or go international."

Point and case Kobe Bryant and the Italian club that wants to offer him $1 or 2 million to play one game!

Warriors Riding Out the Lockout Quietly

2011-10-10T14:44:00.001-07:00

This lockout is driving every basketball fan crazy, as in a normal year, we'd be just about 2 weeks away from tip-off 2011.

Still, there really isn't much new to report on since Brian posted a few weeks back about the current state of the lockout here. Still, the two most notable transactions the franchise has made since the end of season in April was the hiring of head coach Mark Jackson and the drafting of yet another wing-playing scorer with defensive question marks. I'm not at all already writing off Thompson, he'll probably be a fine player, just wish the W's could have used that pick wiser (via trade or some other player). So my favorite move so far is the hiring of the former Indiana Pacers point guard who has been a basketball analysis on cable and has stayed very much within the realm of the NBA since his playing days ended in the early 2000's. I think Jackson is a guy who could relate to the team very well, as he's been there and was a star NBA point guard himself not to long ago. After having the ancient Nelson and his protege Kieth Smart, I think the younger coach and new approach will be a sight for sore eyed Warrior fans. Still, Jackson has no coaching experience, and doesn't appear as if he's entertaining the idea of bringing on a big name assistant, Del Curry's name has been tossed out there as a possible assistant for Jackson, especially with his relationship with Warriors consultant Jerry West. I don't mind Jackson wanting all control of things, I actually see it as more confident than cocky. He has an idea of what this team should look like and he said all the right things during his press conference. Again though, only time will tell as to whether or not he'll pan out, but so far, so good as far as new coach Mark Jackson is concerned.

It's still any one's guess as to what, if anything, the "Dubs" will try to do on the player movement front once David Stern gets off his high horse and this pitiful lockout ends. I haven't gone through a full list of potential free agents nor do I know exactly who will be available in trade once "open season" takes place, but I do know the Warriors have about 7 guards, Andres Biedrins, Dorrell Wright and David Lee, so they needs some front court help in a bad way. And of course, every bodies favorite trade bargaining chip, if your a Warrior fan, seems to be Monta Ellis. What those people need to understand though, is without Monta last season, this team probably losses 10-12 more ballgames, and even with Klay Thompson here, if he's dealt and not adequately replaced offensively, this team will not gain anything!

NBA Lockout, the issues

2011-09-14T11:25:00.000-07:00

The usual topic of discussion around the NBA in September is training camp, which is scheduled to begin Oct. 3. Unfortunately there will be no training camp, as NBA owners and players unions have failed to come to a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) and are not even close, according to
respected Yahoo! sports writer Adrian Wojnarowski.

To NBA fans, this situation is not only disappointing, but confusing. NBA.com has a list of frequently asked questions and a glossary of terms used in the negotiations that may be helpful to those of us who understand a 2-3 zone defense better than CBA jargon.

For now I'll give you the abridged version of the NBA Lockout by discussing some of the issues at stake.

Salary Cap - The 2010 salary cap for an NBA team was $57.7 million, however; big market teams have been allowed to exceed that amount by paying a luxury tax. The Los Angeles Lakers payroll is over $91 million, but they generate huge sums of revenue and can absorb the luxury tax associated with exceeding the cap. This type of salary cap structure is called a soft cap. Collectively, NBA owners want to reform to a hard salary cap, like in NFL and NHL, which would even the playing field for smaller market teams. The majority of the owners are small market teams and are willing to hold out until the NBA reforms to a hard cap. Naturally, the players are against this, as it puts a finite number on the potential amount of money available.

Revenue Sharing - This again is the plight of the smaller market teams that want a bigger piece of the pie, such as revenue generated from TV. This particular struggle is amongst the owners.

Split of Basketball Related Income (BRI) - The balance of BRI is currently tipped in the direction of players and this doesn't sit well with billionaire team owners. The owners want more, the players want status quo.

Guaranteed Contracts - The owners want to get rid of guaranteed contracts and protect themselves from getting stuck with players who don't live up to big contracts, case and point Rashard Lewis of the Washington Wizards. Lewis is set to make over $22 million this year, second most to Kobe Bryant, and averaged a disappointing 11 points per game last season. As disgusted as I am by players like Lewis who get apathetic after cashing in on the big pay day, I feel it is still ultimately on the team owner and general manager to take responsibility for the players they sign.

Overall the owners have the upper hand on current negotiations, as a union of 30 owners is more cohesive than the players union of 400. Most NBA fans would like to see a hard salary cap, unless you are a Lakers fan. The Lakers $91.3 million team salary is roughly $17 million more than the second highest pay roll which belongs to the Orlando Magic. The Warriors, who are a mid market team and on the rise with the affluent new ownership, stand to benefit from a hard cap, especially in the same division as the Lakers, who are the New York Yankees of the NBA in the disparity of payroll compared to the rest of the league.

Bottom line, it looks like NBA fans might be waiting awhile.

Of Note
The last NBA Lockout was in the 1998, which shortened the season to 50 games and cancelled the All-Star game. The work stoppage lasted 204 days and ended on Jan. 20. It was considered a win for the owners as it capped players' salaries.

NBA Joins NFL In Lockout

2011-07-23T15:28:00.001-07:00

Well, it's been quite a while since we've posted here at The Warriors Rundown, but there just hasn't been anything going on in the NBA worth talking about. Since our last post, the NBA has joined the NFL to put two of the nations top 3 sports into a work stoppage.

While the NFL appears at least close to ending their 4-month hiatus, the NBA looks like it has a ways to go. So far, in fact, that even the league's premiere players are looking into the possibility of playing overseas this fall. Utah Jazz All-Star point guard, Deron Williams, is the highest profile NBA star to agree to play outside the States joining a high-ranking Turkish team and agreeing to a deal that will pay him roughly $50,000 per month once the season starts. He's not the only big-name NBA player who's considering playing overseas either. Kobe Bryant has reportedly fielded offers from various teams overseas in Europe and apparently from the same team that inked Williams earlier this month. I highly doubt a player of Bryant's status will indeed make the trek overseas for a few extra bucks and playing time cause he really doesn't need either, but I would have said the same about Williams too before he made the move. No matter what, it doesn't bode too well for the NBA's chances of starting on time in October if their top players are talking seriously with overseas teams.

As far as the Warriors are concerned, the lockout won't likely lure any of their top players out of the country, but the work stoppage is going to be just as hard on them as the other NBA franchises. The Warriors have a lot of work to do before now and opening night, and a condensed off-season isn't conducive to their efforts to upgrade their front court. Not to mention, the lockout has wiped out the NBA summer league, costing the young players coming into the league some key experience and game time. The W's have always been a team that takes full advantage of the Summer League and apparently wanted Andris Biedrins to do some work there this summer, but that won't be happening. The worst part of this lockout is that the owners and players are very far apart at this point and it's looking more and more likely this lockout will cut into the regular season.

We've been really slow here over the last month but we'll have Warriors updates and NBA updates as often as we get them here, and will have something new up each week until the lockout ends. I also encourage our Bay Area sports fans to check out our Bay Area Sports Journal for additional NBA news as well as all important things going on in Northern California sports world as well as breaking NFL and MLB news!

Warriors Should Go After David West

2011-06-27T16:48:00.000-07:00

The big news in the NBA Monday was that New Orleans Hornets' star Power Forward has opted out of his contract with the team, and will test free agency.

Now, right off the bat, I know your thinking, why add West after they just got David Lee one year ago? Simple, the Warriors need all the post scoring/defense they can afford, and if that means moving David Lee to center where he thrived in New York in order to make room for West, then I'd do it in a second. There are teams that have expressed interest in swooping up Andris Biedrins contract from the W's (The Rockets are supposedly throwing all kinds of offers at the Larry Riley) which would free up space and money for another big man. They could also do a sign-and-trade deal with somebody looking for a scoring guard, like Monta Ellis or even new draftee Klay Thompson. After the Warriors failed to address their need up front in the draft (I like the potential Jeremy Tyler brings, but he's very much a project at this point), one would assume they'll certainly look to do so in free agency or via trade. It's not like the Warriors missed the playoffs last year because they didn't have enough scoring guards and wing players, they have that covered to a T, but inside they only have Lee as a threat, who's constantly doubled when he gets the ball inside because there are no other options. The Warriors have expressed optimism that Biedrins will rebound after going through a rigorous offseason workout, but I'm not so sure. Andris has looked worse and worse since that magical playoff season in '06.

Whether it's a push for David West, or someone else like Al Jefferson, Riley and Jerry West have to do whatever they can to get a big, proven presence in the middle. They certainly have the pieces to do so!

W's Draft Klay Thompson with Pick 11

2011-06-24T16:47:00.000-07:00

At first, I cringed at the pick, but the more I've looked at it up and down, the more I'm starting to see some logic in the selction of Thompson. I would have liked more of a power/defense guard like Burks or Singleton if they insisted on a guard, or Markieff Morris or his brother Marcus (the Lopez twins 2.0). Thompson will likely provide for the Warriors a sharp-shooter who can put up 20 a night with ease, it's just not necessarily what they need right now.

As for the draft as a whole, I thought it started out great for the Warriors chances with all the European guard/forward hybrids going so highly, while players like Brandon Knight (the guy I really wanted to see the W's move for) and Kemba Walker waited and waited to hear their names called. In fact Walker didn't go until two picks ahead of Golden State at #9, and I wonder what Larry Riley and Mark Jackson wound have done had Walker (who Jackson loves) had fallen to them at 11? I was mostly focused on the Morris' and thought it would be either Thompson or one of the Morris bro's, which likely was what Riley and Co. were thinking as well. In the end, the Warriors went with Thompson, the Junior out of Washington State, which, again, kind of left me a little curious since the Warriors have 2 "building block" guards in tow already. Immediately after Thompson went, the guys I was hoping for, SG Alec Burks (more physical, defensive, take it to the hoop 2-guard) or one of the athletic Morris brothers, especially Markieff (the NBA's next "Lopez-Duo", though the Morris' all-around games are better), were taken off the board in succession, so that had me thinking again; Did the W's make the right move? Burks is more of that in your face, take it to the rim, true 2 guard who really reminds me a lot of Jason Richardson. As much as I like watching Ellis and Curry play together, if they are to make a change, I would rather it be to a more physical, defensive 2 guard to compliment Curry, one who can defend the likes of Kobe Bryant and Kevin Martin, and a player who can get to the line 10 times per night. That said, if they're looking for a true scorer and a 2-guard if they're going to replace Monta, Thompson is a better scorer than Burks. If they don't move Monta for a stud big man, then missing out on a Morris will be a real head-scratcher. And I'd only deal Monta for a guy on the level of LaMarcus Aldridge, Al Jefferson or Al Horford, nothing less.

Now, they had their chance to re-make their front line without doing all the tricky trading by just drafting one of the 6'10", uber-atheltic Morris' brothers, but they went with another wing-man, and a scoring one at that (already have Wright, Ellis, Curry, Williams, all scorers). The team is a little deep with guards/wings who will want minutes and shots. Mark Jackson is going to have to figure out the guard situation where Thompson, Wright, Curry, Ellis etc... will all be in the mix and be happy, or he has to deal one. In all reality, they could use a 4-man rotation at the guard/small forward spot with Thompson taking the light-end behind Monta, Steph and Wright, then if Thompson asserts himself, Monta could become a big trade chip come February. However, you then run the risk of damaging chemistry if one guy feels he's getting the short end of the stick. Monta felt shoved out after they drafted Curry last season, so how's he going to feel now with Thompson in town too, is that going to be an immediate problem? Unless they have a plan to keep everyone happy and playing hard, it may have been wiser for Golden State to have taken that big man who could play 25-30 minutes per night right off the bat and allow their guard situation to gel as is, if that's what they want. Now, that said, Thompson was probably the most valuable player at that spot, but not by much over Burks and the Morris' to the point in which the Warriors had to grab him. The problem the W's have had now 17 years and counting, minus the magical run in 2006, will likely once again haunt them in 2011/12, scoring, but not enough defense, especially up front. I want to be wrong, but I see Klay Thompson as another Mike Dunleavy, with lesser ball handling but a better shot, but not someone who is going to help carry this franchise to the next level. Good for 17-20 ppg probably with that shot, but limited abilities in other areas. As is, the 6th man on this club behind Monta, Steph and D-Wright, and to use an 11th pick on another scoring wing-man similar to Wright and not nearly as good as Monta? I'm not so sure I'm sold unless there's more to this!

The Dubs did get a big man though, sneaking in a late first rounder in a deal with Charlotte and buying up former youth star Jeremy Tyler. Though he's hardly the guy Warrior fans had in mind coming into this draft as the post factor they needed, he is a nice project and could have been a high first rounder in had been draft eligible in 2010, but struggled mightily overseas. My favorite pick, and quite possibly the best value pick in the draft was 2nd rounder Charles Jenkins. The Hofstra point guard was projected to go as high as picks 12-15 in the first round in many expert mock drafts, and the W's got him in the middle of the 2nd (Monta Ellis anyone?). I see him immediately coming in winning the back up spot to Steph at point.

WRD Grade for Warriors Draft: C+/B-

More NBA Draft Coverage to Come!

Warriors Draft Preview

2011-06-21T11:00:00.000-07:00

The Draft is creeping up quicker than I anticipated, as the Golden State Warriors' brass, including the new comer, Mark Jackson, are currently cramming together their last minute game plan for the 2011 NBA draft.

There has been all sorts of names tossed out there from the Spanish "Dikembe", Bismack Biyambo, to Washington State SG Klay Thompson and Kansas PF Marcus Morris or even the free-falling Jimmer Freddette. It appears almost certain that the top-6 will be PG Kyle Irving, PF Derek Williams, PG Brandon Knight, C Enes Kanter, F Jan Vesely, and PG Kemba Walker. Obviously, you can tell it's a point guard heavy draft, and it just so happens the teams selecting high in the draft could certainly use a strong guard. That could also bode well for the Warriors, should they decide to try and pawn Monta Ellis off onto one of those teams in order to move into position to get an Enes Kanter or Derek Williams, but that's all speculation. What I do believe though, is there is going to be somebody worth drafting when the Warriors select 11th in Thursday's NBA Draft. A lot of basketball people feel Washington State junior SG Klay Thompson would be a nice fit. A big, 6'6" 2 guard who can shoot the lights out and could look very nice along side Steph Curry in the back court. Problem with Thompson though, is that he lacks defense, and isn't a great play-maker yet.

The guy I'm hoping will fall down to the W's, who's know projected to go #10 to Milwaukee (according to DraftExpress), is the post-dominant Marcus Morris. The thing I like so much about Morris is that he reminds me of a young Elton Brand and is a guy who lives in the paint and succeeds. As much as the Warriors were hoping David Lee would be that guy last year, that really just isn't his style, he's more of a free-playing power forward who runs around. I think the Warriors could draft Morris and use him with Lee on the front line a lot, giving the team 2 completely different looks up front. Then they could use Epke Udoh and Andris Biedrins as purely rebounders and defenders with no obligation of scoring. It would also enable the team to keep the duo-guard threat of Curry and Ellis, which appears their plan. Either way, if the Warriors are indeed going to deal Ellis, it better certainly be for a sure thing, and not another Jason Richardson deal! They better get a Brandon Knight or Kyle Irving or a young, all-star NBA point guard which would allow Steph to move into his more natural spot.

5 Possible Draft Scenarios:

-Draft a true PG, trade Monta, move Steph to SG
-Draft big man/paint scoring presence, which just isn't David Lee's type (Morris?)
-Draft big bodied defender/shot blocker, the Adonal Foyel that never transpired (Biyombo)
-SG, Thompson/Burks, allowing a trade of Monta for another big scoring threat
-Trade down

Dark Horses:

SG Alex Burks, Colorado: Burks is a bright young scorer who reminds me very much of Jason Richardson with a twist of Dwayne Wade the way he gets to the hoop. Not quite polished from beyond the arch, which may hurt him, but I still think he's a better all-around player than Klay Thompson.

SF Chris Singleton, Florida St.: Super defender, but may not have a place in Golden State with the emergence of Dorrell Wright, but would compliment the 3-point sniper, as well as come in and overpower strong SG's with ease. Still isn't quite a polished scorer, though that could come.

My Hope: PF Marcus Morris or SG Alex Burks (latest poll has him dropping out of top-10... He and Steph would be amazing.. and no Monta attitude!). I really think Freddette is a great talent, but he's basically a Stephen Curry clone, and what the heck would they do if they ended up with Freddette, Curry and Ellis, all 6'2" tweener guards? That said, my draft philosophy in all drafts from baseball to football and basketball; unless your picking in the top-10, take the best player available, and that's what I think I see the W's doing. If they don't like any of the top-15 players, they should trade down a few spots and maybe target Marcus Morris's brother Markieff Morris, a real physical center (6'11'', 260 pounds) who has the skill-set to come in and compete immediately with Biedrins for minutes.

My Guess: SG Klay Thompson or F/C Bismack Biyambo: The Warriors are gaga over Thompson's range and shot (why they forget the hard-nosed, in your face ball that got them to the playoffs in '06 is beyond me and Thompson isn't that player, Burks and Morris are). Still, I have a hard time seeing them pass on him if he falls to them... If he doesn't, Biyambo should, and the W's will see the defensive upside and go for it, even if he is Epke Udoh #2!

Ellis likely to be moved

2011-06-11T16:53:00.000-07:00

The departure of Monta Ellis is all but inevitable.

Credible sources say the most likely destination for Ellis is Philadelphia in exchange for Andre Iguadala, and the deal will likely be done on draft day.

This move is difficult for Warriors fans to wrap their heads around. Most Warriors fans are emotionally connected to Ellis. He's a little guy with big game. That, as well as Ellis' toughness and resilience, endears him to fans. Plus, last year he developed a knack for hitting big shots to close ball games.

But the Warriors are looking for a bigger, more defensive minded player (like Iguadala) who can get stops, so they don't have to count on Ellis to hit a big shot at the end of the game. And if they need a clutch shot, Iguadala isn't bad in the clutch himself. In fact, he is one of the NBA's most underrated closers...

As a Warriors fan, I love Monta Ellis and would be sad to see him wear another team's colors, but from a basketball standpoint, the Ellis/Curry back court doesn't work if the Warriors want to seriously compete in the West. And when it comes down to Curry or Ellis...it's Curry. He's cheaper, younger, higher shooting percentage, and higher basketball I.Q.

Curry is the guy to build around and is Don Nelson's last gift to the Warriors.

Mark Jackson will coach Warriors

2011-06-08T21:16:00.000-07:00

"Hand down, man down!"

"Mama there go that man again!"

Unfortunately, the national audiences who tune into the NBA on ESPN/ABC will only here phrases like these for the last two or three games of this championship series (which has been titillating). Yes, Mark Jackson will take his talents to the Bay Area as the head coach of the Golden State Warriors.

Jackson impressed me on the court with the Knicks, Pacers, and various other teams he played for and has done a superb job as an analyst with Jeff Van Gundy. But as a head coach....I think he is the ideal fit for this job.

The disciplinarian coach is dying out, at least after the high school level. That's not to say today's coach should let his players walk all over him. Today's most successful teams have the most talent, like the Miami Heat. I'd say Erik Spoelstra has done a great job, but will ultimately be judged upon how well he manages his ultra talented group.

To use a popular term, Mark Jackson will be a player's coach, meaning he will be liked by the Warriors players in no time at all. Jackson's body of work commands respect, as does his personality. This is especially important with such a young group of players. The best coaches at the NBA level are ego managers/psychologists.

Equally important is the addition of assistant coach Mike Malone, a defensive specialist who worked for New Orleans last season and his services were coveted around the league.

Jackson has promised a playoff appearance in this upcoming season, but the Warriors have a long way to go. Warriors fans don't need Mark Jackson's years of basketball experience to see that this current roster is going to have a difficult time making Jackson's promise come true.

Sound defense is the way to win championships, or at least get past the first round. The roster will need a serious make over job to adopt this style.

Miami takes game 1 of Finals

2011-06-01T17:18:00.000-07:00

Miami won game one over Dallas in "grind-out" fashion. That's just a term made popular by today's telecasters to say the Heat won the game with defense and rebounding. The Heat and Mavs shot 38 percent and 37 percent, respectively, and the Heat out rebounded the Mavs 46-36.

After the Mavs handily whipped the Lakers, I jumped right on the Dallas band wagon. Dirk Nowitzki has played out of his mind, and the bench has lived up the the regular season numbers as the best in the league. I hate to do this, but I'm going to flip-flop.

After watching the Heat in action, I can't see Dallas winning this series. The first clue: Miami won without scoring a multitude of points off turnovers. The Mavs, mainly Jason Kidd, deserve credit for taking care of the ball (only 11 team turnovers), but Miami will get more fast break points in upcoming games.

Two strange stats from game one that all the analysts have surely jammed into our skulls were Miami's advantage in bench points (27-17) and three point makes (11-9). These two statistical categories are typically dominated by Dallas. I expect Dallas to cool off from three point range and maybe the bench will be negatively affected by Mike Miller's bum left arm, but it wasn't a fluke.

Then there is Dirk's torn ligament in his left (non-shooting) middle finger. It shouldn't effect his shooting, but it could make Nowitzki tentative on the boards, and Dallas needs rebounds.

If Dallas is going to get back in this series, they must continue to limit turnovers, get to the foul line, and clean the defensive glass.

Warriors Zeroing in on Head Coach

2011-05-31T12:05:00.000-07:00

Well, according the KNBR's Ray Woodson, the Golden State Warriors have narrowed their coaching search to just 4 candidates, and they appear set on going the assistant coach route.

The 4 most likeliest candidates appear to be former NBA point-guard Mark Jackson, now an NBA analyst for ESPN, Lakers' big name assistant coach, Bryan Shaw, Mavs assistant Dwane Casey and Hornets assistant Mike Malone. I was kind of hoping they'd bring in a younger coach, maybe an NCAA guy, but with the new list of finalists, I think I would prefer Mark Jackson or Bryan Shaw. Jerry West knows Shaw well from his time in LA, so if "The Logo" thinks Shaw is fit for the job, then so be it. Other than that, we saw how well the assistant coach thing worked last year with Keith Smart, who I don't think ever gained the Warriors' players full confidence. Mark Jackson would be a good choice because he's played in the league, and would be an ultimate "players coach", but he's also been an analyst for a while now, and knows the NBA like very few candidates do. I say I don't want another teams assistant, but Shaw is a different animal. He's been the the finals numerous times and is a known winner. He's another guy who has a reputation as a players coach, so obviously the Warriors are making it a priority that their new coach will be able to communicate on the same level as the players, something Don Nelson never really did, outside of that run in 2006.

So, after hearing the new group of finalists, I really say push hard for Jackson or Shaw, who have each played long careers in the NBA and have been around the league a long time. I do like the fact that they're insistent on a first-time head coach at least, and passed on the likes of Rick Adleman and Jerry Sloan. Sure, I think a great college coach like Callipari would have been a helluva a fit, but who knows if that was ever even an option, or if Callipari even wants to come to the NBA. Either way you slice it, you can see the Warriors front-office, already, much more decisive and efficient, and one would have to assume that it's been the addition of Jerry West that has solidified their front office. As I said in the last post talking about the West hiring, I didn't feel GM Larry Riley (a coach before moving into the front office in 2009) was completely inept at finding a coach and prepping for the draft, all while assessing free agents and their own talent, all by himself, with no coach or qualified assistant GM or any notable advisers. West's hiring immediately installed credibility into a front-office that hasn't produced a winning team since 2006.

Warriors Get the Best: Hire Jerry West

2011-05-20T22:47:00.001-07:00

Well, in a 2011 that was going downhill ever since the calender turned. The Warriors got about the best news they've received, well, since I can really remember. They hired former Laker and Memphis, genius front-office adviser who trademark is the NBA logo (modeled off of).

Logo aside, I can't see any problem with this move, in fact, love every part of it. If you read my last post, I wrote how I really didn't Larry Riley running the ship alone in the coaching search, and West adds huge credibility to the W's front-office. I also wonder if he's coming to Golden State with something in mind. He obviously chose the Warriors for a reason, there were many other NBA teams he could have had his pick of, but he came to NorCal, where playoff basketball comes around once every 10 or 15 seasons. West is here to put a change to that. The first on agenda is to hire a head coach, and someone the players will immediately respect and relate to. There has been talks that Kevin McHale has been called into the Bay Area for "informal" meetings, whether that's true or not, I can't verify. But I can say this, having West aboard is almost like bringing in the LeBron James of the front-office. Again, it wouldn't surprise me if he already has some sort of plan in place he's talked about with Riley, whether that be a player or coach, who the Hall-of-Famer has a very good relationship with. That would certainly fit McHale who was a stud in Boston and did great stuff for Memphis as well as the purple LA team (obtaining Pau Gasol for peanuts and a soda).

He's had the time to adjust to the new style and I certainly wouldn't hate a McHale hiring, but as you all know, I want a young, fiery, in-your face runner, as my first choice. I still like a college coach coming in, especially now that West is here who knows the NBA like no body's business. West can focus on player movement only and the coach can focus on pure X's and O's, the way it should be. Sometimes you get these big-named veteran coaches and they want more involvement in the front office and whine about the players their dealt. The Warriors don't need that crap, they need a no-nonsense guy who knows basketball and knows how to use the Warriors roster in it's best possible way. As young as they are and the style they play, I still say a college coach matches them to a T. However, if the "Logo" thinks McHale is the fit, who am I to argue?

Warriors Have Needs This Summer

2011-05-17T13:45:00.000-07:00

The Warriors finished the 2010-11 season with a 36-46 record, which by Eastern Conference standards, will sometimes land you in the playoffs, but here in the West, that's about 10 losses too many.

So, what do the Warriors need to do this offseason in order to make up those 10 or so losses and possibly compete for a low Western Conference Playoff seed? For starters, a good solid coach who can relate with the new generation of NBA player and someone who can optimize the teams strengths. The right veteran would fit, maybe like Van Gundy, who's had time to sit back and watch the game the last couple of seasons and who's not afraid to get in your face and rile up a bunch, but I'd look for a college coach or young assistant first. The Warriors, as currently constructed, are a run-and-shoot team. If they were a college football team, they'd be a spread offense, that passes the ball 85% of the time. They have no banger down in the paint that will make other teams think twice about doubling Monta Ellis or Stephen Curry every time they drive the lane (or in my NCAA football comparison, no power running game). Andris Biedrins had some nice years at he beginning of his career, and it looked like he was developing into that person, but whether it's his health, general lack of ambition towards basketball or something, cause when I've seen him on the court these last few years, it looks like he's just going through the motions. Now, with him hurt all the time and not producing when he is in there, I don't want to say give up on Biedrins (they're paying him a huge sum of money that I don't see many teams taking on), but I certainly would stop counting on any sort of consistent production out of him. If the W's never made the playoffs in 2006, this guy wouldn't have gotten that $67M deal (Damn you Mullin)!

One option worth trying may be to get on the phone with the European basketball teams that were interested in Biedrins when the W's singed his long-term deal in '08, and maybe see if they can pawn him off to Europe. Otherwise it's Biedrins at about $10M per for another 3 seasons. They're still saying he's developing, which he's had 6 years to do and is now going downhill. I guess I'm curious to see how he responds to a new coaching regime, but my patience for Biedrins is wearing thin!

Speaking of low patience level, I don't like the fact that Larry Riley is running the show (Mullin's right-hand man on those horrible 2008 summer signings and draft which handicapped this team), and I really hope he doesn't have the final say in who this team hires as coach or who they go after, if anyone, in free agency. The Warriors sore for a big man, and everyone in the NBA knows it, and they are playing with essentially 2-point guards in their back court in Ellis and Curry. The logic would be to trade one for a big man since the W's likely can't afford to add one through Free Agency. Marc Gasol, Pau's little brother would be at the tip-top of my list if I were to shell out a big deal to one of these Free Agents. The 26 year-old had sort of an "off-year" in 2010-11, (11.7 ppg, 7 rpg, 2.5 apg) after a 14.7/9.5/2.5 line last year, but turned it on in the playoffs for the Grizz before they got eliminated Sunday. In the latest 13 game stretch of postseason play, Gasol averaged 15 points, 11.3 boards, 2+ assists and 2+ blocks per night. That's production in the middle the W's could really use. Nene Hilario is also finally free, and has put together some real nice season since getting healthy. Over his last 3 campaigns, he's averaged 14.4/ 7.7 with a block and 2 assists. Not as good or young as Gasol, but not a bad 2nd option at the right price.

Another option, as I stated earlier, and maybe the better one, would be to deal Monta (I think he brings back more in return than Curry, and has had some mis-understandings with Warriors in the past), for a big man (I've always like Al Jefferson), then maybe sign someone like J-Rich, or maybe go after Alec Burks out of Colorado in the draft. The top ranked pure Shooting Guard who averaged over 20 PPG as a Sophomore, but he's much of a 3 pt. shooter yet... I could go for a starting 5 of: PG-Curry; SG-J-Rich/Burks; SF Dorrell Wright; PF David Lee; C Al Jefferson. That's a much better team than what they finished 2011 with!

2011 Playoffs Full of Surprises

2011-05-10T15:42:00.000-07:00

The Lakers will not win a third consecutive championship this season. It feels weird, but it's refreshing. I love basketball, but the playoffs were starting to get boring and predictable, with the same teams hanging around at the end year after year.

The unpredictable outcomes of the 2011 playoffs have been good for the game. The eighth seeded Memphis Grizzlies are on a roll with their physical style of play and find themselves up 2-1 in the Western conference semi-finals. The Heat are finally meeting sky high expectations at the right time. And the Mavs beat the fight out of the listless defending champs.

So much for my prediction of Lakers over Heat in 6 games, but I still like the Heat to make it to the finals. Perhaps a 2006 Finals rematch of Miami and Dallas? Dirk Nowitzki has been the best player in the playoffs thus far and with Tyson Chandler, this is the most complete Dallas team of the Nowitzki era. The Mavs are the hottest team playing now and their old guys will get some well earned rest while Memphis and OKC battle it out.

I'll take Dallas as my revisionist pick to win it all.

Warriors May Have New Target?

2011-05-09T13:57:00.000-07:00

Well, with the recent news of Gary Williams leaving the University of Maryland, it immediately got me thinking, this guy could be a great fit in the Bay Area.

As I've said before, I really think the Warriors need a younger, new era coach, and Williams knows these younger, new generation players as well as anyone. He had a tremendous record at Maryland of 452-232, and he did it in a conference filled with perennial dominant programs. I think he's the type of guy the W's should focus on, but again, like with John Calipari, he's a big name guy and he's going to attract a lot of attention. I will have more on this a little later, after I have a chance to talk to people closer to the Warriors than myself. For now, though, I just wanted to toss the idea out there, that maybe his leaving Maryland was a ploy to make a move for the NBA, and the Warriors are one of the teams with a vacancy at that particular spot!

Lakers Hanging by a Thread

2011-05-05T13:42:00.000-07:00

I thinks it's finally time to start panicking if your a Laker fan. Their top defender and the main man assigned to Dirk Nowitzki (though he wasn't doing a very good job), finally let his frustrations get the better of him.

Artest gave J.J. Barea a violent elbow to the head in Wednesday night's game, a flagrant foul and one that will put the world-class defender on the bench for the ever pivotal game 3. Luckily they do have Lamar Odom to help step in and fill Artest's void, but then who takes Odom's spot? A chink has been exposed in the Lakers armor, and as good as the Lakers are (I picked them for NBA Champs), I don't know it they'll be able to pull out of this.

It wasn't only the Artest situation though, the Lakers are getting thoroughly outplayed, and the Mavs didn't even play that well. Jason Kidd was just 3-11 with 6 assists and Jason Terry had just 9 points off the bench, but luckily, they got to ride the hot hand of Dirk Nowitzki. The German sharp-shooter is averaging over 25 PPG and 9 RPG while even spreading the love around with 4 assists. He's outplaying Kobe Bryant, and if that continues to happen, it will be the end of the season for the LA Lakers. But you can't just blame it on Kobe. They're point guard position is being badly exposed by 3 guys (Barrea, Terry and Kidd) all better than the Lakers starter (Derek Fischer, as clutch as he is). Even with their powerful front-line and Kobe Bryant to take all their shots, they have a weakness, and the Mavs are exploiting it. Again, the part that's beyond me is that Dallas didn't even play that well last night and they beat LA by a dozen points!

Warriors News: Well, in some positive W's news, Stephen Curry won NBA's Sportsmanship of the Year Award (Joe Dumars Trophy), edging out Luol Deng and LeMarcus Aldridge as the NBA's model of sportsmanship. Just tells you what kind of character this kid has to go along with the All-Pro talent. I just hope they get him some help this summer!

W's Fire Keith Smart: Search on for New Coach

2011-05-01T13:16:00.001-07:00

Well any print that Don Nelson left in Golden State has officially been wiped clean, as his protege and the man he groomed over the last few seasons to take over as coach of the Warriors, Keith Smart, was let go by the team Wednesday.

There has been plenty of talk about what type of coach the Warriors will be pursuing, but with the news only a few days old, I doubt we see a hiring until at least mid-May, if not until after the Finals.

I haven't yet heard a single name linked to Golden State, but there are plenty of different names out there that are open for work, depending on which way the W's want to go.

I personally would like to see a new, fresh face come in, a guy who hasn't been in the NBA 20+ years and carries a completely different philosophy than these young players carry today. That's what's changed in the NBA, the player has the power now, and if a Kobe Bryant has a dispute with a head coach, the franchise will have to side with the player they've invested $100+ million into.

It's a different era, and I don't thin Nelly was grasping that, and passed some of those traits (not all, Smart is not the exact same coach Nelly was) onto Keith Smart. This is the reason why I want a younger coach in here or a guy who's earned respect to be heard, but also knows the way of the game today. So no, I don't want Jerry Sloan (great coach in the 1990's, basically another Nelly), Rick Adelman or Mike D'Antoni (though I do think D'Antoni is a good coach with the right teams). If they're insistent on taking an NBA guy, I'd take Mike Budenholzer (Gregg Papavich's right-hand man in San Antonio), but I'd like it to be a guy from the college ranks. John Calipari is the guy who everyone says should move onto the NBA, and he'd be a great add, but my #1 choice right now would be UCLA's Ben Howland. If you've seen the way he's turned around and masterminded that UCLA program, you know why. He's a guy who gets today's game of basketball.

Warriors Rundown: Short Hiatus

2011-04-20T16:20:00.000-07:00

Don't worry Rundown fans, we're not going anywhere! Our lack of posting in recent weeks is due largely in part to some technical difficulties earlier in April. Now, our brilliant writer and analyst Brian Wright taking a much deserved break with his loved ones, and Webmaster, Trevor Cole, "DL'd" with an injured right typing hand.

Things should be back in full force in early May as we dab into the NBA playoffs, leap into the Warriors summer league, and continue bringing you hard-nosed GSW Hoops talk mixed with intriguing league jargon!

Warriors beat LA, continue three game win streak

2011-04-07T17:06:00.000-07:00

The Warriors have a respectable three game winning streak against three Western conference playoff teams, the latest against the champs...the dreaded Lakers. The game started with an ominous feel for the Warriors as LA opened with a 10-0 run. The Warriors overcame offensive trouble with hard-nosed, energetic defense to keep themselves in the game until the offense picked up.

In the middle of the Warriors energy was David Lee, who has been playing out of his mind lately. Lee is the Warriors emotional leader. He challenges his team mates and exhorts them to pick up the intensity when needed. Lee sets a tone of high intensity that has been contagious and put on a rebounding clinic. Lee went for 22 points and 17 rebounds against the Lakers, to follow up his 29, 20 game in Portland Apr. 5. David's intense personality is similar to Kevin Garnett's, although not as ornery. Their games are different, but both players are not only skilled, but set an example of hard work on the floor.

The Warriors have also shown more confidence in the pick and roll game, using Lee as the finisher as well as Lou Amundson. With the chemistry built this year, I expect the Warriors to use the pick and roll as the go-to play in half court (other than give Monta the ball and go away).

In regard to Lou Amundson, I hope Andris Biedrins is taking notes. Amundson struggled shooting free throws this season, but never stopped attacking the rim. Now Lou has regained his free throw stroke. If Biedrins had Amundson's heart, he'd be Tyson Chandler.

In each of the past three wins, the Warriors have looked like a fearless David in the face of Goliath opponents. They have played with aggression the entire game, rather than play to "not lose." The Warriors showed focus when executing plays as if the other team is not on the court and it's just like practice. This is the kind of demeanor that has been on display all season in San Antonio, Boston, Chicago, and the like.

This strong finish gives Warriors fans reason to believe this team will be better next season, especially with a bolstered bench.

Warriors Record Dorell Wright surpassed Jason Richardson's record for three point makes in a single season set in 2005. Wright now holds that mark with 184.

Warriors win second in a row, David Lee dominates

2011-04-05T22:56:00.000-07:00

The Warriors have won two consecutive games against Western conference playoff teams in the Mavs and the Blazers. In both wins David Lee has played inspiring basketball. Lee scored 29 points and grabbed 20 rebounds against the Blazers and dominated the LaMarcus Aldridge match-up.

Lee, Monta Ellis, and Steph Curry combined for 87 of the Warriors 108 points. The Warriors dared the Blazers to make three pointers, but Portland struggled going 3-21 from long distance. The Blazers are not a good three point shooting group. Batum can make some, as can Wesley Matthews and Rudy Fernandez, but each of those players are streaky. The Warriors played good defense by contesting shots and forced Portland to take shots out of their comfort zones. When the Warriors get defensive stops, their confidence on offense is elevated.

No doubt the injury to Marcus Camby in the first quarter negatively affected the Blazers. During a Blazers offensive possession he was shoved by his team mate Rudy Fernandez into David Lee's legs. Lee was swept out by Camby's fall and incidentally landed on Camby's head and neck. He was diagnosed with a neck strain after the game. Hopefully Camby will be healthy for the playoffs, as he is an impact player on defense and the boards. Ekpe Udoh does a lot of good things that remind me of Camby, the 15 year veteran out of UMass. Both players have wiry strong builds, block shots, rebound, and inject energy into their respective group.

The Warriors look like they are having fun. They have build chemistry by implementing new players into the rotation, specifically in David Lee and Dorell Wright. There was good chemistry with this group and it should continue to develop this off season. Hopefully the Warriors can get lucky and pick up an impact draft pick to add depth.

Thunder survive Warriors in OT

2011-03-29T20:55:00.000-07:00

The Warriors will miss the playoffs this season, but they got a taste of playoff atmosphere tonight at Oklahoma City. The Warriors played a solid game against the current four seed of the rugged Western conference, but lost in overtime.

Monta Ellis had rough shooting night against one of the NBA's top on ball defenders in Thabo Sefolosha. Ellis went 9-30 on the night, but hit the biggest shot of the night. It was a clutch three pointer that made overtime possible.

The Warriors played a great game, other than some costly turnovers at critical moments down the stretch. David Lee had 24 points and 15 rebounds. Steph Curry had 35 points, shot five of eight from three, and grabbed six rebounds. Ekpe Udoh had 12 points and created multiple fast breaks from blocked shots. The NBA.com box score said he had three blocks, but he had at least five. At least. Udoh is legit. Since Biedrins went down and Udoh's minutes have increased, the rookie out of Baylor has done nothing, but prove he belongs in the NBA. Udoh stays down and anticipates as well as anyone in the league.

The Warriors have added two solid players through the draft over the past two years in Curry and Udoh. The Thunder has done well in added talent through the draft. Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Jeff Green (now in Boston, traded for Kendrick Perkins), and James Hardin.

The Thunder are deep and beat the Warriors with superior bench play (and doubling up the Warriors on free throws). The Thunder shoot the most free throws in the NBA thanks to Durant and Westbrook. Both players are very good and still getting better, but I have a problem with the way they draw fouls.

Durant has studied Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant, Paul Pierce, and Kevin Martin. All of the afore mentioned players will try to draw a shooting foul by sweeping the ball low and intentionally making contact with the defender's arms. This play has become common in today's NBA and it's a shame. It's bad for basketball and is not called in the college game. NBA officials need to gather up in the off season and stop calling this play. If officials ignore this pathetic plea for free throws, players will stop doing it.

It's not Durant's fault for being clever enough to find an advantage, but the NBA needs to make the change. Westbrook is almost unguardable. If he had a consistent perimeter game, he would be (Example A: Derrick Rose). The Warriors did well to dare him to shoot, but Westbrook still found a way to get in the lane and cause damage. Westbrook is very good, but sometimes out of control and throws himself into the bodies of defenders. A player should not be rewarded for being out of control. It doesn't have to be a charge, but a no call is fair. David Lee got his nose blodied on one of Westbrook's drives and was whistled for a blocking foul.

Are the Thunder for real?

I'm not a subscriber to the Thunder hype going into the playoffs. Russell Westbrook is too turnover prone and I think that will hurt them in close games, especially on the road. Perkins is not the player he once was. Perkins blew out his knee in the playoffs last year and is still not completely back from the injury. He also lacks chemistry with the other Thunder players. Also, I don't think the Thunder will get the foul calls in the playoffs that came during the regular season.

Warriors devour Eastern conference cupcakes

2011-03-27T21:38:00.000-07:00

After a brutal trip through the Southwest, the Warriors were happy to get back to Oracle to play two of the weakest teams in the league. The Warriors obliterated the Raptors Mar. 25 and handled business against the Wizards, who have won one road game all season.

With eight games left, all of them against playoff teams (except versus Sacramento Apr. 10), what should we look for in this Warriors team?

The Warriors should be loose as there is nothing at stake for them. As of now, they are the fourth most improved team from last year going by total wins. The end of the season is near and many of the Warriors players would like to use this limited time to make final impressions and campaign for a roster spot or starting role next season.

Ekpe Udoh has proven to be one of the most important players on this team with the way he defends the rim. When Udoh is in the game, he gives the Warriors a legit shot blocker. Not only is Udoh on track to become an elite post defender, but he has shown a nice offensive skill set. He has a good understanding of making use of his pivot foot, he pump fakes, and can make a baby hook. Plus he can knock down the open fifteen foot jumper.

Andris Biedrins was a major disappointment this season and will likely miss the last eight games with an injured ankle. Perhaps the internal competition between he and Udoh for the starting center job next season will spark Biedrins to return to the productive big who averaged a double-double 2007 and 2008.

Dorell Wright has been a bright spot this year. I don't think Warriors fans knew he would be as good as he has shown to be. D-Wright is on pace to break Jason Richardson's single season franchise record for three point field goals. Wright is also talented enough to elevate his game when teams adapt to his three point shooting by utilizing the best pump fake in the NBA and driving. D-Wright could easily be the league's Most Improved Player.

Warriors notch fifth game of current losing streak

2011-03-21T21:00:00.000-07:00

The Warriors absorbed a fifth consecutive loss at the hands of the Spurs, who have beaten the Warriors 12 consecutive meetings. Here's a shameful stat: the Warriors have now lost 26 consecutive games against the Spurs in San Antonio dating back to Feb. 14 1997.

In that game, Latrell Sprewell led the way with 32 points and Joe Smith (who is currently on the Lakers roster) had 20 points and 13 rebounds. Chris Mullin had 18 points and Mark Price had 11 on three of five three point shooting for Golden State.

Dominique Wilkins led the Spurs with 22 points as a reserve. Three players on that 1996-97 Spurs team are now current head coaches in the NBA. Can you guess who they are? Avery Johnson, New Jersey; Vinny Del Negro, Los Angeles Clippers; and Monty Williams, New Orleans.

Do you remember who coached the Warriors that year? Hint, he's still a current head coach....It would be none other than Rick Adleman, who led the Kings to the Western conference finals years later in 2001 and 2002. He now coaches a gritty Houston Rockets team.

...That's enough reminiscing, let's get back to the present. The Warriors lost to no one's surprise. The game started off ugly. The starters, especially Monta and Steph were terrible, but the reserves led by A.C. Law led a nice comeback in the second quarter to cut an 18 point Spurs lead to nine.

The Warriors clawed to within six points in the third, but then the game got weird. Spurs head coach Greg Popavich went berserk after a non call on Richard Jefferson's right corner three point attempt. At this point in the game, the Warriors had cut the Spurs lead to seven after an Ekpe Udoh left hand finish from a brilliant Dorell Wright delivery in the lane. The ensuing play for the Spurs was the Jefferson non call and subsequent technical which led to the Curry free throw and thus a six point lead for the Spurs.

After coach Pop's tech, the Spurs were not called for a foul for the five minutes of game clock that followed. The Spurs crushed any Warriors momentum and went on a 22-11 run after the tech was called. The Warriors were guilty of digging an early hole in the first quarter, but the refs gave the Spurs help they didn't need. Still, the officiating would not have made a difference, the Warriors lost to a championship contender.

The Texas back-to-back has to be the most difficult in the NBA when a team must face the Mavs and spurs on back to back nights. Both those teams could win the title this year. A close second is the Florida back to back against the Heat and Magic.

The next game against the Rockets will be just as difficult as these last two, as the Rockets are two games behind the Grizzlies for the eighth seed in the Western conference playoffs. They're going to be hungry and play hard, something the Warriors have done sporadically this year.

Warriors struggle in the South

2011-03-20T20:50:00.000-07:00

The Warriors have been difficult to watch lately, or at least more so than usual. I admit March Madness has drawn me away from Warriors basketball (you know, competitive basketball and everything).

The Warriors have run into a difficult stretch. They got whipped by the Kings to start this new losing streak, then have lost to the Mavs, Suns, Mavs, and will surely lose to the Spurs tomorrow.

The Warriors have no confidence and don't trust one another. There has been no consistent effort from this group collectively. This team has nothing to play for and it couldn't be more obvious, as they ten to "check out" mentally for stretches of the game.

Every team in the NBA has elite talent. Any team can beat any other team on any given night, but that talent needs to be motivated. Motivation comes in many forms, from the desire to win a championship like the Lakers to a basement team like the Kings trying to avoid embarrassment in front of millions.

The Warriors need to find something to play for.

Kings beat listless Warriors team

2011-03-14T22:00:00.000-07:00

Pathetic. Embarrassment. Apathetic. Heartless. There are more words to describe the Warriors play in Sacramento tonight, but unwatchable will do, or un-listenable if you tuned in on KNBR.

The Kings are not a good team, but NBA players are capable of beating anyone at basketball when the motivation is there. The Kings, after getting their hearts ripped out twice in two overtime losses by the Warriors, were not going to lose this game. Sacramento brought intensity from the opening tip and attacked the Warriors in the paint. That's how to beat this Warriors team. Attack them inside because they will foul you and you can live on the free throw line.

The Warriors not only let the Kings get into the paint at will, but failed to get back on defense on made baskets. That is simply a lack of focus.

This abysmal performance is not new to this team. We've seen these kind of basketball failures in games against the Suns, Hawks, and Lakers earlier in the season.

It's difficult to understand how a team can hold Kevin Love to six points and Dwight Howard to 13, but allow Samuel Dalembert to go for 27 points and 16 rebounds. The Warriors should be ashamed that Marcus Thornton scored 42 points. Monta Ellis played sound defense against the likes of Kevin Durant and Brandon Roy. The Warriors showed they were capable of limiting Derrick Rose when he came to oracle in February.

The Kings wanted this game, the Warriors came into this game with the attitude of a miserable office worker on a Monday. They thought they could just cruise through this game, but got beat in every facet of the game and embarrassed Warriors fans who wore their colors to Arco Arena (I won't acknowledge the bracelet company).

Key Stat

Rebounds: Kings 46, Warriors 24. Biedrins and Lee combined for four rebounds and Biedrins had none. That's concrete evidence for a total lack of heart and will to win.

This is a loss that hurts Keith Smart's rehiring chances.

Warriors lock up T'Wolves, end Love's streak

2011-03-13T21:38:00.000-07:00

After the offensive explosion to beat the Magic two days ago, the Warriors showed they can win a grind-out style game in a convincing win over the T'Wolves tonight 100-77.

The Warriors forced the T'Wolves into 27 turnovers, the most by any opponent the Warriors faced this season. The biggest headline of the night was the end of Kevin Love's double-double streak at 54 games. In the win over Orlando, David Lee worked hard to help the Warriors limit the NBA's most formidable big man in Dwight Howard to 13 points. Lee brought that same intensity to the defensive side of the floor against Minnesota's work horse, Love.

Lee was terrific in "doing his work early", meaning he battled Love for position and played love physically. Love was held to just six points and twelve rebounds, as he averages around 20 points per game. The Warriors did a good job to deny post entry with defensive rotations.

Over the past two games the Warriors have improved a detail of their game that has bothered everyone who has followed this team in 2010-11. When competing against elite post players like Dwight Howard and Kevin Love, they have made a point to get their money's worth on a foul call and not allow 'and-one' opportunities. A fingernail foul that leads to a three point play is utterly demoralizing. Either foul with purpose or get out of the way. The message seems to be getting through to the Warriors.

Confidence is high in the Warriors locker room. The Warriors overcame a 21 point deficit to set a franchise record for three point makes, then follow that game with a so-so shooting night, but hold Minnesota to 36 percent from the field. The Warriors didn't get three happy and force bad shots. They played solid defense and scored of turnovers.

It's good to watch this group of players learn how to win together and hopefully this nucleus of Ellis, Curry, Lee, and Wright will stay together while the front office adds pieces around to solidify the roster in years to come.

Warriors top Magic in epic shootout

2011-03-12T16:51:00.000-08:00

The Warriors came back from a 21 point deficit to beat the Orlando Magic in overtime. This game had a "We Believe" 2006 feel, coincidentally with Jason Richardson's return with the third different team since being traded.

The Magic got white hot in the second quarter and built a 21 point lead with exceptional perimeter shooting, but to the credit of the Warriors-who played a terrible game in New Jersey-showed heart, effort, and came back in the later part of the second quarter.

Orlando, much like the Warriors, can beat any team in the league when they heat up from three point range. Orlando neglected to feed Dwight Howard in the second half due to the success of the perimeter shooting, but also give credit to David Lee for the work he put in on defending Howard. Images throughout the telecast showed images of Howard throwing his elbows recklessly into Lee's face, chest, and throat as he established position inside. Lee made several overplays where he was able to deflect entry passes and bother Howard with quick hands.

The perimeter shooting of Orlando played into what the Warriors like to do. Teams that operate inside seem to give the Warriors more problems, but Orlando's willingness to launch three's gave Warriors players unspoken permission to answer, which they did by hitting 21 of 35.

Unfortunately the officiating was biased against the Warriors. Orlando took 35 free throw attempts to the Warriors 13, it's astounding the Warriors won this game with such a disparity. The Warriors were whistled for 23 fouls to Orlando's 13.

This is the biggest win of the year for this Warriors team, especially for the Warriors big four (Ellis, Curry, Wright, Lee). This team is capable of putting up epic shooting stats, but have looked like amateurs in recent games against the Hawks, T'Wolves, and Nets. After beating the Magic, the people who wanted to trade Ellis or Curry are quiet.

Sixers best Warriors in OT

2011-03-07T17:13:00.001-08:00

The Warriors, or Monta Ellis, did well to get the Warriors into overtime where they fell to the 76ers. After the All-Star break, the game plan against the Warriors has been to play aggressive defense. Opposing defenses have made a concerted effort to close out on shooters, specifically on the three point line. The Warriors are a perimeter shooting team and do the most damage when they get hot from beyond the arc. Also, off-ball defenders are jumping pass lanes and gambling for steals, which resulted in turnovers and fast break opportunities for the opponent.

If teams close out strong, I'd like to see more pump fakes and drives to the rim. The Warriors don't get to the free throw line enough. Sometimes its inequitable officiating, other times it's their reputation of a team that doesn't attack the rim. The Warriors scorers must continue to put pressure on the officails to make a call by driving to the rim and not falling in love with perimeter offense. When off-ball defenders want to crowd, the wings should space out wide and cut back door. It worked several times for Monta Ellis on Rondo in the Boston game.

The 76ers have a lot of weapons and credit Doug Collins for getting all of his players to buy into sharing the ball. They lack a premiere player, but there are at least six, maybe seven players on this team that can go for 20 points on any given night. Andre Iguadala's production is down, but his efficiency is up and he allows his team mates to take more shots. Igualdala also showed he is a serviceable closer when they need a bucket at the end of the game. Evan Turner has a dynamic game. Judging from what I saw Mar. 6, he will be a Brandon Roy-esque triple double threat once he gets more minutes.

Ekpe Udoh continues to develop and should continue to start at center for the remainder of the season. Unfortunately for the Warriors, Udoh got into early foul trouble in the first quarter and had to sit. His absence opened the door for Philadelphia to attack the rim and take momentum.

I didn't care much for Keith Smart's decision to start Biedrins in overtime. Thadeus Young owned that match-up and set the tone for the 76ers in the extra period by scoring the first basket.

David Lee has been playing great basketball of late. He scored 14 points, grabbed 14 rebounds and didn't shoot a free throw. Lee was fouled on multiple shots, but the officiating was tilted toward the home team. Keith smart even picked up a technical foul. I don't think that's happened all season. That in itself is an indicator that the officials had a bad game.

Around the NBA

Before watching the Warriors, I DVR'd the Lakers versus Spurs on ABC. The Lakers absolutely pounded the Spurs from the opening tip. Unlike much of this season, the Lakers were highly motivated as the Spurs stole the last meeting on an Antonio McDyess tip-in put back with a fraction of a second left. This game showed the Lakers are still the alpha dog of the West and the NBA. When they are interested, there's no better team in the league.

The Miami Heat bumbled another game in the final seconds in a loss to the Bulls in Miami Mar. 6. The Heat failed to get a key defensive rebound that led to Joakim Noah hitting the go ahead free throw. With the last possession, the Heat elected to let LeBron dribble up top and make a play. Chicago packed the lane and forced James into an errant shot. LeBron is no Kobe and certainly nowhere near as clutch as M.J.

Miami's struggles this season, especially executing in close games, leads NBA fans to re-examine the concept of "Big 3". Boston's model of a big three is the right way to do it, as Garnett, Pierce, and Allen all have unique roles. Garnett is the foundation of defense and the heart of the team, Allen is the sharp shooter who can stretch the defense but also put it on the floor, and Pierce is the guy who can create his own shot and get to the free throw line when needed. Pierce is also the closer. The Spurs have fielded a big three for years with Duncan, Parker, and Ginobili.

I'm still not ready to sell the Heat, they can still make a deep playoff run and even get to the finals, but they still look very unsettled in their roles.

Warriors comeback falls short in Boston

2011-03-05T13:24:00.000-08:00

Monta Ellis was himself again last night and nearly led the Warriors to what would have been one of the biggest upsets of the regular season. Ellis scored 41 points and David Lee added 26 points and 12 rebounds in the loss.

The Warriors, like most NBA teams, play with more urgency against elite teams and take nights off against poor to medium teams. The Warriors out-rebounded the Celtics 39-28, but let the T'Wolves, Hawks, and Pacers push them around. It's frustrating to see the Warriors get outworked by mediocre teams when they show the potential to stay with (and sometimes beat) top teams. Thanks to Ellis' hot hand, they had a chance in Boston and back in February, they beat the Bulls at Oracle Arena.

Keith Smart has to find ways to get this team to play with "Celtics game" intensity, even if they play the T'Wolves or Wizards.

Warriors end four game losing streak

2011-03-02T20:38:00.000-08:00

The Warriors put a four game losing streak to an end with a win over the Wizards on the second game of a back to back.

The Mar. 1 loss against the Pacers was an ugly game. The officiating crew did a poor job, highlighted by Violet Palmer. I respect her for having the determination to hold a position in an industry controlled by men, that speaks well on her character, but she is a terrible official. The players on both teams had no idea what was a foul and what was just physical play. There was no consistency. When in doubt, officials just gave the benefit of the doubt to Danny Granger...

Okay, back to the game of basketball.

Poor Andris Biedrins, he was terrible against the Pacers. He gave the Warriors nothing and we saw his confidence crumble as we watched him drop passes, commit silly fouls, and turn the ball over. Enter Ekpe Udoh, who started tonight against the Wizards.

Bringing Andris off the bench was a good move by coach Smart. Udoh gives the Warriors everything Biedrins does, but adds an offensive element. Plus, Biedrins can boost his confidence against opponents' second units.

Despite losing to the Pacers, the Warriors didn't play a bad game (i.e. the Atlanta beat down Feb. 25). The Warriors should never lose if Reggie Williams scores 26 points off the bench. The bench, which has been a weakness this season, has played well for the three games of this current road trip.

In the past two games, the bench energy has ignited the whole team. Monta Ellis started off cold, but carefully asserted himself. Monta picked up his defensive intensity and smothered the Wizards Nick Young in the third quarter.

The win against the Wizards doesn't compare the beating the Bulls, Thunder, or Hornets, but the Warriors needed this one badly. Their body language showed a frustrated team. Tonight, the Warriors were able to smile and have fun for the first time after the All-Star break.

The smiles will disappear when the bus pulls into TD Waterhouse Garden to play the Celtics this Friday Mar. 4.

Warriors open road trip with a loss

2011-02-28T19:07:00.000-08:00

Are the Warriors still on All-Star break vacation? Someone needs to tell them school is back in session as this team has lost all three of it's games in the virtual second half of the season.

A loss to the Celtics is forgivable, at least the Warriors competed admirably in the first half of that game, only to get shut down by Boston's defense. Everyone thinks the Celts are this old station-to-station type of team, but they are one of the best transition offenses in the NBA. The Warriors play some of the ugliest transition defense in the NBA.

Getting beat by Atlanta was no shocker, as the Hawks are better than the Warriors, but it was the lack of fight the Warriors put up that disturbed me (and disappointed the fans who paid to get into Oracle to watch a competitive professional basketball game).

The most recent loss in Minnesota on Feb. 27 is a sign that the Warriors are in a bad way right now. Sure, the T'Wolves had lost six straight and were hungry and at home. Again, the manor in which the Warriors lost is almost as bad as the loss itself. They collapsed. The Warriors scored 72 points in the first half then went 5-27 in the third quarter. A cold shooting stretch is understandable, happens to everyone at some point, but the Warriors stopped putting effort into getting stops.

Their only chance is to play scrambling defense, embodied by Monta Ellis creating havoc in the passing lanes. Ellis' hustle tends to ignite the Warriors team energy and start the fastbreak. That's how this team wins because they sure as heck can't get to the free throw line. I have a feeling Monta Ellis is not emotionally right because his intensity has fluctuated during this three game losing streak. Hopefully he hasn't been watching D-Will and Carmelo on Sports Center this year.

The way the T'Wolves out-rebounded, out-worked, and man-handled by Kevin Love, Michael Beasley, and Wes Johnson. Former Warriors D-League sensation from last year Anthony Tolliver inflicted some damage to his former club, too. The Warriors have lacked urgency and lacked heart. I am embarrassed for using the term playoffs in previous posts.

If this uninspired type of play continues, Keith Smart is in trouble. I don't see him coming back next year. It's not because he is a bad coach, but the new ownership is ambitious and will look to shake things up. There has been observable disinterest on the floor during this losing streak, ultimately that falls on the coach.

Coach Smart is risking his job by starting Andris Biedrins, as the overpaid center has regressed back to being a liability when on the floor. He seems more interested in fidgeting with his armbands than going after rebounds.

The Warriors are not a good team, they're a rebuilding team. That shouldn't be a surprise. But running back on defense and giving maximum effort should be a requirement.

Warriors thrashed in their own house

2011-02-26T16:51:00.000-08:00

The fans who paid to get into Oracle last night to watch the Hawks eviscerate the Warriors should get some of their money back. Maybe a free beer, a discount on another game, or an apology letter from ownership.

Atlanta jumped on a pathetic Warriors team who continued to attempt jumper after jumper and miss. When their jump shots didn't fall, this group of players didn't make any legit attempts to get to the free throw line and they didn't play transition defense.

The Warriors have shown moments of brilliance during the stretch where they beat the Bulls, Hornets, and Thunder. This isn't last season's group of rag-tag D-League misfits, this group can win against good teams, especially at home.

The poor play last night was a lack of heart, it was visible through the television screen, and it was shameful to watch.

I realize these players are human beings and there are infinite variables that could effect the performance on any given night, but the fans pay to be entertained. The whole marketing strategy with the Warriors has always been, "Hey, we might not be good, we might not make the playoffs, we don't play defense, but your gonna get a wild west shootout for that $70 you spend on Stub-hub." It doesn't work when they roll over and refuse to compete.

This game could be game that owner Joe Lacob looks back on when he considers whether Keith Smart keeps his job next season. I'm not saying he is to blame for this, but it is the nature of professional sports.

Ellis & Curry stay put at trade deadline

2011-02-25T11:51:00.000-08:00

The tectonic plates of the NBA shifted mightily at the trade deadline with some interesting and puzzling moves, headlined by superstars of the Western conference going East. Will these moves bring more balanced between conferences? During the past decade, the Eastern conference has been collectively inferior to the West.

What is the future of the Nuggets and Jazz after losing two of the best players in the world in Carmelo Anthony and Deron Williams? Both teams, especially Utah, have impeded the Warriors path to the playoffs (when the Warriors weren't doing it themselves).

The Warriors made a small move by swapping Brandan Wright and Dan Gadzuric for essentially a second round draft pick, as they will likely buy out Troy Murphy's contract, much to the disappointment of "pre-we believers" who still have that number one jersey in the closet. More important, Larry Riley refrained from moving Monta Ellis or Stephen Curry, which was a great non-move. A mid-season trade is for a team that is in contention to win a title or an awful team that wants to have a garage sale and rebuild. The Warriors are somewhere in between. They are slightly out of playoff range, but they are not awful.

NBA trends and the Championship Formula

The NBA is a league of "big three's", popularized by the Celtics in 2007 when they forged the super team of Garnett, Allen, and Pierce. The Heat took the next step with Bosh, James, and Wade. Now the Knicks are slowly, but steadily establishing a constellation with Stoudamire and Anthony. Will they be able to lure/afford Chris Paul in 2012? There are many conspiracies happening now and tension with the possibility of a lockout next season. This way of team building is fragile, as it means a team must sacrifice depth to afford contracts of multiple superstars. The Celtics won a title in 2008, but it was the supporting cast that lifted up the "big three". Kendrick Perkins, Rajon Rondo, Eddie House, James Posey, Glen Davis...

In recent years, the Lakers have won back-to-back titles with the formula of Kobe Bryant, a stable of lanky bigs (Gasol, Bynum, Odom), physical swingmen who defend and knock down shots (Ariza, Artest, Barnes). And of course D-Fish, the old general who stays the hell out of Kobe's way, plays physical, and hits big shots. To win a championship in the NBA you first need length, big lankly players to clog the lane and rebound. Second, you need depth, a competent group of players who have roles and consistently preform so your superstar(s) don't get overworked. Third, and most important, you need at least one superstar. The bigs and the depth give a team the chance to win any game, and the superstar closes it out. There has to be a player who can hit the big shot or make sure he gets to the foul with the game on the line.

Kia Dunk Conest as Lame as Advertised

2011-02-21T20:40:00.000-08:00

The All-Star game...who cares, it's a joke. Monta should have been there, but it's a marketing ploy (as seen in the Kia showroom, oops I mean dunk contest). It's a popularity contest aimed toward fifth grade boys, not logical basketball fans, but good fun.

The real news is Carmelo going to the Knicks. His wife Lala is actually calling the shots and they are going back to NY. Since this is a Warriors blog, I'm going to talk about how this effects Golden State and the Western conference. The Nuggets will not make the playoffs this season. They get Danilo Galinari, Raymond Felton, and Wilson Chandler who were obviously not good enough for the Knicks, but they have some good pieces. Aaron Afflalo is a very nice shooting guard, but now J.R. Smith will have to start and the bench will be compromised.

Nuggets fans are surely disapointed in the fact they lost a superstar, but it's not all bad for you Denver. Carmelo is obviously a cancer wherever he goes and he will not win a championship in New York. The Knicks already couldn't stop anyone, and now they are extra non-committed to defense. The Knicks, even over the next three or four years, have the same chances of winning a title as the "WE BELIEVE" Warriors of 2006-07'. The Nuggets will have the chance to build a cohesive team with role players, like Afflalo, Galinari, Chandler, Smith, Felton, and hopefully they will be able to retain Nene. But this year, sorry Nuggets, it's not happening.

That leaves the door open for the Warriors if they can get it together. I still hope they don't trade Curry or Elllis, and let it play out. But if the Warriors survive this upcoming raod trip, they have a puncher's chacne at making the playoffs. The Grizzlies, who have been one of the hottest teams in the leage since Christmas and are gunning for one of the bottom playoff spots, will be hindered by the loss of Rudy Gay. The superstar small forward will be sidelined for about four weeks with a separated shoulder. That will help teams like the Suns, Warriors, and Rockets, as the Jazz are also on the decline. I suspect Deron Williams will be the next Carmelo. D-Will is a free agent in 2012 and there is no way he stays in Utah (Maybe they'll draft Jimmer Fredette?).

The balance of power has shifted after this trade and Warriors fans shoul welcome it. It's about time. Dnever and Utah should get a taste of what Warriors fans have experienced for 16 years, but both of those franchises won't staty down long, at least Denver. This is a sign, a step toward the Warriors becoming a consistent playoff participant.

Please, be patient Larry Riley. Don't break up our back court just yet. You did well to land Dorell Wright and David Lee will prove to be a good pick up in time. Keep acquiring quality players the old fashioned way and build a deep roster with a quality second team like the Spurs and Mavs. It takes good draft picks, free agent role players, and a time.

Dunk Contest is shameless Kia plug

2011-02-19T21:40:00.000-08:00

Steph Curry won the skills competition and showed that accuracy beats speed in this event. Dorell Wright came up short in the three point shootout. His shooting stroke is not quite suited for the event, as the uptempo fashion threw D-Wright off his natural rhythm.

I expected more out of the dunk contest, although I knew I shouldn't have. I thought Blake Griffin would be a savior to this event which has declined over the years. The last legit dunk contest winner was Jason Richardson in 2003. Nate Robinson was a Napoleon phenomenon repeat to Spud Webb and Dee Brown and Dwight Howard started a stupid trend of gimmick
riddled acts, lacking the substance of Jordan, Dominique, Vince Carter, and Jason Richardson.

The dunk contest has been reduced to a live commercial for Kia. I felt embarrassed for Blake Griffin, as that car took center stage over the dunk itself (which wasn't spectacular). I don't blame Griffin for his part and I hope he was properly compensated by Kia. That event was the most shameless corporate plug I've ever witnessed and I felt ashamed for being an NBA fan when I witnessed the way that rigged event played out.

Good or the sport coats who made out big on this, but that dunk contest was the biggest waste of time.

I like the idea of a game of 21 for an NBA All-Star event, with the fans voting for the three players they want to see. A one-on-one game would really be the most attractive event, but there are egos and a grocery list of other excuses that would prevent that from taking place. a game of 21, with three players would showcase individual skills and make it less adversarial. It would have a nice playground feel and be highly entertaining. Imagine: Kobe, LeBron, and Wade. I think Monta would do well, even against those guys.

Warriors first half report

2011-02-18T18:44:00.000-08:00

The Warriors went 7-2 in their last nine games to get just three games below .500 and are 26-29 going into the All-Star break. They currently are 11th place in the harsh Western Conference and still are a long shot to make the playoffs. It's not likely, but it's possible. The Jazz look to be on the decline and the Nuggets would be in trouble if a Carmelo Anthony deal actually materializes.

Power is shifting in the West as the Memphis Grizzlies, like the Oklahoma City Thunder, have built a young, deep, and talented roster and are in a good position to take the place of Denver or Utah for that seventh or eighth spot.

So far, this season has been an improvement from last year, the most injury stricken season I can remember witnessing in any sport. The addition of David Lee has given the Warriors some presence in the front court. There are many Lee critics that get down on him for his lack of rebounding so far in proportion to his $80 million contract and what he has been able to do in the past. Lee is not a disappointment at all and acquiring him was a step in the right direction. He's not dominant, but he's a really good complementary guy and much needed leader.

Dorell Wright has been the most pleasant surprise in the Bay Area and around the NBA and should get serious consideration for most improved player of the year. Warriors fans who watched most of the games this season can see how D-Wright grew just over the course of this year, from deadly catch-and-shoot three point shooter, to confident driver to the rim and pull up for mid range shooter. Also, he has learned to run the floor on transition offense and gave the Warriors solid defense. D-Wright has done a great job triggering the inbound plays and shown he can do the dirty work of rebounding. He still has a lot of areas to improve on, but the good news is he looks capable of meeting his potential. Winning teams, playoff teams all have a guy like D-Wright.

"The Warriors don't have enough depth," the critics have said. It's true, they don't. They need a solid back up point guard. Eric Maynor, who backs up Russell Westbrook on OKC, is a nice backup point guard. The W's need a player like that. Also, they need a back up small forward to give D-Wright some more rest. The Shane Battier prototype: defender and knock down shooter.

The biggest rumor talk for the first half of the Warriors season has been looming trade rumors: "The Warriors can't have Steph Curry and Monta Ellis play in the same back court, they must trade one of them." Why and for who? The Warriors are not going to win a championship this year and are likely to miss the playoffs. Warriors fans don't want to hear it, but they are still a year or two away from playoff caliber. And that's okay, just as long as they continue to add pieces and move in a positive direction. It takes time. Why not let this team build chemistry and see what you have with the players on the roster? Why not add talent through the draft and free agency, without splitting the nucleus in place?

Look at players like Manu Ginobilli and Jason Terry. Both play for championship contenders with deep rosters and both have sacrificed to come off the bench as the sixth man because it's best for the team. Maybe the Warriors can find an Aaron Afflalo type guy or Shane Battier to start the game and bring Monta Ellis off the bench as a sixth man? Or Steph, but Monta could be very successful if the Warriors had enough depth and utilized him like the Mavs do Terry. Still far off, I know.

I don't see Larry Riley giving the rest of the NBA the satisfaction of trading Ellis or Curry, at least not this season. Let the core players (Ellis, Curry, Lee, D-Wright) build chemistry and continue to add depth. It would be foolish to take a step backward. I know Warriors fans don't want to hear this after enduring 16 years years of darkness during the Cohan era, but be patient. The new owners sank $450 million into this team and they're going to do all they can to protect their investment.

Be patient Warriors fans, it's not going to happen overnight, but the ship is headed in the right direction and they just need a little luck in the draft and a few free agent pick-ups for depth, then this team will be in the playoffs. For now, take this team for what it is: fun, frustrating, young, and rebuilding. Let them finish out the year, see what we have, and then decide.

Warriors look to win last game before All-Star break

2011-02-16T15:29:00.000-08:00

Outside of some ugly losses to the Suns, the Warriors have played well over the past ten games, with statement wins against the Bulls, Nuggets, Thunder, and Hornets. Home court advantage was a factor, but it shouldn't detract from wins against quality teams. In the win against the Bulls, the Warriors held Derrick Rose to 14 points and forced him into nine turnovers. The Warriors forced the Thunder into 20 turnovers.

When the Warriors play with energy on defense and make a point to rebound, they hold teams to a low field goal percentage and have a good chance to win. Putting forth energy on defense means the bench has to play well enough to stay on the floor, so the starters can go all out and not have to think about saving energy for the fourth quarter.

The win over the Hornets last night was sparked by the energy off the bench. Vladamir Radmanovic scored all of his 13 points in the first half and Ekpe Udoh continues to improve every game and has been rewarded with more minutes. It's almost to the point where Keith Smart could start Udoh over Andris Biedrins. Udoh doesn't foul as much and is not the offensive liability Biedrins can be. Biedrins should still start, as coach Smart must factor in Biedrins fragile level of confidence. Udoh deserves the minutes and looks to be the rim protector the Warriors have lacked for years.

The Warriors should be able to handle a depleted Jazz team who is without Andre Kirilenko, Ronnie Price, Raja Bell, and Memo Okur. Plus Deron Williams has a hurt right wrist, his shooting wrist. Both teams are on the second game of a back to back and the Warriors outstanding bench play allowed the starters to save some energy for the game tonight.

As Bob Fitzgerald said, "the Jazz are leaking oil and could be on the way down."

It appears the Jazz are leaking the proverbial oil, as they are 0-2 after the resignation of 23 year head coach Jerry Sloan. The Warriors need to lure the Jazz into the up-and-down game and run Al Jefferson and Paul Milsap off the court. Also, D-Will struggling on ouside shots with that bad shooting wrist. The Warriors guards need to give play him like Rajon Rondo. Embarrass him into shooting, and don't let him beat you with dribble penetration.

Suns beat Warriors in embarrassing fashion, again

2011-02-11T11:07:00.000-08:00

The Suns are on a roll and are a team who gives the Warriors (and a lot of other teams) match up problems. The way they space the floor and knock down catch-and-shoot threes is similar to the Orlando Magic. The Magic have Dwight Howard and can defend better when they are engaged, but Steve Nash gives the Suns a one up at the point guard position, at least on offense.

Phoenix whipped the Warriors with their depth. The Warriors starters logged heavy minutes in a nice win over the Nuggets just the night before and probably didn't get to bed until 3:00 A.M. Still, the Suns would have won, but the game wouldn't have been over before halftime...(wishful thinking?)

If the Warriors don't create fastbreaks off turnovers, they are susceptible to going long stretches without scores and allowing big runs like the Suns have ripped off over this past week. The Warriors need to be able to play good team defense due to the constant match-up problems with Ellis and Curry on the floor simultaneously. Phoenix lives on the three point line and the Warriors still left shooters wide open. Channing Frye killed the Warriors on Feb. 7 at Oracle and still, no one can make an effort to chase him off the three point line. Granted the players were tired and the hectic schedule of NBA life doesn't allow much time, but the Warriors coaching staff should take some blame for the Warriors being ill prepared to compete.

NBA News

Jerry Sloan stepped down as the head coach of the Utah Jazz after 23 seasons. I associate Sloan with my earliest basketball memories dating back to when I first started following in 1991. Karl Malone and John Stockton were pick-and-rolling everyone to death and beating teams up on defense. Utah Jazz fans from my generation, the original "Dream Team" generation, have never seen another coach for their team, as Sloan started in 1988.

After the Warriors lackluster performance last night, I had to flip over to the Lakers at Celtics. Ray Allen is now the all-time leader in three point makes, as he surpassed Reggie Miller's 2,560. Miller witnessed Allen break his record as a TNT analyst. "Are you kidding me?" (I would still put money that Cheryl wins the Thanksgiving one-on-one driveway games).

The Lakers won by locking up the Celts on defense and finished the green men off with Kobe nailing shot after shot. Yes, there was fist pumping.

Warriors hang on to beat Nuggets 116-114

2011-02-09T22:06:00.001-08:00

The Warriors showed the loss to the Suns was a hiccup and reestablished themselves as the best three point shooting team in the NBA.

The Nuggets have weapons galore and they managed to hurt the Warriors, Chauncy Billups sat out with a strained left knee and it affected the ball movement in the half court offense. Carmelo scored 29 points, but he was 11-21 and only took only seven free throw attempts, which is low for him. Dorell Wright played a great game. No he played perhaps the best game of his career.

After the horrendous basketball he demonstrated against the Suns, Dorell scored 23 points, pulled 11 rebounds, and was two assists away from a triple double with eight. And on the other end of the floor, he did a solid job defending one of the best scorers in the world in Carmelo. D-Wright stayed down, closed out, and didn't foul.

David Lee did well to move the ball on offense and shows he is the fulcrum the the Warriors lever. Lee scored 16 points to go along with 12 rebounds and 6 assists. Biedrins had 12 boards and Reggie Williams gives the Warriors a great chance to win when he's feeling it. Here's a stat: Reggie has made 13 of his last 14 three point attempts spanning the past few games.

Monta Ellis had it going from the beginning. When he is feeling his three point shot, it gives him a surge of confidence to burn defenses in a variety of ways. He scored 37 tonight with only one point from the free throw line.

It's been a joy to watch the progression of Monta Ellis since he started getting playing time in 2006. He started as a deadly shooter from high school three point range. He didn't shoot too much, but he shot at a high percentage and got out on the fast break. Just last year he added the NBA three point range into his arsenal and was top 10 in scoring. This year Monta has developed a confidence for the big shots at the end of the game and has delivered on multiple occasions. The final step of his progression will be getting to the foul line.

Certain players like Kevin Martin, Paul Pierce, Dwayne Wade, and Carmelo Anthony have a way of initiating contact and selling it to induce a whistle. It's not a flop like Derek, but there can be some theatrical flare. It all starts with beating your man on defense (something Monta does just about every touch).

Heavy minutes doesn't bode well for starters on a back to back, but there is rest ahead during the All-Star break and there is some self respect to earn back from a Phoenix team that embarrassed the Warriors last time.

Warriors stink in loss to Suns

2011-02-07T21:01:00.000-08:00

Wow, the Warriors win over the Bulls was incredible. It was a beautiful basketball game all the way around with a low amount of fouls called and an uptempo pace. Monta Ellis, Steph Curry, and the other Warriors starters were all on fire. It was the best win of the season.

The most frustrating loss of the year was to the Bobcats, but this loss to the Suns is no less frustrating. The Suns came right out and punched the Warriors in the mouth, as the Warriors never put their guard up. And when I say never put their guard up, I mean the Warriors played awful defense. The type of defense that could cost Keith Smart his job.

They were pathetic. They were soft.

They let Grant Hill, Steve Nash, and Vince Cater get anywhere on the floor and didn't seem to watch any film. If they did, they would have ran out to Channing Frye on the three point line. They would have realized everyone in a purple jersey has undergone multiple surgeries and attacked their lack of lateral foot speed.

Dorell Wright shot the Warriors out of the game in the first quarter. Wright seemed content to squander his pump fakes and continues to show he is unable to draw free throws. Disappointing.

This game shows why the Warriors will not make the playoffs, why Monta didn't get into the All-Star game, and why every Warriors player is on the trading block.

The Warriors lost the game in the first quarter as Phoenix outscored them 33-17.

The Warriors shot 2-17 from three and with this loss, proved why they are truly irrelevant this year. Not much more to say, pitiful basketball.

Warriors win ugly against Bucks

2011-02-04T10:22:00.000-08:00

The Warriors beat the Bucks on "Beat the Bucks" night at Oracle. It was ugly, just how the Bucks like to play. Nonetheless, the Warriors made the shots at critical moments to offset some really poor basketball. The Bucks grabbed 20 offensive rebounds to the Warriors eight, which resulted in 91 field goal attempts the Warriors 77. The Warriors turned the ball over 17 times, Steph Curry committed seven of them! The Warriors bench, Reggie Williams and Vlad Radmanovic, scored 23 points combined and gave the Warriors a final push in the fourth quarter to get this bumbling win, a win that would not have come if Andrew Bogut was healthy. The Warriors were also lucky to miss Deron Williams in the previous win over the Jazz.

Steph Curry had an awful game and he knows it. His seven turnovers were the result of sloppy ball handling, but not so much his overambitious one handed pass attempts. Curry is extremely talented, but he is not a natural point guard. Curry also played sorry defense. He was incapable of staying with his man and blundered more than one pick and roll switch. The pinnacle of Golden State's defensive underachievement happened around the eight minute mark in the third quarter. Curry's man Brandon Jennings slipped a screen to make a lay-in of pre-game warm up ease. Keith Smart emphatically called timeout and his frustration was audible through the telecast:

"We're not talking!" Smart shouted at a dejected bunch of gold jerseys.

The game had, what Bob Fitzgerald called, a "Rec center feel", as there were few fouls called on either side. Eventually the Warriors tightened up on defense and got somewhat serious about defensive rebounds. They also survived 12 consecutive points from Correy Maggette down the stretch. Monta Ellis hit a pull up jumper with 17 seconds in the game to put the Warriors up 96-92. On the next play, Correy Maggette made a driving layup and was fouled by Dorell Wright.

When that happened, the Bobcats game flashed back. Here we go, more mistakes in the critical moments. Maggette missed the free throw, the Warriors rebounded, and the game was essentially over.

Over the past three games, something has been different with the Warriors, mainly Monta Ellis. He hasn't been terrible, but his jumper has been off and his three point shooting has vanished. Monta is well rounded enough to realize he needs to drive more to get higher percentage shots and also find team mates on drive-and-kicks. But he's not attacking like we've come to know, hesitating somewhat, and his field goal percentage is down.

I think it's more than lingering injuries or tired legs. From the lack of communication on defense, it looks like there might be some tension between players, tension caused by not knowing where they will be in the near future. Tension from Monta's comments a year ago. The players know better than anyone else that it's not working. This mix of players is not going meet the "We Believe" hype and it's frustrating, especially for a guy like Monta who's had a small taste of success. This is a tension Warriors fans have come to know well over the years.

Biedrins' Lack of Growth is Costing The Warriors

2011-02-03T00:55:00.000-08:00

At first, he was a little known Latvian giant with quick feet and hands and was a force on the block. Problem was, he wasn't a great scorer as a teenager when they drafted him and they knew of his shortcomings which are surfacing now.

Biedrins belongs in the "No More Mr. Mice Guys" era, cause he's as soft and easy going on the court as they come. I really think the lack of his development took this team from a perennial playoff contender, to a a mediocre at best, 30-40 win team. And sorry folks, if you want to blame it solely on Baron Davis' departure down the coast to LA, that's onlyu a small part of it. Baron certainly was the main reason why basketball came to life in the Bay Area in 2007, but he had the supporting cast to do so, none more important than the 21 year-old Biedrins. In fact, all due respect to JRich, SJax and Harrington, you take Biedrins away, they aren't the powerhouse they were. Now Andris just seems lost. I don't think it's any coincidence that his game really took the big hit when his good buddy's, starting with B-Diddy, left town. BD was instrumental in Biedrins' growth and Baron made it no secret that he was trying to push Andris to becoming the player he ought to be.

Now, it sounds as if I'm almost making excuses for Andris that he's lost the talent around him, but that's not the case whatsoever. Sure, every center would like to have a '07 version of BD delivering them the ball and driving and dishing, turing a 6-8 ppg player into a 12-15 ppg player as he did so well in his prime. However, Biedrins is being paid over $10 clams a year to learn how to play without star guards surrounding him. He's being paid $10 Mill to be that double-double force he was in 2006-2009. I'm having trouble believing the fact that he's just getting worse as he's entering his prime years. Baron was great during his season in Oakland and yes it did make things for Biedrins easier offensively, but Steph Curry is quickly gaining that same type of notoriety and rep, yet Andris still cannot seem to string together a good stretch of basketball.

So the W's are trying a new approach now, and he's got a new big man in town to help share some of that responsibility and the W's are definitely that ends up working (though it hasn't yet), one much more fundamentally sound and overall "Harder 'n da Paint" (that ones for you Waka Flocka Flame). Throughout his career, Biedrins has relied on highly skilled passing guards to get him the ball in scoring situations, but since his scoring has plummetted, his confidence has shattered. Steph Curry isn't the ball-slinger Baron is and Andris has yet to adjust to playing to that style, but just don't know that he'll ever evolve in that way. Biedrins certainly has his strengths, and is a valuable NBA big man, but right now, only about 50 percent of the time he's playing like an NBA-capable center. In my eye, Biedrins seemed to lose his confidence when Baron left, and his weaknesses were magnified because Baron wasn't there to cover 'em up (and Nelly stopped caring, but that's for another post). Offensively, he doesn't move well or create without the ball and has spotty hands to say the least. Oh, and that free-throw shooting is Shaq-like... Defensively, he's not bad, and when his heads in the game and healthy, he's a pretty good rebounder.

Now, I know a lot of your are thinking, "man, he's got it out for Biedrins today", but that's not the case. I know he's still young, but he's no longer basketball young, and 5 years is plenty of time to establish yourself. I'd wait and see how this year plays out, then absolutely entertain the idea of packaging up Andris. Again, without Andris, the Warriors don't make that run in '07, but with Monta, Steph, Lee and Wright, he just isn't fitting in. Again, his contract is no small obstacle, as the W's would likely need to take on salary too. Flat out though, in my opinion, Biedrins has been a collosoul dissapointment since 2007, it's like he's all the sudden turned into Todd Fuller or Patrick O'Bryan.

I still have faith in Andris though, and I don't think he's done. With the trade deadline approaching though, I would certainly be open to dealing him in the right situation and wouldn't think twice about it.

Trevor Cole

Warriors snap four game skid with win over Jazz

2011-01-30T21:47:00.000-08:00

If I told you Monta Ellis scored two points for the entire game, would you suspect that game resulted in a win for the Warriors? Of course not, but isn't that a great rhetorical question? Well, the Warriors did win and five different players scored in double figures. Of those, Steph Curry led the way with 27.

To paint an accurate picture, Utah's all-star guard Deron Williams did not play with a sprained wrist. The Jazz struggled to shoot the ball and missed D-Will's ability to get in the paint, open things up on offense, and get to the foul line. He drives everything Utah does on offense.

Nevertheless, the Warriors will take the win, especially after the worst loss of the season to the Bobcats.

Monta Ellis had a bad week and his two point performance was concerning. To his credit, he realized he wasn't feeling it on offense and used himself as a decoy and moved the ball around to his team mates, finishing with five assists.

Ellis' dip in production makes people wonder what's really going on. Is there some physical ailment? Perhaps that ankle is still hurting from the Jan. 21 game versus the Kings when Tyreke Evens rolled on Monta's leg in the overtime period. Or maybe Monta could have a slight concussion from hitting the back of his head against Gerald Wallace's shin in the first quarter of the Bobcats game...Also, Monta's back could be tired from carrying the entire team all season. He could be distracted by all the trade talk going around in bay area sports sections...Whatever is going on, Ellis will never let on. That's what makes him such a tough competitor and such an intriguing person.

Andris Biedrins tallied another double-double, going for 11 points and 10 rebounds against a solid center in Al Jefferson.

It was interesting to see the Warriors spread the offense around with Ellis having an off night. Sometimes it seems the Warriors have stand around and watch as Ellis defies gravity and racks up points in highlight reel fashion.

Curry ran the point, while Monta looked to set up team mates. It worked. I would like to see Monta stay in this distributor mode, until he gets more single coverage looks on defense, then go back to burning opponents for 30 points per game.

I hope general manager Larry Riley and owner Joe Lacob don't make any hurried moves this season. It will take too much time to develop chemistry and with the talent the Warriors are capable (or incapable) of luring out to the bay area, they will still be well below the elite of the NBA and Western Conference.

Let this team build chemistry and see what kind of players you have moving forward. Why make a hasty move before you are ready to seriously compete for a playoff run?

Bobcats comeback to beat Warriors in OT

2011-01-29T12:14:00.000-08:00

The most disappointing loss of the season happened last night at the hands of the Charlotte Bobcats and Stephen Jackson. The Warriors controlled the game most of the way through using hot shooting to go on runs. In the first half, they played solid defense and made stops and defensive rebounds.

The Warriors did well to improve areas which needed improvement over the current three game losing streak. Andris Biedrins and David Lee had double digit totals in points and rebounds. Biedrins has been hearing it from basketball fans in the bay area for not stepping up or giving the Warriors anything on offense. He scored 10 points and pulled down 12 rebounds. If Beidrins gives the Warriors that, they usually win.

Golden State's bench also came through with 22 points. Not great, but better than the last two games.

The Warriors had this game won several times. They would build a lead, then let the Bobcats get back in. In the third quarter the Warriors led by 16 points, 76-60. Suddenly, the Bobcats went on a 11-0 run to end the third quarter and pull within five points. The ugly stretch of basketball highlighted a glaring problem for Keith Smart's ball club: they struggle in the last minutes of quarters.

As telecaster Bob Fitzgerald said after the game, "the Warriors lost this game in the end of the third quarter."

They did. It was the ugliest meltdown Warriors fans have seen all season. It almost negates the win in Sacramento Dec. 21.

Of course, Stephen Jackson had to be the guy to rip the hearts out of Oracle arena's chest by banking in a desperation three with six tenths of a second on the clock. Sure, it was kind of lucky, but the Warriors had countless chances to put the game away and they failed to do it. Monta Ellis could have made it a four point game, but he missed a free throw just a possession before Jackson's game tying shot. They could have secured a defensive rebound and ended the game. They failed to do that.

If this game was a car, the Bobcats stole it. But the Warriors left it unlocked with the keys in the ignition.

This loss is bad, really bad. This loss cancels the four game win streak they put together prior to the four game slide. The was a game the Warriors needed to have.

Monta Ellis didn't look like himself this game. He shot 6-24 and made five turnovers. I wonder if Ellis is completely healthy or maybe little worn down from leading the league in minutes. The Warriors don't seem to have any grittiness or physical presence on the floor and it shows in the amount of touch fouls they committed in the second half. It was lazy and bad defending.

Let's get real, this is not a playoff team. The Warriors will not be in the playoffs this year. They will not have a better record than Houston or Portland. They are in the worst kind of place: Not good enough to be in the playoffs, not bad enough to get a top draft pick. In all fairness, the Western conference is a meat grinder and achieving a playoff birth is a very difficult feat. Also, there can be jewels found deep in a draft.

I know owner Joe Lacob is very unhappy after what happened last night, and that's good because he cares. I would not be surprised if he made a move soon, but I hope he doesn't try to make things happen this season. The Warriors need another off season to put more pieces together through the draft and free agency. I don't have confidence a trade will benefit this team in the long run, not at this point.

Hornets win tenth straight

2011-01-26T23:04:00.000-08:00

The loss to the Hornets makes three straight now for the Warriors. The final score was 112-103, but the game was less close than the score implies. Chris Paul and the Hornets controlled the game. The Warriors looked a few steps behind, as they allowed layups and dunks and gave away points off turnovers.

The Hornets were on fire from the field and made 13 of their first 16 attempts and finished the game at 62 percent.The Hornets are hot right now and have won 10 straight.

As much as the Warriors and their fans wanted this game, they can't be too surprised in a loss to a quality team like the Hornets. Or the Spurs the night before. There are simply too many holes in this team. As great as the back court is, with Curry and Ellis combining for 46 points, the front court is holding them back. When I say front court, I refer to Andris Biedrins, who scored 2 points (off two free throws, shockingly). Biedrins made no shots from the field.

Biedrins looked like he might be coming along during the four game win streak just a weak earlier, as he has shown more post up moves and activity, but when he gives the Warriors an abysmal game like this...it kills them. I know it hurts to leave $9 million on the bench, but look at what the San Francisco Giants had to do with Barry Zito. Ekpe Udoh should start for now. Two points is unacceptable and puts too much pressure on David Lee.

The Warriors are not a playoff caliber team in the Western conference with the current roster. Biedrins is an underachiever, but they are stuck with him. No one wants to take on that contract. Even more discouraging is the Warriors bench. If Reggie Williams is not shooting well, there is nothing coming off the bench. Even if Biedrins was in his 2007 form, the Warriors would still struggle to hang with good teams because of the drop off in talent at the second unit.

Will the Warriors new owner Joe Lacob make a move before the trade deadline? There has been talk than he is not attached to keeping anyone on the roster and will do whatever he can to improve the team going forward, even if that means trading the beloved Monta Ellis or Steph Curry. A lot of Warriors fans, including myself, don't want to hear that. Warriors fans love Monta and Steph and to part with one of them would involve a blue chip trade deal. Not an injury prone Chris Kaman or old rickety Rip Hamilton. It would have to be a blue chip like Carmelo (even though that won't ever happen) and some first and second round pick.

The current configuration isn't working and tenth is the West is not good enough.

Warriors can't hang with Spurs bench

2011-01-25T19:16:00.000-08:00

The Spurs beat the Warriors for the eleventh straight meeting 113-102. Playing the Spurs has become a reality check for the Warriors, a placement exam as to where they are in the Western conference. The Warriors starters played a solid game, David Lee played great. He scored a season high 31 points.

The Warriors stayed close most of the way through, but the Spurs bench is what set them apart, as they outscored the Warriors bench 46-14. Anyone who has watched the W's this season knows they have a nice starting five, four of whom can score 20 plus on any given night (one of them averages 26), but they lack the fire power off the bench to hang with deeper teams like the Spurs, Lakers, or even the Thunder.

OKC has James Harden and Serge Ibaka to plug in off the bench. The Mavs (when healthy) are an elite team because they can bring a player like Jason Terry off the bench. The Lakers bring in Lamar Odom, who would start for just about every other team in the league. In order to compete for a championship, you have to have a super sixth man who can let go of his ego and be ready to dominate against an opponent's second string players.

The Warriors could have beat the Spurs, but it would have taken a perfect game. That means no touch fouls, high shooting percentage, and forcing the Spurs into more turnovers. Also, the Warriors needed to limit the free throw disparity. Didn't happen. I'm sick of the phrase "out-classed". It's like saying the Warriors may as well just forfeit before playing becasue they aren't even an NBA team...Competition against the Spurs will help the Warriors improve, win or lose.

Let's just say this: the Spurs are a team, along with the Lakers, who are suited to compete for a championship. Each player on that team plays within himself. They don't take foolish shots, they show patience, and they run the plays Pop calls. They space the floor, wait for screens, time their cuts perfectly, shoot in rhythm , and they all have nice midrange games. I know people are sick of them, but I would like to see the Spurs win a ring over the Lakers, Heat, Celtics, or any other team that improves through free agency. The spurs are home grown and let their play do the talking.

Warriors fans should still be encouraged. David Lee is hot right now and looks back to form from that elbow infection injury. Steph Curry, if he can stay on the floor and out of foul trouble, is heating up, too. So the Warriors have lost two straight. The loss to the Clippers could have easily been a win (if you let Blake Griffin shoot 10 three pointers like the one he made to seal the game Jan. 22, I honestly think he'd make two..maybe). And the Spurs...let's just move on.

The next game against the Hornets will be tough as New Orleans has won nine in a row. The Warriors beat the 'Bugs' in N.O. so they have to be confident, yet they need to find some production off the bench. Reggie Williams is capable, but cold lately. Vlad Radmanovic has also cooled off from his Dec.-Jan. hot streak. Maybe Ekpe Udoh can give the Warriors some offense.

Warriors best Kings in OT, Monta hits second big shot in consecutive games

2011-01-22T11:58:00.001-08:00

Last night's game was thoroughly enjoyable from section 105, as my fiancee, Kira, and I got a clean look at Monta's big shot to send the game into overtime. This shot was even bigger than the one he hit last game over the Pacers just two nights ago.

Monta used the same move, drive right, hesitate, crossover left, pull-up, fade away, and hit! With that momentum, the Warriors dominated overtime and broke the Kings hearts once more. Again, if Monta is not an All-Star, the integrity of the event is in question. NBA fans, not just Warriors fans, deserve to see a player like Monta showcase his talents.

Click here to see video of Monta's big shot, courtesy of my fiancee Kira.

Warriors top Pacers, Monta hits game winner

2011-01-20T19:05:00.000-08:00

The win over the Pacers Jan. 19 was one of the most dramatic wins for the Warriors all season, maybe second to the Dec. 21 come-from-behind overtime win against the Kings.

The 16-23 Pacers are better than what their record suggests and are probably the only team that has road wins against the Lakers and Heat. The Pacers set a physical tone in the first quarter, specifically Tyler Hansbrough, and punished the Warriors for not boxing out. The former North Carolina Tarheel scored 12 points in the first quarter and exposed the Warriors for playing soft defense.

The Pacers went on a 19-2 run that spanned the end of the first quarter and the beginning of the second. The most glaring problem for the W's in this game was the lack of bench production. During the Pacers big first half run, the bench went 0-7 from the field. As usual, Monta Ellis came to the rescue and put the Warriors on his back with an eight point flurry to end the second quarter on a 10-2 run.

With 3:12 left in the third quarter, the Warriors were still without a single point from a non-starter.

After a poorly played second quarter, the Warriors picked up the defense in the third and forced the Pacers to turn the ball over.

With 1:15 left in the game and the score tied at 105, what would be the deciding statistic of this game?Would the Pacers points at the free throw line (25-14) be enough to overcome all their turnovers? (20 to the Warriors 12)

If the Warriors could get production from the bench, just a morsel, it would be enough. That morsel came from the energy of Brandan Wright, who entered the game for Andris Biedrins in the fourth quarter. Wright grabbed four big rebounds and scored six points on 3/3 shooting. B-Wright surely earned some more playing time with the boost he gave his team down the stretch. A.C. Law also contributed 7 points and made both of the three pointers he attempted, one of them a half court shot to end the third quarter.

Reggie Williams and Vlad Radmanovic struggled and combined to shoot 0-7 from the field and 0-5 from three point range. Both players need to stay aggressive and continue to go to the rim, Williams especially. Reggie is the type of player who can get himself to the foul line when he makes his mind up to drive. The Warriors need to get to the foul line more and that will only happen if players like Williams stay aggressive.

The Pacers could have won this game and were up by as much as 11 points, but they could not stop the Warriors from making plays when it mattered the most.

Monta Ellis missed a jumper with under a minute left, but David Lee fought to keep the possession alive and got the ball back out to Steph Curry, who hit a runner to put the Warriors up 108-105 with 21 seconds in the game. Curry, foolishly fouled Darren Collison on a lay-up and allowed Indiana's point guard to convert a three point play. It wouldn't matter. With the game tied at 108, everyone knew Monta would have the ball in his hands. He hit a tough fadeaway jumper in Danny Granger's face with .06 on the clock and it would be the last make of the game to give the Warriors a third consecutive victory.

Monta continues to prove he is unstoppable with the ball in his hands, as he finished with a game high 36 points, outplayed Danny Granger, and hit the biggest shot of the game. He continues to put up big scoring totals and carry the Warriors when needed. I strongly believe Ellis will be elected as an All-Star reserve. If he doesn't...I strongly question the integrity of the All-Star event.

Warriors cut down Nets on MLK Day at Oracle

2011-01-17T19:16:00.000-08:00

The Warriors are winners of two in a row after beating the Clippers on Jan. 14 and the Nets today in the Marin Luther King Jr. Day matinee at Oracle.

The win over the Clippers was much needed, not only to stay above L.A.'s other team in the standings, but more so the win provided a psychological boost. After losing to the Warriors, the Clippers beat the Lakers and Blake Griffin scored 47 points in a win over the Pacers at Staples Center. The Clippers have some really talented young players on their roster and look to be moving in the right direction. Obviously, Blake Griffin gets all the attention with his dominant play, but Eric Gordon is their guy on the perimeter to compliment Griffin. Gordon proved to be a handful for Warriors defenders as he put both Monta Ellis and Steph Curry in foul trouble throughout the game. These teams will meet for the final time this season on Jan. 22 in L.A.

The Warriors were able to hold off the Nets on Jan. 17 for the MLK day game which started at 1:00 P.M. Both teams looked thrown off by the early start time, as the energy was casual and lacked the intensity. It looked like the speed of a walk-through in practice. While the Warriors led the entire way, the Nets wouldn't die, as they hit shots and out-hustled the Warriors for a few runs. Dorell Wright had a rough game. He wasn't terrible, but he made some errors that showed he wasn't focused. He failed to collect a long rebound that bounced right to him and it led to a Sasha Vujacic jumper. On another play, he got his pocket picked by Brook Lopez on a transition off a Monta Ellis steal. D-Wright's struggles were compounded by some missed lay-ups at point blank range. I like how Keith Smart subbed in Vladamir Radmanovic, who has been giving the Warriors a big boost off the bench. I can live with D-Wright having an off night, especially in a win. He still scored 10 points and he will bounce back against the Pacers on Jan. 19.

The Warriors got solid games from D-Lee and Monta, other than that, they played down to the level of the 10-31 Nets. Ellis scored 26 points and added nine assists and Lee scored 24 points and added 10 rebounds.

Opposing coaches have tried to use more zone defense looks to force the Warriors into settling for perimeter shots. In theory, it doesn't make sense since the Warriors shoot the ball so well, but it's been effective at times. With a dribble perpetrator like Monta Ellis, a big who passes as well as D-Lee, shooters like Curry, D-Wright, Reggie, Vlad...the Warriors should shred anyone who wants to play zone. I would like to see the Warriors use more zone to lure teams into a shootout pace and create fastbreak opportunities off missed jumpers. Maybe it would also help them foul less.

Lakers beat Warriors in thriller, Kobe and Monta duel

2011-01-13T20:35:00.000-08:00

The Warriors should not be disappointed after losing to the Lakers 115-110 Jan. 12. They led the two time defending champs at the end of the first, second, and third quarters. Both teams played their a game. The Warriors moved the ball and hit open shots in the half court and scored fast break points off Lakers turnovers. The Lakers got back in the game with a 15-1 run toward the end of the second quarter.

In the first half, the Warriors didn't commit stupid fouls (outside of Dan Gadzuric), they closed the quarters out strong, and took care of the ball. In the third quarter, they fell back into fouling. The Warriors fouled the Lakers six times before L.A. committed one on the W's. The fouls in the third quarter prevented the Warriors from getting out on that fast break which served them well in the first half. Monta Ellis carried the Warriors and Kobe Bryant carried his Lakers.

In the fourth quarter, the game turned into a duel between Monta and Kobe. Despite the outcome, it was Christmas/Hanuka for basketball fans. Credit the refs for letting the two stars play because it got physical between both of them. Monta got up in Kobe's face and Kobe took Ellis to the rim and scored. Kobe got up in Monta's face, only to have Ellis step around him and hit a reverse lay-up to answer.

The duel between the two unstoppable offensive forces invoked memories of a game I attended with my dad when I was 17 years old. On Dec. 6, 2000 Antawn Jamison and Kobe Bryant each scored 51 points in an overtime thriller won by the Warriors.

The Warriors played a great game, but the Lakers stole the momentum in the fourth quarter with Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom dominating the paint and the front line of the Warriors. The under-performing front line of the Warriors has been a subject of discussion around the Bay Area. Andris Biedrins has been the name people cite when referring to the lack of production. Biedrins, who is making $9 million a year, has not only been unproductive, but has become a liability. His inability to make a free throw has spiraled into a phobia of working around the rim and has made Biedrins down right timid. Opposing team have scouted the Warriors to not pay attention to Biedrins, as his defender can leave him to help on defense.

In 2008-09, Andris averaged double figures. He was a solid pick and roll finisher alongside Baron Davis and cleaned up on tip-in put backs. It seems like Biedrins' struggles are more mental than physical, but they need him to be the player he was back in 2006, 07', 08' in order to compete for a playoff spot. Otherwise, the Warriors are at a big disadvantage when they play any team that matters in the West.

One of those teams are the Clipper, who the Warriors play Friday night at Oracle. The Warriors will have to repeat their brilliance to beat the Clippers, who are playing great basketball right now. The Clippers front line of D'Andre Jordan and Blake Griffin will be a problem once again. But will the Warriors put a body on Jordan? Will they refrain from committed stupid touch fouls? Will they lure the Clippers into a fast break game? If the Warriors can hang close in the rebound category and turn the Clippers over, they'll have a chance.

Warriors take on Lakers for last meeting of season tomorrow

2011-01-11T20:39:00.000-08:00

Still no news on the Carmelo trade talks, except the Nuggets threatened to trade the Melo man to the Knicks, as if to say "you're not my real dad!" The Nuggets front office has handled this whole thing terribly, and I know an incompetent front office from years of being a Warriors fan.

Hopefully a deal doesn't get done before this Monday when the Warriors take on the Nets on a Martin Luther King Jr. Day matinee at Oracle Jan. 17. Anytime the Warriors can avoid playing against Carmelo Anthony is good, no matter what team he plays for.

The time off will surely help the Warriors lingering injuries heal. David Lee's back and elbow, Steph Curry's ankle and hip, Monta Ellis' neck and ankle, Andris Biedrins' ankle, and all the other ailments that go unspoken.

The Warriors should be hungry after an ugly loss to the Cippers in L.A. where they played poorly. Ellis, Curry, and Lee had bad numbers and should bounce back like the professionals they are.

It will be interesting to see how David Lee performs against the Lakers. In first game, he was handily beaten and outplayed by Lamar Odom and held to zero points scored in a 107-83 loss at the Staples Center Oct. 31. In the second meeting against the Lakers on Nov. 21, a 117-89 loss also at Staples, David Lee was inactive. The game before was the loss to the Knicks when Lee encountered Wilson Chandler's foul mouth. The Warriors are still at a disadvantage compared to the Lakers, but I always like the chances of a team in the next game after a frustrating loss.

Carmelo Anthony might be headed to New Jersey

2011-01-10T20:30:00.000-08:00

A Carmelo Anthony trade might actually be happening according to a Yahoo! Sports article by Adam Wojnarowski. The rumor suggests Anthony, Chauncy Billups, and the Piston's Rip Hamilton might soon join the New Jersey Nets. According to the article, the Nuggets would receive Derrick Favors, Devin Harris, and ex-Warrior Anthony Morrow.

Carmelo Anthony has been publicly unhappy in Denver and there were rumors Anthony and Chris Paul would join A'mare Stoudamire in New York to form a "big 3" to compete with Miami. Apparently Denver isn't interested in anything the Knicks have to offer, so New Jersey seems to be the likely home for Carmelo, especially with the deep pockets of Russian zillionaire owner Mikhail Prokhorov.

The Warriors nation would love to see this trade happen. After seeing Stoudamire go to the Knicks and Carlos Boozer going to the Bulls, this could be another shift in power from the West to the Eastern Conference, a shift that certainly behooves the Warriors along with some other teams.

If the Nuggets lose Anthony and Billups, they will likely miss the playoffs. Also, the Suns are a team on the decline after trading away Jason Richardson and Hedo Turkoglu as well as the questionable health of Steve Nash. The New Orleans Hornets are also not a lock to be in the playoffs. If the Nuggets aren't in, that really opens up the sixth, seventh, and eighth spots in the West. That means the Hornets, Blazers, Rockets, Grizzlies, Suns, Warriors, and Clippers will all compete for those last three spots.

If the Warriors can take advantage of this home stand that goes through January and into early February, they can take advantage of the Western Conference becoming slightly weaker. That's if the 'Melo deal actually goes down.

Warriors terrible in loss to Clippers

2011-01-09T19:07:00.000-08:00

The Warriors took a step backward in a frustrating loss to the Clippers Jan. 9 at Staples. Blake Griffin and Baron Davis had double doubles and Eric Gordon poured in 25 points in a disjointed game with no flow. The Warriors committed 32 of the game's 52 total fouls, many of those fouls were of the touch variety.

Monta Ellis and Steph Curry combined to go 6-32 from the field and David Lee looked like Peter Griffin against Blake. Lee finished with 8 points and 3 rebounds. Outside of Dorell Wright, the Warriors were awful. That's what happens when a team like the Warriors plays a team like the Cavs, the overall play goes down from competing against a lesser opponent.

The Warriors didn't work to create good shots and constant fouls prevented them from initiating early offense or any type of fast break. The W's showed a general lack of energy against an active and talented young team.

The Clippers are a team on the rise. Since team USA last summer, Eric Gordon continues to prove he is growing into an elite scorer in the NBA. Baron Davis is rejuvenated and Blake Griffin has provided B.D. with assists galore. Griffin's activity drives this team. When Chris Kaman gets back, this team will have some depth and be a factor for the 8th spot in the Western Conference playoffs.

The NBA is funny. Sometimes teams come out and simply play bad. Even the Lakers, who were a juggernaut, stumbled for a stretch of games when Andrew Bynum was reintroduced into the lineup. The Warriors are allowed a poor game and so is Monta Ellis.

The Warriors will be home for the rest of January and be able to practice. This game will give Keith Smart a long list of things NOT TO DO. The Warriors cannot afford to commit so many fouls, especially touch fouls. The Warriors need to work on three on two and two on one fast break conversions. These are must-have opportunities which must be converted in order for the Warriors to beat any decent team and they've been poor at converting these. The Warriors need to do a better job of closing out quarters as the Clippers won the game in the last five minutes of the second quarter on a 21-4 run.

The Warriors shouldn't play this bad in the next game, unfortunately the next game is against the Lakers. It should be competitive, unlike the previous meeting with Lakers where the Warriors were flogged the whole game. The Warriors get the opportunity to avenge this loss on Friday Jan. 14 at Oracle. I think Ellis will have a big game.

W's handle injury riddled Cavs in a laugher, 116-98

2011-01-08T19:16:00.000-08:00

Aside from the meetings against the T'Wolves, the Jan. 6 game against the Cavs was a laugher and I hate games like that.

The Warriors played down to the Cavs level and didn't have to work to score. The body language of the Warriors players was casual. Rather than take the Cavs seriously and finish the game early, they let Cleveland hang around in the first half. The Warriors, now the NBA's best three point shooting team, poured in the treys as they hit nine of their first 12 attempts, but sharp shooting will not always be there.

The Warriors turned the ball over, but Cleveland was simply awful and didn't punish Warriors misques. Any other team would have burned the Warriors for the mistakes they made, but the Cavs were too bumbling. The Warriors played tight defense when the Cavs knocked on the door, but the defense was fairly casual for most of the game. The Cavs shot themselves in the foot with unforced errors and turn overs.

The most disappointing event in the contest was when Mo Williams committed a flagrant foul on Steph Curry in the third quarter. With the contest well out of hand at that point, a frustrated Williams wrapped up Curry while the W's guard was gliding in the air on a breakaway layup and totally vulnerable. Curry fell hard on his hip and left the game. Curry converted his free throw attempts, left the game, and returned briefly in the fourh quarter.

Usually when defenders commit that "wrap up" type of foul, they hold onto the offensive player to slow their momentum. It's what Jim Barnett calls professional courtesy. Maybe if this was game seven of the NBA Finals, I could see that type of foul being more appropriate (a la Detroit Pistons of the 80's), but that was not the situation. The Warriors were trouncing Mo's poor Cavs with minimal effort, his pal LeBron ditched him for Miami, and his team is the worst in the league. The Warriors, however; are still competing to make the playoffs in the Western conference and Steph Curry is an integral part of the Warriors accomplishing that.

Mo Williams: LeBron left the team largely because he didn't believe in you. You turtled under pressure in the playoffs, but at least you won't have to worry about being in the playoffs for a long time, maybe the rest of your career. I almost feel sorry for you, Mo. Just last season you LeBron, and all the Cavs were dancing and choreographing pre-game routines, and now your team is a long faced bunch that can't beat anyone. Don't mess up our season just because LBron didn't think you were good enough and took his talents to South Beach. Your foul on Curry was classless. To quote Kobe Bryant, "You need a hug."

I was pleased to see David Lee shove Williams to the floor with 3:34 left in the game as Williams went up for a layup. Lee could have fouled even harder, but he just wanted to send a message, not actually jeopardize Williams health like Mo's foul on Curry.

Hopefully eating a cupcake like the Cavs didn't make the Warriors too soft for the next game against the Clippers Sunday Jan. 9. The Clippers are playing great basketball. Baron Davis is playing like the Baron Warriors fans grew to love back in 2006-07' and he has Blake Griffin to throw down his passes for dunks. While Davis and Griffin are threatening to put up double-doubles, Eric Gordon can quietly rip of a 30 point game. There will be some interesting match-ups in this game. Will Monta guard Baron? Or will Keith Smart use Dorell Wright like he did against Chris Paul in the fourth quarter? Perhaps Ekpe Udoh will be called upon to defend Blake Griffin.

The game is a matinee, 12:30 on Sunday Jan. 9.

Warriors beat Hornets 110-103 in New Orleans

2011-01-05T20:43:00.000-08:00

The Warriors entered this game with a fully healthy roster for the first time in 202 games (as told by telecaster Bob Fitzgerald) and it made the difference in a big road win against a quality opponent.

Both teams shot the ball well to start, but the Hornets took control of the momentum with a 9-0 run. Amidst the brief scoring drought, the Warriors tried to feed Lou Amundson in the post and A.C. Law took and missed some jumpers. The Hornets rejoiced to see these players try to initiate offense, rather than watch Monta Ellis, Steph Curry, or Dorell Wright shred them.

The Warriors bench was outplayed by that of New Orleans in the second quarter. The defense of the Hornets forced the Warriors into some ugly offensive possessions and the W's finished the half at 42 percent from the field.

Every team goes through dry stretches during a game. The good teams find a way to get to the foul line to survive these stretches. The Warriors were able to do this during their push in the fourth quarter, but not so much in the second quarter. The Hornets pushed their lead with a 12-0 run.

In the third quarter the Warriors were near flat line, down 13 points with four minutes left. A 9-0 run sparked by some three point connections by Ellis got the W's back within four, but they let the Hornets push it back to 10 going into the fourth.

The fourth quarter was dominated by the Warriors, as they went on a 13-3 run to start what would be a 38 point quarter and pull out an important victory for this team looking to make a run this month.

The emergence of Ekpe Udoh is a big boost to this Warriors front line. Udoh didn't light up the boxscore, but his activity and energy make him valuable on defense. On offense, he had a nice post up baby hook over David West in the fourth quarter. It showed his patience, skill, and readiness to play with the first team in a pressure situation.

The Warriors are a running team that thrives on early offense and struggle when the pace of play slows up. With a healthy roster, it will be fun to see how players who have not had court time with one another, develop chemistry.

Warriors fall to Magic 110-90

2011-01-03T20:09:00.000-08:00

The Florida road trip, against the Heat and Magic, is equally as tough as the the Texas trip against the Spurs and Mavs.

The Warriors losses to the Heat and Magic were similar. The Warriors moved the ball on offense, specifically with Monta Ellis penetrating the lane then kicking to open three point shooters. They didn't have David Lee to work any inside game and the Warriors couldn't get to the rim when Dwight Howard was in the game. Still, they found ways to manufacture points by forcing turnovers and getting solid bench production.

Brandon Wright played his best game of the year as he scored seven points and grabbed six rebounds in 19 minutes. Hopefully the playing time will give B-Wright more confidence when Keith Smart needs him. Ekpe Udoh played better than the six points and four rebounds in the box score. He is a clever shot challenger on defense, as he doesn't commit many fouls. Udoh is also patient on offense. He can hit that 15 foot jumper and his pet shot is a baby hook inside.

In the second quarter, Monta Ellis sat for the first nine minutes and Reggie Williams produced seven points while the W's MVP rested.

The third quarter was a repeat of the Heat game Jan. 1. The Magic scored the first nine points of the half and grabbed momentum, as they hit 8-10 from three to start the half. The three's started falling for the Magic and the Warriors looked a bit demoralized. They couldn't seem to find the energy to chase three point shooters off the line and they weren't sharp executing the offense.

The Warriors need to find a way to work through the pattern of not knowing where to go when the perimeter looks don't fall. The three point shooting can disappear as quickly as it comes. They must find a way to run some plays through Monta, D-Lee, or D-Wright to force the refs to call fouls. When the shots aren't falling for good NBA teams, they force their way to the free throw line and stay in the game that way.Free throws also stop teams from ripping off big runs by slowing the pace of the game. The Warriors get to passive when they shoot well, but that's who they are. The three ball is their ticket to win.

The Magic, like the Warriors, need to hit three's to win. They count on teams doubling Dwight Howard, who kicks it out, then the ball rotates around the perimeter until it finds the most open shooter. It will be interesting to see how Eastern conference teams decide to play Howard. Will they live with him pushing his way around inside and stay home on perimeter shooters, or will they double more and risk leaving people open?

Eastern conference at a glance

The Celtics have played the best basketball so far, but health could be a problem down the stretch. Rajon Rondo and Kevin Garnett are the two players they cannot be without in the playoffs. The Magic, like the Mavs, are a better regular season team than a playoff team. They have too many liabilities on defense to win the East, let alone win a championship. Barring an injury to one of the "big 3", the Heat should be the team to come out of the East this year. They play defense, they can get to the line and make free throws, they run the floor...they can play grind out or shoot out. They will only build more chemistry as April approaches.

Warriors outlook

The Warriors went 1-3 for this road trip, but competed well. The loss to the Hawks was close the whole way and they gave both the Heat and Magic a first half scare. D-Wright is blossoming into a trusty offensive option and the bench is giving the Warriors more production. The Warriors should get Andris Biedrins back soon and get 10 out of 13 games at home in January. If the Warriors are going to get it together and make a push, this is the month it will happen.

Warriors barely beat Bobcats 96-95

2010-12-31T17:26:00.000-08:00

The Warriors beat the Bobcats by one point and could have easily lost. If Stephen Jackson hits that three to beat the Warriors on the last shot, it would have erased any momentum left over from the three game win streak (before the loss to the Hawks) and negated the dramatic finish in Sacramento Dec. 21.

This game was ugly, sloppy, and poorly played by both teams. Even the officials struggled to make simple calls in this game. Officials David Guthrie, Ron Garretson and Karl Lane couldn't please either side as they called touchy fouls, yet allowed rough play at times. The worst officiating blunder came with 1:36 in the game when Boris Diau caught his own air ball for a put back miss and play continued without a traveling violation. Guthrie nearly gave the ball to the Bobcats, but they got it right and gave the ball back to Golden State.

None of these officials will work the playoffs (and might not finish the season) as they made the league look bad with the way they handled this game.

In the actual game, the Warriors started off with blistering hot shooting, as they went 7-7 and jumped out to a 16-4 lead. They cooled off and started to miss shots. The Bobcats did well to clean the defensive glass and push the ball on the Warriors, who played poor transition defense. The Warriors played some really uninspired basketball during the second quarter and would have got down by more if they were playing a higher quality opponent. Thankfully the Bobcats are happy to turn the ball over and Stephen Jackson didn't have a good game.

Steph Curry had a nice game in his return home to the Queen city. Curry was 10-17, hit his first four three point shots, and finished the game with 24 points. Ellis scored 25 points, and Dorell Wright contributed 17 on 6-13 shooting.

The officials missed some calls down the stretch that could have really hurt the Warriors, but sloppy play was more to blame for the mini-collapse in the fourth quarter. The inability to secure defensive rebounds gave the Bobcats chance after chance. That will be something the Warriors will focus on and it will be a problem that corrects itself upon the return of Andris Biedrins.

The Warriors play the Heat tomorrow, a nasty match up for a back to back. Hopefully the big three are partying tonight and come into the game hungover. That would be the Warriors only shot because the Heat are, in this fan's opinion, the second best team in the league right now next to the Spurs.

Happy new year Warriors fans. May 2011 be filled with good health and success.

Warriors fall to Hawks 103-93 in first game of East coast trip

2010-12-29T20:09:00.000-08:00

To ask the Warriors to beat the Hawks in Atlanta would have been too much. Not completely out of the question, but several Warriors would have had to contribute big. Dorell Wright played the best game of his career as he scored 32 points (career high), grabbed 11 boards, and made two steals. D-Wright was also 4-9 from three point range. The Warriors also got 10 points from Lou Amundson, who played his best game in a Warriors uniform. If I didn't see the stats of Warriors not named Dorell or Lou, I would have assumed the Warriors won.

Not if Monta Ellis and Steph Curry combine for 21 points. It's not like they played poorly. Curry missed all three of his three point attempts and the Hawks prevented Ellis from getting to the rim. I hate to make excuses for Monta, but he rolled his ankle on the Christmas day win over the Blazers on a play in the fourth quarter. It happened when Monta intercepted a pass and ran it back for a breakaway dunk. Portland subsequently called timeout and you could see Ellis hobble toward the Warriors bench. Otherwise we would have seen his typical video game-ish performance.

The Hawks deserve credit for having a good defensive game plan. They packed the lane and dared the Warrior sto shoot jumpers. It worked in the beginning, but when the shots didn't fall for the Warriors, the Hawks put together some runs to separate themselves. The first run was an 8-0 run about half way through the first quarter. The next big run was a 13-0 push in the second quarter. The Warriors missed jumpers and Atlanta pounded the ball into the paint with Al Horford and Zaza Pachulia.

The Hawks locked up the Warriors, except for D-Wright, who's shooting kept the Warriors from getting blown out. It appeared D-Wright was more assertive on offense because he knew Monta wasn't at full strength with that sore ankle.

The Warriors started the half out nicely with Curry hitting a jumper off a well designed inbound play. After that, the Warriors looked like a jet-lagged bunch. A few sloppy turnovers, sluggish transition defense, and lack of execution on offense led to 9-0 Hawks run. Two threes by Mike Bibby and one trey from Joe Johnson. The Warriors countered with a 10-2 run of their own to make the score 67-63 Hawks. That was as close as they'd get.

The game was essentially over with 5:44 in the fourth when Josh Smith tossed an ally-oop to Al Horford to put the Hawks up 10. The Warriors couldn't make up any ground from that point on.

The Warriors didn't play bad, but "not bad" doesn't beat this Hawks team in Atlanta. The Warriors made some sloppy turnovers. When D-Wright got his pocket picked at half court in traffic on a fast break with the Warriors down just four points, that killed any momentum. They didn't get the breaks needed to beat a solid playoff caliber team on the road. This game wasn't a blowout by any means. The Hawks just out-executed the Warriors and got higher percentage points in the paint.

Hopefully the Warriors can put this game behind and take advantage of a very beatable Bobcats squad. Of course, I'd love to see the Warriors beat Stephen Jackson. Speaking of solid small forwards, I'd like to see Dorell Wright stay hot. D-Wright has back to back games with 20 points and has fourished with the return of Curry as another shooter opposing defenses must account for.

Warriors top 76ers 110-95, winners of three in a row

2010-12-28T20:13:00.000-08:00

The Warriors are winners of three games in a row after beating the 76ers Dec. 27 at Oracle. The 76ers were without Andre Iguadala and the Warriors were without Andris Biedrins.

Summery

The Warriors controlled the first five minutes of the game and went up 16-4. Philly controlled the rest of the first quarter thanks to a 16-2 run. The Warriors shot the ball well and created turnovers, but the 76ers bullied their way to the free throw line and found points in the paint.

In the second quarter, the Warriors looked sloppy with the ball and got out-worked. They were able to stay in the game with outstanding three point shooting. With 2:26 in the second, Curry stole a post pass and sent along outlet pass to Rodney Carney. Carney missed the dunk, but Lee jammed home the miss to put the Warriors up 46-45 (It would be 47-45 after a Rodney Carney shot was ruled a three pointer).

At the half, the Warriors had 18 points off turnovers to Philly's mere 2. The Warriors were 9-13 from three point range.

The Warriors started the third quarter leading 55-49, but looked sluggish. They ran several offensive possessions through Lou Amundson. Lou is a nice player, but he is at his best without the ball, cleaning up the glass. Dorell Wright's shooting and Elton Brand's rebounding led each team in the third quarter.

When the fourth quarter came, the Warriors put the game away early...with Monta Ellis resting! The Warriors striped the ball from three point range. Wright, Curry, Radmanovic, and reliable David Lee ran away with this game during the first six minutes of the fourth.

Breakdown

This was the most balanced the Warriors have looked since November. When Dorell Wright scores 20 points or more, the Warriors have a great chance to win. he scored 28 points and went 5-7 from three point range. Also, he got to the line on some crafty pump fakes when the Warriors really needed to get to the line.

David Lee went for 21 points and 16 rebounds. It's good to see the rebounding numbers get back to what he is capable.

Lee also looks comfortable with his shooting, a good sign his elbow is getting better.

Monta Ellis scored 22 points, below his 26 PPG, but he dished 12 assists.

After poor shooting in his first game back, Curry found his stroke and put in 17 points with 4-6 from three point range. It's nice to see Curry back, but it seems that Reggie Williams has struggled to find his rhythm with less minutes. Hopefully Reggie can get back to his December form when he led the NBA in three point shooting percentage.

Warriors beat Blazers on Christmas Day 109-102; Ellis scores 39

2010-12-26T22:26:00.000-08:00

The Warriors have won two games in a row, something not seen since November. The win over the Kings was big. The Warriors played well, without Andris Biedrins, then blew an 11 point lead to get down 16 to Sacramento into the fourth quarter. The fourth quarter comeback took guts, and was fueled with aggressive performances by Vlade Radmanovic and Reggie Williams. But Monta Ellis and the opponents inability to stop him made the difference for the Warriors. It was an ugly game, but the most important win since the Warriors beat the Jazz in early November.

Steph Curry suited up for the first time in 17 games and started for Keith Smart. Curry struggled from the field but moved the ball on offense to make up for his lack of scoring. Curry finished 2-15 from the field, 0-5 from three, but made 11 assists. Keith Smart also limited Curry's minutes to 29; a reasonable move with how well Reggie has been scoring lately. If Curry would have shot the ball more efficiently...sure, the Warriors would have won by a bigger margin. But Curry's assists and ball movement made a big difference.

Again, Monta Ellis carried the load. Ellis scored 39 points and made seven assists to go along with two steals, the biggest one came with under two minutes in the game. David Lee was the only player to offer any support on the offensive end for most of the way. Lee found a nice touch with the mid-range jumper and finished with 21 points, but didn't rebound as well as he is capable. If Lee can ice skate, he should play for the San Jose Sharks with his toughness. He had an abscess in his left shooting elbow, but played through debilitating injury because the Warriors need him to have a chance. One good arm or two.

Monta hit jumpers and unbelievable shots around the rim. Lee hit mid-range jumpers. the Blazers Killed the Warriors on the boards. The Warriors made defensive stops and Blazers earned second and third chance possessions with tireless work on the offensive glass.

Portland out-rebounded Golden State 53-32. The Blazers owned the offensive rebounds 24-7. This match-up made Biedrins' post presence and rebounding sorely missed. With the game tight all the way, the Warriors needed one more player other than Ellis and Lee to add double figure scoring. It was Radmanovic versus the Kings on Dec. 21. Dorell Wright was that third scorer to give the Warriors enough to beat the Blazers on Christmas day. D-Wright hit a three pointer with 3:35 left in the game to tie the score at 97. On the next possession, he got a steal and dunk to put the Warriors ahead for good.

The Warriors won the game by stopping the Blazers and found ways to collect defensive rebounds.

Western Conference pecking order

There are three groups in the Western Conference. The good, the eighth seed, and the ugly. The good consists of the top seven teams that will make up the #1 though #7 seeds in the West. The eighth seeds teams are self explanatory, and the bad are simply that.

The good: Spurs, Mavs, Lakers, Jazz, Thunder, Hornets, Nuggets. These teams have deep benches and one or more dominant superstars on the roster. The Spurs and Mavs are arguably in another class above the rest.

There are five teams competing for one spot in the West, the eighth seed. These teams are the Blazers, Suns, Rockets, Grizzlies, and Warriors. This group of teams would be perennial playoff participants if they played in the East, but this is the West. When completely healthy, the Warriors are a realistic eight. Completely healthy... hmm, what's that like?

The ugly are the Clippers, Kings, and T' wolves. These teams can't wait for the draft.

Next game: 76ers @ Warriors 7:30, Monday, Dec. 27

Warriors beat Kings in overtime, Ellis scores 36

2010-12-22T11:45:00.000-08:00

Certain games are turning points in a team's season. For instance, the game when the Miami Heat and the maligned LeBron James returned to Cleveland to play the Cavs. James burned his former squad and the Heat trounced the inferior Cleveland Cavs. The Heat were a different team after that game, their chemistry was better. The animosity toward James helped Miami form stronger bonds. I have your back and you have mine.

The Warriors turned a corner with the overtime win in Sacramento Dec. 21.

They outplayed the Kings for the first quarter and a half. They held the Kings (Outside of Beno Udrich) to low field goal percentage and ran the floor to hold a lead for most of eight to 10 points most of the way through the first half. Then came the meltdown. Just like the night before against the Rockets. Sacramento finished the first half on a 9-0 run and took the momentum into their locker room at the half.

Here we go again. I can't watch this. These were the sentiments of Warriors fans as the Kings got right back into the game. The Warriors slowed their pace and started doing that fouling thing again. Turnovers added to a demoralizing third quarter.

Neither team could finish the other off, no matter how many opportunities they had to step on the throat. The Kings let the Warriors back into the game in the fourth quarter. Vladamir Radmanovic gave the Warriors a huge boost off the bench with 15 points and the biggest shot of the season, a game tying three point heave from 31 feet as regular time expired. Radmanovic, who has been a non-factor this season, showed he is capable of providing much needed bench scoring. I'd like to see Vlad share minutes with Dorell Wright at the small forward position, especially when Biedrins comes back.

Monta Ellis should be an All-Star this year. He scored 44 Dec. 20 on the Rockets and followed that with 36 on the Kings. Ellis put the Warriors on his back and carried them through poor play. Like a true superstar, he took control of the game in overtime and dominated.

If the Warriors would have lost this game, the story would have been about how they blew an 11 point lead in the first half and imploded. The story would have been about disappointment and frustration. A win over the Kings is nothing to brag about, but a loss would have been back-breaking.

The energy from a dramatic win like this will carry over into the next game against the Blazers, when the Warriors are expected to get Steph Curry back. I expect the Warriors to beat the Blazers and carry this momentum further into the season. The Warriors won beat the Kings by getting a contribution from every player who played. Ekpe Udoh didn't score, but protected the rim. Reggie and Vlad brought points. A.C. Law bought Ellis some rest. David Lee is hockey tough and, along with Ellis, is the rock of this team. When Curry returns, this team will contend with the good teams in this league.

Warriors mistakes lead to Rockets win 121-112

2010-12-20T22:10:00.000-08:00

The way the Warriors finished the second half is a microcosm of the Warriors tough season so far, with frustrating self inflicted damage. With under 30 seconds left in the first half, Monta Ellis stole a Chuck Hayes pass and started a fast break. He passed to Rodney Carney, who missed a fast break lay-up and Louis Amundson kept it alive, yet failed to finish. No Warriors player was back to defend a long outlet pass to a wide open Kyle Lowry. On the following play, Lowry picked a point black inbound pass from Dorell Wright and was fouled hard by a frustrated Wright. The Rockets capped off a 7-0 run with an inbound play to Luis Scola with .3 seconds to shoot. Scola hit a shot right out a game of 'tip-it' from about eight feet on the baseline.

It was a pathetic display, a lack of focus, and overall careless basketball.

With no Curry, the Warriors needed offense. Ellis gave his max effort with 44 points, while Reggie Williams and Dorell Wright essentially contributed nothing (They combined for 20, some of those points in garbage time). Ellis went 15-20 from the field, 3-4 from three, and 11-14 from the line. He also added seven assists and three steals to negate his three turnovers. In two games against the Rockets at Oracle this season, Ellis has scored 90 points.

Dorell Wright shows resemblance to Al Harrington offensively. Wright is a better defender, but they both can be feast or famine with scoring. Like Harrington back in 2007, if Wright scores 20 or more, the Warriors have probably won. I'd be interested to see those statistics.

The Warriors need another player at small forward to supplement D-Wright's minutes. They can live with A.C. Law and Jeremy Lin at back up point guards, but a solid SF is key. D-Wright is still growing and improving as a young player in this league, but he doesn't look ready to handle the heavy minutes at this point in his career (Welcome to Golden State-all hands on deck!). D-Wright should get more open three point looks when Curry returns, as Steph draws heavy attention with his own shooting ability.

Ekpe Udoh showed why he was the sixth overall pick in the draft. Udoh played with energy, rebounded, showcased his baby hook in the lane, blocked two shots, and showed awareness as a passer of the ball, as he made three assists. With just over nine minutes in the fourth quarter, Udoh jammed home an Ellis miss with the left hand and sprinted back down to block a Courtney Lee lay-up on the other end. Udoh's effort caused Oracle Arena to erupt and earned the rookie the respect of the NBA's finest fans. Udoh's enrgy also sparked the Warriors, who used the momentum to take a two point lead after an Ellis made three.

The lead was short lived, as the Warriors fell apart somewhat like they did to end the first half. It was essentially over when Shane Battier hit a three just under 2:00 minutes. The Warriors stopped the Rockets on the next possession, but Kyle Lowry stole Vlad Radmonovic's rebound and was taken down by Vlad for a flagrant foul. Lowry hit two free throws to put the Rockets up 108-101. More foolish and careless basketball.

Kevin Martin scored 30 points to lead the Rockets. Martin was 7-14 shooting, 3-4 from three, and 13-13 from the line. Martin is an interesting player to officiate, as he is clever like Derron Williams is on Utah. (But with a different game) Martin knows he is an elite free throw shooter, so he is trying to create contact any way he can. He is quick, but not fast. Defenders respect his ability to shoot and that allows Martin to get by defenders without having speed. It's frustrating to see officials call such soft fouls on Martin while big players get batted around with no call. But elite shooters get away with a lot in the NBA.

Next game: Kings at Arco Arena 7:00 P.M.