Monday Morning Fresh

We take a look at the latest news regarding the sale of the Golden State Warriors, dive into some NBA Draft talk as the the draft is a little over two weeks away and we head to LA to check out how the Celtics pulled out the win in game 2 of the NBA Finals. Hit the jump to get started!

Warriors World

The big news of the week was Larry Ellison forming a partnership with the four limited partners of the Golden State Warriors in an effort to purchase the team from Chris Cohan. Ellison has positioned himself in the clear lead as this power move tilts the scales in his favor. Ellison now has an inside look at the Warriors as he can lean on the partners to provide in-depth knowledge on the organization and its handling over the years.

While the other groups hold on to their slim odds in purchasing the team it seems inevitable Larry Ellison will be the new majority owner of the Warriors. For Warrior fans, this is a fairytale scenario as Ellison brings instant credibility to the organization and makes them immediate factor in the NBA. It Gives the great Warrior fans an owner who’s passion to succeed is equivalent to their love of the team. If you thought Oracle was a madhouse before, its about to be ratcheted up a few notches when the new season gets started.

The folks in the toughest situation while the sale is ongoing are the Warrior employees. A daily mental grind for them as they anticipate their fates and whether or not they will remain on the job or be looking for new employment in the near future. Seems to be a foregone conclusion Robert Rowell and Larry Riley will both be let go of their duties. Rowell’s exit will be a welcomed one for many as his continuous interjecting into basketball related matters has hindered the franchise from experiencing optimal growth over the years. Rowell is more concerned with the perception of the organization than he is the reality of the organization. Other than Cohan, Rowell has been the one constant over the years as his track record of failures is iconic.

We can’t expunge the Cohan era but what can happen is a continuous focus on the future under new ownership while never looking back to see the wreckage that once was.

Draft News

The Warriors held workouts over the weekend featuring some potential options they may explore on draft night. Two of the names rumored to be in play for the Warriors at the 6th spot are Cole Aldrich and Gordon Hayward. Hayward coming off an impressive showing in the NCAA Tournament is now projected to go in the Top 10 as his stock continues to rise. Hayward would be a nice fit on the wing next to Stephen Curry and Monta Ellis although it remains to see if his lack of athleticism will hurt him come draft night.

Cole Aldrich is a player whose name has been thrown around by several different media outlets as a legitimate option for the Warriors. Aldrich isn’t the most skilled and refined big man on the offensive end but he is a terror on the backboards who can bring defense and shot-blocking to the team from day one. The Warriors aren’t necessarily looking for another Center unless they decide to move Andris Biedrins. Come draft night if the Warriors take Aldrich it should signal the end of the Andris Biedrins era in Golden State.

Quitetest Back-Court Playing the Loudest

Boston went into the Staples Center and walked with with the win in Game 2 on the shoulders on Rajan Rondo and Ray Allen. The Celtics back-court picked up the slack for their struggling teammates and dominated the game. Allen was unconscious last night as he lived up to his reputation as the best shooter in the world by connecting on 8 3-pointers and putting on a shooting clinic. Derek Fisher, Kobe Bryant and Ron Artest all got torched by Allen as he showed off his quick trigger throughout the night.

Not to be outdone, Rajan Rondo showed why many people consider him one of the best PG’s in the NBA. With Allen handling the bulk of the scoring load, Rondo hit the backboards as he grabbed boards all night long and pushed the break for the Celtics many times finding Allen for open looks in transition.

The series heads to Boston for the next 3 games with the Celtics in prime position to take control of the series. The Celtics have yet to play a complete game thus far in the Finals which is not good news for the Lakers. The Lakers have to find a way to slow down Rondo and stick with Allen because if they don’t there’s a likely chance their season will end in Boston yet again.

Paying homage to Jesus Shuttleworth