SB Nation User Blog: dj fuzzylogic

Trainer Tom Abdenour - The Anti-Stephen Jackson :: 2009-2010 Player Recaps and Previews

dj fuzzylogic — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 04:13:31 -0000

Tom Abdenour in the community! Teaching kids about eating healthy (via GoldenStateWarriors)

The number of "great" Warriors to be remembered as "great Warriors" is pretty slim. The number of retired numbers that adorn the Oracle Arena are pretty limited. With the way things are going right now, we wonder if there will ever be another Warrior that wants to be retired as one -- or a player that even comes close to having the achievements worthy of nomiation.

I argue that that next person is actually sitting on the Warriors bench right now.

No, I'm not talking about the potential of Anthony Randolph to be a superstar, nor am I suggesting anything about Stephen Curry's future with the Warriors. This dude has been with the Warriors 21 years and counting.

I'm talking about Tom Abdenour. The Warriors' athletic trainer has seen it all and stuck with the organization through thick and thin. This is more than we can say about former captain, Stephen Jackson.

This season, the Warriors need Abdenour to perform at his best. Last season was quite an "off-season" given that various Warriors players missed a combined 200+ games last season. What can we expect from him this year? Hope he's got his rolls of tape ready.

Before we get into the predictions for this year, let us check out a few of his amazing accomplishment worthy of induction into the NBA hall-of-fame. Heck, he's already in the National Athletic Trainers Association hall-of-fame.

I don't want to highlight everything about his professional career, which is accessible here. But I will note a few important things.

In 2005, he was awarded National Athletic Trainers Association's Tim Kerin Award For Excellence In Athletic Training. That year, the "star" Warrior players only missed about 20 games total with Mike Dunleavy missing only 3 games! In 1990, he received the NBA Trainer of the Year award. The run and gun warriors, led by Run TMC, clearly demonstrated his training-excellence.

Aside from that, Abdenour has been the ONLY Warrior to represent the United States in international play, getting a gold medal, too (Summer 2000 in Sydney, Australia among others).

He has also been featured in Sports Illustrated, but not as a swimsuit model.

What hasn't this man done?

Abdenour has faced a lot of bad luck last year. Moped Ellis, Brandan Wright's dislocating shoulder, Andris Biedrin's ankle and stamina issues...it was rough for him.

Abdenour provides Ellis with a strict no-Moped diet (photo via Fan Nation)

But from the looks of things, the Warriors are running smoothly. They've traded in physical problems for emotional problems. CJ Watson is back in the line-up after reportedly potentially being out longer than he was. Ellis has shown off some of that speed he once had, along with some other tricks up his sleeve to keep defenses ankles broken.

I'm expecting the Warriors to go as far as Abdenour is willing to take them. The spotlight is on him, will he be able to take them to the promised land? By promised land, I mean, at least 70 games played by all the starters.

What are your predictions for Mr. Abdenour?

2009-2010 Golden State Warriors Preview

Anthony Morrow: Ammo + Chocolate Rain
Stephen Jackson: O Captain, My Captain
Speedy Claxton/ Devean George, Acie Law: Wouldn't Count on It
Brandan Wright: Injury Prone
Stephen Curry: Let There Be Hope
Monta Ellis: Back in the Saddle
Corey Maggette: The 6th Wonder of the Oracle
Anthony Randolph: Hope Beyond the Hype
C.J. Watson: Storm-a-brewin'?
Mikki Moore: Ronny Turiaf Sr.
Ronny Turiaf: Still Gettin' Hyphy
Andris Biedrins: The Forgotten Warrior
Kelenna Azubuike

Coming 10.26.09 to a web browser near you...

Golden State Warriors 2k9-2k10 Super Preview Blowout Special!

NBA's Warriors hire Silvas Former Guam national volleyball player as team's chiropractor

dj fuzzylogic — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 04:31:48 -0000

NBA's Warriors hire Silvas Former Guam national volleyball player as team's chiropractor

The Warriors hottest off-season pick-up is Chomorro... new Chiropractor Mike Silvas.

Monta Ellis calls him "Salivas."

OPEN THREAD: Preseason Game #5 - Warriors @ Clippers - Warriors big men, I would like to introduce to you Blake Griffin...

dj fuzzylogic — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 23:35:52 -0000

Warriors (Preseason W-L) - 3-1

Clippers (Preseason W-L) - 1-1

Blog Buddy: Clips Nation

Tip-Off: 7:30 PM PST

TV: None

Radio: KNBR 680

Preseason games might be a tiny bit more interesting than summer-league games only because they're in "exotic" locations like Indian Wells or, maybe, Taipei, Taiwan. But tonight, we may get to see whether or not Blake Griffin will be the holder of many different nicknames, "Warrior Killer" possibly being one of them.

To our extra meaty big men, Andris Biedrins, Anthony Randolph, Mikki Moore ... be careful.

I like what Stephen Curry's being doing out there -- he looks like he's more than able to hold his own against against opposing team's second and third stringers. Lets hope Randolph's game settles down a bit, he seems like he's trying to do too much. And is Anthony Morrow slowly becoming the most exciting Warrior to pay attention to during this season?

PREDICTIONS

A Warrior win

Morrow leading the charge with 50 points and 7 rebounds

Blake Griffin posterizes Mikki Moore

6 post-dunk blank stares at the crowd by Blake Griffin

What are y'all predictions for this game???

CJ Watson - Storm-a-brewin'? :: 2009-2010 Golden State Warriors Player Recaps and Previews

dj fuzzylogic — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 04:14:17 -0000

(I wonder if people really know who CJ Watson is...)

Despite a somewhat lackluster free-agent class of summer 2009 where Trevor Ariza was the headliner, the NBA off-season was still pretty exciting nonetheless. Richard Jefferson switched conferences and makes me think the Spurs will continue their every-other-year championship a reality. Vince Carter finally got to move back home. Hedo Turkoglu got to go home as well...at least as "home" as the European city of Toronto can be for an Eastern European dude. Upper-echelon teams wondered and battled over whether they should hold onto their team leaders (Turkoglu, Andre Miller, Carlos Boozer) or succumb to the restrictive pressures of the economy. Teams strategized. Teams made moves for the betterment of their short term and long term futures.

And then, you had, what I would like to call, Watson-gate.

Honestly, the tug-of-war battle between our Golden State Warriors and the Orlando Magic over CJ Watson's services as a back-up guard might have been the most head-scratching and least inspiring drama of the whole summer. I mean, really, was this battle over CJ Watson really something to get personal about, as Orlando GM Otis Smith felt about the whole situation. In one word, I would describe this ordeal as "unnecessary." But I guess that's typical Warriors fashion to piss off their own players (Marc Jackson).

Watson is a solid back-up shooting guard (since he doesn't do much distributing) and has the one thing that Warrior players never seem to have: a mid-range game and a mid range jumper. But aren't undersized, shoot-first point guards as plentiful in the NBA/NBDL/CBA/PBA talent pool as say the annoyingly unathletic tweener PFs (Ike Diogu ...)?

So what value does he have for a Warriors team overloaded with shoot-first players - especially at the 1-3 positions that all guards have to play under Nellieball? Is there something we don't know about Watson's future with the Warriors?

Check after the jump

Watson plants trees, but is unsure about planting roots in the Bay Area

(photo via V.O. ala MO)

Apparently, CJ Watson can play at least 4 positions on the Warriors:

The point guard slipped during the team's very first workout of camp. Interestingly, the 6-foot-2 Watson had one of the funnier comments of opening day, boasting, "I re-signed here because I knew I was going to get minutes. I mean, I might play power forward here." (via Yahoo! Sports)

Is THIS why Otis Smith was rushing to sign all these Warriors? OR is CJ Watson the insurance policy now that Brandan Wright is out again with shoulder injuries??

But jokes aside, Watson clearly didn't want to be here. As some reports note, with the glut of point guards, minutes might be hard to come by. Instead of going for the longer term stability that the Warriors offered (3 years at $5million), Watson took the one year qualifying offer of $1.05 million. He even rejected the Philly 1 year offer of $2.3 million.

All this is to say that with Watson's 2010 unrestricted status, next year's free-agent class - Lebron James, Chris Bosh, Dwayne Wade, Dirk Nowitski - just got more amazing (hehe...).

The other subtext is how bad are the Warriors that when guaranteed money is as hard to come by as it is in this economy, that people are more willing to opt for the "freedom of choice."

Anyway, back to CJ Watson. I'm impressed the Warriors showed some restraint and resigned him for some minimum dollars. For most of the season, he was a one trick pony. Score in bunches, do little else. And maybe that's just what was asked of him.

But in the last month of the season, when the Warriors starters were either resting up or out with injuries, Watson ended up, surprisingly averaged 17ppg, 5.5 asts, and 4 rbs a game. Stats-aside, Watson was probably one of the few ball-handlers on the team that could dribble proficiently with both hands. Although he often dribbled too much, you won't expect him to make a telegraphed pass Monta Ellis--style or to dribble into a triple team expecting-a-foul-only-to-get-stripped (see Stephen Jackson and Corey Maggete). And unlike all the rest of the Warriors, Watson actually makes his free throws! Check his last season stats:

Year	Team	G	Mi	M	A	Pct	M	A	Pct	M	A	Pct	Off	Def	Tot	Ast	TO	Stl	Blk	PF	PPG

2008	Warriors	77	0	3.3	7.3	45.7	.600	1.6	40	2.2	2.5	87	.500	2	2.5	2.7	1.2	1.2	.100	0	9.5

I guess we could say that CJ Watson is minimal risk to the Warriors. I admit, I get scared watching Monta or Jax bringing the ball up the floor. This is the relief that Watson brings to the Warriors.

So what can we expect from this somewhat disgruntled players who's forced to stay one more year in Oakland?

I imagine that CJ Watson will put up about the same numbers he did last year. It's highly unlikely that he'll be able to duplicate the numbers he put up in April unless his teammates get as injured as they were last year. Expect him to play the instant offense role off the bench. Or maybe he'll start at power forward when Nellie re-invents 'small-ball.'

2009-2010 Golden State Warriors Preview

Anthony Morrow: Ammo + Chocolate Rain
Stephen Jackson: O Captain, My Captain
Speedy Claxton/ Devean George, Acie Law: Wouldn't Count on It
Brandan Wright: Injury Prone
Stephen Curry: Let There Be Hope
Monta Ellis: Back in the Saddle
Corey Maggette: The 6th Wonder of the Oracle
Anthony Randolph: Hope Beyond the Hype
Andris Biedrins
Ronny Turiaf
C.J. Watson
Mikki Moore
Kelenna Azubuike

Coming 10.26.09 to a web browser near you...

Golden State Warriors 2k9-2k10 Super Preview Blowout Special!

Yoga isn't just for chicks. Check how Antawn Jamison gets his body flexible for all those...

dj fuzzylogic — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 19:58:45 -0000

Yoga isn't just for chicks. Check how Antawn Jamison gets his body flexible for all those ridiculous scoop shots! I do Bikram Yoga and I swear it will do wonders for your game -- on and off the court. Trade in those strength shoes for a yoga mat today!

(video courtesy of NBA.com)

To celebrate the retiring of Tim Hardaway's number in the Miami Heat rafters, here's some classic...

dj fuzzylogic — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 18:26:58 -0000

To celebrate the retiring of Tim Hardaway's number in the Miami Heat rafters, here's some classic Tim-Bug commercials from yester-year. One of my favorite players of all time.

Also see: Tim Hardaway's #10 to hang in the AAA rafters [Peninsula is Mightier]

Around the Association: 2009-2010 Philadelphia 76ers - Are they (Elton) Brand New?

dj fuzzylogic — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 20:31:26 -0000

Dare we say that Elton Brand's glory years were with the Clippers?

(photo NBAE/Getty Images)

The Philadelphia 76ers officially get the perennial title of "Best young-team on the cusp of blowing up." By blowing up, I mean that in both the good (Portland Trailblazers or Atlanta Hawks) and bad (Golden State Warriors) kind of ways. Lingering around .500 for last half decade, the 76ers continue to walk that fine line of mediocrity and decency. On the one hand, you could say "At least they're a playoff team." On the other hand, they are in the East...

But if the off-season is any indication, they've opted for the "youth movement" (a much more exciting way of referencing what is sometimes known as "cost-cutting"), letting Andre Miller walk and finally handing the reigns to their young gunners like Andre Iguodala and Louis Williams. Whether by design or not, the 76ers have managed to let their core group of relatively young talent develop together over the last few years. After getting trounced by the Orlando Magic in their final game of playoffs where Raven Simone's attendance might have been the biggest highlight of the whole game, how will these young 76ers rebound from this in 2009-2010? Will a healthy Elton Brand offer some help? Better celebrities than Raven Simone in the stands?

More details after the jump.

As mentioned earlier, the 76ers have gotten younger. Whether they've gotten better remains to be seen. The Princeton offense that coach Eddie Jordan will most likely utilize (as he has in the past) possibly alleviates some of the pressures of forcing unseasoned (Jrue Holiday) and untraditional (Louis Wililams) point guards on the roster from bearing the responsibility of initiating offense like Andre Miller once provided. Like the Wizards that Jordan once coached -- packed with athletic wing and backcourt players like Gilbert Arenas, Larry Hughes, Antawn Jamison, and Caron Butler -- the 76ers skills and athleticism looks like it might be a good fit for this Princeton offense.

But with AI long gone and Miller, arguably the leader of this young team now gone, you wonder who's team is this? Or who's ready to step up for this young team?

Is it Elton Brand? One of the big questions (the 80 million dollar question at that) is whether Elton Brand is going to help or hurt this team, with some analysts of the NBA suggesting last year that his game slowed down their offensive system too much. Perhaps, it's because they had less than half a season to get accustomed to playing with each other. But his recent history of injuries and games-missed the last two seasons makes you wonder whether the big-man is on the twilight of his career, already. But if Brand isn't ready to go, Marreese Speights, Mr. Efficiency based on Hollinger's Player Efficiency Rating, will be ready to fill in with a full year under his belt. Enigma Samuel Dalembert is what he is and most likely can fill in with a decent game every 2nd to 3rd night.

If not Elton Brand, is this Andre Iguodala's team? I would say throughout his career with Philly, he's always had somewhat of an identity crisis in regards to his role on the team. I mean, the dude has never had his own name. When Allen Iverson was around, Iguodala also, at times, went by AI. Then he shared the same first name with Andre Miller. Would it be too far of a stretch (probably) to say Iguodala's alter ego as Chief Blocka in the Nike Hyperizers video is his attempt at making his 'own' name, per se, in the NBA?

Names aside, the multi-talented wing player has been described as overrated before when prematurely thrust into the leadership role of the 76ers being 'his' team. Granted, as the saying goes "There's no 'I' in team." And no one person should bear the responsibility. But with a team as young as this is -- with an aging paid-like-a-franchise-player-without-the-franchise-player-results-yet Elton Brand -- you wonder whether the young-ins have what it takes right now. Or do they need some "veteran leadership" with playoff wins under their belt to help rally and mentor them? Maybe that's what the Primo Brezec move is meant to do? Or maybe it's the return of the throwback logo that's supposed to inspire them of a once dominant 76ers era with hall of fame players, Dr J. and Charles Barkley. I say this team at this point, without Miller, goes as far as Iguodala is able to take them.

The more important subtext to this season than who's team this is? UCLA alums Jrue Holiday and Jason Kapono playing together. Will their UCLA connection somehow magically predispose them to playing well together?

Key Additions:

Jrue Holiday
Jason Kapono
Primo Brezec
Throwback logo and uniforms (with an 'modern' twist)

Departing:

Andre Miller
Reggie Evans

Predictions: 45 Wins

For more about the 76ers, check out Liberty Ballers

2009-2010 Around the Association

Introduction
Atlanta Hawks: Sorry, Mrs. Jackson. The Hawks are for real.
Boston Celtics: Sheed in Green + Another Answer
Charlotte Bobcats: They Do Exist
Chicago Bulls: Ring Around the Rose-y
Cleveland Cavaliers: Now or Never
Dallas Mavericks: The Curse of the Dampier
Denver Nuggets: If it ain't broke...
Detroit Pistons: The Return of the Bay Boys
Houston Rockets: Yao-ch!, that's gotta hurt
Indiana Pacers: A One Man Show
Los Angeles Clippers: Warriors South No More
Los Angeles Lakers: Big Brother, Little Brother
Memphis Grizzlies: Going Back to Vancouver
Miami Heat: Need to get the point
Milwaukee Bucks: Saving a few buck$
Minnesota Timberwolves: Donde esta Senor Rubio?
New Jersey Nets: The Year of the Yi
New Orleans Hornets: Two first names, one great point guard
New York Knicks: Is it summatime yet?
Oklahoma City Thunder
Orlando Magic: Are they Vinsane? You be the judge
Philadelphia Sixers
Phoenix Suns
Portland TrailBlazers
Sacramento Kings
San Antonio Spurs
Toronto Raptors
Utah Jazz
Washington Wizards
Rewind

The Secret Life of an Amiable Engineer

dj fuzzylogic — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 18:05:04 -0000

The Secret Life of an Amiable Engineer

Not your "average" cheerleader...

Warrior girl tests missiles by day and dazzles crowds by night.

We need to bring Jrich back just for this! Wish his handles on the basketball court were as good as...

dj fuzzylogic — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 17:58:42 -0000

Video: J-Rich's jam session

We need to bring Jrich back just for this! Wish his handles on the basketball court were as good as on the turntables.

Courtesy of Ball Don't Lie.

A blast from the Warriors' more amusing past courtesy of E.Rukis

dj fuzzylogic — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 17:53:03 -0000

A blast from the Warriors' more amusing past courtesy of E.Rukis