SB Nation User Blog: lightz0ut

All that glitters is not gold

lightz0ut — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 01:55:48 -0000

Here's a breakdown of the overplayed lines here in GSOM that when you stop and think about it, it doesn't really make much sense.

Let's get Baron Davis back. I'm gonna start off with a bang.... Why the hell would anybody want Baron Davis back with the Warriors? Seriously. Stop for a minutes and check out his stats for this year. It's just downright atrocious. If you honestly believe that he'd magically come back to his old self if he were to get traded back to the Warriors, you need a reality check. I won't put down the guy's desire to win as I don't know him, but I will point out that he's already missed 14 games this season. And say he did come back somewhat his old self, if you think the Warriors will instantly turn into contenders, you might need another reality check.

No matter how you spin it, the We Believe Warriors were just a notch above mediocre. Yes, I said it. It's a tough pill to swallow but it's the truth. Actually, the overplayed line is more about thinking the Warriors were a great team two years ago. They were the most exciting team in the league, but great they are not. The Warriors barely missed the playoffs last year and barely made it the year before. There's no other more exciting brand of basketball out there but the team would just sniff the playoffs for the next few years, barely making it one year and just missing it the next. What makes the We Believe Warriors (seem) so great was the long line of crap it preceded and this year's crap that followed. Compared to the league they still are mediocre, or at best, just above that. Sure there were money issues, but I doubt the ownership (no matter how incapable the might seem) would just break up that team if it was a bonafide playoff one. It's arguable that they made a good decision in not signing Baron to the contract he wanted, it's the decisions they made thereafter that really screwed up everything else.

We didn't pay Maggette $10M to come off the bench. I find this line the most hilarious of all. What's the connection between his salary and coming off the bench? Especially when he's putting up something along the lines of 20 points and 6 rebounds, which I might add, is significantly better than when he was starting?The guy's finally able to somehow justify the contract the Warriors gave him and people are complaining because he's not in the tip-off. For all I care, he can sit next to me in the last row of the Oracle with my $8 tix for the first 5 minutes of the ball game, come down, and put up the numbers he's putting in.

Stop this trading non-sense, let's wait the season out and it will be alright. I think this one is a bit debatable but I strongly believe this is the wrong stance to follow simply because the team is not balance. I do believe the team is capable of playing a lot better given more time and better health -- maybe good for another 40-win season next year. But does anybody think we can really win with this lineup? And I'm talking about more than just sniffing on the last playoff spot in last week of the season.

Warriors got jokes

lightz0ut — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 07:07:50 -0000

So, I was gonna reply on NIICCEE's free tickets thread but I thought maybe I have enough material for a fanpost. Anyway, he was asking for the best jokes and I happen to think of some Warriors related ones (yes, I just came up with them!). Maybe you can too...

Just to be clear, for inevitable you're not a Warriors fan conment, I'm taking a "I hope the Warriors lose all their remaining games this season so we can actually have a shot at a top talent next draft instead of lingering around the middle getting skinny sky is the limit but has to start 90,000 feet under sea level potential forwards" stance this season. So I decided to make this season tolerable by having fun or rather making fun of the team. Next year, I'll be back to my old grumpy self.

Anyway, here's the funny and/or the unfunny....

Why did the chicken cross the road?

- Coz no one would pass the ball on the other side.

- It saw the Warriors train wreck coming.

- So [insert name here] can see it.

- To check Morrow and Randolph laying eggs on the Warriors bench.

- Because Jim Barnett wanted a two-for-one.

- Someone finally got the rebound.

How many Warriors does it take to run a fast break?

- Two. Just give it about 5 tries.

- Add two to the number of defenders. Then subtract CJ Watson.

- Stephen Jackson and a 3pt line.

How many does it take to screw a Warriors a fast break?

- One moped.

A guy walks into a bar...

- and Stephen Jackson loses his dribble.

- and Maggette will shoot two free throws

- gets wasted to death, comes to the Oracle Arena, and still manage to play ahead of Anthony Morrow/Randolph.

- runs into Mullin, and is now the Warriors head coach.

What did the nun say to Stephen Jackson?

- Next time get a tattoo of praying hands holding an ill-advised shot.

Why does it seem like the Warriors get so many bad calls?

- They only have two referees working the game most of the time. The other one is busy arguing with Stephen Jackson on the other end of the floor.

What's the difference between the Warriors and the economy?

- The first one can't rebound to save its life, you hope the next one rebounds so you can have a life

What is Stephen Jackson's least favorite animal?

- Zebras

What did the Zebra give Stephen Jackson?

- A technical

What is annoying, hilarious, stupid, delusional, imaginative, useless, a complete waste of time, I mean REALLY annoying, all at the same time?

- A GSOM trade idea fanpost

And finally, How much shots could Stack Jack chuck if Stack Jack could just chuck and chuck?

Once upon a time....

lightz0ut — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 10:03:03 -0000

....Buike was gonna fill JRich's shoes. Some even claimed he would be better. Well, he chose to fill Maggette's shoes instead.

....Stephen Jackson was this indespensable player that we could not win a game with out him. Now, it seems like on most nights we have a better chance of winning without him.

....Belinelli and Wright might have the makings of NBA stars. Now, the coach is saying they barely have the makings of an NBA ready player.

....one PG was all we had, and, despite some huffing and puffing, all we needed. We currently have 4 yet none really fits our need.

....Al Harrington sucked. He was just named the player of the week posting numbers like 30 points and 13 rebounds.

....inconsistency was our problem. This year, that's the least of our problems as we've been nothing but consistent this season. Consistently suck, that is.

....there's nothing more beautiful than a Warriors fastbreak. This year, the only thing more dreadful to watch than a Warriors fastbreak is a Corey Maggette wide open airball.

....all we needed was 1 player to run a break. This year, 4 players against 2 couldn't even get it done.

....we were building for financial flexibility. That went down the drain quicker than a Monta Ellis fastbreak.

....we used to scratch our heads why Croshere gets to play ahead of everybody else. Now, we scratch our heads why Kurz gets to play ahead everybody else. Some things never change.

....we were a playoff team by definition. Now, we are a development team by definition. Either defined by the fact that this team is full of players that needs to be developed. Or by the fact that we're host to 2 ex-DLeague players, 2 current ones, and 2 more that probably would be playing there if we didn't decide to pick them up.

....we were Scrappy. Then someone decided to drop the S.

It seems like someone was just sprinkling pixie dust the last couple of years and now, we've ran out of it.

It's all about the fundamentals

lightz0ut — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 03:32:18 -0000

The Warriors have one simple, yet big problem: they're not playing fundamental basketball. Most likely, it is because of Nellie's system or just the players refusing to make a commitment, whatever it is the Warriors would need to get back to basics if they are to really turn not just this season but the franchise around.

Problem #1: Rebounding

Warriors meet Box out. Sure, there are times our smaller, lankier lineup gets outmuscled for the rebound but alot of times it has to do more with the 4 opposing players challenging 2 of our own for the rebound. I know part of the reason is Nellie's philosophy of pushing the break but let's face, there is no run and gunning this year until at least Monta comes back. So, he needs to get everybody to box their man out and hit the boards. It's one of the most frustrating thing to watch the Warriors D up pretty good only to have the opponent have 1 more chance... or 2...or 3... or 4...oh you get the point.

Problem #2: Defending the Pick and Roll

I know the pick and roll, when perfectly executed, can be a deadly weapon but when it's executed against the Warriors you feel like you're watching a tutorial on how to do it. I have to watch other teams to see if the pick and roll is really just hard to stop or the Warriors just don't have a clue on how to do it. Where would you place your money on?? Anyway, it's one thing to see Tim Duncan and Tony Parker rip your team apart with a little two-man game but Chris Duhon and David Lee, Steve Blake and Pryzibilla?

Problem #3: Run a fastbreak

This is one of the biggest areas we really miss Baron and Monta. Baron, of course, used to orchestrate most of our breaks while Monta, well just get him the ball and start running back the other way. And I think it's one of the biggest reasons we don't just lost, we get blown out. Since these used to be easy points for us. This year, we seem to really have a hard time orchestrating a good break. This year, a lot of times our break resulted into a pull up jumper or the dreaded pull up 3. It's funny coz this is supposed to be what they go over a lot in practice, I guess this where the lack of good decision makers come into play again.

Problem #4: Passing the Ball

Need I say more?

This is one of the reasons I strongly think Nellie should at least be getting the hot seat. Whether it is him or the players who's not showing enough commitment to basic things mentioned above, I believe it's too late to all of a sudden fix those things, especially when it's fundamental basketball.

The team might be better once Monta comes back but if that's the reason we're keeping Nellie that's kind of scary. Teams find ways to win without their stars and Monta is not even a bonafide superstar yet we're constantly losing by double digits.

The Soul-Less Warriors: Why it's tough to be a fan more than ever

lightz0ut — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 08:37:27 -0000

I have been breathing basketball all my life, but because I wasn't born and raised here in the U.S I only root for players not teams. It wasn't until 4-5 seasons ago not long after I moved here in SF that I adopted the Warriors, by default, as the team to root for.

I started following the Warriors during the year we got Baron Davis. It was a tough two years and there was only one thing that kept coming out of my mouth back then: We need a better coach. Sure enough, we get Don Nelson and the rest is We Believe history.

So while I don't have the credentials of being a Warriors fan since birth, I have seen my share of some tough times. And through the years, I've come to experience Warriors basketball and found out why people still root for them despite their mighty struggle to be successful.

Rooting for the Warriors is more than looking at the win-column, it is a game-by-game experience. This is why a lot of people are bewildered how a lot of people genuinely support this franchise despite being woeful for so many years. They're missing something us fans see, every single game. Even before the Nellie years, the Warriors have been entertaining to watch. Every single game, they find a way to win or lose despite having a seemingly insurmountable lead or deficit. I am sure you are very familiar with this scenario: Warriors burst out the gates and get a double digit lead in the 1st quarter, then as time goes down the 2nd quarter the lead slowly goes down to 10...8...6...4 just before the half ends. Third quarter comes, and there goes the lead..... OR perhaps this scenario: Warriors seems lifeless and gets down by 20 in the 1st Q, they finally wake up in the 2nd Q and it they start slowly chipping away the lead. The 3rd Quarter becomes a struggle as the Warriors starts creeping in to tie the game. Then there's the storybook ending. After being down or up so many, it seems to always come down in the last couple of minutes of the game. After your chest has undergone numerous rise and fall, there's always room to hold your breath for the last minute of the game and witness the incredible comeback or how the Warriors incredibly blew the game. The Warriors has been this way even before Nellie came in, he just multiplied the fun factor even more by making the team susceptible to major collapses as well as leading them to miraculously runs so no lead was ever safe or insurmountable. And this is the very reason I couldn't get enough of Warriors basketball no matter how frustrating/heartbreaking/depressing it can become because I come in every game not knowing what to expect. I expect them to lose, they win. I expect them to win, they lose. I turn around to grab something to eat and next thing you know they're up by 18. I use the bathroom and they're down 4. It is this brand of basketball that had me watching every single game I can and not just checking the boxscore and celebrate the W.

The Warriors has got to be one of the most unorthodox team in the NBA. Like I said, you come in every game not knowing what to expect. There's no team that can't beat us (except the Mavs at one point) and there's certainly no team we can't beat. Nevermind the fact that the opposing team is on a 20-game winning streak or starting the end of their bench due to injuries, all predictability goes down the drain as soon as they play the Warriors. Playing against the Warriors, at least for the last couple of years, also mean career nights for at least one bench player. No worries about Kobe dropping 81 here, it will be the likes of Vujacic or Farmar or Sun Yue (who will be activated and will play just for this one game) who will have career nights against the Warriors.

The Fans really connected with the players and the players with the fans. It was either Jason Richardson or Baron Davis or Monta or Jackson or even Pietrus and Barnes who will make one spectacular play that will draw fans off their seats. Be it a thunderous slam or a monster block, it is a call to arms to every fan in the arena who are more than willing to oblige. The players really did well in feeding off the energy from the crowd and all in attendance was generous in giving it.

BUT..... this year, the Warriors did more than just put new faces on the team. They created a whole different atmosphere. An atmosphere that's not only disgusting in the boxscore, but also disgusting to watch.

The current Warriors, exaggeration or not, are soul-less. Yes, they are very well capable of putting points on the board like teams of the past, but the way they're doing it is unfamiliar. Gone are the flash and swag that gets fans off their seat, this team is exactly what it is, a scoring machine. They're like Bingo, you'll know you'll keep getting the numbers but there's nothing to be excited about until you actually win one.This team has always taken pride for having a lot of heart that let them will some games into wins but this current great seems to be greatly lacking in that department.

On the defensive side, while the Warriors has not exactly been great in this department they were capable of turning it on once or twice a game, especially when they needed it. This team doesn't look capable of doing just that.

Stephen Jackson. I'll tell you why Jackson is all of a sudden getting a lot of heat this year. It's not because of his poor shot selection or not looking to pass the ball enough especially when the defense is on him. Like he said, he's always played this way. He's getting a lot of heat this year because he's not playing for anything anymore, at least not right now. Last year, no matter how bad he was playing he comes off the hook and then some because of his late game heroics. Last year, it didn't matter much if he shot 1-6 beyond the arc because that one 3pter sealed the win for us. And it is all about the win. This year, we take it as it is: woeful 1-6 beyond the arc.

This season is too early to write everything off although Nellie already did, but Nellie is like my friend who says/promises a lot of things but only 1/10 of those ever happen. And especially with countless arguments to be made, there are reasons not to throw in the towel. But that doesn't mean I'm not starting to lose interest, at least in watching games (already missed two games deliberately this year).

This team didn't just lose some players or a couple of games in the win column. This team lost something bigger. This team, at the moment, is playing without a soul.

The New Look Warriors

lightz0ut — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 22:11:34 -0000

The New Look Warriors

See what happens when the potato gets cold

lightz0ut — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 05:18:45 -0000

Pardon the lame joke... and if you're still scratching your head on this one. You know, the Warriors were playing hot potato early in the game and was getting good shots from moving the ball then the game tightened up and the vets started playing superhero and then it went downhill from there.

Anyway, my last post was met with a good response and I'm in the mood for another one...

1. Just ONE game? JUST ONE FREAKING Game??? I wondered on my last diary how long JCraw can keep up his team-first mentality. Well, I got my answer tonight. Oh boy, was he not shy on the trigger tonight. I wonder if he got his 45% shooting from pull up 3s from 2ft beyond the arc with the Knicks.

2. Let the big boys play. Tonight Maggs played a good game at SF and despite a seemingly non existent showing, Brandan Wright grabbed the same amount of rebound maggette had despite playing just 12minutes. I would like to see him or Turiaf start regularly and make changes from there on a nightly basis.

3. SJAX. The Good and Bad. We saw both on today's game. The first 3 quarters he was exceptional. He didn't force shots and he made plays for his teammates. And as Fitz would put it: It was contagious. Then the bad Jackson had to sneak into the 4th quarter, he starts forcing shots and tries to do too much. Which was also contagious (I'm not sure who started it but him and Maggs just had a show-off in the 4th.)

4. TOO MANY SHOTBLOCKERS, NO REBOUNDERS. That's the problem we have right now. We have a bunch of guys who can guard the rim but we have no one who can secure the ball except Biedrins which really negates the effectiveness of the former. Rondo had 8 rebounds, 4 off the offensive end. Nuff said.

5. Back on tonight's game. Can't take away anything from the Warriors except that 4th quarter. I could have stomached this loss if I didn't have to watch the last quarter. I would've been satisfied to have lost because the Celtics was the better team on paper and on the standings. But watching the last couple of minutes of that game and I can't help but think we threw away any chances of winning that game when the ball stopped moving.

6. Hendrix. Is he really not ready to play in a basketball game? He's the closest we have to a big body and I'm thinking he can fit the same role as Turiaf except instead of blocking shots, his focus is to grab as many rebounds as he can.

7. A scrappy team, with no scrappy players. Part of why our small ball team worked was also because of scrappy players like Barnes, Pietrus. Guys who just gets in there and hustle. They're not tall or big or even that talented but they can get you extra possessions and force some turnovers. This team has totally strayed away from that.

Thoughts about the Game and the Warriors

lightz0ut — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 05:42:16 -0000

I was going to post this as a reply but it kept piling on and thought maybe it deserves to be a fan post. Anyway, some thought about tonight's game and the Warriors as a whole.

1. Jamal Crawford was too passive in this game which is understandable but it'd be interesting to see if he can keep up his pass-first mentality once he gets full acquainted with his new team.

2. Maggette PLEASE STOP SHOOTING 3'S!!!! Statline tonight 6-16 from the field, 1-4 from beyond the arc. Take out his pathetic 3pt attempts and he shot a more respectable 5-12 from the field. Want a bigger sample size? Maggs is shooting 38% from the field this season. Take away his 3pt attempts and he's shooting 47%

3. SJax PLEASE STOP CHUCKING 3'S!!!! Same with Maggette but I would allow him to still shoot it just not at his current rate of 7 attempts per game. Again comparing his shooting percentage.... with his 3pt attempts: 39.5%..... without his 3pt attempts: 46%.

4. Just peeked at the boxscore. Crawford actually managed to take 10 shots.

5. Until Nellie makes some changes, which I highly doubt, Anthony Morrow is such a waste on this team. He's no savior but his jumper is money, if you get him open through off ball picks and/or ball movement he can get you quality shots. Unfortunately those things has been the Warriors achilles heel on offense during Nellie's tenure here.

6. Each passing game where I see a bit of Randolph and Wright here and there I can't help but feel more and more pessimistic about how good/great their career will turn out. Explanation in the next couple of points.

7. Anthony Randolph. Gotta love his swagger but I think that's also the root of his problem, he's got too much. Lemme put it this way, I'm scared he'll turn out like Tim Thomas, Antoine Walker, Ricky Davis, or even our very own SJax. By that I mean, talented players who tends to play more than their skill level. They never met a shot they didn't like and loves the spotlight too much they don't know when to take the backseat. That's how I see Randolph right now, you see flashes of brilliance from a talented players but he's also trying to play above his head.

8. Brandan Wright. On the contrary, BWright is 68 games away from either heading towards Biedrins or POB category. To his credit, he's been pretty aggressive this year but Nellie love players that stands out in one category and Wright is still looking for his identity. Now here's my problem, Nellie is a confidence killer (more on this later) so either he finds something he does extremely good (rebounding/garbage man ala Biedrins) or he's headed back to the doghouse.

9. Nellie is a confidence killer. He's a great basketball mind especially in providing mismatches and exploiting it, BUT when you play a guy 30 minutes one night and bench him next for the whole game you're really gonna have inconsistency problems. And that's my beef with Nellie, as a player you don't have a clear idea of what your role is unless you're in his inner circle.

10. Small Ball. Say it with me...1,2,3.... SUICIDE!!!! That Portland game was a fluke Nellie, Aldridge is a jump shooter not a pound the ball guy that's why it worked and McMillan made the mistake of not playing Pryzbilla more otherwise we would've lost that game.Great a basketball mind Nellie is, he's wrong about playing Maggs at the 4. Small ball works because you force the other team's forward to defend a wing player and force them outside. But here's the problem, Maggs strength is overpowering his guy either at the post or taking him to the basket and using his strength to either finish or get fouled. You lose that when you have a 7 footer guarding him who gonna give him space and can change his shot when he drives to the basket. What happens is he ends up taking outside shots which leads to problems (See #2). And we all know what happens on the defensive end

NBA 2k9 and the Warriors

lightz0ut — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 08:02:04 -0000

So, I'm trying to update the sig shots for some of the Warriors and thought there's no better way to get an opinion (that I know of) than GSOM. So for those who play NBA 2k9, what changes have u made on the signature shots of the Warriors players?

Here's the changes I've made so far:

Biedrins - FT. I had two choices for him: Brand or Hayes. Biedrins has that hitch to his ft like Hayes but I thought Brand's release looked more like his. I think I went with Brand. It's just a matter of preference I think but it's definitely not Basic. What did you guys do on yours?

And for his jumper, uhmmm.... I don't think I've ever seen him take one. Anyone seen him? I don't think it'll be like his default though which has high elevation.

Brandan Wright - Changed his FT to squat. I have to double check that though next time Nellie plays him. Changed his jumper to Kick. Haven't messed around to see if there's a better fit but it matches better than his default (Bosh). High elevation, feet close together.

SJax - changed his FT but forgot which one. Also trying to see if there's a better sig shot for his jumper. I thought his elevation should be lower but at the same time I have to find one that also matches his release.

Those were my changes so far.

Maggette should take a page from Monta's book, and Randolph from Maggette

lightz0ut — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 01:08:07 -0000

Today's game just cemented what I've been thinking about since the first couple of games I saw Maggette play: He should not take any more 3pt shots.

Just look at today's game. He's 7-15 shooting and 0-5 from beyond the arc. Take those 5 3pters out and he shot a very efficient 7-10fg. He's shooting a very low percentage because he's shooting 18% from behind the 3pt line. He's taken 21 3pters in 6 games. You take out the game against Detroit where he played just 28 minutes. And he is hoisting up 4 a game.

Also, most if not all the 3pt attempts he attempted today were wide open shots. But he just couldn't make it. However, he didn't have any trouble knocking down mid range shots.

That said, he should take a page out of Monta's book and start stepping inside the arc. It worked wonder for him and it should benefit Maggette as well. We all know the 3Ball is not his strongest suite. What I liked about him (after sorting all the mess that was the offseason) was that he was gonna add a different dimension to the Warriors but I fear that he's just gonna turn into another 3pt chucker.

---------------------------------------------------

Now for Randolph. Like Maggette, I like how Randolph has a knack for getting himself to the line. But let's face it, he's not gonna get that many calls driving to the basket this year. So his best choice is to really find consistency on his midrange shot. But he should also start asking Maggette how to play the refs game.

I don't have a trained eye for it but why does it seem like despite making identical plays, Maggs will get fouled 3 times more than SJax. Maybe they are doing something different that I just don't see.

Same with DWade and Kobe. There are times Kobe gets swarmed by the Warriors and despite alot of contact surprisingly gets no calls (not complaining). However, there seems to be a rule that you can't touch any part of DWade when he drives to the basket.

Apparently, this is not a foul...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8X7jPPi_4M

But this is...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aySGUzzxjGE

I know it's an exaggeration since bad calls are made against pretty much all players but some gets more BS calls than others. Can't find a vid of Maggette or Jackson but I think getting calls is half knowing how to sell the contact and half building a reputation with the refs. So, Randolph better start learning what makes the refs tick or at least the spread for that night game (sorry, had to).