I have been a Warriors fan since before i can remember, but when I REALLY started understanding basketball and knowing what was going on was around the 89-90 season I was 8 years old.
Fav. Current Warrior? Why?
My current favorite Warrior Player is Monta Ellis (Head Leader). Like most Warrior fans I have seen this kid go from a super skinny and small second round pick to his current status now as the Warriors best player and snubbed All Star.
There have been some ups and downs, but this kids resiliency and will to be the best really shine through on a night in and night out basis. I am a huge fan of guys who LOVE the game of basketball and in my opinion Monta REALLY loves the game, he’s not just in it for the money in my opinion, I feel he really wants to be the best player he can be, and that’s evident in his evolution as a player on and off the court.
Fav. All time Warrior? Why?
Tim Hardaway…why? UTEP-Two Step. Not only did Tim Hardaway have one of the most explosive crossover moves (that worked almost every time) he was also one of the most creative finishers around the basket. He made the most difficult looking layups look easy and I don’t care if he didn’t know how to speak English correctly.
Fav. Moment?
I had to think about this for a minute. the “obvious” moment would be when we defeated the Mavs in the playoffs in ’07. But actually my FAVORITE moment was when we drafted Chris Webber. I was a HUGE Fab 5 fan back in the day and I really love Forwards with basketball skills (passing especially) and I felt Chris Webber would be a legit Hall of Fame player which he still is in my opinion. It’s a shame things worked out how they did, but that’s life as a Warriors fan.
Worst moment as a Warriors fan?
Hands down, the worst moment was when we drafted Patrick O’Bryant.
In fact I was at the Warriors official Draft party and got interviewed by a reporter and he asked me specifically who did I NOT want the Warriors to draft. I answered Patrick O’Bryant.
Anyone who watches college basketball, could have told you that Patrick O’Braynt is the kind of guy who was blessed with size and decent athleticism for a big man, but his HEART was not in basketball. Like I said I’m a HUGE fan of guys who LOVE the game, not a knock on Patrick but I just KNEW that he would never amount to anything in the League…or any other league…EVER…and WE drafted him…(I’m STILL mad)
What’s your feelings on the current Ownership/Management of the Warriors?
I feel as though our owner doesn’t care about winning or basketball for that matter. We as FANS aren’t doing our part to make them care. We religiously buy season tickets, and tickets to games when we haven’t had a winning season more then twice in the last 17 years, that’s ridiculous. Meanwhile the guy who could care less just continues to milk the cow…(why should he care when people keep buying the “Potential”)..He needs to sell the Team to Larry Ellison, someone who could give the loyal and passionate Bay Area basketball fans what we DESERVE.
You’re named Warriors GM, How would you improve the team? What changes do you think need to be made?
Four Words. Corey. Maggette. Sell. High.
You can bring any current NBA player to the Warriors, who would it be?
Obviously, LeBron James. He is the type of player that comes into the NBA once every 10-15 years. He has the talent to get lesser players easier shots, create his own shot, and he is the prototypical player you could realistically BUILD a championship team around.
Finish the sentence, When the warriors win the championship, I will…..?
Be the most unruly person in the Bay Area for an entire year…no one will be able to talk to me about anything basketball related without me saying the following ” Oh I’m sorry, I only discuss basketball with fans of teams who have won the championship since they have been alive…”
Do you visit Warriorsworld.net?
I check out the main page of WW and the forums. My favorite part of WW.net is the interviews with the lovely hostess Lucena.
BIO:
Name: Jason Battle
AGE: 28
From: Richmond, CA (Currently residing in San Francisco CA) Twitter.com/FRSHBattle
The trading deadline has passed, and the Warriors will spend the rest of the season seeing how good Stephen Curry is, how well he and Monta Ellis can play together, and how Raja Bell fits into the blend. Warriorsworld.net’s senior editor Rasheed Malek along with contributing writers Sherwood Strauss and Rick Blaine answer a few questions that Warriors fans might be asking regarding the first half of the season, last week’s trade activity, and the rest of this season. Feel free to chime in with your own answers in the forum.
Word Association:
Larry Riley
Nellie’s BFF–Sheed
Muppet—Sherwood Strauss
Andy Griffith—Rick Blaine
Larry Ellison
Savior– Sheed
Poker—Strauss
Redeemer—Blaine
Season Ticket Holders
Diehards–Sheed
Duped—Strauss
Enablers (if they renew) —Blaine
Anthony Morrow
Automatic–Sheed
Swish—Strauss
Money—Blaine
Corey Maggette
Free-Throws–Sheed
Squeal—Strauss
Chemistry killer—Blaine
Monta Ellis
Head Leader–Sheed
Scowl—Strauss
Future All Star (on another team, of course) —Blaine
Andris Biedrins
Hair Gel–Sheed
Gump—Strauss
Slumping—Blaine
Bob Fitzgerald
Great Employee–Sheed
Whine—Strauss
TC Firehouse—Blaine
Warriors fans
Tortured–Sheed
Ouch—Strauss
Self Loathing—Blaine
Can Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry co-exist?
Sheed: No, Monta had it right from the beginning. A backcourt of Ellis/Curry isn’t going to get you many wins. One of them gets moved this summer, most likely Ellis.
Strauss: No, the dye was cast with the three million dollar fine. Even with an undercurrent of good chemistry it’d be difficult to overcome the collective size deficiency.
My caveat is that with new ownership/coaching/vibe, that situation could change.
Blaine: Ellis and Curry should coexist, but they won’t. Ellis resents Curry’s presence. How many times have we seen him give Curry the cold shoulder? Ellis’s ego and preconceptions have ruined any chance of him and Curry developing good chemistry. Too bad, because Ellis was playing at an All Star level the first quarter of the season, but as Curry’s star began to rise during the second quarter, Ellis’s began to dim. The once efficient Ellis has become a volume scorer and his market value has taken a hit. This is already Curry’s team—at least is should be—and I doubt Ellis can abide.
Now that the trade deadline has passed, and the Warriors have stood pat, what has to happen between now and the beginning of next season in order for the team to become playoff worthy?
Sheed: Easy, ownership change.
Strauss: I’m still down to swap Monta for OJ Mayo. I don’t even like OJ—I just want Curry to handle the rock strafed by a legit shooting guard.
I differ from many in that I believe the Warriors are talented (upon my writing that, the Oakland PD is knocking on my door, prepared to drag me to a drunk tank). So I’d advocate an OKC approach. Draft Evan Turner, and…wait. No get rich quick schemes, just patient, responsible team building. Sounds crazy, right?
Blaine: The playoffs are a long shot under any circumstance. A tall order even for America’s Cup winner Larry Ellison should he buy the team this year. The best hope of getting on track towards the playoff is for Cohan, if he is not going to sell the team, or the new owner to clean house. Purge the front office. Get rid of Rowell, Riley, and Nelson. This organization needs a completely new identity and image. Bring in a great basketball mind to be the General Manager, someone who relates well with players, is the respected throughout the league, and has the aptitude to tackle the financial aspects of the business side of the operation. The selection should be a break with the past, not a former Warrior. The new GM should have attained championship-level success, someone like a Rudy Tomjanovich, Pat Riley, or even Mike Krzyzewski. (Yes, Coach K. He had recent success with NBA athletes at the China Olympics.) The newly appointed General Manager should then select a coach who works well with young players, and is a teacher who runs an elegant offense (a Bay Area must) and preaches defense and rebounding.
After selecting a new coach, the new GM should trade for a dominant player who will mesh with the young talent on the team, preferably a strong finisher who will be on the receiving end of Curry’s passes. He will need to find for Curry his own Karl Malone or Amar’e Stoudemire.
The Warriors are likely to have a top 5 draft pick, but this is a weak draft class. They should package Ellis and their draft pick for an established star on draft night, or make a sign-and-trade deal thereafter, which involves Ellis and our pick.
Finally, the Warriors should improve the chemistry of the team. They need to find players who are willing to play for the team and meet team objectives. This is always the challenge of coaching, and every coach needs to have a dominant star who leads by example and demand conformance from his teammates. Stephen Curry may very well be that leader in the future. He needs to be paired with another star to make that happen. No one on this roster fills that bill at this time.
Evaluate Corey Maggette
Sheed: Scoring machine who can get to the line as well as any player in the NBA. Ideal 6th man on a winning team, scapegoat on a losing team. Consummate professional who doesn’t complain and simply does what is asked of him.
Strauss: Misunderstood, and my friends are still clowning me for thinking so. He’s selfish, he flops, these traits are annoying. But if he’s so awful for the Warriors, why isn’t the stink reflected in his +/- numbers? My take: He’s played for the Clippers and Dubs. You can’t make a silk purse out of that, let alone sow ears.
Blaine: First the good. Maggette comes across as a great guy in interviews. He’s a solid citizen and this year appears to be a glue guy in the locker room. Wisdom comes with age. He became much less of a black hole after getting booed by fans early this season. He has looked to pass the ball much more.
Now the bad. In spite of his improvements, the offense still stifles when he is in the game. Too often, fluid ball movement is terminated when the ball comes to him. Playing for a coach who gives his veterans carte blanch, Maggette has not worked out well. Even with his improvements this season, Maggette cannot shake his reputation around the league of being a stat whore. He will be difficult to trade, and I think the only chance they have will be NEXT season’s trade deadline. The Warriors are stuck. The only way to make lemonade out of this lemon is put him in the role of 6th man and cease and desist with playing him at the power forward spot.
Which NBA team helped themselves the most with trades last week?
Sheed: Dallas. They are the 3rd best team in the West behind only the Lakers and Nuggets. Caron Butler gives them toughness and another offensive threat who can take some of the load off of Dirk Nowitzki’s back. Look for them to be a tough out in the playoffs as neither Denver or Los Angelese will look forward to playing them.
Strauss: Cleveland. I’ve read a lot of analysis on this trade but I’m not sure such incisive examination was needed. Jamison’s already the second best player on a team that had the top pre-trade deadline record. Lebron + Three other three point shooters. JJ Hickson upgraded to Twan. Be afraid, East, be very afraid.
Oh, and I love how the Bobcats got Ty Thom for nothing. The Cats might turn into the most frightening defensive team ever (If Tyrus Thomas can de-crazy himself).
Blaine: Not the Warriors. Teams involved in trades last week either helped their cap situation significantly or added talent in areas of need. The Warriors did neither. Cleveland has to be the answer here. They needed to pair Lebron James with another star, and Antoine Jamison fits the bill. He is not quite Amar’e Stoudemire, but he’s a very close second. He’s not just a terrific forward, but he’s one of the league’s great ambassadors. He will be a terrific compliment to James and O’Neil. He will fit in well and do whatever Cleveland asks of him. If James pairs well with Jamison, and they win it all, James may re-sign with Cavs, making it, therefore, one of the great trades in NBA history. It could be the trade that saves the city of Cleveland. And Lord knows, Cleveland, which was recently ranked by Yahoo as America’s most miserable city , is in need of redemption.
What playoff matchups do you want to see?
Sheed: Denver vs Lakers, Cavs vs Celtics, Lakers vs Cavs.
Strauss: Bobcats vs. Celtics, Lakers vs. Denver, Lakers vs Dallas, Cleveland vs. Lakers, Cleveland vs. Orlando
Perhaps I love the NBA a little too much, this list could go on forever. I’m watching any Bobcats series. Same goes for Cleveland.
Blaine: For entertainment value I’d like to see a Dallas-Phoenix match-up in the early rounds. In the Western Conference finals, I’d think a rematch of the Lakers and the Nuggets would be intriguing.
In the East, I would like to see Boston and Atlanta play in the early rounds, though that match-up doesn’t look very likely to happen given their current positioning. Last year Boston and the Bulls played in an epic series. I think pitting the veteran Celtics against the young, talented Hawks has the potential to be a thrilling series as well.
In the Eastern Conference finals, the Cavs and Celtics would be a lot of fun to watch, provided Kevin Garnett is 100%.
Who makes it out of the West, and who are the biggest threats to dethrone the Lakers?
Sheed: Injuries. Barring injuries, no team is getting close to the Lakers. The Nuggets have the talent but lack the mental toughness to get it done while all the other teams out West just aren’t talented enough.
Strauss: I hope Chris Cohan makes it out of the West, and makes room for Larry. Denver is my pick.
And Denver/LA intrigues the hell out of me. Denver is the team constructed to beat LA. Ty Lawson will shred Derek Fisher like fish taco cabbage. Birdman will frighten Pau like it’s Gasol’s sixth birthday and Bird’s the scary clown. Afflalo will frustrate Kobe, or at least frustrate people trying to say his name. I don’t see Los Angeles winning this.
Oh, and for bball nerds who’ll argue that Fisher won’t guard Lawson, I say this: You’re right, but the Lakers will have to adjust what they do off the bat. That’s an abstract shredding.
Blaine: How do the Lakers not make it out of the West? I can’t see anyone pulling off the upset, but Chauncey Billups might have the talent and leadership chops to make the Western Conference finals difficult for the Lakers.
Who wins it all this season?
Sheed: The Mamba’s will win it again. Lakers are too good and too deep to be dethroned.
Strauss: Cleveland. Lebron’s got weapons, and he’s better than anyone else by a wide margin.
Blain: The Cavaliers. It’s their turn. James finally has a strong supporting cast, and he will parlay that talent into the city of Cleveland’s first professional sports championship since 1964. They hold longest championship drought in professional sports. That is reason enough to make the Cavs sentimental favorites.
College Player who can help the Warriors most?
Sheed: John Wall for obvious reasons. I also like DeMarcus Cousins and think he’s going to be an absolute beast in the NBA. Athletic, tough, skilled big man who won’t back down and loves to compete.
Strauss: Evan Turner. It’s wrong for me to push for him landing here, because he’ll re-hurt his back the second he lands.
Blaine: The best player in the draft is John Wall, but I’m not sure Wall helps the Warriors the most because they already have Curry and Ellis. That doesn’t mean the Dubs don’t draft Wall if they get the #1; it just means that they will be facing a serious dilemma in having three starting NBA point guards on their roster.
Given his game, Evan Turner might be the best fit coming in, assuming that Ellis is moved and Bell is not re-signed. At 6’7” Turner is a tall guard who is noted for his defense and is very unselfish with the ball. He would compliment Curry very well for years to come. DeMarcus Cousins has tremendous size and talent, but his mental and emotional states are cause for concern. Derrick Favors is also a talented big, but he has not shown enough yet to be ranked up there with Wall or Turner.
Is Nellie asked back to coach the Warriors next season?
Sheed: Yes, Nellie will be back next season because no way does Cohan pay him $6 million dollars to get out and go live it up in Hawaii. Hopefully Nellie gets re-energized by an infusion of some young talent and quality moves over the summer…or maybe not.
Strauss: No. Yes. It’ll probably be decided by a game of “rock, paper, scissors,” that a deranged Cohan plays against himself in the mirror.
Blaine: I just don’t see how Cohan and Rowell can ask Nelson back. The organization has done very little to show its fans that it is committed to moving forward, so bringing back Nelson would be a signal to season ticket holders that the status quo is acceptable. The only viable option I can see for Nellie sticking around is a move upstairs, but that is only if Cohan keeps the team. If the team is sold, the whole front office gets purged.
Can a fan boycott work?
Sheed: Hell no. The fans will keep coming out because they love basketball and the Warriors play an exciting brand of basketball.
Strauss: Probably not. We have no idea what motivates Cohan, so pinching his wallet might have no effect.
Blaine: Yes, a boycott can work because of the other elements in play, which include the bad economy and the declining financial health of the NBA, Cohan’s own reported financial troubles, fan disenchantment, and the rising tide of harsh criticism of the team by the local media (which has finally caught up the national media’s scorn). All the factors are in place for a fan boycott to become an effective form of protest and an additional catalyst for the sale of the franchise. Look, truthfully the boycott has already started. Its signs are present in fan blogs where many season ticket holders or former season ticket holders have said they have had enough. The empty seats at recent home games give further evidence of a mounting movement by paying fans who are looking to spend entertainment dollars elsewhere. And many of the seats that are being filled are given away or sold for pennies on the dollar through campy marketing promotions such as yesterday’s “C.J’s Mohawk Night” in which every fan that received a complimentary Mohawk from a Supercuts stylist at the Oracle was given a free ticket to the game. Cohan has to know that his season ticket base will shrink next season. Really, the boycott is already underway, and the movement is gaining momentum as the period for season ticket renewal draws near.
WarriorsWorld TV sits down with Latvia’s finest, Andris Biedrins. We breakdown his struggles at the foul-line, National Team disappointments and dive into the personal side of Andris. We have some fun with Andris and play “This or That” where we find out some interesting details from the Warriors Center. Check it Out!
What happens now? What happens to Monta? These questions baffle me as this hellish season jaunts toward an oddly entertaining phase.
Not sure who can beat the Cavs, but what I am sure of is this: It’s impossible to grade trades without knowing a team’s future intent. That’s why the Clippers moves are unjudgeable (I’ve created a new scrabble word!). Either they’re clearing cap space for mega free agents, or Donald Sterling just wants to build platinum sweaters for his tigers. It’s unknowable, so I won’t even try.
And it’s even more difficult to gauge the Warriors in a vacuum (Hey, the Warriors already exist in a vacuum!). At this point, a) One of the world’s richest men is buying the team, b) One of the world’ richest men is hurting an already awful franchise by moving a competitor to San Jose, or, c) One of the world’s richest men is standing pat while Chris Cohan sweats in an underground bunker. The Warriors are an M.C. Esher sketch, translated into braille.
Without an assurance of continuity, planning dissolves. Dumping talent for cap space might help the Warriors long term, but we don’t know if there’s a long-term. Or a short term. On top of that, if Ellison comes aboard, we don’t even know if cap space means a damned thing.
Let’s revisit the infamous Jason Richardson trade. In a vacuum, swapping an overpaid swing-man for a high draft choice was a total steal. Well, it was until the Warriors let Baron go, didn’t replace him with A-List talent, and J-Rich drank the magic Phoenix pixie juice. This is why I don’t fetishize “cap space” moves like I did back in the day and sometimes your GM’s savvy, fiscally responsible coup is only fiscally responsible for the owner.
I can’t predict the organizational future but I ache to snatch some morsel of reality from the ether. I want to know—all things being equal—what is to be done with Monta? Stephen Curry looks amazing sans Ellis, and the team is addicted some weird moving-the-ball fad. I just saw little Stephen own Tyreke Evans (again) in between gaps when my startled TV cut out the Comcast feed. It’s a small sample size, but then again, Stephen and Monta constitute a small back-court. Logic dictates that pairing them will always be an problematic, even without this recent pro-Curry evidence.
Ellis is owed $44 million dollars over the next four years. He is 24 years old. At the time Mully sealed it, I liked the contract. Now I’m waffling. I’m coming around to the idea of ditching Ellis in favor of the future, though another J-Rich hoodwink could make me feel like tomorrow’s sucker.
Monta could be better with a different front office. We just don’t know if that’s true, or whether it’s another team’s FO. I hope the forum answers some of these questions (you guys have better psychic ability). In the meantime, I know this: I’m loving the hell out of the No. 30 show.
Stephen Curry book-ended All Star Weekend with his best performance followed his worst. What was notable about the awful performance was how it didn’t look much different from the great one: The difference was merely a matter of shots falling.
That might sound cliche (Duh, players look better when their shots go in), but think about some other guys in the L. When Dwight Howard shanks his spastic embryonic hook off the backboard, he looks like a football star ruining a celebrity game. When Biedrins has the same problem he looks…like this year’s Biedrins. On a bad night, a casual observer could mistake Andre Miller for a D-Leaguer. On a good night Tim Duncan’s heroic efforts go unnoticed.
Aesthetic qualities matter in how we judge players. And the main aesthetic focus for a fan is the shot. Face it: The common NBA viewer ignores defense, rebounding, and passing (unless a famous point guard is passing), and sports media cater to that sensibility. It’s all about the points, the prettier, the more difficult-looking, the better. Per all that, John Krolik of Cavstheblog.com once broke down the Lebron vs. Kobe “debate” with stunning eloquence:
“One of my chief arguments for LeBron as basketball’s best player over the years is that the most valuable skill in basketball is not the ability to convert difficult shots, but create easy ones.”
When Kobe was in his prime, the 30-foot fadeaways, up-and-under scoops, and vast array of off-balance jumpers were enough to convince fans of his preeminence. It didn’t matter if other guys were more efficient because Kobe’s game was more entrancing. The casual fan didn’t have to focus on anything but Bryant attempting (and often making) ridiculous-looking shots.
People went deep with attributions for their artistic preference. LBJ’s brutal moves to the cup, smart passing, and better rebounding were discounted as products of physical prowess, while KB24’s skills were held up as some sort of protestant work ethic ideal. I’m using the past tense with this graph because anyone who clings to the “Kobe is better now” argument has fallen off the precipice of bias and into the sea of delusion. Seriously, the puppet show’s over.
This brings us back to Curry, who has an incredibly visually pleasing game. The behind-the-back dribbles, perfectly controlled up fakes, and passing vision all matter. But it’s about the shot. I’ve written about how quick it is—how it flies straight up in the air. That impresses, but there’s something else behind the split-second motion that hypnotizes me: He looks completely at ease. This isn’t what you’d expect from a player’s son. Mike Dunleavy Jr. has decent form, but his motion looks mechanical and joyless—what you would expect from someone essentially raised to play ball. I’m hurtling into the subjective here, but Curry’s shot is so fluid that he appears born—not taught—to play basketball.
I claimed recently that Curry was Hater Target No.1, but success is changing that sentiment. Most would say Steph’s currently ROY runner-up to a human layup. The advanced stats aren’t lavishing that sort of praise, though. His metrics are decent…for a rookie. An average-ish PER of 14.14 is but one example of numbers that would be “meh” stats for a veteran NBA guard playing at the Dubs’ pace.
This worries me because Curry’s greatest strength is outside shooting. While a great outside shot assures you a spot on any club (then your career goes forever, ending with three years on the Spurs), it’s also a skill that improves for many young guys. Tyreke Evans will eventually develop a passable jumper to pair with his physical gifts. Curry can only sharpen his already sharp skills.
So perhaps Curry is overrated. Or you could say that Steph’s playing better than he is. When we love his style, we might be recognizing an intrinsic star quality that transcends any numerical process. He’s got “it” and that’s that. We might also be deluding ourselves due to Curry’s form, poise, and class. Steph’s future productivity hinges on whether his spectacular basketball aesthetics are predictive. Discuss this piece and more in our forum.
The All Star Break was supposed to be a quiet week for the Warriors. They had no players representing the West in the game, and in the eyes of the casual fan, this 14-37 team is regressing like a Weight Watchers client in a Hometown Buffet. Their eyes don’t lie. And for those of us who still care—those who bear what I call “my childhood curse”—it’s a wonder that we can stand to visage this Gorgon of a franchise and not turn to stone. And yet, surprisingly, the news cycle of last week turned out to be very interesting and entertaining for Warriors fans. Some intriguing stories and subplots have emerged that have kept the diehards engaged. And many Bay Area sports writers have written some great pieces on the issues. Let’s review and analyze.
Curry’s Triple Double vs. the Clippers and the Referendum on Monta Ellis
The Warriors entered Wednesday’s game against the Clippers with a nine game losing streak and with their top two scorers unavailable due to injury. The fans who decided to show up were treated to a 132-102 demolition of the lowly Clippers. Though it was only the Clippers, this was not a team that the shorthanded Warriors had any business beating, let alone dominating. Stephen Curry had his best game as a pro, scoring 36 points, dealing out 13 dimes, and grabbing 10 rebounds, the last of which providentially dropped into his hands as time expired. If you haven’t figured it out, the basketballs gods smile on Stephen Curry.
The significance of the game came not in the victory (though a few casual fans in attendance probably left delighted with the win and the free Jack in the Box burger). Rather, the real story was Stephen Curry, who became the first rookie since Kevin Johnson to have at least 30 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists in a game. As Marcus Thompson has pointed out, Curry is only the sixth rookie to ever post at least 35, 10, and 10, sharing hallowed company with Kidd, Michael Jordan, Jerry West, Oscar Roberston, and Elgin Baylor.
Even more important than the triple double was the way Curry involved his teammates and how the ball moved freely in the absence of Monta Ellis and Corey Maggette. Many of Curry’s assists were dealt to Anthony Tolliver and Anthony Morrow who scored 29 and 26 points respectively. The entire team was involved and pleased not be mere spectators of the scoring forays of Ellis and Maggette. A lineup of Curry and a few role players blew out their opponent because Curry set up his mates. He didn’t just get HIS; he made his teammates better in the process. The result was entertaining, unselfish basketball. The Warriors accumulated 36 assists, and for the first time in a long time they were not bogged down by isolation plays and one-on-one playground style offense.
Granted, all of this was accomplished against the awful Clippers who were on the tail end of a back-to-back. The Clippers offered little resistance and allowed the Warriors to shoot a ridiculous 62% from the floor. Yet regardless of the opponent, Curry lead his team playing a style of ball that we haven’t seen all season, whether it was against the Lakers, Nets, or any other NBA team.
Observers have taken notice, and, Curry’s performance has begun a referendum on Monta Ellis. Fans and Writers are divided on the issue of trading Ellis, but there is growing consensus that Curry should be the full time point guard.
None of this is intended to diminish Ellis. He is a great scorer, and he is a valuable team asset, but his efficiency has dropped since becoming the first option on the team. Like Stephen Jackson before him, taking the lead role on the team has not translated into victories. Ellis has given Curry the cold shoulder all season, and his approach to sharing the back-court with the rookie has been tantamount to Jackson’s “It ain’t me” attitude. Ellis has not been a cancer by any stretch, but he has not been a great leader, and he has not demonstrated the potential that Curry has of bringing his teammates together on the floor.
To be clear, this is not all Ellis’s fault. The problems we’re seeing with him this season are more symptomatic of a coaching problem than with Ellis’s own attitude. Running the offense through individuals like Ellis has not worked for the Warriors. Don Nelson’s offensive schemes give too much liberation to high scorers and veteran stars. As we have seen with Baron Davis and Stephen Jackson, there is no accountability for gunning, chucking, and turning the ball over. Nelson encourages creativity—not a bad thing in itself—but he sets no limits on it. He spoils his stars, and the bad apples wind up spoiling the whole barrel. In another place and time, Curry and Ellis could flourish together, but I’m skeptical that it could work out now given the present circumstances. And that’s too bad, because Ellis is a fine player in the right system with the right coach. Trading Ellis for another star player is the Warriors best option at this time. Unfortunately, Ellis’s trade value is inherently damaged by the mere fact that he plays for the Warriors. It’s part of that vicious cycle that Warrior’s fans have become accustomed to. Great players are traded for pennies on the dollar and blossom with their new team.
NBA All Star Weekend
The Selections and the Snub
Ok, so let’s figure this out. Chris Kaman, Jason Kidd, and Chauncey Billups are selected over Ellis, the league’s sixth leading scorer and a great athlete who would have flourished in the all star exhibition. Stephen Curry is selected over Anthony Morrow in the 3 point shoot out, but Morrow is selected as a replacement in the Rookie Challenge. These selections actually make perfect sense when looking through the image conscious, marketing-driven prism of the NBA, where decisions are made with the sole purpose of advancing the league’s image, popularity, and marketability. Stephen Curry is marketable; he’s a media darling, and has an NBA pedigree and a wholesome image. Though Morrow may be the best three-point shooter in the league, he doesn’t have Curry’s star quality. He’s not the draw that Curry is, so Curry got the nod. As far as Ellis is concerned, leaving him off the team did not make sense. David Stern himself could not offer up a decent explanation as to why he wasn’t added on as a replacement. Ellis is an entertaining athlete who could be a real crowd pleaser in an All Star venue. Regardless of the reasons for the snub, Ellis should reflect on what he can do as a player to get his team more wins and earn his spot on future All Star Teams. If he does, spurning Ellis could be a blessing in disguise for both Ellis and the Warriors.
The Rookie Challenge and the Three Point Shooting Contest
At the Rookie Challenge neither Stephen Curry nor Anthony Morrow did a lot to distinguish themselves. They performed decently, but did not enhance their reputations with great performances. Both played away from the ball and capitalized on most of the opportunities they got, but there were not very many. Tyreke Evans secured MVP honors with a strong performance that will strengthen his chances of winning Rookie of the Year. DeJuan Blair was simply a revelation with his domination in the paint.
Curry faired better at the Three Point Competition. Setting the high score in the first round, he was the prohibitive favorite entering the final round. But he ran into trouble with the rack at the top of the arc, and things went south from there. Nonetheless, a second place showing isn’t bad.
Watching these events on television, it was interesting to observe the respect and esteem that the national media has for Curry. What is it about Curry that elicits that admiration of great ones like Lebron James, Bobby Knight, and Chris Paul? Curry is virtually regarded as basketball royalty by those who know a thing or two about it. I guess being a blue blood helps. Whatever the case, the Warriors seem to have something special in Curry. There is an aura there, and he might turn out to be one of those transcendent stars who changes the fortunes of a franchise.
Trade Winds Blowin’
As the trade deadline approaches (Thursday), it is rumored that Andris Biedrins and Corey Maggette are being shopped in an effort to save money. With the Warriors front office apparently back in full “Salary Protection” mode it is not surprising that Speedy Claxton along with his $5.2 million expiring contract was released before the trading deadline. Larry Riley has stated that Ellis and Curry are not going to be traded. Anyone else, he intimated, is on the table. With many of the Warriors trade chips injured, the Warriors enter the final heated days of the trade season with the same limitation that they enter games. If their goal is merely to shed salaries, Cohan will be facing a stiff challenge come season ticket renewal time.
If the Warriors have a plan for moving the franchise forward and beyond salary protection, they have a funny way of showing it. By the looks of things they are a rudderless ship drifting off course. Perhaps Larry Ellison can give the Warriors a hand. He knows a thing or two about boats. Now that he’s won the America’s Cup, he can focus on his next order of business. Recent reports by ESPN NBA writer Ric Bucher indicate that Stern would love for Ellison to buy the team, and that a sale could come as early as this summer. Pardon the pun, but if a sale comes to pass, fans who have endured the turbulent waters of the past 15 years are in for smooth sailing in the years to come.
The Don Nelson Situation
Over the last couple of weeks many in the media have speculated that Don Nelson won’t be around next season, even if he doesn’t get the record for most wins by a coach. Chris Cohan is in a pickle on this one. On the one hand he doesn’t appear to be in a financial position to buy out another coach, especially at the hefty price of $6 million. On the other hand, Nelson has not been effective since the “We Believe” season and once fiercely loyal fans are pulling up stakes. It’s been a long time since we’ve seen this many empty seats at the Oracle. Fan support for Nelson has evaporated, and Cohan must know that he can’t afford to lose his season ticket holder base. He must make changes. Cohan is in a no win situation here. If he is intent on keeping the team, his only option is to let go of Nelson at the end of the season. If he wants to retain Nelson’s services so that he doesn’t have to eat all of the remaining $6 million, he can always announce to fans in May that he is moving Nelson upstairs for the 2010-2011 season.
Whatever Cohan decides to do, it’s become self-evident that Nelson is not a good fit for this team. Nelson doesn’t work well with young players, especially young post players, and that is one of his biggest problems. In a Contra Costa Times article published on Monday morning, Nelson was quoted as saying, “When you get old and have a lot of knowledge, it’s easier to coach a good team where you can use it. When you coach a team like this one, you can use maybe only 10 or 15 percent of that knowledge. You can’t make it too complicated because they’re too young. You can’t do the things with average players that you can do with really good players.” Self-serving comments like this have not helped Nelson’s cause. They alienate him from his team, which is one reason he has depended on assistant coaches to communicate with the players and take on roles normally reserved for the head coach. Nelson’s inability to get out of young players what he wants has clearly been an insurmountable obstacle for him and a detriment to the future development of the team. And while it’s certainly true that Nelson has not had great players here, that is not something that a coach should ever declare publicly. Isn’t it expected that a coach will get the most out of the team, regardless of its talent threshold? No one is expecting instant championships. Warriors fans, who have been patient and supportive, want to see measured, steady growth. They want to see the pieces that are being collected develop over time into a winner. Over the last two years little progress has been made in that regard.
For the team to get back to a positive trajectory, it will need a coach who can nurture and develop young players, demand defense and rebounding, incorporate a post game, and stress team play and ball movement. Nelson’s obsession with small ball, his uneven system of discipline that gives veteran stars free reign and unlimited playing time, his disdain for conventional post play, and his eschewal of defense and rebounding have proven ineffective. Nelson is an accomplished coach, and he has given much to the game. He deserves to be in the Hall of Fame. But his tenure with the Warriors should come to end soon. It is time for a change.
Where Do We Go From Here?
For a team on a seemingly endless downward spiral, it would seem that the only possible direction they can take is up. To borrow from the title of an old Richard Pryor film, “Which way is up?” A lot depends on an ownership change, of course. But if we can only gauge the future using current variables, we are most likely in for bear market expectations. Lowell Cohn makes the following assessment of the Warriors in his recent editorial, Warriors Running on no Cylinders:
“Here is a bottom-line fact you must admit: the Warriors are as bad as they ever have been. This Warriors team is a billion miles from being good. And face it, with the Warriors there is no plan and no hope. If there is a plan, please tell me. And don’t say it’s developing the young players — we’ve heard that before and it never happens.”
In this piece, Cohn is really railing against the triumvirate of Cohan, Rowell, and Nelson—with special attention to Nelson. Certainly many of the decisions that have been made over the past two years have not inspired hope. But taking out the management and ownership factor, I don’t think that the Warriors are as bad off as Cohn asserts. And I would disagree with his premise that we can’t place hope in the team’s young players.
Stephen Curry has come along quite nicely. And in spite of Nelson’s punitive treatment, Anthony Randolph and Brandan Wright have proven that when they get significant, consistent minutes they are productive and effective.
Moving forward, the team still has a very attractive core of young players in Curry, Randolph, Wright, and Anthony Morrow. The young veterans who include Ellis, Anrdis Biedrins, Kelenna Azubuike, and Ronny Turiaf are all good NBA players. Next season when the players come back healthy, and another high end lottery player is added to the mix, the team should be markedly improved, though not necessarily a playoff team. To Larry Riley’s credit, the Warriors have shed the bad contracts of Stephen Jackson (once deemed by many as untradeable) and Jamal Crawford. Whether or not they can pawn off Corey Maggette will determine how much salary cap flexibility the team carries into next season.
There is actually a pretty nice core of young players to work with, and by next season, many of them will be one more year older and one more year experienced.
Of course the elephant in the room here is Chris Cohan. The team could be a billion miles from being good, as Cohn puts it, or they can be a mere 1 mile away, but without ownership and leadership that is visionary, bold, and fully invested in winning, the team will never achieve sustained competitiveness.
Youtube’n It
WarriorsWorld TV Special Announcement
WarriorsWorld TV feat. Marcus Thompson
Stephen, Stephen, Stephen Mr.Big Shot himself speaks on the Baby Faced Assassin
Stephen shows off his trick shots
Stephen and Anthony Morrow Rookie/Sophomore game highlights
3 Point Shootout footage
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