SB Nation - Andris Biedrins

Q&A: Marcus Thompson - Contra Costa Times / InsideBayArea.com (Part 3 of 3)- Monta Ellis/ Stephen Curry backcourt, John Wall, All-2k Golden State Warriors Starting 5

Atma Brother ONE — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 17:30:14 -0000

Part 1: Warriors bright spots, the next to be traded, Robert Rowell and basketball decisions

Part 2: Don Nelson's media downfall, Chris Mullin as a front office hire, Chris Cohan's closeness to selling the Golden State Warriors

[Inside the Warriors]

Jump for MT's thoughts on the Monta Ellis/ Stephen Curry backcourt combo, what the Warriors would do if they landed John Wall in the 2010 NBA Draft, and his All-2k Golden State Warriors starting 5.

Golden State of Mind: Early on Monta Ellis didn't seem to be the biggest fan of the Stephen Curry draft pick or playing alongside him. Do you think that has changed? Do GM Larry Riley and head coach Don Nelson think the two can be the starting backcourt of a winning team? Who will be the first to go if they don't think they can work together?

Marcus Thompson: In my heart of hearts, I still don't think Ellis is a fan of them two as a backcourt tandem. I think he has gained some respect for Curry. At first, I'm sure he looked at him as some over-hyped rookie who was a ways away. But I've had some private conversations with players on the team and they seem to think that Curry has earned some respect from Ellis. Definitely, that Dallas game had a lot to do with that. But I still think Ellis knows those two, as a backcourt, present serious issues. I think Riley and Nellie think the two can work, but even they know it would require some serious make-up to cover up their deficiencies. The interesting part is that the reason people thought it couldn't work was that Ellis couldn't defend two guards. Up until this season, the theory was that he needed to play with a big point guard, like Baron Davis, who could defend shooting guards because Ellis was too small. But Ellis is showing he can at least be competitive on that end even when he is outsized. He certainly has his defensive flaws still - gambles a bit much sometimes, vulnerable to post-ups, still could get better at stopping penetration - but he's proving he's not the liability he once was. That has switched to Curry, who is having a really difficult time defending the point guard position. He's finding himself in foul trouble a lot and though he and the coaching staff thinks he's improving on defense, he's got a ways to go before that backcourt tandem can be competitive defensively. What Nellie and Riley see that give them confidence in the backcourt, besides Ellis becoming a beast, is that Curry is extremely coachable, he works hard and he's got some basketball IQ to lean on. If he develops like they think, the two would be a pretty formidable offensive backcourt, then they can get a SF (or use Azubuike) to be a defensive stopper as a SF, kind of like how they used Jackson. IF Curry gets better at defending point guards without fouling. IF he becomes reliably productive on offense. There was a time that Curry was untouchable and the Warriors were listening to offers from Ellis. I wouldn't be surprised if that's switched. I don't think it has. They still love Curry. But Ellis might be moving into untouchable status - not just because of his scoring, but because of the way he's bought in to leadership and defense, etc. Whether they keep both of them depends on who they can put with them. If they can get a beast PF, and get the centers healthy (they can cover up some of the defensive liabilities of a Curry/Ellis backcourt), they might be able to make it work. Don't forget about Raja Bell, though. He's the x-factor in this situation. I think if he comes back to the Warriors next season, he could end up starting next to Ellis or being the defensive stopper at SF - especially if they get a beast at PF.

Golden State of Mind: Let's fast forward and pretend the Golden State Warriors win the 2010 NBA Lottery and have a shot at Kentucky Wildcats point guard phenom John Wall and still have Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry. What do you think the Warriors would do?

Marcus Thompson: For the record, I have no idea. Just playing along here. I think option No. 1 would be to trade the pick. Wall will be a commodity and they would certainly get some good offers. Imagine if you put Wall and Wright together, or Wall and Randolph even, and make a team take Maggette, too. What could you land? They might be able to get a difference maker at PF or SF. It would have to be a no-brainer though. If they don't do that, I think they let Curry and Wall duke it out for the right to play next to Ellis. The loser is on the trading block. Considering C.J. Watson would probably be gone, they would need a third PG. So I could see them drafting Wall and seeing who is best next to Ellis. Again, just me hypothesizing.

Golden State of Mind: We're nearing the end of the decade. What's your All-2k Golden State Warriors starting 5?

Marcus Thompson: That is an excellent question! I might have to bite this. I gotta first give some qualifiers that I assume are implied. So, first off, I'm basing my picks on what players have done WITH THE WARRIORS. So you won't see Gilbert Arenas. I am also picking based on what they HAVE DONE not based on what I project they will do, so you won't see Anthony Randolph. Also, I am including the 1999-00 season since part of it was in this decade.

*PG Baron Davis: This is easy. He was probably the most talented of any player to come through the franchise in the last decade, and he certainly accomplished the most in leading the Warriors to the 2007 playoff upset of Dallas. No question he was the best PG.

*SG Jason Richardson: I am so tempted to put Monta Ellis here. I give Jason Richardson the nod because of what he meant to the franchise on and off the court, because he performed better in the postseason. Game 3 in the first round alone gets him the nod.

*SF Stephen Jackson: Could've went a few different ways here. Maybe you could go with a third guard - such as Arenas or Ellis. But I am thinking about putting the best team together, and that three small guards stuff doesn't win. Jackson was an integral figure in the two best seasons during the decade. His defense on Dirk Nowitzki, and his shot-making, was vital in the upset of Dallas. So even though he was with the Warriors for less than two full seasons, and even though his departure was bitter, if you're trying to put a winning team together for the Warriors off the last 10 years, he's on it. I think having help around him tames him enough to where he's not doing too much on the court.

*PF Antawn Jamison: As far as numbers go, few Warriors had better. In four years during the decade, he averaged 21.9 points and 7.6 rebounds. What would the Warriors give for that kind of production at PF right now? Certainly, he got those numbers on bad teams, and he was always overshadowed by his contract. But he gives the Warriors a fourth 20-point scorer, which would make them super potent on offense. And he rebounded well from his position. Plus he was a model player off the court.

*C Andris Biedrins: I was torn between Biedrins, Troy Murphy and Adonal Foyle. But based on who I have at the other four positions, I just think Andris is the better fit. You need someone who can defend, rebound, run the floor and finish. I like Murphy as a center in an uptempo offense because of his ability to stretch the floor and he rebounds. Plus, though he's not that fast, he makes a good option for the 3 on that secondary break. And he's the best post-player of the three, I think. But he's at his best when he's making shots, and with the other four guys, the Warriors need someone on the floor who can make an impact without making shots, some who doesn't need the rock and can just do the dirty work. Biedrins does that, and he is a better shot blocker than Murphy. So that leaves Biedrins and Foyle. Foyle fits the mold and is a better man-to-man defender, especially against bigger centers. But Biedrins gets the nod because he rebounds better and runs the floor better. This team will unquestionably be an offense-based squad. Since neither is a defensive player of the year candidate, I'd prefer the guy who has D and some O instead of someone with just D.

**********

All of us at GSoM wanted to thank Marcus for fielding our questions and his continue support. Make sure to make his blog Inside the Warriors a regular destination in your web browser.

Trust me you haven't heard the last of the All 2k Warriors awards around these parts...

Briefing: There's no place like your old home

JakeTheSnake — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 16:01:05 -0000

More photos » by Ben Margot - AP

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Gilbert Arenas said before the start of this four-game road trip that he hoped going back to his hometown of Los Angeles would spark the rebirth of Agent Zero. Ten missed shots, six turnovers, and six fouls later, Gilbert looked further away than ever. Wednesday's performance provided some more hope, but only led to more disappointment when Tyreke Evans stole away Gilbert's chances to seal a win.

Last night? That was more like it. Sure, everyone will throw out the disclaimer about playing against the Warriors' porous defense, but 45 points is 45 points. Only four other players have scored 45 or more points this season, and no one else has done it while chipping in more than 5 assists (Gilbert had 13). Questions about whether or not Gilbert can fully integrate his game into Flip's offense will continue to linger until he can consistently put together some solid performances, but last night he put away any doubts about whether or not he still has the physical tools.

Wizards 118, Warriors 109: Arenas has no choice - Craig Stouffer, Pick and Roll

It's not a question of whether or not Gilbert Arenas is back after he had 45 points and 13 assists, his highest scoring game since Jan. 15, 2007 (thanks, ESPN). He has to be back. This is his team. He is the center of what it does and how it plays. Everything starts with Arenas, and the Wizards have spent the better part of two years waiting for him simply to finally take his place, one that they paid - yes, i'm talking about it - $111 million to reserve.

Wizards 118, Warriors 109 - Michael Lee, Wizards Insider

Arenas and Butler have both struggled to find their grooves this season, which has played a major role in the Wizards losing 16 of their first 23 games. But with the Wizards in desperate need of a victory, the two most maligned players in Washington helped snap a six-game losing streak by coming through with the type of performances that people have come to expect of them -- although few could've predicted that Arenas was going to score 45 points and hand out 13 assists, even against a very bad, or rather non-existent, Golden State defense. "The rhythm is coming back and I'm feeling good right now," Arenas said after topping 40 points for first time since March 21, 2007, when he scored 42 in a win against Seattle. "Feeling more confident handling the ball, getting into the lane. A lot more confident than I did a couple of weeks ago."

Wizards 118, Warriors 109 - Mike Jones, Outlet

"I’m just trying to get back in attack mode," Arenas continued. "I’ve been the coy fish for a couple of games. I’m just trying to get back in attack mode. I’m finishing off. I finished the game how I left Sacramento. I finally hit plays tonight. down there in the end, I made a shot and a pass to CB. The rhythm is coming back and I’m feeling good right now." So the pressures of D.C. are still weighing on Gil's mind, huh? You don't like to hear your franchise player dreading playing in front of the home crowd, but for now this is how he feels. "I don’t know. When you’re at home, sometimes you got pressure. You got pressure to win. It’s the pressure sometimes. when you get West, you’re away everybody, away from your family, away from your friends, away from most of the media. People off the street saying, ‘Why y’all losing? Get it together’ You get away from that and you go on a trip and it’s you and your team."

Gilbert's 'Greatness Was Overwhelming' - Jamie Mottram, Mr. Irrelevant

Arenas leads Wizards over Warriors - Associated Press

Arenas, who missed most of the past two years with knee injuries, had his 29th career game of 40 or more points. "When we got the ball in Gilbert’s hands he made plays," Wizards’ coach Flip Saunders said. "When you have a guy directly involved with 71 of your points, he’s made a huge impact."

Last Night's Action: Upside Down - Aaron Morrissey, DCist

Arenas, who has been putting up some big numbers despite the multiple losses, had another big night in the box score -- 45 points, his most since January 2007, and 13 assists -- but more importantly, Agent Zero was completely unguardable down the stretch. It was the vintage, clutch Gilbert we fondly remember; late in the fourth, Arenas was either making shots, almost effortlessly finding his way to the bucket, or creating open shots for his teammates.

Arenas Leads Wizards Over Warriors - Dave Johnson, CSN Washington

Wizards head coach Flip Saunders believes Arenas is only at 75 percent in his quest to fully return from his knee problems. "He is getting a little but more aggressive", Saunders added. If you notice he has a better sweat going. He doesn’t look cold out there. He looks loose and into it."

Arenas scores 45 points, Wizards top Golden State, 118-109 - Michael Lee, Wizards Insider

Antawn Jamison's string of three consecutive games with at least 30 points per game came to an end after he suffered a stinger on the left side of his neck in the second period. During a break in action, Arenas asked Jamison where he was hurting then pressed his fingers in the area where Jamison told him. Jamison angrily pushed back Arenas and playfully slapped him across the cheek. "I told him, 'Put some oil on it,' because he got that old neck right now," Arenas said he told Jamison. "But he said, 'Look at your knee.' The jokes stopped right there." Not quite. Jamison later airballed a free throw and Arenas joked with him some more. "He was Gilbert," said Jamison, who also started his career in Golden State.

Instant Analysis: Wizards at Warriors - Chase Hughes, CSN Washington

The Wizards were able to snap their six-game losing streak thanks to big nights from their starters. Antawn Jamison was out for most of the game with a shoulder injury but Brendan Haywood and Caron Butler each pitched in with double-doubles. Butler stepped up by scoring a season-high 28 points. He also grabbed 10 rebounds and 5 steals in what was his best game of the season. Brendan Haywood had 11 points and nine rebounds in the first half. He finished with 15 points and 12 boards, making seven of nine shots from the field. Haywood was able to take advantage of a Warriors team missing most of their frontcourt. Out due to injury were Andris Biedrins, Mikki Moore, Ronny Turiaf, and Brandon Wright.

Gilbert Arenas scores season-high 45 as Wizards defeat Warriors on the road - George Pangakos, Examiner

Last night's victory, and the fact that four Wizards obtained double-doubles in the win, are definitely things Washington and its fans can enjoy. However, the 8-16 Wizards still have a long road to travel, and allowed Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry to score career-highs of 30 and 27 respectively despite the victory. Washington will not have the luxury of allowing career-highs against the Phoenix Suns tomorrow, as the Suns are a much deeper team and free from some of the injuries which have plagued the Warriors.

Best of Twitterville

Twitter / Jack Kogod
Anthony Randlolph has a touch of Blatchitis. He needs to get that looked at.

Twitter / George V. Panagakos
Quick math here: if Gil is 75%, his line right now would be 57 points and 17 assists if 100%, right?

Twitter / Mike Prada
A good point. RT @Truth_About_It: Are shoulder issues ultimately to blame for Jamison's 47-77 from the free-throw line on the year?

Twitter / Truth_About_It
Wow, that last shot by Gilbert ... make that the last two shots ... are about nothing but determination.

Twitter / Mike Jones
I don't get how Arenas can stroke one-handed 3-pointers in practice but can't make free throws in games.

Twitter / Jamie Mottram
45, 13 and a W; Gil needed that. We all did.

Twitter / wizznutzz
glory years redux!!! back to 42-40 here we come!!!!!!!! RT @Unsilent: Agent Zero ft. Vintage Tough Juice + Unbreakable 'Tawn

Twitter / Agent Dagger
did we just....win?

Q&A: Marcus Thompson - Contra Costa Times / InsideBayArea.com (Part 1 of 3)- Warriors bright spots, the next to be traded, Robert Rowell and basketball decisions

Atma Brother ONE — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 02:00:35 -0000

We recently mic'ed up Marcus Thompson of the Contra Costa Times/ InsideBayArea.com to get his thoughts on the Golden State Warriors.

Click and roll to MT's Dubs blog

Jump for some positives about the Warriors season, who will be the next players the team ships out, and Robert Rowell's future in making Warriors hoops decisions.

Golden State of Mind: We're in the midst of some seemingly endless "Dubs Drama" (again). Let's hit the pause button on the dysfunction for a second though. You cover the Warriors extremely closely, so you're the best person to ask this. What are some of the bright spots for this organization either on or off the court that aren't getting enough ink across the hoops world?

Marcus Thompson: The bright spots are obvious: Monta Ellis, Anthony Morrow, Anthony Randolph, Stephen Curry and I will even throw Kelenna Azubuike in there.

The brightest is no doubt Monta Ellis. Say what you want about him, the kid is showing he is special. He hasn't done anything yet. But the prospects look good. He will benefit the Warriors extremely down the road, whether as a player or as trade bait.

Morrow is right behind Ellis. He may not have the superstar power Ellis has, but Morrow at the very least could be just a solid starter for years to come. That is nothing to sneeze at.

Randolph, though he is up and down, I think is still promising. His fate may be more in the hands of his coaches, who have to figure out a way to help him progress. But that is what organizations have to do sometimes. Sure, the onus is on the player. But he didn't invest in himself, the Warriors invested in him. It is on them to do everything they can to maximize that investment. Because if Randolph turns out to be a bust, it's the franchise's fault for drafting him.

The cap flexibility is also pretty good. As it is now, they have the flexibility to add a big contract for a player they really want. The chance is there to really get someone good. If they don't take advantage, that is on them.

Golden State of Mind: Within his first few months on the job as the GM of the Warriors Larry Riley has already given the roster a shake-up. Jamal Crawford, Marco Belinelli, and recently Stephen Jackson have all been shipped out. This still isn't a contender to say the least, so more moves seem likely. Considering the big money deals still on the books, expiring contracts, young and raw talent, and lingering in-house drama, who do you think will be the next player(s) headed out? Does Monta Ellis "got next"?

Marcus Thompson: Ideally, it would be Corey Maggette. They aren't getting the bang for his buck, and he certainly would like to play more. But everyone knows it's tough to trade his contract. With that said, I think it has to be either Monta Ellis or Andris Biedrins. I don't see how they can land a difference maker without giving up one of those two. Those are the two big money guys, so if the Warriors want to give someone $15 a year, they will probably need to move one of those two (unless they can get rid of Maggette's contract). But mainly, those two guys I think are the only commodities the Warriors have that will make another team give up a stud.

If you're Phoenix, who would you want in return for Stoudemire? If you're Toronto, who would you want in exchange for Bosh? Sure, they want young talent, but for the money the Warriors will have to shell out, young talent won't be enough. Maybe if they decided to package Curry and Randolph with Maggette, they might get another team to bite. But I really don't think they'd do that.

Curry and Randolph are among the untouchables currently, but I wouldn't be surprise if their status changed between February and August. Especially in the case of Randolph, the Warriors may be more willing to include him in a deal down the line than they are right now.

Golden State of Mind: Golden State Warriors president Robert Rowell has had his fair share of critics for personally inking Stephen Jackson to that questionable early 3 year extension, among other recent front office decisions. With Larry Riley and Don Nelson firmly entrenched as the Warriors GM head coach is this the last we'll see Rowell making basketball decisions such as negotiating player deals and extensions? How safe is his job with the Warriors?

Marcus Thompson: I think it's the last he'll be taking or given credit publicly. There was a time when the Warriors wanted his name mentioned for the good things the Warriors did. Of course, with that comes your name being mentioned when bad things happen.

I think everyone in the organization, even Rowell, realizes that he needs to either become the GM or let the GM run the show. I don't think that means he is out of the loop on decision making, though. In the end, he's still got to approve all financial moves, and sell them to owner Chris Cohan. So he's in the room, and at the very least in the loop. But Riley will get all the credit and the blame when it comes to basketball decisions.

**********

Stay tuned for the rest of our Q&A with Marcus! In the mean time make sure to check out Inside the Warriors

Happy Birthday, Dwight Howard!

Ben Q Rock — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 13:00:20 -0000

by John Raoux - AP

View full size photo »

For the second consecutive year, Dwight Howard will spend his birthday in Los Angeles, hoping to lead the Orlando Magic to victory over the Clippers. He turns 24 today, which makes him younger than every NBA regular starting center save for Andris Biedrins, Andrew Bynum, Spencer Hawes, Al Horford, Roy Hibbert, Brook Lopez, and Greg Oden.

I'm not sure what else to say, really. Anyone who's watched the Magic since the 2006/07 season--turnover-plagued, sure, but check his splits from February--knew he'd be more than a defense and rebounding specialist, as not a few people predicted was his ceiling. Needle his unrefined post game all you want. Berate him for smiling (?) on the court, or for complaining about whistles who don't go his way. But in no way can anyone argue with Howard's overall results. Even his slump during the first 9 games of this season, when he could not seem to avoid foul trouble, Howard was average at the very worst among NBA centers who average at least 30 minutes per game:

"Slumping" Dwight Howard, Average NBA Center (min. 30 MPG), and "Post-Slump" Dwight Howard, 2009/10 NBA Season
Player	Pts	Rebs	Blks	Fouls	Mins	FG%
Dwight Howard (slump)	18.1	10.6	1.4	4.1	31.1	64.7%
Avg. NBA Center	14.3	9.3	1.5	3.0	33.0	52.5%
Dwight Howard (post-slump)	17.8	13.4	2.1	3.7	33.7	64.4%
Howard statistics from Basketball-Reference.com; avg. center statistics from Hoopdata.com

So he brought the stats just about every night, even if his commitment to defense wasn't quite there until recently. That's how good he is just when he shows up and tries a little. Think of what he can do when he's really engaged.

Maybe that last paragraph comes off as harsh, and I don't mean to disparage Howard (especially not on his birthday). But it was obvious to anyone who watched the first 9 games of the season that Dwight wasn't all there. Now? He's more into it. For me, the biggest statistical indicator of that is his fouls-to-block ratio. In the slump, he averaged 2.8 fouls per blocked shot. In the games since, he's improved that figure to 1.8.

We've gone way off the rails in what was meant to be a simple happy birthday post, so I'll conclude here before I get too carried away. In any event, I hope we appreciate Howard's improving work on the court, as well as his efforts in the community.

Many happy returns, Dwight.

RECAP: Warriors 118 Magic 126 - So much for my early XMas Present

R Dizzle — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 00:04:09 -0000

Where you at Ronny? We got a dance off coming after this game!

Final Boxscore | Warriors Web Links | Open Thread (1100+ comments)

Final - 12.5.2009	1	2	3	4	Total
Orlando Magic	42	30	25	29	126
Golden State Warriors	33	31	36	18	118

Complete Coverage >

Oh Warriors, how you break my heart. I gotta be honest - I wasn't even going to watch the game. I was just going to watch the replay today (Sunday) on League Pass, fast forward through the Magic dominating us and then come up with some kinda recap.

You can't blame me for that. Let me go back and take a quote from my preview.

5. The Warriors are missing these players - Brandan Wright, Kelenna Azubuike, Raja Bell, Anthony Morrow, Ronny Turiaf, Andris Biedrins, Anthony Randolph, Speedy Claxton, Devean George.

6. The Warriors will play these players tonight - Monta Ellis, Stephen Curry, Corey Maggette, Chris Hunter, Mikki Moore, C.J. Watson, and Vladimir Radmonovich.

How in the world were we supposed to win with that? In fact, how were we supposed to be even close?

So I went on with my night...did what I had to do. Like an idiot, I decided to briefly check the score during the 2nd quarter.

I check the score, and what do I see? Warriors are down by 15. (I got rhymes son!)

Surprise surprise R Dizzle. Box Score at that point? Nothing out of the ordinary. Monta with the most points, AR just got in and did a few things, Vlad Rad looking half decent.

But there was an interesting number. Dwight Howard like 3 fouls already. Weird. Maybe we were doing something right? Getting him into foul trouble early? Gortat too?

Naw naw, we still had no chance. Vinsanity was playing out of his mind. Get it? Visnanity? Playing out of his mind? I'm so creative.

The Magic kept scoring more 3's at a rate faster than I was eating Xmas Cookies. We had no chance. None at all.

So I said "whateves." Got back to the task at hand. Decorating my Xmas tree. It was dope. I had warm hot chocolate (what else would it be? cold hot chocolate?), the N Sync Christmas Album playing in the background, cool ornaments and I was hanging with a lil special someone.

You gotta love the holidays! Fun filled times. I mean jeez, look at my tree! (I got rhymes son!)

But something was missing. The night wasn't right. I had to be honest with myself. I can't just "not watch" the Warriors because they're guaranteed a loss. No, I must enjoy the bad times, I must find some pleasure in it all.

So I turned it back on at the beginning of the 2nd half. Something was different this time around.

Sure Monta was doing his thing - playing at an All Star level. Vlad Rad was doing his thing. Curry was getting his Butter on (Butter Chicken anyone?) and handling the ball silky smooth. But there 2 things that stuck out to me at that point.

1. Dwight and Marcin were in foul trouble.

Very key. Without their two big men, they were forced to play Brandon Bass at center. We didn't really have one at the time (don't try to tell me that Mikki Moore or Chris Hunter are great substitutes) so we could play small ball.

Yes, classic Nellie ball. Put a 4 at the 5 position (Vlad Rad) a 3 at the 4 (Corey Maggette), put in guys that "have the ability" to score (Monta, Randolph, and Curry) and run run run run run.

2. Anthony Randolph was "different."

Define different you say? Can't put my finger on it. Something was just..."different." Sure I can throw out numbers but really, what difference does THAT make? It can't really describe what was becoming of Mr. AR. It was just "different."

Maybe finally living up to his "potential?" Not being "out of control?" "No one on the corner had swagga like him?"

Who knows - but at least he wasn't being his usual "Tigger self."

I had to watch the game. I just had to. I had a feeling, or was it more than a feeling, that I had a chance to see something special. Let me quickly summarize what I said in the next 15 minutes of my life.

"We have no chance."

"Wow that was pretty."

"Wait, how did he..."

"We're closing the lead."

"Ooooooo"

"Aaaahhhh"

"NO way is this happening."

"No, really, NO WAY IS THIS HAPPENING."

"That Monta - he's so acrobatic."

"Wait, what's with Anthony Randolph?"

"How is playing like that?"

"Where has been all season?"

"No really...what's going on."

"It's the end of the 3rd and we're up by 5."

"WTF MAN?!?!!??!"

This is why he's hot. This is why he's hot. This is why, this is why, this is why he's hot.

"WTF MAN?!?!?!" - indeed. The "impossible" was happening right in front of our eyes. We had a team with 8 guys. We were playing the Magic. Yes, the Magic. The same Magic that were the Eastern Conference Champions. The same Magic that manged to get BETTER over the off season.

It was happening. Monta Ellis was playing at an All Star level. He was leading the team. Curry was getting his PG on and handling the ball well. Corey Maggette was slashing in the line, playing strong. But most of all - Anthony Randolph was becoming something special right in front of our eyes.

I was going to be able to put my first present under my new Christmas tree. I was going to see the Warriors do the impossible again. I was back to believing.

IT WAS GOING TO BE AN EARLY CHRISTMAS.

But no, I was wrong. Not too get too depressing but essentially things didnt' come together. Call it being a young team. Call it being inexperienced. Call it playing against a better team.

Whatever you want to do - truth of the matter is we got destroyed in the last 5 minutes. The Magic made it one "Magical" night.

Hey, but like always - let's refer to the one thing I had right in my preview.

FICTION

1. The Warriors will win tonight. (That is all...)

Hooray...

Thanks for NOT giving me an early XMas present guys...

But hey, one question. How in the world did Matt Barnes for from this

To this

Who else? Anthony Randolph. 10-23 shooting, 28 points, 13 boards, and 5 assists.

Two things popped out to me from AR in this game.

1. He still can't crack a smile.

Seriously, when is this kid going to be happy? He was scoring left and right, making crazy passes (that dish to Monta was nuts) and he still looked like he was about to cry.

The only time I saw him smile was after he fouled Matt Barnes in an attempted block.

...what's up with that?

1. He's living up to his "potential."

Yeah great stuff. We all know where the hype is and what it's about. But please just do me one favor. For my Christmas gift, just please make sure that

FOR THE LOVE OF GOD YOU DO THIS AGAIN!!!!

Oh ya, one more thing....

IT'S ALMOST TIME FOR THE HOLIDAYS!! YAY!!

All about Holiday Cupcakes!

Poll

Which was a tougher loss this week?

Rockets

323 votes

Magic

141 votes

464 votes | Poll has closed

GAME THREAD #19 - Warriors vs. Magic - Superman that..

R Dizzle — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 00:36:43 -0000

My arms are this big - I swear.

Warriors: 6-12

Magic: 15-4

Tip-Off: 7:30pm

TV: CSN Bay Area

Radio: KNBR 680

Blog Buddy: Third Quarter Collapse

Alright so things aren't going so well. We lost the last game to the Rockets by a stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid (I think you get the picture) play and it was heart breaking. Monta's been scoring out of his mind but also giving up turnovers at a rate that is out of his mind. Yay.

But hey, at least we get to see another great Warriors game tonight. We're going to finally have a full roster...right?

Right?

What's this? IQofaWarrior says...a big fat N-O.

Sigh...

FACTS

1. The Magic are tied for the best record in the Eastern Conference.

2. The Magic will set a new team record with 7 consecutive road wins,

3. Don Nelson will miss the next 5 road games.

4. Anthony Morrow will miss tonight's game.

5. The Warriors are missing these players - Brandan Wright, Kelenna Azubuike, Raja Bell, Anthony Morrow, Ronny Turiaf, Andris Biedrins, Anthony Randolph, Speedy Claxton, Devean George.

6. The Warriors will play these players tonight - Monta Ellis, Stephen Curry, Corey Maggette, Chris Hunter, Mikki Moore, C.J. Watson, and Vladimir Radmonovich.

7. Mickael Pietrus was one of the most fun Warriors players. (See Below)

8. The Warriors are in desperate need of some magic "health" potions.

9. Mickael Pietrus, Matt Barnes, and Adonal Foyle will all get standing ovations when they step on the court (if they do).

10. This guy (pictured below) will Superman the Warriors.

FICTION

1. The Warriors will win tonight. (That is all...)

Poll

Who is your favorite ex-Warrior on the Magic?

Mickael Pietrus

227 votes

Matt Barnes

203 votes

Adonal Foyle

152 votes

582 votes | Poll has closed

RUMOR: Warriors and Bobcats looking for big men

Atma Brother ONE — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 17:11:26 -0000

The secret is the Dubs need some bigs!

Jump for the 411!

From Y! Sports Adrian Wojnarowski's twitter feed:

Golden State and Charlotte front office's still scouring landscape for bigs, league execs say, but struggling to find do-able deals.

The good news is that the Warriors have a multitude of very tradable assets from young players with (mostly mythical) upside to several nice role players (Andris Biedrins, Ronny Turiaf, Corey Maggette, C.J. Watson) to a potential All-Star (Monta Ellis) to a plethora of expiring contracts to make the numbers add up (Raja Bell, Speedy Claxton, Devean George, Mikki Moore, and C.J. Watson).

The bad news is of course that the Warriors desperately need some bigs and the rest of the league knows this. The center duo of Andris Biedrins and Ronny Turiaf has given the Warriors very little this season mostly because of injuries. When they do finally come back, the reality is that they're output offensively and defensively is not exactly All-NBA quality. 3rd string center Mikki Moore is... a 3rd string center. At the 4 spot the Warriors haven't really gotten that much this season from Anthony Randolph despite what the numbers may indicate. My man Feltbot breaks this down:

Anthony Randolph vs. Himself: We've all seen flashes of Randolph's insane upside. Unfortunately, tonight's performance put the emphasis on insane. Anthony Randolph picked up his second melted brain of the year in this game, but this time it was his own. Pau Gasol was simply too much for Anthony Randolph to handle. He picked up two quick fouls trying to guard him in his first minute on the court. He couldn't keep Gasol off the boards either, even giving up an offensive rebound on a free throw. And he couldn't get anything against him on the offensive end. He was forced to settle for jumpers, and he didn't hit them, earning himself a quick hook from Smart.

In the second half, Randolph's frustration grew to the point that he took the matchup personally. After knocking the ball away from Gasol, he dived into the front row after the ball, completely wiping out three fans. Without a glance back, let alone an expression of concern for the fans he had just concussed, Randolph rushed back onto the court and began jawing at Gasol. When the refs and then Kobe interceded, Randolph lit into Kobe. If you've never seen a 20-year-old player tell the face of the NBA to "Back up!" I recommend you replay this tape and employ your amateur lip-reading skills. You'll see it, and possibly a choice epithet to boot.

Keith Smart wisely pulled Randolph from the game, and left him on the bench until garbage time. Will this performance cause the Bay Area media to lower the heat on Don Nelson over Randolph's playing time, and seriously consider Coach Smart's insinuation that Randolph is not NBA-ready? Um, I wouldn't count on it.

Brandan Wright is also out for the season, not that he's been that good to begin with.

The Dubs biggest weakness right now (aside from owner Chris Cohan and president Robert Rowell) is up front.

But enough of the diagnosis, what's the solution? Using ESPN's Trade Machine post your trade ideas to upgrade the Dubs' frontline in the comments.

Some of the other teams out there that need a roster shakeup are the Indiana Pacers (poor Danny Granger- aren't you glad former Warriors executive Chris Mullin passed him up to draft bust Ike Diogu?), Toronto Raptors (wildly overrated Craptors in every sense of the word- FREE CHRIS BOSH!), Detroit Pistons (their Bad Boys were just bad signings), Washington Wizards (I'm surprised they aren't better), Philadephia 76ers (make sure to read Philly's dirty little sports secret- fascinating stuff), New York Knicks (not signing Allen Iverson was just foolish), New Jersey Nets (going for the record!), Sacramento Kings (Jason Thompson is owning the sophomore battle with Anthony Randolph thus far), LA Clippers (cursed), New Orleans Hornets (Speedy Claxton + expiring contracts for Baron Davis- ooops, I mean Chris Paul anyone?), Memphis Grizzlies (starting Mike Conley over Iverson was a joke), and Minnesota Timberwolves (the triangle isn't so special without MJ, Scottie, Shaq, or Kobe now is it?).

For more on the Charlotte Bobcats check out Rufus on Fire

99% of rumors never happen, but 99% of them are fun to talk about!

Poll

Do the Warriors need to upgrade their frontline?

YES: Upgrade like Beyonce would say

802 votes

NO: Stick with this collection of 4's and 5's and it will work out

180 votes

982 votes | Poll has closed

Recap: Bucks 129, Warriors 125 (aka the Brandon Jennings show)

Frank Madden — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 08:05:04 -0000

Box Score / R ecap

My twenty years as a Bucks fan have been, at least superficially, a disappointment. Far too many 50-loss seasons ending in mid-April. Disappointing draft picks and bloated contracts. Stars that don't shine as bright as every other team's stars. Coaches that talk a good game but can't seem to coach one. So if you're a recent convert or a casual fan, understand where I'm coming from. I might love the game too much to give it up, but as a fan I've got some serious baggage. Cynicism, pessimism, paranoia...it's all there lurking in the shadows.

So quite honestly I don't know how to deal with Brandon Jennings. I just watched him score 55 points in his seventh professional game, and quite honestly I'm working through some things. Like, is this really happening? Is it possible the universe is playing an awful, awful trick on us poor Bucks fans? Or is this just what it feels like to have a superstar drop into our lap? And can we just get him to sign a max contract extension now, rather than waiting another two plus years?

If you weren't able to catch the game, I'm sorry. Very, very sorry. Because not only was this an incredible performance, but it ended up being an exciting game to boot. Not that you would have known from the first 24 minutes, which had all the traits of a deflating, momentum-killing loss against a sub-.500 team.

It all started with an uncharacteristically defense-less first half that had the Bucks trailing 57-49. I know the Warriors are up-tempo and offensively gifted and all that, but the Bucks just didn't look right. Andrew Bogut had scored 13 but conceded a head-scratching 11 to Mikki Moore. Jennings had been scoreless in the first half but dropped in 10 in the second. The game was still there for the taking, but the Bucks didn't seem to be playing their game.

Call Jim Paschke a prophet, because a minute into the third quarter he saw something. "Why do I have a good feeling about this game from a Bucks' perspective?"

What it was, I'm not really sure. But shortly thereafter Jennings went to work, beginning his systematic dismantling of the Warriors' defense. Twenty-nine points in the period, 12/13 fg, 4/5 from deep, and almost all of it in the halfcourt. More on that below. The game was so bizarre that Scott Skiles even went with a zone for a short period in the third.

Give credit to the W's though--they could have quit once the momentum turned against them, but they kept making shots. Monta Ellis had his jumper working (never a good sign) and the Bucks had no answer for Corey Maggette, who was playing center down the stretch and ended up scoring 25 on 11 shots. And with 4:24 left, an Ellis triple brought the Warriors all the way back to claim a 108-107 lead.

Fortunately, this was Jennings' night. He drilled a straight-away triple to reclaim the Bucks lead with 2:14 left, then buried an excuse-me fadeaway banker from the left side moments later. The Warriors kept coming back, so he drilled another three with 34 seconds left to make the lead six. And after a sloppy final minute saw Anthony Morrow miss a potential winning three with 10 seconds left, it was who else but Jennings who came away with the rebound and a clutch pair of free throws to ice it.

Three Bucks

Brandon Jennings. Fifty-five for the game, all in the final three quarters. Forty-five in the second half (17/21 fg). Twenty-nine in the third quarter. Simply unbelievable.

The Warriors don't defend much anyway, but everytime the Bucks gave Jennings a high screen good things happened. As we've seen from most opponents, the Warriors were content to go under screens on Jennings and dare him to make a play.

So he did. Gliding to the hoop for acrobatic layins. Dropping in that one-handed floater that's quickly becoming his signature shot. Pulling up off the screen for a clean look at a mid-range jumper. And when all that was getting boring, how about a three-pointer? Or seven of them? Once Jennings got going, it didn't matter if his feet were set. He made his first twelve shots of the third period, and when his last jumper of the period bounced off the rim the entire arena seemed confused. How did that happen?

Perhaps more amazingly, he kept going, which was fortunate considering the Warriors refusal to lay down. Every time the Bucks needed a big shot in the fourth he was there to make it happen. This was his coming out party, and he wasn't going to let it end with anything but a win. By the way, did we mention that he missed his first three shots and was benched less than five minutes into the game?

Andrew Bogut. Bogut went to town on the small Warrior frontline in the first three quarters, scoring 19 on 9/12 shooting to go with 11 boards. Nothing in the fourth quarter, but fortunately they didn't need him.

As usual, Bogut's success was tied to his ability to give the Warriors different looks. With the Warriors doubling a fair bit in the post, he faced up a number of times, including one play where he drove baseline right on the quicker Anthony Randolph and threw down a highlight reel facial on the youngster. Bogut even hit a mid-range jumper in the first half, which is the first time I can remember one of those this year. And nothing was more poetic than the two-handed alley-oop he put down from Jennings off a screen and roll in the third.

Defensively he had some problems, allowing Moore to make all six of his shots en route to 13 points. And he was a half-step slow every time the W's guards burned the Bucks' perimeter defense, allowing Ellis and company to finish time and again at the cup. That's not really on Bogut per se, but he seemed to have better luck defending the rim against Denver.

Charlie Bell. Luke Ridnour or Luc Mbah a Moute (nine pts, 12 rebs) could easily have gotten the nod as well, but we'll give the nod to Bell (14 pts, four rebs, six ast) for his clutch play in the fourth quarter and tireless defense throughout the game. Bell scored seven in the final period, including a three to reclaim the lead with 3:02 remaining and the game-clincing two free throws with 3 seconds left. He also handed out six assists as the Bucks continued to show good patience offensively.

Three Numbers

55. Could there be any other?

15-2. We highlighted the Warriors' rebounding problems in the pregame, and they didn't disappoint. Though neither team could do much to slow down the other offensively (56% for GS, 52% for the Bucks), the Bucks predictably annihilated the Warriors on the glass, 46-31, including +13 on the offensive glass.

14. My reaction at the half? The Bucks seemed content to let the game come down to a shooting contest, which just didn't seem like an ideal gameplan. But as noted in the pregame, the Bucks have actually been more dependent on the threeball than the Warriors this season, so maybe it wasn't that bad of a strategy. Overall, Jennings' 7/8 performance helped propel the Bucks to a scorching 14/24 from deep, netting a +18 compared to the Warriors' 8/20.

Three Good

BROGUT! Brandon Jennings. Andrew Bogut. They play the two most important positions in the game, and for the last couple weeks each has been playing like they're one of the league's best at those positions. Now for the love of God, both of you need to stay healthy.

Going small. With Andris Biedrins and Ronny Turiaf hurt, the Warriors couldn't have gone big even if they wanted to, and after a sloppy defensive first half Scott Skiles had seen enough of his usual starting five. Luke Ridnour started the second half in place of Hakim Warrick, pushing Charlie Bell to SF and Luc Mbah a Moute to PF, and it worked. OK, so realistically I could have been playing PF in the third and the Bucks would have been OK, but in each of the last two games Skiles has changed up his lineup to start the third and the Bucks have two wins to show for it. Flexibility = good.

Spotlight. It's not just that the Bucks have been bad in recent years, it's that people stopped caring. National media, local fans...the Bucks simply haven't been a relevant concept for some time. But if you've been patient then you're starting to get your rewards. The crowds have been treated to some great performances at the BC thus far, and the players have gotten the love they deserve right back, especially with the Squad 6ers cheering loud and proud for 48 minutes every night. There are still way too many empty seats at the BC, but that's going to change. How can it not?

Three Bad

Bogut's streak. Bogut came into the game having made his last nine free throws, but apparently we shouldn't read too much into it. A 1/6 night later and Bogut looks back to his maddeningly inconsistent self from the stripe.

Soft serve. Just way too many easy buckets in the first half for the W's, who gave the Bucks' perimeter defenders problems with penetration that led to lots of easy looks both inside (when they opted to finish past slow help defense) and out (when they kicked it out for open looks). Don't expect the Bucks to be ranked #1 in defensive efficiency anymore after conceding a 123.8 pts/100 night to the Warriors, but hopefully they don't let this game get them into bad habits. On the plus side, they did a better job of closing out on shooters in the second half, and Golden State didn't do anything on the offensive boards.

Empty seats. Official attendance was just short of 15,000 tonight and it looked like a lot less. What else is going on in Milwaukee on a Saturday night?

RUMOR: Golden State Warriors Head Coach Don Nelson on his way out

Atma Brother ONE — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 18:01:12 -0000

More photos » by Paul Sakuma - AP

Poor guy. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)

Browse more photos »

It amazes me how little love coach Don Nelson gets after coaching masterfully and overachieving with not 1, but 2 poorly constructed rosters (2006-2007 WE BELIEVE and 2007-2008 48 wins) by former GM Chris Mullin, should-be-former team president Robert Rowell, and the worst owner in all of sports Chris Cohan.

It amazes me how much vitriol is pointed at Nellie by the media AFTER a blowout win on the road in New York.

From all this hysteria you would think Nellie has been a loser his entire second tenure with the Warriors with the likes of LeBron James and Kobe Bryant.

After the jump we dissect CBS Sports Ken Berger's piece Nelson's abrasive style might have him on way out.

Yeltsin never recovered his popularity after a series of economic and political crises in Russia in the 1990s. The Yeltsin era was marked by widespread corruption, economic collapse, and enormous political and social problems. By the time he left office, Yeltsin had an approval rating of 2 percent by some estimates.

There's a key insuation here with this Boris Yeltsin comparison which seems to be curiously leveled at Nellie at large that he's corrupt. Corruption is a pretty serious charge. It still feels like (and maybe I'm wrong) that this all comes back to people's random fascination and continued excuses for failed GM Chris Mullin (by the way how many teams are lining up for his supposed grand services right now?). Geoff Lepper over at 48Minutes.net recently provided some much-needed background for the hysterically blown up and sensationalized Nellie-Mullin "drama":

NBA FanHouse (Matt Steinmetz): Don Nelson doesn't like dealing with the print media anymore. This is something that's been building for a long while, a byproduct of him getting blamed at the start of last season for the falling out that took place between the Warriors and Chris Mullin.

I have no proof of how much influence Nelson had in Mullin's twist-in-the-wind, slow-motion dismissal, but it's clear that Nelson has been stung by the fact that people in the Bay Area and national media believe he did help in pushing out Mullin.

(Sidebar for my personal thoughts: Nelson was less an active participant, and more a deliberate observer, standing on the sidelines while Mullin and Robert Rowell engaged in their blood feud - even as he knew he was the only guy who might be able to bring the two sides back together again. I've heard from folks close to Nelson that he was very upset Mullin didn't side with him during Nelson's post-WE BELIEVE holdout - which Nelson eventually lost to Rowell - and I think Nelson's silence during the Mullin-Rowell fight was his form of payback.)

Basically Nellie's buddy Mullin did nothing to help him out in his negotiations with the easily negotiable Rowell (just ask Stephen Jackson) after he saved the franchise back in 2007. So why is he supposed to go out of his way to help out Mullin when Rowell's looking to fire him (good dismissal, just probably for the wrong reasons from a guy who should have been fired as well). This is corrupt on Nellie's part? Don't think so.

By the way when was the last time you heard folks lobbying corruption charges against Mullin for not hooking his mentor and savior (both in his playing days and GM stint) Nellie with a much deserved pay increase or for straight up lying to Jason Richardson's face (supposedly his favorite player) when he said he wouldn't trade him a few days before unceremoniously dumping him to make this roster younger and rawer after the Warriors first playoff run in well over a decade?

After beating the Knicks 121-107 on Friday night, Nelson stands only 21 wins shy of becoming the NBA's all-time winningest coach. But his insistence on alienating and humiliating his best players -- which continued at Madison Square Garden even in victory -- could soon lead to a coaching change, a high-level coaching source told CBSSports.com.

Again Nellie got the win pretty easily. Who was cemented to his bench for whatever reason really doesn't matter. Nellie is public enemy #1 when the Warriors lose and when they win. That's a lose-lose situation that this Hall of Fame coach doesn't deserve.

With no realistic trade scenarios emerging for Stephen Jackson -- and with the team's other miserable star, Monta Ellis, wanting out, too --

It cracks me up how "Captain" Jack and Moped Ellis' tantrums are made out to be legitimate reasons to fire Nellie. Nellie may (hilariously) look like Boris Yeltsin after these losses as they joked on the CSN Bay Area post game show last night, but these two guys are straight out of this movie:

via www.thelightisgreen.com

Someone explain to me why Jackson is miserable after Nellie saved his hoops career when no one would touch him and Rowell foolishly gave him an undeserved $36 million check? Someone explain to me why Ellis is miserable after Nellie found the perfect role for a undersized, speedy, defenseless 2-guard with limited handles and low hoops IQ, being handed the keys to this franchise, and despite nearly ruined his own career, did not have his contract rightfully and legally voided last season?

Nelson's last option to keep the team from blowing up already is under consideration. Nelson, 69, would assume a consultant role, with top assistant Keith Smart taking over as head coach.

"It could happen by next week," the source said.

....

Nothing is ever 100 percent with the Warriors; not even the players know who's making the decisions or whom they can trust in the organization, a second person familiar with the team's problems said. A third source said the timing of Smart's ascension to head coach is difficult to predict simply because of the person who'd be making that decision.

"Nellie would," the person said.

For everyone jumping at the thought of Coach Smart taking over here's some facts:

Nellie's coaching record: 1312 wins (2nd all time), 1012 losses [Basketball Reference]
Smart's coaching record: 9 wins, 31 losses [Basketball Reference]
Over the past 30 years the best coach this franchise has had is... Don Nelson
The Dirty Dozen: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

Thanks to Nellie, they'll do so with their two stars, Jackson and Ellis, coming off inexplicable 47- and 45-minute performances, respectively, against the Knicks.

So inexplicable that the Warriors WON? It never ceases to amaze me how many folks out there that think they know how to coach and manage a roster better than Nellie.

For good measure, he also embarrassed No. 7 overall pick Curry in the very building where he'd hoped to spend his NBA career. If Curry thought he might face some dysfunction if the Knicks had picked him at No. 8, these few months with Nelson have been quite the education.

For comparison's sake let's look at #7 pick Stephen Curry's minutes this season versus the two picks right before and after him:

#6 Jonny Flynn: 28:11 minutes per game

#7 Stephen Curry: 26:11 minutes per game

#8 Jordan Hill: 7:05 minutes per game

Note that all 3 of these rookies play for teams that well... suck and are in "rebuilding mode" (all 3 of these teams have "building" for quite some time now). The thing is Nellie and the Warriors have beaten the other two squads. It's curious why Curry's playing time this season is leveled as a failure of the coach this season. Do the coaches in Minny and the NY have to face daily diatribes from so many critics for the playing time for Flynn and Hill? Doubt it.

Nelson had made a point of praising Curry during our conversation at the Warriors' morning shootaround. But even when he praises someone, he manages to insult someone else.

"He's going to be our future point guard for many, many years," Nelson said. "And I feel we'll build the team around him."

Funny, that's what the organization told Ellis, too. Oh, never mind.

Wait I thought Nellie was too busy humilating Curry by not giving him playing time? Now he's praising him, but taking a shot a Monta? Seems a little dubious to me.

The Warriors' revised plan -- Curry's 2:35 run Friday night, notwithstanding -- explains why one source familiar with the situation said Nelson has been actively looking to trade Ellis, too.

"He wants Monta out," the source said.

Folks who have been watching Ellis this season and last know that's not a bad thing (see What's wrong with Monta). It's abundantly clear right now that Mullin and Rowell's "master plan" to build around Ellis and Andris Biedrins and destroy WE BELIEVE was a very silly move. The Warriors should be looking to upgrade from Ellis.

Jackson said Friday he's not angry with Nelson, but rather with the fact that he was given the impression the Warriors would be "more of a veteran team" this season. Though Jackson didn't elaborate, a person familiar with the situation said his anger -- and Ellis' -- stems from a dinner meeting with Rowell at the end of last season in which the Warriors' president vowed to surround them with a playoff-caliber supporting cast.

This has to be the most hilarious part from the "Captain" and his "pupil". Now I would have loved to see the Warriors get older, smarter, and better on the court particularly with Amare Stoudemire (probably more so than anyone- I'm even on record as saying he'd quite possibly be a lower health risk than Biedrins this season which is so far true). BUT it's hilarious how 2 of the on-court "leaders" of this team have acted less and less "veteran" like with each passing day.

Nellie is not the problem. Cohan and Rowell are problems #1 and #2 and this flawed roster is problem #3. If Nellie steps down next week as rumored the Warriors might see a short little burst of enthusiasm from a raw, immature, and low IQ roster of too many me-first players a la Bob Lanier back in 1994 (though at least that roster had some more classy players). But guess what? It's all down hill after there. Don Nelson is the best head coach and even front office personnel Cohan and Rowell will ever luck into.

How do I know this?

Again, The Dirty Dozen: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

Also see: Polling GSoM: What exactly won't Monta Ellis do?

More thoughts from the GSoM community (folks who actually watch Warriors games)

What's wrong with Monta (Dubs fan in Boston)
CBS Berger Report: "Nelson will quit by next week!" (faetati)
Back off Nellie and Jack: It's ROWELL, trick! (AR4)
Would you be opposed to trading Ellis? (WarriorSth)

Poll

If Warriors head coach Don Nelson steps down next week as rumored will this kick off The Dirty Dozen trilogy part deux?

YES: Hello Coach Winters!

106 votes

NO: Cohan and Rowell know what they're doing.

28 votes

OTHER: I'm sick of the nonstop Dubs Drama.

246 votes

380 votes | Poll has closed

RECAP: Warriors 146, Timberwolves 105 - There's no I in TEAM

Fantasy Junkie — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 07:18:39 -0000

More photos » by Rocky Widner - NBAE/Getty Images

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Boxscore

Preview/ Game Thread (1150+ Comments)

We have to be sure to not get carried away with tonight's game. All that we've established is this:

Western Conference Power Rankings (updated)
14. Golden State Warriors
15. Memphis Grizzlies
16. Minnesota Timberwolves

I'm not trying to take anything away from the Warriors, they played dominant, amazing basketball tonight. I'm just worried that the success is more a result of the opponent and that the Warriors won't consistently play with this level of effort and intensity.

Hit the jump for some more thoughts.

Can we play the Timberwolves for 82 games?

All the things that the Warriors had done the last 2 games against the Clippers and Kings are what the Timberwolves did tonight, but much worse. I mean it was ugly. Heck, Canis Hoopus, the SB Nation Twolves blog, started writing their recap with 1:50 left... in the 3rd quarter!

Like I said in the preview, there's not a whole lot to like on this Twolves team. I never got the sense that any of these players had ever played together before. There was zero chemistry on the floor.

Guards turned the ball over a lot: Flynn 6 TO's, Sessions 4 TO's, Pavlovic 4 TO's, Ellington 3 TO's.
Lazy passes: There was no zip on the ball. Just a lot of lob passes and passes to the wrong side of the man.
Guys not coming to the ball when passed to: You have to come and meet the ball when someone's passing you the ball. The Twolves players just stood and waited for the ball to get to them.
There was no sense of urgency. They looked like they had given up midway through the 2nd quarter.

T.E.A.M. - the acronym for success

This wasn't all about the Twolves sloppy play. It was actually more that the Warriors finally decided to play with some life.

Teamwork: It was amazing. It was as if they had the most amazing practice sometime between the Kings game and this one where they learned how to play with each other. All 10 Warrior players seemed to know where everyone else was going to be on offense. They moved without the ball and even looked to set each other up. Tonight made it seem like they actually want to play with each other.

Effort: The guys were all over the floor tonight. You could just see the difference. They played with energy, life, and passion. Players were making things happen on offense and defense just by staying active. They were in the passing lanes all night as well as putting pressure on the guards while doubling down on the big men. Check out this stat: leading rebounder for the Warriors? Monta Ellis with 10.

Assists: The ball was zipping around tonight. The Twolves defense never got comfortable as the Warriors moved the ball with ease - 36 assists to just 12 turnovers. 15 for Jack compared to just 3 turnovers. Even Corey Maggette passed the ball. Corey Maggette! If he's passing the ball, you know something is going right. Seriously though, props to Maggs for 11 points in 10 minutes. But I digress. The Twolves D had something to do with the excellent ball movement, but the Warriors put forth a major effort to move the ball around.

Minnesota: Clearly the most important ingredient for another team's success.

Miscellaneous Thoughts

One thing that worries me: How did Brian Cardinal block Monta Ellis on a fast break layup? Is the ankle 100%? Will it get back to 100%? There's no reason Brian Cardinal should be blocking your shot on a fast break.
The Warriors are only 2 games under .500. Yessss.
Kelenna Azubuike was ridiculous tonight. 31 points on 13-19 shooting. He couldn't miss in the first half.
I liked what I saw from Anthony Randolph tonight. It was probably his best game of the season. He attacked the basket under control and didn't try to do too much.
Acie Law with 5 steals 12 minutes? I like his hustle. He really works hard out there.
Morrow had a good shooting night but there's still something lacking about his game. He tends to disappear at times and his defense can still use a lot of help.
Like I said, this game was against the Twolves which proves almost nothing. The Warriors played great, but they have a lot to prove. They'll get their chance to prove it with the upcoming road trip without Andris Biedrins (out 2 weeks). @ Indiana, @ New York, @ Minnesota, @ Cleveland, @ Boston, vs Portland, @ Dallas, @ San Antonio, vs LA Lakers. Before anyone gets too optimistic, let's see how the Warriors look after this tough stretch of the schedule.

Sorry ladies, it's not Kelenna Azubuike. I'm going with Stephen Jackson.

Damn impressive game from Jax tonight. He was Steve Nash-like with his passes. The 15 assists in 3 quarters weren't simple passes. It wasn't a bunch of passes to Anthony Morrow standing wide open. He was threading the needle to the big men as they rolled through the lane. He was able to drive into the lane and create for others on the floor. And what was even better, he didn't force any shots tonight. I'm not sure what was going on, but he really increased his trade value tonight.

Final - 11.9.2009	1	2	3	4	Total
Minnesota Timberwolves	29	26	22	28	105
Golden State Warriors	33	41	37	35	146

Complete Coverage >

Poll

Will the Warriors win more than 25 games?

Yes, more than 25 wins

769 votes

No, 25 wins or less

521 votes

1290 votes | Poll has closed

SB Nation - Andris Biedrins

Q&A: Marcus Thompson - Contra Costa Times / InsideBayArea.com (Part 3 of 3)- Monta Ellis/ Stephen Curry backcourt, John Wall, All-2k Golden State Warriors Starting 5

Briefing: There's no place like your old home

Best of Twitterville

Q&A: Marcus Thompson - Contra Costa Times / InsideBayArea.com (Part 1 of 3)- Warriors bright spots, the next to be traded, Robert Rowell and basketball decisions

Happy Birthday, Dwight Howard!

RECAP: Warriors 118 Magic 126 - So much for my early XMas Present

1. Dwight and Marcin were in foul trouble.

2. Anthony Randolph was "different."

IT WAS GOING TO BE AN EARLY CHRISTMAS.

FICTION

1. He still can't crack a smile.

1. He's living up to his "potential."

FOR THE LOVE OF GOD YOU DO THIS AGAIN!!!!

IT'S ALMOST TIME FOR THE HOLIDAYS!! YAY!!

Which was a tougher loss this week?

Rockets

Magic

GAME THREAD #19 - Warriors vs. Magic - Superman that..

FACTS

FICTION

Who is your favorite ex-Warrior on the Magic?

Mickael Pietrus

Matt Barnes

Adonal Foyle

RUMOR: Warriors and Bobcats looking for big men

Do the Warriors need to upgrade their frontline?

YES: Upgrade like Beyonce would say

NO: Stick with this collection of 4's and 5's and it will work out

Recap: Bucks 129, Warriors 125 (aka the Brandon Jennings show)

RUMOR: Golden State Warriors Head Coach Don Nelson on his way out

What's wrong with Monta (Dubs fan in Boston)

CBS Berger Report: "Nelson will quit by next week!" (faetati)

If Warriors head coach Don Nelson steps down next week as rumored will this kick off The Dirty Dozen trilogy part deux?

YES: Hello Coach Winters!

NO: Cohan and Rowell know what they're doing.

OTHER: I'm sick of the nonstop Dubs Drama.

RECAP: Warriors 146, Timberwolves 105 - There's no I in TEAM

Can we play the Timberwolves for 82 games?

T.E.A.M. - the acronym for success

Miscellaneous Thoughts

Will the Warriors win more than 25 games?

Yes, more than 25 wins

No, 25 wins or less