The level of the Warriors’ competition went up Thursday. The level of their winning went down.

And it’s very possible that’s going to become a familiar lament for Golden State in the next few weeks.

It’s a cliche to say that the Warriors, as the NBA’s youngest team, need to learn how to win. But it’s a fact that Detroit’s 107-102 win over Golden State is the fourth time out in six losses for the Warriors this season in which they’ve held the lead in the final six minutes and failed to hang on.

Continued at...

http://48minutes.net/2008/11/14/thoughts-on-game-no-9-pistons-107-warriors-102/

By Geoff Lepper
48minutes.net

OAKLAND — The Warriors might not want Chris Mullin as their executive vice president past this season, but they’re all for keeping Don Nelson around.

Nelson confirmed Saturday that he and the team are close to a two-year extension that would keep him on the Warriors’ bench through the 2010-11 season.

A source close to the team said the sides are talking about a total of approximately $12 million in compensation; Nelson said his annual salary would drop slightly from its current $5.1 million, but that he would get “a little raise” when deferred monies, set to kick in after 2011, are factored in.

More at...

http://48minutes.net/2008/10/25/nelson-confirms-deal-is-close-denies-any-interest-in-mullins-job/

It’s no secret that Stephen Jackson, the Warrior with the greatest responsibilities on the court but only the fifth-largest paycheck, is seeking an extension to his current deal. Acting as his own agent, Jackson has been in negotiations directly with team president Robert Rowell on a pact that could keep him in Oakland until age 35. Since Jackson is already under contract for two more seasons, at a total of $14.8 million, the most he can hope to get tacked on is three seasons worth $27.8 million.

Talks have been steadily progressing, and though this is just as an educated guess, I’d say it’s a better than 50-50 proposition that something gets done before the Warriors’ season opens Wednesday.

MORE HERE...

http://48minutes.net/2008/10/24/jackson-deserves-to-get-paid-but-the-warriors-will-need-to-explain-it-if-they-do/

Given that Don Nelson has gone on record as saying that tonight’s final exhibition contest against Lietuvos Rytas — the first professional home of former Warriors guard Sarunas Jasikevicius (just wanted to make sure I still had the spelling memorized; sadly, yes) — is a dress rehearsal for what we’re going to see in the regular season, here’s one man’s guess at how Golden State’s rotation will eventually shake out.

http://48minutes.net/2008/10/21/who-plays-and-how-much-one-mans-guess-at-the-warriors-rotation/

By Geoff Lepper
48minutes.net

OAKLAND — Coach Don Nelson said from the outset of training camp that the Warriors’ point-guard job was C.J. Watson’s to lose.

Consider it officially lost.

Nelson confirmed Monday what had been obviously building over the past 10 days: DeMarcus Nelson will complete his local-boy-makes-good story by opening opposite Chris Paul when the Warriors tip off for real on Oct. 29.

Read the rest here...

http://48minutes.net/2008/10/20/its-official-demarcus-nelson-to-start-at-the-point-for-ws/