LOTTERY PROSPECT WATCH - 11/26/09 & 11/27/09

11/26/09

Willie Warren - Oklahoma 93, Houston 100
32 min, 8-11 fg, 1-2 3pt, 8-9 ft, 1 reb, 7 ast, 0 stl, 1 blk, 5 to, 4 pf, 25 pts

Malcolm Lee - UCLA 47, Portland 74
34 min, 4-12 fg, 3-8 3pt, 3-5 ft, 5 reb, 4 ast, 1 stl, 0 blk, 2 to, 4 pf, 14 pts

JaMychal Green - Alabama 79, Baylor 76
32 min, 9-13 fg, 0-0 3pt, 4-5 ft, 6 reb, 2 ast, 2 stl, 1 blk, 1 to, 3 pf, 22 pts



11/27/09

Wesley Johnson - Syracuse 85, Columbia 60
28 min, 8-13 fg, 4-5 3pt, 6-6 ft, 3 reb, 3 ast, 2 stl, 0 blk, 1 to, 0 pf, 26 pts

Cole Aldrich - Kansas 112, Tennessee Tech 75
22 min, 5-8 fg, 0-0 3pt, 4-5 ft, 10 reb, 3 ast, 0 stl, 4 blk, 1 to, 1 pf, 14 pts

Kyle Singler - Duke 68, Connecticut 59
31 min, 2-12 fg, 1-2 3pt, 1-2 ft, 7 reb, 1 ast, 0 stl, 0 blk, 1 to, 3 pf, 6 pts

Devin Ebanks - West Virginia 73, Texas A&M 66
29 min, 4-6 fg, 1-2 3pt, 5-5 ft, 9 reb, 0 ast, 2 stl, 1 blk, 3 to, 2 pf, 14 pts

Wesley Johnson - Syracuse 85, Columbia 60
28 min, 8-13 fg, 4-5 3pt, 6-6 ft, 3 reb, 3 ast, 2 stl, 0 blk, 1 to, 0 pf, 26 pts

Derrick Favors - Georgia Tech 85, Mercer 74
26 min, 5-6 fg, 0-0 3pt, 6-7 ft, 8 reb, 1 ast, 0 stl, 4 blk, 1 to, 3 pf, 16 pts

JaMychal Green - Alabama 51, Florida State 60
26 min, 4-9 fg, 0-0 3pt, 1-1 ft, 8 reb, 0 ast, 3 stl, 1 blk, 4 to, 5 pf, 9 pts

Solomon Alabi - Alabama 51, Florida State 60
20 min, 3-5 fg, 0-0 3pt, 4-4 ft, 4 reb, 0 ast, 0 stl, 4 blk, 1 to, 2 pf, 10 pts

Larry Sanders - VCU 85, Nevada 76
30 min, 5-12 fg, 0-2 3pt, 7-12 ft, 14 reb, 2 ast, 0 stl, 5 blk, 2 to, 3 pf, 17 pts

LOTTERY PROSPECT WATCH - 11/25/09

John Wall - Kentucky 73, Stanford 65
45 min, 8-16 fg, 2-5 3pt, 8-8 ft, 4 reb, 5 ast, 1 stl, 2 blk, 5 to, 3 pf, 26 pts

Cole Aldrich - Kansas 89, Oakland 59
23 min, 2-10 fg, 0-0 3pt, 0-1 ft, 9 reb, 1 ast, 1 stl, 3 blk, 1 to, 3 pf, 4 pts

Patrick Patterson - Kentucky 73, Stanford 65
31 min, 5-9 fg, 1-2 3pt, 1-2 ft, 11 reb, 0 ast, 0 stl, 1 blk, 0 to, 2 pf, 12 pts

DeMarcus Cousins - Kentucky 73, Stanford 65
26 min, 5-8 fg, 0-1 3pt, 3-8 ft, 5 reb, 2 ast, 1 stl, 3 blk, 2 to, 5 pf, 13 pts

Kyle Singler - Duke 64, Arizona State 53
40 min, 5-16 fg, 1-5 3pt, 2-2 ft, 5 reb, 3 ast, 1 stl, 0 blk, 3 to, 3 pf, 13 pts

LOTTERY PROSPECT WATCH - 11/23/09 THRU 11/24/09

11/23/09

Ed Davis - North Carolina 93, Gardner-Webb 72
29 min, 6-12 fg, 0-0 3pt, 3-8 ft, 13 reb, 0 ast, 1 stl, 2 blk, 2 to, 1 pf, 15 pts

Samardo Samuels - Louisville 80, Appalachian State 53
21 min, 4-8 fg, 0-0 3pt, 8-14 ft, 5 reb, 1 ast, 0 stl, 0 blk, 2 to, 2 pf, 16 pts

Paul George - Fresno State 58, San Diego State 62
40 min, 5-11 fg, 0-2 3pt, 2-2 ft, 4 reb, 5 ast, 2 stl, 0 blk, 6 to, 2 pf, 12 pts

Malcom Lee - UCLA 71, Pepperdine 52
32 min, 4-8 fg, 1-3 3pt, 4-4 ft, 3 reb, 1 ast, 3 stl, 1 blk, 0 to, 1 pf, 13 pts



11/24/09

Jarvis Varnado - Mississippi State 75, Texas-Pan American 50
27 min, 6-8 fg, 0-0 3pt, 0-2 ft, 15 reb, 1 ast, 1 stl, 8 blk, 0 to, 2 pf, 12 pts

John Wall - Kentucky 73, Cleveland State 49
35 min, 3-5 fg, 0-1 3pt, 9-10 ft, 4 reb, 6 ast, 0 stl, 0 blk, 5 to, 3 pf, 15 pts

Patrick Patterson - Kentucky 73, Cleveland State 49
18 min, 3-5 fg, 0-0 3pt, 3-6 ft, 5 reb, 0 ast, 0 stl, 1 blk, 1 to, 0 pf, 9 pts

DeMarcus Cousins - Kentucky 73, Cleveland State 49
18 min, 5-11 fg, 1-1 3pt, 3-6 ft, 7 reb, 0 ast, 0 stl, 2 blk, 2 to, 4 pf, 14 pts

Wesley Johnson - Syracuse 88, Cornell 73
38 min, 5-10 fg, 1-3 3pt, 4-4 ft, 10 reb, 4 ast, 1 stl, 3 blk, 3 to, 1 pf, 15 pts

Al-Farouq Aminu - Wake Forest 76, Winston-Salem 52
22 min, 5-9 fg, 1-3 3pt, 2-3 ft, 4 reb, 2 ast, 2 stl, 0 blk, 3 to, 4 pf, 13 pts

LOTTERY PROSPECT WATCH - 11/21/09 THRU 11/22/09

11/21/09

John Wall - Kentucky 92, Rider 63
35 min, 8-12 fg, 0-2 3pt, 5-6 ft, 6 reb, 11 ast, 3 stl, 2 blk, 2 to, 2 pf, 21 pts

Patrick Patterson - Kentucky 92, Rider 63
34 min, 8-13 fg, 0-2 3pt, 3-6 ft, 18 reb, 1 ast, 0 stl, 1 blk, 0 to, 2 pf, 19 pts

DeMarcus Cousins - Kentucky 92, Rider 63
15 min, 7-10 fg, 0-0 3pt, 4-7 ft, 6 reb, 0 ast, 1 stl, 5 blk, 2 to, 4 pf, 18 pts

Kyle Singler - Duke 104, Radford 67
30 min, 4-13 fg, 3-8 3pt, 2-2 ft, 7 reb, 7 ast, 1 stl, 1 blk, 2 to, 1 pf, 13 pts

Samardo Samuels - Louisville 69, East Tennessee State 56
22 min, 5-6 fg, 0-0 3pt, 4-6 ft, 11 reb, 2 ast, 1 stl, 3 blk, 2 to, 2 pf, 14 pts

Greg Monroe - Georgetown 63, Savannah State 44
24 min, 6-10 fg, 0-0 3pt, 1-4 ft, 7 reb, 2 ast, 1 stl, 0 blk, 5 to, 3 pf, 13 pts




11/22/09

Craig Brackins - Iowa State 96, Mississippi Valley State 55
29 min, 11-17 fg, 1-1 3pt, 5-6 ft, 12 reb, 3 ast, 3 stl, 2 blk, 1 to, 1 pf, 28 pts

Samardo Samuels - Louisville 90, Morgan State 81
28 min, 6-12 fg, 0-0 3pt, 11-15 ft, 12 reb, 2 ast, 1 stl, 2 blk, 1 to, 2 pf, 23 pts

Derrick Favors - Georgia Tech 85, Boston University 67
21 min, 7-9 fg, 0-0 3pt, 0-3 ft, 10 reb, 0 ast, 1 stl, 2 blk, 1 to, 4 pf, 14 pts

LOTTERY PROSPECT WATCH - 11/20/09

Wesley Johnson - Syracuse 87, North Carolina 71
29 min, 10-17 fg, 4-8 3pt, 1-5 ft, 8 reb, 2 ast, 1 stl, 1 blk, 1 to, 3 pf, 25 pts

Ed Davis - Syracuse 87, North Carolina 71
28 min, 5-6 fg, 0-0 3pt, 6-9 ft, 10 reb, 1 ast, 0 stl, 2 blk, 3 to, 1 pf, 16 pts

Evan Turner - Ohio State 76, California 70
40 min, 9-14 fg, 0-0 3pt, 8-11 ft, 14 reb, 6 ast, 1 stl, 2 blk, 4 to, 5 pf, 26 pts

Derrick Favors - Georgia Tech 70, George Mason 62
25 min, 6-6 fg, 0-0 3pt, 6-6 ft, 7 reb, 0 ast, 0 stl, 3 blk, 2 to, 3 pf, 18 pts

JaMychal Green - Alabama 84, Providence 75
26 min, 4-10 fg, 0-0 3pt, 7-8 ft, 12 reb, 0 ast, 0 stl, 3 blk, 2 to, 4 pf, 15 pts

Malcolm Lee - UCLA 75, Cal State Bakersfield
35 min, 3-7 fg, 1-3 3pt, 3-6 ft, 6 reb, 5 ast, 1 stl, 0 blk, 1 to, 1 pf, 10 pts

LOTTERY PROSPECT WATCH - 11/19/09

Getty Images

LEXINGTON, KY - NOVEMBER 19: DeMarcus Cousins #15 of the Kentucky Wildcats celebrates a made basket during the game against the Sam Houston State Bearkats at Rupp Arena on November 19, 2009 in Lexington, Kentucky.

DeMarcus Cousins - Kentucky 102, Sam Houston State 92
27 min, 10-15 fg, 0-0 3pt, 7-13 ft, 18 reb, 0 ast, 2 stl, 2 blk, 5 to, 1 pf, 27 pts

Cole Aldrich - Kansas 94, Central Arkansas 44
24 min, 3-7 fg, 0-0 3pt, 1-2 ft, 5 reb, 1 ast, 0 stl, 3 blk, 2 to, 2 pf, 7 pts

Xavier Henry - Kansas 94, Central Arkansas 44
23 min, 4-8 fg, 2-3 3pt, 2-2 ft, 3 reb, 3 ast, 0 stl, 0 blk, 1 to, 2 pf, 12 pts

Evan Turner - North Carolina 77, Ohio State 73
35 min, 9-14 fg, 0-0 3pt, 5-6 ft, 11 reb, 4 ast, 2 stl, 0 blk, 10 to, 5 pf, 23 pts

Ed Davis - North Carolina 77, Ohio State 73
18 min, 3-4 fg, 0-0 3pt, 1-1 ft, 6 reb, 2 ast, 0 stl, 2 blk, 3 to, 4 pf, 7 pts

John Henson - North Carolina 77, Ohio State 73
8 min, 1-3 fg, 0-0 3pt, 0-0 ft, 2 reb, 0 ast, 2 stl, 0 blk, 1 to, 0 pf, 2 pts

Patrick Patterson - Kentucky 102, Sam Houston State 92
32 min, 8-9 fg, 1-2 3pt, 3-4 ft, 9 reb, 2 ast, 0 stl, 1 blk, 3 to, 2 pf, 20 pts

John Wall - Kentucky 102, Sam Houston State 92
37 min, 7-13 fg, 2-4 3pt, 5-8 ft, 4 reb, 6 ast, 2 stl, 1 blk, 6 to, 1 pf, 21 pts

Derrick Favors - Georgia Tech 59, Dayton 63
27 min, 4-6 fg, 0-0 3pt, 2-4 ft, 6 reb, 2 ast, 0 stl, 0 blk, 3 to, 3 pf, 10 pts

Jarvis Varnado - Mississippi State 82, Southeastern Louisiana 67
30 min, 6-8 fg, 0-0 3pt, 8-10 ft, 9 reb, 2 ast, 3 stl, 8 blk, 2 to, 1 pf, 20 pts

Paul George - Fresno State 84, Seattle 85
33 min, 8-13 fg, 2-4 3pt, 6-6 ft, 10 reb, 0 ast, 1 stl, 0 blk, 6 to, 5 pf, 24 pts

Wesley Johnson - Syracuse 95, California 73
32 min, 7-12 fg, 2-4 3pt, 1-2 ft, 11 reb, 0 ast, 0 stl, 6 blk, 4 to, 2 pf, 17 pts

LOTTERY PROSPECT WATCH - 11/18/09

Reuters Pictures

Al-Farouq Aminu - Wake Forest 83, High Point 60
27 min, 8-10 fg, 0-1 3pt, 6-7 ft, 10 reb, 3 ast, 1 stl, 1 blk, 2 to, 2 pf, 22 pts

LOTTERY PROSPECT WATCH - 11/17/09

AP Photo

Memphis' Elliot Williams, right, shoots as Kansas' Cole Aldrich defends during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2009, in St. Louis.

Cole Aldrich - Kansas 57, Memphis 55
40 min, 7-10 fg, 0-0 3pt, 4-5 ft, 11 reb, 0 ast, 0 stl, 5 blk, 1 to, 2 pf, 18 pts

Kyle Singler - Duke 101, Charlotte 59
26 min, 5-12 fg, 3-4 3pt, 4-6 ft, 3 reb, 2 ast, 0 stl, 1 blk, 1 to, 3 pf, 17 pts

Greg Monroe - Georgetown 46, Temple 45
37 min, 4-10 fg, 0-1 3pt, 3-6 ft, 9 reb, 3 ast, 2 stl, 0 blk, 4 to, 3 pf, 11 pts

Willie Warren - Oklahoma 72, Louisiana-Monroe 61
33 min, 6-12 fg, 1-4 3pt, 11-13 ft, 1 reb, 4 ast, 1 stl, 0 blk, 4 to, 2 pf, 24 pts

JaMychal Green - Alabama 86, Jackson State 69
22 min, 5-9 fg, 0-1 3pt, 3-6 ft, 4 reb, 2 ast, 2 stl, 5 blk, 2 to, 4 pf, 13 pts

LOTTERY PROSPECT WATCH - 11/16/09

Reuters Pictures

University of Kentucky's John Wall (11) celebrates hitting a last second shot to defeat Miami University 72-70 in their NCAA basketball game at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky, November 16, 2009.

John Wall - Kentucky 72, Miami (OH) 70
38 min, 3-7 fg, 1-2 3pt, 10-14 ft, 2 reb, 5 ast, 5 to, 3 stl, 0 blk, 2 pf, 19 pts

DeMarcus Cousins - Kentucky 72, Miami (OH) 70
19 min, 5-15 fg, 0-0 3pt, 10-14 ft, 10 reb, 1 ast, 1 stl, 2 blk, 2 to, 3 pf, 10 pts

Patrick Patterson - Kentucky 72, Miami (OH) 70
37 min, 5-6 fg, 1-2 3pt, 4-7 ft, 10 reb, 0 ast, 0 stl, 1 blk, 2 to, 1 pf, 17 pts

Kyle Singler - Duke 74, Coastal Carolina 49
36 min, 6-9 fg, 2-5 3pt, 5-5 ft, 11 reb, 1 ast, 0 stl, 2 blk, 2 to, 1 pf, 23 pts

Malcolm Lee - UCLA 65, Cal State Fullerton 68
50 min, 7-21 fg, 1-8 3pt, 2-3 ft, 6 reb, 3 ast, 0 to, 0 stl, 1 blk, 4 pf, 17 pts

CAP AND CANCER RELIEF

The Warriors just traded Stephen Jackson and Acie Law for Raja Bell and Valdimir Radmanovic. I was hoping for better, but I guess that's all we can get or should expect from a Front Office in as much disarray as the Warriors.

The team gets worse in the short term, but this speeds up the development of the youngsters, moral is boosted, and it most likely allows Maggette to put up monster numbers as one of the main offensive weapons on a depleted roster.

Warriors should look into trading Maggette to a contender at the deadline. I'm sure there will be a team that would look at Maggette's hollow stats and drool (especially for a team looking for additional offensive fire power.) This will put the Warriors in an incredible position if they can take back an expiring or a player with 2 years left. They would be able to target 2011 Free Agents with max dollars because Maggette and Radmanovic would be off the books. They would have up to $20M in cap space to work with if they act responsibly in new player signings.

Here are the current financials:

click image to enlarge

DON'T SCREW THIS UP RILEY/NELLIE/ROWELL!!!!!!

INJURY EXCEPTION?

Medical Watch:

F Brandan Wright (torn labrum) underwent surgery Oct. 9. His recovery time is estimated to be six months, so there's a good chance he won't play at all in 2009-10.

C Andris Biedrins (strained groin and abdominal muscles) has been told to take two weeks off after experiencing what he thought was back pain in the Nov. 7 loss at Sacramento. He will be re-evaluated after the two-week layoff and could miss additional time. He did not accompany the Warriors on their current five-game road trip.

C Ronny Turiaf (sprained left knee) missed a seventh consecutive game after suffering the injury Oct. 30. An MRI revealed no damage, and the Warriors hope to get him back at practice in the next week.

F Kelenna Azubuike (sprained left knee) suffered what was initially diagnosed as a patella injury in his left knee in the third minute of Saturday's loss in Milwaukee. He was carted off the court and sent straight back to Oakland. He will undergo further tests in the Bay Area, missing the Warriors' last two games of their trip. His season could be over.

F Devean George (sore left knee) has yet to see action in the regular season. His injury is not considered serious.


Add C.J. Watson to the list with H1N1 and you are left with only 8 healthy bodies. With Wright and Azubuike out for the remainder of the year, could the Warriors get an 'Injury Exception' to field a competitive squad?



From Larry Coon's NBA Salary Cap FAQ:

DISABLED PLAYER EXCEPTION -- This exception allows a team which is over the cap to acquire a replacement for a disabled player who will be out for the remainder of that season (if the player is disabled between July 1 and November 30) or the following season (if the player is disabled after November 30). This exception can also be granted in the event of a player's death. This exception can only be used to acquire one player. The maximum salary for the replacement player is 50% of the injured player's salary, or the average salary, whichever is less (see question number 24 for the definition of "average salary"). Approval from the league (based on a determination by an NBA-designated physician) is required for this exception to be used. This exception can be used to sign a free agent, or to create room to accept a salary in trade. When used for trade, the team may acquire a player whose salary (including any trade bonus) is up to 100% of this exception plus $100,000 (not 125%). Also see question number 20 for more information on the availability and use of this exception.

If a player is disabled between July 1 and November 30, the team must acquire the replacement player within 45 days. If the player is disabled between December 1 and June 30, then the team has until October 1 to sign a replacement. If the disabled player comes back sooner than expected, then he may be activated immediately, and the replacement player is not affected. However, if the disabled player comes back before the exception is used, then the exception is lost.

Teams sometimes have had difficulty getting the NBA to approve an injury exception. For example, Danny Manning tore an ACL toward the end of the 1997-98 season, yet the NBA did not approve the Suns for this exception. More recently, the Magic did not receive this exception in 2003 for Grant Hill. However, this exception was granted in the 1999 offseason to San Antonio, so they could replace Sean Elliott, who was disabled due to kidney problems. This exception was also granted to Charlotte soon after Bobby Phills was killed.


Devean George could be activated, but it would be nice to be able to open up a slot on the roster to sign another diamond in the rough from the D-League or be able to stash a prospect coming back from a multi-player trade. The Warriors should be exploring this option if they are not already looking into it.

CRITICAL STRETCH OF GAMES TO DETERMINE FATE OF SEASON

Will Nelson last until the end of the road trip?

Unless the Warriors manage to avoid a losing streak, things are just going to snowball quickly. Up next are the resurgent Bucks tonight, followed by a back-to-back gauntlet of Celtics and Cavaliers. Then they travel back home to face the Trailblazers, away vs. the Mavs, Spurs, and Lakers. It don't look good folks.

Nelson's skill as a talent evaluator and BS artist are better suited for the Front Office. Even with a move to the general manager role, can he be trusted? I think so, but players might not help feeling a little paranoid about their future on the team. But then again, they probably would welcome a change of scenery. Regarless, it's time to make a coaching change, rid ourselves of the mind games, and hope winning salvages a Warriors/Jackson relationship similar to how a tenuous Brandon Marshall/Denver Broncos relationship was repaired by winning. I'm willing to see how Keith Smart does as interim coach for the year. I enjoy the style of play and think that with the right personnel, it can succeed (John Wall anyone?)

Rowell's attempt to dip into the basketball realm of decision making and promises of a veteran team to Ellis and Jackson started this mess. He tried to befriend the two stars and indicated that the Warriors would build around the two and use the 2009 Draft Pick to bring in a veteran big. Obviously, this did not happen because Amare Stoudemire would not agree to a reasonable extension and Nelson refused to give up Curry in the deal. Nellie's mind games exacerbated the situation and his political moves are geared towards taking over Rowell's spot in the organization. Rowell needs to concentrate solely on the business/marketing side of the Warriors and leave ALL basketball decisions to the experts.

IF the Warriors can win tonight and compete (and win a couple) through the Lakers game, there's a chance Nellie could stick around as coach and the relationships could be salvaged. It's unlikely, but possible. A strong stretch of games could turn Jackson and the rest of his followers into a believers. If they lose seven in a row, look for the team to go through a drastic make-over.

RANDOLPH WORKING AT CENTER

Tonight [box score], Anthony Randolph outplayed the ginormous Roy Hibbert, not by trying to out muscle him, but by beating him to spots, using his quickness, and staying down with his arms extended to challenge shots w/o fouling. With more experience, he'll learn to defend the most talented post players - did well vs. Al Jefferson last game [box score].

His mid-range game is coming along and once its consistent, it's game over.... match-up nightmare in the making. Randolph will be able to excel in all 3 front-court positions. To long and wiring strong for small forwards. He's a natural PF. With more maturity both physically and as a player, he'll be able to exploit centers. We got a sneak preview of things to come the past two games. Not bad for a 20 year old.

Wright/Randoph/Biedrins/Turiaf will be a very good frontline --- imagine if we added a talented, beefy PF from what promises to be very deep draft in that position.

1. Derrick Favors
2. Donatas Motiejunas (Dirk 2.0)
3. Ed Davis (skinny but skilled)
4. Greg Monroe
5. DeMarcus Cousins (if he can keep his weight in check)

Warriors don't have to tank to get a good PF this year. Just trade Jackson and give plenty of minutes to Curry, Morrow, Randolph, Ellis, Biedrins and the rest of the young guys. We'll most likely be a mid-lottery team.

SAVE US JOHN WALL

Barring a mass movement to ridicule and shame Golden State Warrior owner, Chris Cohan, into selling the team, yet another tanked season seems to be the best bet to turn the franchise fortunes around.

I was optimistic about this season, but since I made the blog entry, Larry Riley and Don Nelson had done nothing of substance to improve the roster during the much anticipated off-season that promised to be busier and more productive than usual. The big addition was Stephen Curry, who by early accounts, looks to be a solid PG in-the-making. Key players off the team are Jamal Crawford and Marco Belinelli. The Warriors did well in moving Crawford for Law and an expiring Claxton, but wasted an asset in Belinelli. He was the consummate team player, always played with great effort, and had vastly improved on the defensive end. With Jackson's trade demands, Nellie even expressed some regret in trading Belinelli.

The two biggest areas of need, a true PG and a prototypical PF, were inadequately addressed. Stephen Curry might turn out to be a very good player, but drafting Brandon Jennings instead would have been a great fit in terms of adding a ready-made true PG, speed on a running team, and a player with reliable handles to push the tempo and initiate the offense with greater ease.

The Warriors were satisfied with going into the season with 5 bigs, Randolph and Wright at PF and Biedrins, Turiaf, and Mikki Moore at C. With Wright possibly gone for the season, Nelson opts to play small forwards at the 4 since they decided to focus on building an army of smalls (Ellis, Curry, Claxton, Watson) instead of investing in a backup big. The error in their ways was no more obvious than in the horrible debacle last Friday night vs. the woeful Clippers. I was certain that the Warriors would lose due to the absence of Biedrins and Turiaf, but was utterly disgusted by the way the team collectively lost their will to compete early in the 3rd Quarter, ultimately resulting in a 29 point loss. Nothing they tried worked and they were out-played at every position. Our smalls were eaten alive by Baron Davis and Eric Gordon while our bigs were over-matched by Chris Kamen and Marcus Camby. It became painfully obvious that they don't have the proper personnel to play successful small ball. If you don't have a big, true PG like Baron Davis that can guard multiple positions, your set up to fail. Ellis and Curry might have the ability to create steal opportunities with their speed and fast hands, but they are too small to overcome big guards that can score and have good ball security. If they continue with a backcourt of Curry and Ellis, they MUST develop an athletic front line of Randolph and Biedrins who could make up for the defensive mismatch at the guard positions. NO MORE UNDERSIZED POWER FORWARDS.

I was hopeful for a shot at the 8th seed in a deep draft rich with Power Forwards, but with the Stephen Jackson drama, Nelson's apathy, an unbalanced roster, inexperience, and poor chemistry, they might be better off working hard to trade Jackson and aiming for a high draft pick. If things don't improve by the end of December, it's time to dedicate as many minutes as possible to Randolph, Morrow, and Curry and to tank for John Wall.

THE OTHER MARCUS WILLIAMS?

Spurs just waived an intriguing prospect that seems to fit the profile of a Nellie-type player....Marcus Williams from Arizona.

I've been tracking his progress off-and-on throughout the D-League and he seems to have an all-around game that would suit the Warriors style of play. Nelson loves tall skilled guys that could score and Marcus Williams seems to fit the bill. The Spurs' scouting staff is one of the best in the NBA, so for them to go after Williams and stash him away until the last day of cuts, means that he has some value. He left Arizona too early and still has some upside at the age of 22 (born 11/18/86). I would consider cutting Devan George for this kid. He has point forward potential and could grow along with the other young Warriors.

Playing for the Austin Toros last season, he was one of the best players in the D-League. In the month of March, he put up an average of 25 pts, 7 reb, 6 ast. And in the following month, he averaged a triple double and went 27.5 pts, 10.5 reb, and 11.5 ast!!!!!

NBADL Game Log


Statistics from final year at Arizona (sophomore)



Some scouting reports from various sources:

NBAdraft.net
Strengths: Versatile player who creates mismatches at his position Excellent ball handler who uses his crossover to get past defenders Moves well without the ball Decent finisher around the basket Possesses great court awareness and understands how to utilize his versatility to attack opposing defenses When motivated, Williams can be a very good rebounder Excels at taking one or two dribbles and pulling up from mid-range Talented passer who sees the floor extremely well Showed great composure even as a freshman ... Has three point range on his jumper Has a scorers mentality and can put up points in bunches Uses mismatches to his advantage as he is capable of using decent post up skills against smaller players When Williams is driving he does a great job of drawing contact and getting to the free throw line Has played the game this year with a better attitude and has worked on being more mentally tough His combination of a 7 foot wing span and his skill set with the ball is illegal ...

Weaknesses: Not a cloud piercing athlete like most at his position This has led some to question if he can guard NBA shooting guards Defensively he doesnt always play with enough intensity Rarely disrupts the passing lanes and doesnt show great defensive footwork Settles for jumpers too much at times instead of driving into the lane Not a big fan of physical contact, which can bring up the question of his toughness Shot selection is questionable Could stand to gain more upper body strength Doesnt finish after contact occurs Has battled this year with consistency as his jump shot has been streaky Tends to be a little careless with the ball Is prone to making poor decisions during crucial points of a game Has really struggled this year shooting from the free throw line


Draft Express (ignore the 1st article in link)
Las Vegas Summer League Day Seven
July 19, 2008
The young small forward has his second straight big game, doing a tremendous job taking advantage of the opportunities that he was presented with offensively. His shot selection has been solid in both of his big games, and while his form is better than it used to be, it is still surprising to see him shooting as well as he is from the field considering his previous struggles. Perhaps the only thing more impressive than his good shooting has been the amount of times was able to get to the line today despite not having great ball handling ability or a great first step. The assertiveness he’s showed around the rim has been refreshing, and he used his length and athleticism to earn a handful of putbacks in traffic today in addition to his free throws. Obviously, William’s shooting has made the game a lot easier for him overall, and it will be interesting to see how he responds in upcoming contests. He’s a player that hasn’t shown many glimpses of potential since leaving Arizona, but if he continues to play like this he’ll be in exponentially better position to make a team than he was as recently as four days ago. Despite his explosion in production, he’s going to have to prove that these performances aren’t a fluke to make up for just how low his stock was coming into this event.

Ridiculous Upside
Marcus Williams, Austin - Williams looked like the best player on the floor. Looked like? Was. DeMarcus Nelson was named the player of the game (and was, in fact, good), but check this out: 9-18 shooting for 26 points for Williams, 10 assists, seven rebounds and only two turnovers in over 46 minutes spent as the team's point man. He could've had more, but there were several times where he was isolated against Keith Clark and settled for jumpers (which missed) instead of taking Clark off the dribble, as he easily could have. Williams is more of a finesse finisher around the basket, but he does it well. Beyond the numbers, Williams showed solid leadership on the floor, getting guys in the right places without coming off as being annoying or bossy. He also had a good sense of when to push the break and when to pull back. Basically, if there were every any questions as to whether Marcus Williams deserved the #1 call-up ranking, this game answered them. If I have to find one thing to nitpick about Williams, it's that sometimes when he's defending along the perimeter, he gives his man a little too much space to move and create and sometimes relies just on his length to defend rather than getting in there.

D-League Call-Up Rankings - Hey Potential, Meet Reality!
1. Marcus Williams, Austin - Williams is the consensus for us as the player most deserving of a call-up. In the month of March, Williams averaged something ridiculous - 25.1 points, 7.1 rebounds, 5.8 assists, shooting 92% from the free-throw line along with showing improved range, hitting 36% from beyond the arc. He's also extremely long and handles the rock quite a bit for the Toros. Williams has had a little trouble adjusting to the recent additions of DeMarcus Nelson and Malik Hairston, but lines like his last game - 11-of-20 from the field for 29 points, including 3-4 on his threes, six rebounds and four assists are becoming the norm for him.


Related Links
A Conversation with Marcus Williams - 48 Minutes of Hell
Marcus Williams Called-Up to San Antonio Spurs - Ridiculous Upside

NBA 2K10 TEASERS

After a disappointing offseason, the Warriors start the drama early on Day 1 of Training Camp. Monta doesn't think he could play with Curry. And Jackson refuses to kiss management's ass even after receiving a lucrative extension from his former 'buddy' Robert Rowell. No doubt, Riley and Nelson are working hard behind the scenes to move those two 'captains.' I'm bracing myself to be disappointed once again. Part of me wants the wheels to completely fall off so that ownership and management could be purged. It's the best chance us diehard fans have if we want to keep our sanity. Maybe I'll find joy in the digital version of the Golden State Warriors as I play GM and control the players myself. NBA 2K10 comes out on Oct. 6, 2009. Enjoy these NBA 2K10 trailers.

MARCO BELINELLI TO TORONTO MIX

Here's a wonderful mix that highlights Belinelli's brief stint as a Golden State Warrior. His minutes were scattered and extended playing time was rare, but whenever he stepped on the court, I was always drawn to his game - the way he handled the ball, the beautiful shooting stroke, his underrated passing, and his general flair for the game.

Belinelli will turn out better than most people think. He's worth more than a salary dump. It was obvious that the Warriors were not going to pick up his 4th year option, but rather than exercising patience, they 'settled' for a bad deal when they should have worked to raise his stock in pre-season up until the trade deadline. At worst he would be an expiring sitting at home waiting for a trade in Italy.

Colangello, who knows talent, was infatuated with Belinelli. D'Antoni coveted Belinelli the year he was drafted. Belinelli was the talk of the league after each of the past 2 Summer Leagues and prompted many to think the Warriors had a steal at No. 18. He proved that he belonged with his exciting play when given the opportunity start and log extended minutes. Belinelli was a fan favorite for a reason - he played basketball the right way - unselfish, intelligently, with flair, and with skill. I didn't see him as the 3rd SG in the rotation, I saw him as a versatile player that could help out at 3 positions (perhaps even our best passer).

We lost a guy, but we should have gotten more than cash and a bag of bones for him.

You will understand more when you see him play for Toronto next season.



Marco Belinelli to Toronto Mix! Check out www.b2lforums.com for much more!

DEVEAN GEORGE FOR BELINELLI? ARE YOU SERIOUS?!?!

Marco Belinelli gets traded for Devean George and Cash.

I'm sorry, but this has got to rank up there as one of the stupidest moves the Warriors have made in a while. Why trade a young, unselfish shooting talent who can defend guards for an over-the-hill, vet that doesn't even deserve to be on the floor? I hate Devean George - always have, always will! He's a scrub who has no game, poor instincts, low skill level, and has lost several steps since his 'prime' a few years ago. He'll give us nothing except steal minutes from younger players that deserve the playing time. This makes no sense from a talent exchange perspective and is clearly a move to save Cohan some money. But do you mean to tell me Riley and Nelson are that incompetent and unimaginative that they cannot get a better deal than Devean George? Not even a second rounder or a prospect overseas? Garbage!

I get that Belinelli would have been near the bottom of the depth chart among the SG's, but he has a versatile enough game to play 3 positions and brings skills that the Warriors desperately need - perimeter defense, passing, and a high basketball IQ. He was a fan favorite, but his untimely injury brought about a case of amnesia in the front office. Belinelli was forgotten and became undervalued. I expected a trade, but was hoping it would be a trade involving Azubuike instead because Azubuike holds more trade value to other teams and Belinelli has more value as a Warrior than as a trade chip. The Warriors should have showcased his talents early on in the season and in pre-season to re-establish his trade value and work him into a package deal with Wright to bring something back that would win games, not cut costs.

If the same thing happens to Brandan Wright, I'm done supporting this team financially. If deals continue to be made solely to save Cohan money and have no other merit, I will cut ties as a season ticket holder in hopes to expedite the sale of the Warriors to an owner that doesn't place short term profit motives over long term success.

Belinelli was never given a chance to show what he could do with regular minutes. He proved to be competent at the end of the 2007-2008 season when he scored 17 pts in 19 min. in the season finale. Nelson would not let him play despite Jackson needing reduced minutes to remain fresher for a final playoff push. Belinelli worked on his game feverishly and came back a much better defender and finisher at the rim. He saw little time early in the 2008-2009 season, but was eventually allowed to play more minutes due to injuries. He played extremely well over a 13-game stretch in which he averaged 16 points and shot better than 50 percent in eight of those games. He also made 46 of his last 113 3-point attempts (40.7 percent).

Belinelli was the antithesis of Corey Maggette. The ball moved around, the pace of the game quickened, and the game became fun to watch again. No Warrior was able to have that effect on the game like Belinelli - he knew how to play basketball the right way. It's no wonder the one of the best GM's in the league, Bryan Colangelo, had been in hot pursuit of Belinelli for a year. Too bad the Warriors are going to regret giving him up for so little. It's a crime to see yet another example of the Warrior's Front Office mismanaging their assets. I can't wait to see him drop 30 on the Warriors, Olympic-style.

Good luck, Rocky. You will be missed.








Related Links

Warriors give away Belinelli, officially for Devean George, unofficially for no apparent reason - Tim Kawakami
Golden State Sends Marco Belinelli to Toronto for Devean George, Cash - Steinmetz
Belinelli Bargain: 23 year old for 32 year old - Raptors Republic
Sources: Raptors nab Belinelli - Yahoo! Sports
Belinelli Traded to Toronto - Marcus Thompson II

POLL RESULTS: GRADING CURRY SELECTION

How would you grade the Stephen Curry selection?

A: 40 votes (68%)
B: 15 votes (25%)
C: 2 votes (3%)
D: 0 votes (0%)
F: 1 votes (1%)

A large majority of visitors thought that the Curry selection was a good one. Only 4% thought otherwise. I wonder if that number would change if polled now after witnessing his Summer League performance. He was touted as the best shooter in all of College Basketball, but struggled mightily in that department shooting only 32.5% overall. He did, however, show signs that he could contribute even if his shot wasn't falling. He made sound decisions, looked to distribute, rebounded, stayed in front of him man for the most part, and got some steals. His handles were average and his Assist to Turnover Ratio was poor for a PG, so that is reason for concern. I never thought he was a true PG, and so far I haven't seen anything that would make me think otherwise.

If Curry could get stronger, grow a little as projected, and get his shooting confidence back, he will be alright.

Summer League Statistics and Game Log

POSITIVES ABOUT CURRY

Admittedly, I did not want Stephen Curry for fear of him pulling a 'Reddick', but I trust Nelson's eye for talent, so I believe there's a good chance he will be an impact player in a few years.

In spite of his roller coaster start as a Warrior (in particular his poor shooting), here's a list of positives I have seen from Curry judging him solely from his post Davidson play:

- good character
- quick hands for steals
- plays passing lanes well
- moves feet to stay in front of man on D
- great free throw shooter
- good outlet passes
- good pick and roll
- crafty with the ball
- good movement off the ball
- understands angles
- utilizes hesitations and threat of shot
- good genes
- avoids blocks while driving to the rim
- will grow a little more (2"?)
- unselfish
- good work ethic
- ability to bounce back from slow starts
- comfortable with the media

SUMMER LEAGUE PERFORMANCES: 07/08/09

Tyler Hansbrough: Pacers 95, Jazz 79
33 min, 5-11 fg, 0-1 3pt, 14-14 ft, 5 reb, 1 ast, 3 pf, 1 stl, 0 to, 1 bs, 24 pts

Roy Hibbert: Pacers 95, Jazz 79
29 min, 8-13 fg, 0-1 3pt, 5-7 ft, 8 reb, 1 ast, 3 pf, 1 stl, 1 to, 2 bs, 21 pts

Eric Maynor: Pacers 95, Jazz 79
25 min, 2-9 fg, 1-2 3pt, 0-0 ft, 2 reb, 3 ast, 3 pf, 1 stl, 1 to, 0 bs, 5 pts




Russell Westbrook: Thunder 94, Celtics 82
30 min, 9-16 fg, 0-1 3pt, 8-8 ft, 4 reb, 5 ast, 3 pf, 5 stl, 4 to, 0 bs, 26 pts

James Harden: Thunder 94, Celtics 82
14 min, 2-4 fg, 0-1 3pt, 5-6 ft, 1 reb, 1 ast, 3 pf, 2 stl, 2 to, 0 bs, 9 pts

DJ White: Thunder 94, Celtics 82
27 min, 7-10 fg, 0-0 3pt, 2-2 ft, 5 reb, 1 ast, 2 pf, 0 stl, 2 to, 0 bs, 16 pts

Kyle Weaver: Thunder 94, Celtics 82
20 min, 4-5 fg, 1-2 3pt, 3-3 ft, 0 reb, 1 ast, 5 pf, 0 stl, 1 to, 2 bs, 12 pts

BJ Mullens: Thunder 94, Celtics 82
24 min, 2-5 fg, 0-0 3pt, 2-2 ft, 3 reb, 3 ast, 4 pf, 0 stl, 1 to, 0 bs, 6 pts

Gabe Pruitt: Thunder 94, Celtics 82
28 min, 3-11 fg, 0-3 3pt, 1-2 ft, 2 reb, 4 ast, 6 pf, 1 stl, 1 to, 0 bs, 7 pts

J.R. Giddens: Thunder 94, Celtics 82
34 min, 7-13 fg, 0-1 3pt, 2-2 ft, 3 reb, 3 ast, 2 pf, 3 stl, 6 to, 1 bs, 16 pts

Robert Swift: Thunder 94, Celtics 82
21 min, 2-5 fg, 0-0 3pt, 5-6 ft, 4 reb, 0 ast, 4 pf, 2 stl, 3 to, 0 bs, 9 pts

Nick Fazekas: Thunder 94, Celtics 82
11 min, 3-7 fg, 0-1 3pt, 0-0 ft, 3 reb, 1 ast, 4 pf, 1 stl, 1 to, 0 bs, 6 pts




Ryan Anderson: Magic 108, Nets/76ers 86
25 min, 8-15 fg, 3-5 3pt, 2-2 ft, 7 reb, 3 ast, 4 pf, 1 stl, 0 to, 0 bs, 21 pts

Richard Hendrix: Magic 108, Nets/76ers 86
24 min, 6-9 fg, 0-0 3pt, 5-6 ft, 12 reb, 1 ast, 5 pf, 0 stl, 2 to, 1 bs, 17 pts

Chris Douglas-Roberts: Magic 108, Nets/76ers 86
28 min, 1-1 fg, 0-0 3pt, 3-4 ft, 0 reb, 2 ast, 1 pf, 0 stl, 1 to, 2 bs, 5 pts

Marreese Speights: Magic 108, Nets/76ers 86
31 min, 4-10 fg, 0-0 3pt, 4-5 ft, 6 reb, 2 ast, 2 pf, 0 stl, 2 to, 3 bs, 12 pts

Terrence Williams: Magic 108, Nets/76ers 86
34 min, 6-13 fg, 2-5 3pt, 2-3 ft, 7 reb, 4 ast, 4 pf, 2 stl, 5 to, 0 bs, 16 pts

Jrue Holiday: Magic 108, Nets/76ers 86
24 min, 3-6 fg, 2-2 3pt, 4-4 ft, 4 reb, 4 ast, 1 pf, 1 stl, 3 to, 0 bs, 12 pts

SUMMER LEAGUE PERFORMANCES: 07/07/09

Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)

Ryan Anderson: Celtics 82, Magic 85
35 min, 11-15 fg, 2-2 3pt, 9-9 ft, 14 reb, 1 ast, 6 pf, 1 stl, 4 to, 0 bs, 33 pts

Gabe Pruitt: Celtics 82, Magic 85
31 min, 5-13 fg, 1-6 3pt, 3-5 ft, 4 reb, 5 ast, 1 pf, 2 stl, 2 to, 0 bs, 14 pts

J.R. Giddens: Celtics 82, Magic 85
37 min, 8-16 fg, 0-2 3pt, 1-2 ft, 6 reb, 4 ast, 3 pf, 1 stl, 2 to, 0 bs, 17 pts

Robert Swift: Celtics 82, Magic 85
21 min, 2-3 fg, 0-0 3pt, 2-3 ft, 2 reb, 0 ast, 6 pf, 0 stl, 2 to, 4 bs, 6 pts

Nick Fazekas: Celtics 82, Magic 85
18 min, 5-7 fg, 0-2 3pt, 2-2 ft, 5 reb, 0 ast, 6 pf, 0 stl, 2 to, 1 bs, 12 pts

Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)

Chris Douglas-Roberts: Jazz 83, Nets/76ers 68
26 min, 8-14 fg, 0-0 3pt, 11-13 ft, 3 reb, 1 ast, 1 pf, 1 stl, 0 to, 1 bs, 27 pts

Eric Maynor: Jazz 83, Nets/76ers 68
26 min, 2-9 fg, 1-3 3pt, 7-7 ft, 5 reb, 4 ast, 2 pf, 1 stl, 2 to, 0 bs, 12 pts

Marreese Speights: Jazz 83, Nets/76ers 68
28 min, 3-12 fg, 0-0 3pt, 2-2 ft, 4 reb, 1 ast, 2 pf, 1 stl, 0 to, 5 bs, 8 pts

Terrence Williams: Jazz 83, Nets/76ers 68
25 min, 3-11 fg, 0-3 3pt, 2-2 ft, 6 reb, 2 ast, 2 pf, 1 stl, 4 to, 1 bs, 8 pts

Jrue Holiday: Jazz 83, Nets/76ers 68
25 min, 2-6 fg, 1-3 3pt, 2-2 ft, 4 reb, 3 ast, 3 pf, 0 stl, 2 to, 0 bs, 7 pts





Roy Hibbert: Thunder 88, Pacers 91
34 min, 7-8 fg, 0-0 3pt, 10-16 ft, 8 reb, 3 ast, 3 pf, 2 stl, 4 to, 1 bs, 24 pts

Tyler Hansbrough: Thunder 88, Pacers 91
25 min, 6-10 fg, 2-2 3pt, 9-10 ft, 4 reb, 3 ast, 6 pf, 0 stl, 4 to, 0 bs, 23 pts

James Harden: Thunder 88, Pacers 91
37 min, 6-13 fg, 2-6 3pt, 5-7 ft, 5 reb, 3 ast, 3 pf, 1 stl, 1 to, 0 bs, 19 pts

DJ White: Thunder 88, Pacers 91
31 min, 3-11 fg, 0-0 3pt, 2-4 ft, 3 reb, 1 ast, 8 pf, 0 stl, 1 to, 1 bs, 8 pts

Serge Ibaka: Thunder 88, Pacers 91
22 min, 6-7 fg, 0-0 3pt, 1-2 ft, 3 reb, 0 ast, 7 pf, 1 stl, 1 to, 1 bs, 13 pts

Kyle Weaver: Thunder 88, Pacers 91
31 min, 3-6 fg, 1-3 3pt, 0-0 ft, 2 reb, 5 ast, 4 pf, 1 stl, 2 to, 1 bs, 7 pts

Russell Westbrook: Thunder 88, Pacers 91
34 min, 9-15 fg, 0-2 3pt, 4-5 ft, 1 reb, 8 ast, 1 pf, 3 stl, 5 to, 0 bs, 22 pts

BJ Mullens: Thunder 88, Pacers 91
9 min, 3-6 fg, 0-0 3pt, 1-2 ft, 2 reb, 0 ast, 6 pf, 0 stl, 0 to, 0 bs, 7 pts

Josh McRoberts: Thunder 88, Pacers 91
10 min, 3-3 fg, 0-0 3pt, 4-4 ft, 3 reb, 1 ast, 1 pf, 1 stl, 1 to, 0 bs, 10 pts

SUMMER LEAGUE PERFORMANCES: 07/06/09

Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)

Marreese Speights: Nets/76ers 67, Pacers 75
37 min, 11-26 fg, 0-2 3pt, 6-6 ft, 11 reb, 0 ast, 4 pf, 1 stl, 3 to, 2 bs, 28 pts

Terrence Williams: Nets/76ers 67, Pacers 75
35 min, 1-8 fg, 0-1 3pt, 0-0 ft, 9 reb, 2 ast, 3 pf, 2 stl, 2 to, 3 bs, 2 pts

Chris Douglas-Roberts: Nets/76ers 67, Pacers 75
36 min, 6-12 fg, 0-0 3pt, 8-11 ft, 3 reb, 1 ast, 2 pf, 2 stl, 4 to, 1 bs, 20 pts

Jrue Holiday: Nets/76ers 67, Pacers 75
38 min, 3-11 fg, 0-2 3pt, 3-4 ft, 4 reb, 2 ast, 2 pf, 4 stl, 5 to, 2 bs, 9 pts

Brandon Rush: Nets/76ers 67, Pacers 75
37 min, 4-18 fg, 1-6 3pt, 6-8 ft, 7 reb, 2 ast, 1 pf, 0 stl, 3 to, 1 bs, 15 pts

Josh McRoberts: Nets/76ers 67, Pacers 75
26 min, 2-4 fg, 0-2 3pt, 0-1 ft, 6 reb, 4 ast, 1 pf, 3 stl, 2 to, 2 bs, 4 pts

Roy Hibbert: Nets/76ers 67, Pacers 75
29 min, 6-10 fg, 0-0 3pt, 0-0 ft, 9 reb, 1 ast, 2 pf, 0 stl, 3 to, 1 bs, 12 pts

Tyler Hansbrough: Nets/76ers 67, Pacers 75
25 min, 6-13 fg, 0-0 3pt, 5-8 ft, 5 reb, 1 ast, 5 pf, 3 stl, 2 to, 1 bs, 17 pts

Shaun Livingston: Thunder 88, Magic 77
31 min, 3-8 fg, 0-0 3pt, 1-2 ft, 2 reb, 6 ast, 3 pf, 1 stl, 0 to, 0 bs, 7 pts

Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)

James Harden: Thunder 88, Magic 77
21 min, 6-9 fg, 2-3 3pt, 3-3 ft, 4 reb, 1 ast, 2 pf, 1 stl, 3 to, 1 bs, 17 pts

DJ White: Thunder 88, Magic 77
32 min, 6-10 fg, 0-0 3pt, 1-2 ft, 9 reb, 1 ast, 5 pf, 2 stl, 1 to, 1 bs, 13 pts

Serge Ibaka: Thunder 88, Magic 77
21 min, 6-8 fg, 0-0 3pt, 1-3 ft, 5 reb, 0 ast, 6 pf, 1 stl, 1 to, 2 bs, 13 pts

Kyle Weaver: Thunder 88, Magic 77
27 min, 1-3 fg, 0-1 3pt, 1-1 ft, 2 reb, 1 ast, 2 pf, 0 stl, 1 to, 1 bs, 3 pts

Russell Westbrook: Thunder 88, Magic 77
33 min, 3-11 fg, 0-3 3pt, 16-18 ft, 5 reb, 9 ast, 2 pf, 0 stl, 4 to, 0 bs, 22 pts

BJ Mullens: Thunder 88, Magic 77
22 min, 4-9 fg, 0-0 3pt, 3-4 ft, 3 reb, 0 ast, 3 pf, 0 stl, 2 to, 0 bs, 11 pts

Ryan Anderson: Thunder 88, Magic 77
37 min, 6-14 fg, 2-7 3pt, 7-8 ft, 7 reb, 3 ast, 4 pf, 1 stl, 2 to, 1 bs, 21 pts

Richard Hendrix: Thunder 88, Magic 77
15 min, 4-5 fg, 0-0 3pt, 2-3 ft, 4 reb, 0 ast, 0 pf, 0 stl, 0 to, 1 bs, 10 pts



Bill Walker: Celtics 87, Jazz 56
22 min, 5-9 fg, 1-1 3pt, 3-6 ft, 3 reb, 2 ast, 6 pf, 2 stl, 2 to, 0 bs, 14 pts

Robert Swift: Celtics 87, Jazz 56
21 min, 1-2 fg, 0-0 3pt, 2-2 ft, 3 reb, 1 ast, 3 pf, 0 stl, 0 to, 0 bs, 4 pts

Nick Fazekas: Celtics 87, Jazz 56
22 min, 5-10 fg, 3-6 3pt, 0-1 ft, 5 reb, 0 ast, 3 pf, 0 stl, 0 to, 0 bs, 13 pts

Eric Maynor: Celtics 87, Jazz 56
25 min, 4-9 fg, 0-1 3pt, 1-2 ft, 4 reb, 4 ast, 1 pf, 1 stl, 0 to, 0 bs, 9 pts

RESTORING CREDIBILITY

The Superstar
It's been widely reported that Amare Stoudemire would be a Warrior right now if the Warriors were willing to throw Stephen Curry into a package that included Andris Biedrins, Brandan Wright, and Marco Belinelli. The trade would be a big step in establishing credibility to a franchise that no big name free agents want to be a part of. Bringing Amare on board would instantly make the Warriors relevant playoff contenders even after giving up 4 players for 1 and it would be much easier to sell the idea of playing for the Warriors to other free agents.

PG: Ellis | Law | Watson*
SG: Jackson | Morrow
SF: Azubuike | Maggette
PF: Randolph
C: Stoudemire | Turiaf | Davidson*
* if resigned

The starting 5 is vastly improved and depth reduced, but Don Nelson has proven that he can easily find players to fill in the holes further down the depth chart. He hasn't had a legitimate post presence like Stoudemire since Chris Webber's rookie year. Amare is a potent option with the athleticism and range perfect for Nellie-ball. I have a few reservations about his health and attitude, but at some point, you have to be willing to take a gamble and cash in your chips (young surplus talent) to become serious players in the game. July 8th is the earliest a deal can officially go through, so we'll see what happens. Right now, it's a staring match between Nelson and Kerr. Who will blink first?

Internal Development
I'm fine whether the trade goes through or not, but Curry better be spectacular if he's going to be the deal-breaker to a trade that almost brought a true star onto the roster. Nellie was so high on Curry that he said that Curry was the second ranked player on their draft board, with only consensus #1 pick, Blake Griffin ahead of him. Let's hope he's not just blowing smoke and that his incredible eye for talent pays dividends once again. Curry sounds like a player that could eventually bring credibility to the franchise. If he morphs into Nash as Nellie envisions and grows a few more inches has his doctors project, he could indeed be a special player that other free agents would love to play with.

Even if Amare doesn't come, we have some star potential that we can wait on, though many fans have understandably lost their patience and want results NOW. Randolph will be a star, perhaps a top 10 talent. Monta's pretty damn good when 100%. Biedrins was putting up All-Star worthy numbers for a Western Conference center early in the 2008/09 season before the Crawford trade. If the Warriors had a winning record, he just might have made the roster. Morrow has the potential to be the best shooter in the NBA. Turiaf is an inspirational teammate and a locker room presence that could hold the team together in tough times. We might end up regretting getting rid of Belinelli and Wright this early in their careers because, quite frankly, we don't know what they are really capable of becoming. Both youngsters were playing very well until injury cut their seasons short and both have shown flashes of greatness. Warriors have a lot of promising pieces that bode well for a brighter future.

PG: Ellis | Curry | Law
SG: Jackson | Morrow | Belinelli
SF: Azubuike | Maggette
PF: Randolph | Wright
C: Biedrins | Turiaf | Davidson

We have great versatility on the roster where all players can play 2 or more positions with the exception of Biedrins. Belinelli may be low on the depth chart, but his ability to play PG, SG, and SF could get him adequate playing time when the inevitable injuries hit to show what he can do in meaningful minutes. Wright was the starter prior to getting injured. Hopefully, he gets stronger and logs more minutes. Belinelli and Wright need to get a lot of minutes next season so they can evaluated and to prop up their trade values which are currently lower than they should be.

New Ownership with Vision
Besides bringing in an All-Star or slowly growing super stars through internal development, new ownership would bring instant credibility back to the Warriors. The only constant in the 15 seasons with only a single playoff appearance was Chris Cohan. When half of the league qualifies for the playoffs every year, it's a very difficult task to miss the playoffs 14 out of 15 years. The Warriors have managed to do this through a series of bad hires, bad picks, bad luck in the draft, bad signings, and putting short term gains ahead of long term vision. The current ownership has shown time and time again that the #1 priority is profitability. They tend to go for the quick fix rather than making sure every move they make is checked against how it will effect the long term vision of building a true contender. It's a bad sign when Robert Rowell, a marketing guy, has more say in shaping the franchise than your GM. Cohan doesn't seem to understand that sacrificing a few years of profits to build a true contender will lead to exponential, sustained profits in the future and an increased value to the franchise in general. It's no wonder diehard Warrior fans despise Cohan and that he is ashamed to show his face in his own arena. When new ownership arrives and puts winning ahead of profits, credibility will return.

Winning Cures All Ills
The biggest factor in generating credibility is simple: winning. Once the Warriors start winning, free agents will want to come. But, it can't be 1 or 2 seasons and then fading in and out of the playoffs. It needs to be a sustained stretch of success and winning must be ingrained in the culture of the franchise. Winning the championship should be the ultimate goal, not just a 1 and done 1st round appearance in the Playoffs. Many of the factors mentioned previously are prerequisites to building a type of team that wins year and in year out.

The Warriors got a brief taste of success after the 'We Believe' season. Free agents and players around the league WANTED to be a part of the action. They were the darlings of the NBA when they upset the #1 seeded Mavericks. They had the winning season, the star point guard, the fun style of play, the rabidly loyal fan base, a respected future Hall of Fame coach, and attractive region for players to call home. Warriors up for free agency were willing to sign on at a discount in order to stay. Golden State became a desired destination, but the momentum was quickly squashed by a series of decisions that hurt credibility with the Warriors players, players around the league, GM's, the media, and the fans. Some of the big ones:

1. playing hardball with their own players in free agency - Pietrus deserved to be treated better and should have been a keeper
2. trading Richardson, but not making the most out of the deal - I supported the deal, still do. But the Warriors did not use Wright enough or the $10M exception to acquire another valuable piece to the roster
3. over-playing the stars and not utilizing the bench - resulted in tired vets unable to finish off the season strong and miss the playoffs
4. Baron opting out of his final year - perhaps could have been avoided if the $10M exception was used on some veteran help to make it worth sticking around for one more year
   
5. freezing out and poor treatment of Mullin, a well-liked and respected figure around the NBA
   
6. over-paying for Maggette - burned valuable cap space on a one-dimensional player and hurt future cap flexibility
   
7. extending Jackson prematurely - eliminated the possibility of using his deal as an expiring contract to bring in a legitimate star
   
8. backstabbing, mind-games, and politics when it came to playing time for the likes of O'Bryant, Wright, Belinelli, Randolph, Williams - wasted picks, trades, and opportunity to find out what you have
   
9. Nellie's reputation as a career killer if you are in his dog house like Harrington, Williams, and Crawford - word gets around the league fast how they treat some of their best players
   
10. attempting to manipulate public opinion through KNBR, the print media (is Rusty Simmons on the Warriors' payroll?), blogs, and fan forums - it adds a rather sleazy touch to the organization
    

The way that the Warriors do business has to change. They need to do a better job at being disciplined with transactions and insure that every major thing they do is with building a contender in mind (not just a weak low seeded playoff team). They need to treat players and staff with more compassion and respect in order to build back the good-will lost over the last 15 years. They need to treat the fans better and reward the most loyal and knowledgeable fan base in the NBA by showing them they are truly committed to winning above all else. When they start to act with class, they slowly become a class organization. Only then will credibility be restored.

Related Links
Warriors' name is mud to free agents - Monte Poole
Warriors big picture: Is Cohan getting ready to sell? - Tim Kawakami
Warriors weekend: Amare’s worth, Curry vs. Ellis, backing out of tentative NBA deals - Tim Kawakami
Does anybody want to play for the Warriors? - Tim Kawakami
Amare Stoudemire: Corey Maggette Redux? - Adam Lauridsen
The NBA’s Best Fans — and the Franchise that Takes Them for Granted - Adam Lauridsen
Nellie has his new Nash, and his new point guard - Cam Inman
SPECIAL REPORT: The man who owns the Warriors - Mark Fainaru-Wada
Golden State Warriors History