The Official Golden State Warriors 2009-2010 Season

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3VID3NC3

Sicc OG
#2,023
Apr 25, 2002
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#2,023
http://www.ibabuzz.com/warriors/2010/02/11/move-over-monta/
Move Over Monta?
By Marcus Thompson
Thursday, February 11th, 2010 at 2:02 am in Uncategorized.

An interesting debate arose out of Steph Curry’s historic performance against the disgusting Los Angeles Clippers. You know the numbers by now: 36 point, 13 assists, rebounds.

Curry is the first Warriors rookie to post a triple-double since Chris Webber in 1993. He was the first NBA rookie to post at least 30/10/10 since Kevin Johnson in 1988. He was only the sixth rookie ever to post at least 35/10/10 – the other five being Jason Kidd, Michael Jordan, Jerry West, Oscar Roberton and Elgin Baylor.

The Warriors scored 132 points, tied a season-high with 36 assists, set a season-high with 62 percent shooting, including a season-high 13 3-pointers (7 by Curry, 3 each by the Anthonys – Morrow and Tolliver). Of course, all of these numbers are against a woeful Clippers team, and many of them came when they game was out of hand. Still, it is hard to notice the Warriors’ offense just look more productive and efficient without star guard Monta Ellis.

For the record, I DO NOT believe the Warriors are better without Ellis. I DO NOT believe the stats that show the Warriors are more efficient offensively without Ellis, considering the Warriors have hardly been without Ellis and the statistics don’t account for the opposing defense’s ability or effort. NBA players, and teams game plans, ramp up for big challenges against noteworthy players. Conversely, players relax when all they have to do is contain third, fourth and fifth-best players.

But what is undeniable, the Warriors are inconsistently efficient when Ellis is there, and not as potent offensively as they like to claim. And when he’s not, the ball movement is better, there are more open looks and the pace is faster.

What seems to be apparent is that the Warriors’ offense needs to transition from Ellis being the facilitator to Curry being the facilitator.

RONNY TURIAF (after the game on the offensive performance): “Just a bunch of guys trying to play for each other. It was an amazing experience. … That’s what you call a team effort. It was cool. It was fun.”


No one said it Wednesday — in fact, they went out of their way to not say it — but the offense runs better without Ellis or Maggette than it does. But I don’t think that’s the fault of Ellis and Maggette. I think this is about philosophy and rotation.

Ellis is the most-talented scorer on the team. Maggette is right behind him. The Warriors’ offense is built around those two. But the manner in which they use them is to give them the ball, have them create, and have other guys move around them to create alternative options.

Whether it’s Ellis or Maggette, the Warriors are primarily isolations, pick-and-rolls and post-ups. The problem with going through them, having them create the plays, is their strength is in creating offense for themselves, not for others. They usually pass only after their opportunity for a shot has been thwarted. In Ellis’ case, that takes some pretty stern defense, because he can get his shot off and convert well in traffic.

The whole process just promotes standing around, it promotes stagnation. What’s more, it increases the degree of difficulty.

What you saw Monday, with the ball in Curry’s hands, is the ball being passed up the floor, instead of Ellis or Maggette coasting, trying to set up a quick burst by their defender. What you saw is the hockey assist, where one pass was made not to get the assist, but to cause the defense to react, which opens up another pass (Keith Smart is always preaching about how the more times you move the ball, the higher the percentages go up for the offense). You saw other guys getting touches early and often, developing a rhythm and confidence.

How many times have you seen Morrow or Watson go minutes without touching the ball, so when they get it they jack it up knowing its not coming back? Wednesday, Morrow was able to develop a rhythm, Watson got into the distributing end and took only smart shots (he was 5-for-6). Turiaf got a lot of touches.

This doesn’t happen often enough when the Warriors are relying on Ellis and Maggette to go one-on-one or one-on-two 75 percent of the time. Check out this Q&A with Curry. You gotta read between his answers, but you get the sense he knows what’s best, but he will never disrespect his vets.

How different is your role when they’re out?

CURRY: “I have the ball in my hands a lot more. That allows me to make more plays for myself and for my teammates.”

“What got lost in my performance was Tolliver with 29 and C.J. and Anthony Morrow playing well. Even Ronny. He was a distributor as much as I was, getting the ball to the open man, dumping it down and finding the guys on the perimeter.”

Does a game like this show you maybe what this team needs to do more of when Ellis and Maggette are back?

CURRY: “I mean, yeah. They play their style. And you’ve got to cater to that. But as a team, you can always move the ball, you can always find the open guy. That’s just good basketball.”

“I think when we come back on Tuesday, we’ll watch film on how we played this game and try to mimic that against the Lakers.”

The stats are that you are way better offensively when Monta’ s not playing. Any reason you can think of for that?

CURRY: “I’m not sure. I mean, he averages… he gets his numbers up. The ball’s in his hands a lot, so he needs that to be productive.”

“So I don’t know, when he’s out, everybody has to pitch in. There’s just that feeling. Even though we had 7 players, everybody’s got to work together. It’s just that thing, where everybody keys in Monta a lot because they know how great of a player he is. So when he’s out, everybody has a chance to make plays.”

You talked about catering to Ellis and Maggette’s style. But do they need to maybe cater a little bit to what you guys did tonight?

CURRY: “No. I mean, that’s why they’re the players that they are. They’re All-Stars in my book. For us, we have to work around them. They’re going to get their touches, get their shots, and we have to figure out how to be productive around them.”

“They’re not going to be selfish ballhogs trying to jack up shots all that stuff. Corey likes to push in transition, get to the basket, sometimes it looks like it’s a crowded spot, but he gets to the foul line 15 times a game. So you can’t hate on that. With Monta, he’s averaging 26 and almost 6 assists. So obviously he’s working. We just have to figure out how to play defensively more than offensively when they’re on the floor. I think offensively we’re right there. We just can’t stop anybody. That’s not on them, that’s just on the team of defenders. Something was different tonight, though.”

The difference was, well, one, the Clippers were awful. But also, they were a multi-pronged attack. The Warriors can’t afford to be two dimensional. Now, that doesn’t mean Ellis is any less of a factor. I think its a mistake to think it means Curry running the show means Ellis takes a back seat. All it means is the Warriors have to be more creative and versatile with how they get Ellis opportunities. I think versatility will save him in the long run.

Having Baron run the show didn’t hurt Monta in 2007-08, when Ellis averaged 20.2 points on 53 percent shooting. Having Billups run the show didn’t stop Richard Hamilton from shining during the Pistons recent glory years. The Blazers are versatile in how they get the rock to Roy.

In addition to pick-and-roll, Ellis should be posting up. He should be coming off screens. He should get isos from various spots, instead of just bringing the ball up the court. There should be plays that are designed to get Ellis easy looks where he doesn’t have to work so hard (kind of like the lob off the inbounds they hardly do any more). LeBron, Carmelo, Durant and Wade all average more points in fewer shots than Ellis. Roy, Granger and Joe Johnson aren’t too far behind with significantly fewer shots per game. Clearly, there is a more efficient way.

Ellis knows he is unstoppable scoring. He knows he can get by anyone. He knows he can finish from multiple angles and despite defenders. He will always be his first option. The Warriors need someone handling the ball who has a broader view of the game. Someone who knows when to call his own number, when to find the hot man, when to go at a guy who has foul trouble, when to get a guy going who hasn’t been involved. Someone who is comfortable giving the ball up early, who won’t kill breaks while they saunter up court (drives me crazy!).

Certainly, Curry will have his struggles. He still gets too cavalier with the rock at the wrong times for my liking. But he’s the best the Warriors have as a floor general. He should not be a glorified spot-up shooter. Nellie sounds like he agrees, if you read between the lines, anyway.
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DubbC415

DubbC415

Mickey Fallon
#2,024
Sep 10, 2002
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Tomato Alley
#2,024
Walking wounded have seat reserved on the bench

The Warriors are expected to do some serious soul-searching during the All-Star break, and team management has already decided to initiate one noticeable change when things tip off again next week.

Injured players will be expected to be in the arena cheering for their teammates on game nights, coach Don Nelson said.

"It's a team policy that we just changed," Nelson said during a question-and-answer session with listeners on the "Warriors Weekly" radio show. "Unless it's a serious injury that calls them to be off of their legs, I think they should be at the games and should want to be at games."

The Warriors have had players miss 294 games because of injury, illness or personal matters this season. Many have not been with the team during their rehabilitations, including Raja Bell, who has been in Miami since his Dec. 3 wrist surgery. Bell is expected to rejoin the team Tuesday.

When Corey Maggette, who is out with a dislocated finger, showed up for Monday's game, one healthy player looked shocked and said, "What are you doing here?"

The tipping point for Nelson came when he heard stories about Anthony Randolph, who is out with multiple ankle injuries. Nelson was told that Randolph left one game after the first quarter and was at a nightclub during another game.

"There is no excuse for that, and those players will be fined from now on," Nelson said.

Kelenna Azubuike, who had season-ending knee surgery, will have excused absences until he can bend his knee comfortably enough to sit on the bench, Nelson said.

Opening tip: Warriors coach Don Nelson swears the swell in belief that he is not having fun and has become detached from the team isn't getting to him. "They've been talking about me for 30 years, and that is just part of it. I don't listen to it, so how could it have an effect on me?"

- Rusty Simmons
 
MrPeete

MrPeete

Sicc OG
#2,025
May 10, 2002
4,203
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#2,025
"We just have to figure out how to play defensively more than offensively when they’re on the floor. I think offensively we’re right there. We just can’t stop anybody. That’s not on them, that’s just on the team of defenders."
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Funny how this gets ignored in all of this hub bub about who should be handling the ball and who's option A or option B.
 
andrizzaayy

andrizzaayy

Sicc OG
#2,026
Dec 4, 2005
1,799
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#2,026
Fuck these trade rumors. This season is done, we're not going to make the playoffs and a trade isnt going to get us there and we still havent seen how this team plays when healthy. So why give up our young talent for a bosh, allen type player when they can leave us after the season. OKC/Memphis is succesful this year cause of their young talent with the exception of Z-BO
 
lsjmyane

lsjmyane

Sicc OG
#2,028
Jun 22, 2007
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Sources: Cavs talking to Warriors

The Cleveland Cavaliers' pursuit of Amare Stoudemire continues, but in case they can't land the Phoenix Suns' All-Star forward, they have begun talks with the Golden State Warriors about Corey Maggette.

Despite their league-high 13-game win streak, the Cavaliers are leaving no stone unturned in attempting to improve their team and bring the city it's first major sports league championship in 46 years.

Maggette
Maggette

In addition to speaking to the Washington Wizards regarding Antawn Jamison and the Indiana Pacers regarding Troy Murphy, Cleveland is in discussions with the Warriors about Maggette, according to four sources with knowledge of the talks.

Stoudemire is far and away the Cavaliers first choice, and sources close to Stoudemire said a report Monday that he told Cleveland he doesn't want to play there is false.

Sources say the Cavaliers are willing to send Zydrunas Ilgauskas, J.J. Hickson, a first-round pick and another player (to make the deal work financially) to Phoenix for Stoudemire, but while the Suns mull over their options, Cleveland remains one of the most active teams in the league leading up to Thursday's trade deadline.

The Cavs might need a Plan B, as the Miami Heat are pushing hard to land Stoudemire as well, sources told ESPN.com's Marc Stein on Monday night.

It is not clear whether the Cavaliers' second-choice is Jamison or Maggette. The discussions with Golden State have centered around Cleveland sending Ilgauskas and his $11.5 million expiring contract to the Warriors for Maggette. Other players, perhaps Cleveland's Danny Green and Golden State's Devean George, would have to be added to make the deal work financially.

As is the case with all their potential trades, the Cavaliers hope their trading partner would waive Ilgauskas so he could re-sign with Cleveland 30 days later. But no such deal can be struck beforehand, per league rules. The Cavaliers' interest in Maggette, who is averaging 20.8 points per game for the Warriors, is somewhat surprising. While the 30-year-old small forward has long been regarded as one of the league's most gifted scorers, he has three years and nearly $31 million left on his contract and has been somewhat injury prone.

Maggette, who has a career scoring average of 16.6 points, has also only made the playoffs one time in his 11-year career with Orlando, the Los Angeles Clippers and the Warriors. That has led some to question Maggette's ability to help a team win, but the same questions dogged Jamal Crawford before he was traded to Atlanta last summer. Crawford, a former teammate of Maggette's in Golden State, has helped the Hawks become an Eastern Conference contender.

LeBron James is aware of Cleveland's interest in Maggette, and sources close to him say he believes he could help the Cavaliers. Maggette can play shooting guard as well as small forward, and while he's not a great outside shooter, the Cavaliers could at times play James and Maggette together on the frontline in a small lineup.

Chris Broussard covers the NBA for ESPN The Magazine.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4917507
 
DubbC415

DubbC415

Mickey Fallon
#2,030
Sep 10, 2002
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Tomato Alley
#2,030
According to the Orange County Register, Corey Maggette will not play on Tuesday because of his dislocated finger.

Monta Ellis has been ruled out for Tuesday's game due to his knee injury and will be examined in Alabama on Tuesday by the same doctor who performed his ACL surgery in high school.
 
DankedOut707

DankedOut707

Sicc OG
#2,032
Feb 5, 2006
9,995
47
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#2,032
That's sad when u start hoping to keep losin. Y'all the 3rd worst team in the league. Horrible. Y'all need to trade monta's ball hoggin Turnover ass in a package for a star bigman and let curry do his thing. Way better ball movement when Ellis is out and curry goes off. When y'all injured players come back, and with monta gone with a big man, warriors would be a problem
 
DubbC415

DubbC415

Mickey Fallon
#2,035
Sep 10, 2002
22,620
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Tomato Alley
#2,035
Contrary to an earlier report, Corey Maggette (dislocated finger) is expected to play on Tuesday.
Maggette's finger popped out of the socket again during a dunk attempt at the end of Monday's practice, but he had it treated and was joking with teammates when he left the court.
 
lsjmyane

lsjmyane

Sicc OG
#2,037
Jun 22, 2007
1,098
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#2,037
Cavs Tryin to be slick

i would consider that a insult asking for a first rounder if they just givin up Z



Cleveland Asking For 1st Rounder Back From Warriors For Maggette?
More Warriors News



Feb 16, 2010 9:42 PM EST

Golden State is having a difficult time advancing trade talks because other teams are hoping to receive their 2010 first round pick.

The Warriors are said to be in trade discussions involving Corey Maggette and Cleveland’s Zydrunas Ilgauskas.

http://realgm.net/src_wiretap_archi..._1st_rounder_back_from_warriors_for_maggette/
 
DubbC415

DubbC415

Mickey Fallon
#2,039
Sep 10, 2002
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Tomato Alley
#2,039
^^^Stay out of our thread, laker faggot.



and what the fuck?? our 1st round pick (which is gonna be top 5)???? talk about bullshit, yeah lets give away every draft pick for the next 10 years so we can get a guy who's gonna retire after this year
 
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