Golden State Warriors
2008-09 Record: 29-53
Anticipated Starting Five
PG- Monta Ellis
SG- Corey Maggette
SF- Stephen Jackson
PF- Anthony Randolph
C- Andris Biedrins
Key Reserves: Stephen Curry, Kelenna Azubuike, Devean George, Anthony Morrow, Ronny Turiaf
Biggest Strength: Young wing talent
Monta Ellis is a nice young talent. They brought in Steph Curry in the backcourt and he will turn out to be a nice player when he adapts to the speed and size of the NBA. And my favorite young player on their team or any team is Anthony Morrow. These guys can really fill it up on offense. They will give any team fits this season.
Biggest Weakness: Consistent defense
Curry is going to get scorched. Monta doesn’t take pride in defense. Maggette is a marginal defender at best. But, Jackson, Morrow and Azubuike are good defenders on the perimeter. Biedrins, Randolph and Turiaf are solid inside. So they have potential but Nelson needs to get everyone on the game page. Unfortunately that isn’t really Nelson’s strong suite as a coach. This team has ample offensive talent to compete. Whether or not they do will hinge on their defensive effort.
Key Player: Stephen Jackson
He doesn’t want to be there, that is a fact. What’s also a fact is that he is and he can’t really do anything about it. He is really the only leader on a team with so many young players. They need his grit, toughness and calm during the season. I am thinking he will play hard for his teammates more than the coach. But if he blows up it will be a tough situation for anyone at Golden State.
Biggest Question: What’s Monta Ellis’ problem?
Monta Ellis, a 21 year old, just got a 6 year $66 million dollar contract after a fantastic season where he averaged 20 ppg on 53% shooting as a guard. He celebrated that contract by suffering an ankle injury working out…then it turned into an ankle injury in a pick-up game…then it turned into an ankle injury while recklessly driving a moped. Then, instead being humbled by the situation, he got ticked off at the Warriors for suspending him without pay for the first 30 games (for breach of contract) when he was lucky they didn’t just void the whole thing. Now? He’s telling everyone who will listen that the Warriors shouldn’t have drafted Stephen Curry and that they can’t play together. Ellis certainly appears to have some growing up to do.
Best Individual Season of All-Time: Wilt Chamberlain, 1961-62
50.4 ppg, 25.7 rpg, 2.4 apg, 50.6 FG%
This doesn’t really need an explanation. The highest points per game in NBA history, and the 3rd highest rebounds per game in NBA history. You certainly could make the argument that this is the most dominant season in NBA history, and perhaps in any sports history.
Pete’s 2010 Outlook: 4th place, Pacific division / 12th place, Western conference / 23rd place, NBA
I personally don’t get why Don Nelson has a job. His players are always mad, he constantly has a bunch of guys who play the same position and he is notorious for sitting promising young players too much (Anthony Randolph, Brandon Wright). This team does have a lot of talent and certainly the potential of their core (Randolph, Ellis, Biedrins, Curry) is impressive but I’m not sure Nelson is the guy that can get them to play together and reach their potential.
Dannie’s 2010 Outlook: 4th place, Pacific division / 10th place, Western conference / 20th place, NBA
I second what Pete ha said. This team has a ton of young talent. They aren’t an elite team but they are far from a bottom feeding team as well. It’s the coaches job to maximize the talent he is given. I am not sure Nelson is the right guy for the job. First and foremost he needs to get everyone on the same page and playing together. Right now they have a few disgruntled players and that is a terrible way to start the season.
I think Golden State will finish 10th again. But it will be a closer 10th than last season where 17 games separated 9th and 10th.
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Greatest strength(s):
-High potent offense that gives the opponents chills.
-Oracle Arena (Oakland fans are very faithful)
-Don Nelson(a chance to become the winningest coach in NBA history)
-Plays spoiler role very well in giving playoff teams critical losses.
Greatest weakness(es):
-Too young
-Locker room chemistry (Captain Jack turned to Simple Jack)
-Defense
With that said, the Warriors will be 4th in the Pacific, 11th in the West.
(On a side note, the Sixers will split the season with the Warriors (1-1) with each team winning on their respective home floors. Look for both meetings to be high scoring and full of huge runs. If the Sixers want to sweep, they better utilize their frontcourt and do some major damage in the paint, as well as play “more” defense.)