(I apologize in advance for being all over the place with this post) Do you think the Warriors will show a better overall performance or do you feel it will continue to hinder the development of Brandan Wright, Anthony Randolph, and Marco Belinelli? My concern is that the Warriors will probably win more games than they have without Maggette, Sjax, and Monta, but at the expense of team play. Even though the current roster is getting blown out left and right, they are adhering pretty well to the whole ball movement thing that Nellie et al have been preaching. With Maggette and Sjax in, the offense might become stagnant again and we'll rely on them making their shots or not in ISO situations. On the other hand, if Maggette and Sjax are able to adjust their games a little and let the ball move around more, we could see some significant improvement in team play with the ability to stay competitive. In that case, who do think the odd men out will be, with Monta coming back as well? I feel Belinelli has solidified himself into the rotation even with everyone coming back healthy. I feel he's proven he's more valuable than Morrow at this point. I'm on the fence when it comes to Azubuike. I feel he's been a real consistent scorer and rebounder for us, but his poor court vision and passing coupled with consistently getting burned on D is starting to wear on me. I feel that Belinelli's defense is actually better than Azubuike, both in effort and awareness. Once Monta comes back and takes up either PG or SG position, DeMarcus Nelson and CJ Watson are pretty much not needed. A backcourt of Crawford, Monta, Belinelli, Sjax, Azubuike is sufficient. But because we LOVE to play smallball, I'm sure Nellie will find a way to play them and not play Randolph and/or Wright. It's pretty sad when we have a roster that has 9 guards and all but one (Marcus Williams) has a better chance of playing than Wright or Randolph. I'm only hoping this doesn't happen and that two out of D. Nelson, CJ, Morrow are put on the inactive list. I'm not too worried about Randolph because it seems to be Nellie likes the kid and is playing him way more than I thought he would be given how he never played Wright or Marco last year in comparison. Not only that, he's 19 and has a lot of growing pains to go through, not just on the court. I feel Wright might be the odd man out, especially since Nellie will probably play Maggette at 4. I thought that Wright has been making good progress though and hopefully it doesn't go unnoticed.
Here's my opinion: the sooner Golden State can get Stephen Jackson, Jamal Crawford and Corey Maggette out of here, the sooner they can start building a future. Because those three guys are not a part of the Warriors future, despite their long contracts. They're just long-term rentals. It's obvious to me that Marco Bellinelli is a better basketball player than Corey Maggette is. Marco makes those around him better. Maggette does not. I'd hate to play with Maggette as a teammate. I'd love to play with Marco. Can't you see it on Biedrins face? He loves playing the pick-n-roll and the give-n-go with Marco. It's fun! They have chemistry together because they're looking to set eachother up. Maggette? Here's how it goes: Maggette stands and watches his man drive right by, leaving Biedrins on an island to guard two players. Meanwhile Maggette is already leaking out on the fast break. Biedrins then engages Maggette's man and somehow gets the block shot! He then scraps and scrambles for the loose ball. Maggette stands at half court and watches. Biedrins dives and comes up with the ball! He gets it to CJ Watson and then gets up and starts running the floor. CJ Passes ahead to Maggette. Maggette get's it at the three point line. Here comes Biedrins, running open through the lane, WIDE OPEN for an easy lay-up. Maggette refuses to pass and jacks up a three. CLANG! There's Biedrins, working his ass off, scraps and grabs another rebound. Unselfishly, he kicks it out to Maggette to set up a new play... instead of setting up a new play, Maggette jacks another three.... CLANG! Doesn't sound like too much fun playing with Maggette. Sounds like dental work. Sounds like I'd rather be somewhere else, instead of working my tail off, fighting for my teammate only so that Maggette can jack up another air ball. To me, Andris Biedrins is the barometer of this team. You can tell who is valuable to this team based on how they play/interact with Beans. Marco? Yes. Maggette? No. KEEP: Marco, Wright, Monta, Randolph, Morrow, Biedrins DITCH: Maggette, Jackson, Crawford In other words, to answer the OP, I think the Warriors play much better basketball when Jax/Mags/Crawford are not on the floor. I think if those guys play it will only prolong the inevitable. Sooner or later, they will have to go. Meanwhile, what are you doing with the foundation of the franchise while these rental players get their points and then go somewhere else? I hear that GS is waiting for Monta to return so they can see what pieces fit around him. IMO, they should be doing that with Biedrins. Building around him. But I'm good with that too. They can build around Monta/Beans. This should've been happening all along. Hopefully, when Monta returns they'll see the exciting young nucleus they have, and they'll see that Jax/Mags/Crawford doesn't fit with that. Monta Bellinelli Randolph Wright Biedrins There's my starting five. they're big, but they have WAY BETTER ball handling than a line-up with Mags/Crawford/Jax. Those three pass the ball about 2 times combined the enitre game. The starting five above would pass way more. Also, the starting five above can run the floor better, in part because Maggette/Jax don't even run the floor to begin with. The starting five above is the future. It's funny, because though they're big, they're so much more conducive to run-n-gun Nellie small ball than a line-up with Mags/Jax/Crawford.
I'd like to keep Crawford as a 6th man. Or Magette. Either way, they would be a nice player to bring off the bench for an offensive jolt. IIRC, Crawfords typically averages about 5 assists/game so he's not as much of a black hole as he's being labled as, he's just being asked to do way too much right now. Same thing for Jax, if he would be willing to step back into the role player/secondary role I think he can be helpful. I think he may have been the team's MVP during 2006 becuase of his toughness and defensive versatility. Now he's trying to be the man and not doing any of the things that made him valuable. I'd like to see him step back and keep the starting 3 spot until Randolph is ready in 2 or 3 years.
I totally agree with that. In part, that's why it's so frustrating, because Jackson's like Dr. "Jackyll" & Mr. Hyde. I think he was MVP during that stretch, but now it's like the mask has come off or something. Because the things I loved about Jackson -- hard work, unselfishness, defense -- those are things that normally don't come and go. It's just part of your character, your nature. Yet those are the things that have gone by the wayside with Jax. It's like he's lost the passion or something. Often times, it just looks like he doesn't give a shit about the game or his teammates. And no matter what is going on, or what type of player you've been in the past, that is just flat out unacceptable. So I say ship him out, unless he wants to stop trying to be Baron Davis and start trying to be a good teammate. Honestly, I don't know if that's possible. And none of those guys' attitudes are going to improve if they start coming off the bench.
I agree with keeping the guys that you want to keep and ditching the guys that you want to ditch. I just hate that lineup as a starting 5. In My opinion, only 1 guy on that team is worth starting this season (Monta is going to be a shell of himself until next year). Wright, Randolph and Belly aren't starters on winning teams. Belly might be there in a year or 2, Wright and Randolph will be career 6th men at best (IMO). I understand what you're saying though. As a fan, I'd rather see guys diving for loose balls. Randolph still has a lot to learn as far as shot selection is concerned, and Wright is still so behind as far as all around basketball smarts. His game has so many holes, well.. it's one big hole... Focus. I don't think floortime helps them. Who knows. I just know that I gave up on the playoffs as soon as Baron left and Magette was signed. I thought the team would be around 23 wins. I thought Nelly could get these guys playing together, which looks like it's starting to happen. I think the best thing that Nelly could do is shorten everyone on the team's leash from this point forward. Let the vets go back to earning their stripes. We can all cross our fingers to see if something happens before the trade deadline. I'd love to see one of the 2 of the 3 mentioned above moved.
Monta Crawford SJax Maggette Biedrins. That's who is going to be starting this year and the next. I'll be over in the Kings forum from now on. At least they play Hawes and Thompson.
Their front office isn't much better over there. The Maloofs worship Peotrie and he's done nothing since Webber left.
And a filthy rich owner who's not afraid to spend money... Now you're on to something. Question of the day... How can we get Ellison to buy the Warriors? Can someone make Cohan an offer he can't refuse?
Good call. I agree with ditching Mags/Craw/Jax but we'd have to be very lucky and give up something for that to happen. Is it worth giving up a Randolph or a Wright at this point?
Oh I love watching the Blazers; unselfish play, hustle on D. No unnecessary jacking up of jumpers and caring for the basketball. Oh yeah, and that potential superstar who was picked at #7 or 9? Plus those other guys who were drafted late (Webster, Outlaw, Fernandez) who provide outstanding D and can be efficient offensively (not just scoring)? Lastly, development of a young post player who is not the biggest or most skilled player or the best jump shooter to "spread the floor"? Yeah the complete opposite of another franchise.
That would be sweet if we could get Paul Allen to own this franchise. Not only do I feel that Cohan is a complete idiot when it comes to basketball ownership (the fans just hate him), but he just does not have that many options because he's not that super rich in a game full of super rich owners. Even if we were rich, guys like Rowell just don't have the good judgment to where that money goes. Take for instance the signing of our FA's and coaches... The organization, players, and staff just never seem to fit together despite having the potential to be good. There just isn't a cohesive strategy that works in favor of moving forward when business gets in the way of team development and improvement. It's always something designed by the Warriors that tends to fight each other. I see the player roster fight with the coaching style/development. I see the coaching tending to fight with how fans perceive what it takes to better in the future (example: defense, rebounding, halfcourt game). I see how badly the general management has been when Mully, Nelson, and ownership all get involved (Guys like Marcus Williams get no burn, Wright starts but gets no minutes, Turiaf and Biedrins hardly get played together despite being very effective defensively, since Turiaf is a real nba ready power forward! We have no center depth...and we seem to keep adding more ballhogging, ballchucking guards and swingmen).
I wouldn't get rid of anybody unless it was in trade for a point guard like Kirk Hinrich, when healthy, or Raymond Felton. I'd even consider Ramon Sessions if he was available. Anyone Scott Skiles doesn't like will probably do just fine with Nelson. My opinion is we aren't that different from the team who made it to the playoffs two seasons ago with a true PG, and we could be even better in terms of depth and potential. Next, I'd make Don Nelson find a way to play the big men. If that means, giving more say to the new defensive coordinator, Keith Smart, and who he wants to play, then it would be a change for the better to focus on defense and try to win by starting with the defense.
I'm for removing Mags and Crawford because of their seemingly selfish play and trend for being a part of several losing season rosters. I'd keep Sjax if I could. Belinelli and Sjax might actually work together in lieu of a pure point guard because of their all-around skills. Anthony Randolph's ballhandling and outside shooting really need work before I can believe we have a future starting small forward. Plus, I don't like Azubuike playing a starter. Whatever he does is not setting the tone. Morrow should come off the bench, although I do think he fills in nicely at starter sometimes.
