Warriors vs. T-Wolves

Discussion in 'Golden State Warriors' started by i hate the warriors, Feb 27, 2011.

  1. i hate the warriors

    i hate the warriors Slingboxing from LONDON

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    "A lot of people look at the games on our schedule and say these games are winnable....No game in the NBA is winnable." --Keith Smart

    lol Really?
     
  2. AlleyOop

    AlleyOop JBB JustBBall Member

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    Well, if the game is definitely not winnable, then you should just have your players completely forget about defense, and just try to jack up as many 1-on-1 shots as possible to entertain the crowd.

    Oh, wait...
     
  3. i hate the warriors

    i hate the warriors Slingboxing from LONDON

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    Lee playing with some grit tonight...I like it. He made Randolph look silly.
     
  4. Run BJM

    Run BJM Heavy lies the crown. Staff Member Global Moderator

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    Fail game.

    Fail Monta. Why the hell did he even have the ball? Steph just railed off like 9 points in the last 2:30 and Monta only got a breakaway dunk. We all knew he wasn't passing it and the T'Wolves defense did as well.
     
  5. i hate the warriors

    i hate the warriors Slingboxing from LONDON

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    I don't like Smart's comments following a loss. Too many excuses and he doesn't sound like it bothers him enough.

    I agree with you Run, put the ball in Steph's hands there...but I don't know how much of the blame is on Monta, because Smart made the call, but yeah, it was too easy to defend. I didn't really see if anyone had an open J if he dished it off.

    We settle for bad shot after bad shot, and Smart doesn't seem to mind at all...reminds me of Nelson.
     
  6. AlleyOop

    AlleyOop JBB JustBBall Member

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    Yeah, I agree with both of you. Monta's had a habit of doing that in the final moments (letting the clock wind down to the last second before going). Smart said a few weeks back, that he didn't draw it up, he just gave it to Monta and told him to make a decision.

    This time, he made a bad decision. The problem with going to Monta is that he's not really a playmaker. 3 guys come to triple team him, and yet he can't even find an open man. He just goes up on them and gets swatted. He didn't even have time to find an open man, because he ran down the clock to 3 seconds. Even if he had time, he still would have forced it.

    Curry, however, was the obvious choice (I agree above). You don't even need to make a case for it, it's obvious.

    Total fail. The Warriors are the perfect team for Minnesota to "get right" against. Good for the T-Wolves for having some fun stepping on the Warriors.

    This is the same kind of stuff year after year. The Warriors gave up 100 points in the first three quarters. Forget about how much you can score. My pre-game comments above were prophetic. Golden State always manages to make journymen look like all-stars. Look at Tolliver getting 12pts/10reb.

    Kevin Love had 37pts/23reb. He just destroyed that David Lee matchup.

    Golden State was out-rebounded by 21 rebounds, 61 to 40. They are already as soft as butter, especially when their perimeter refuses to defend. But toss in the fact that this team traded away 2 of their big men, and are now pimping Lou Amundson as their C, and Vlad as a PF instead of SF... well it's no wonder.

    It sucks because I have loved rooting for the team all these years, I'm not a Monta/Vlad/Lee fan, I'm a Golden State fan.

    But now, it's just kind of horseshit when you look around and see every other team at least showing signs, or making moves to try to show signs of life... and GS is just second-class.

    It was a lot more fun to watch when the trade deadline was still looming, because there was that saving grace of making a move. Now, I guess they have a plan for summer free agency period, or whatever, but knowing that we fans are stuck with this for the rest of the year, what is there to get excited about?

    I guess Udoh. I was excited about Curry but it will never be truly exciting until they can get rid of Monta and put out an actual line-up 1 through 5. It sucks though, because apparently Lacob has come out in a season ticket-holders meeting and said he is going to build around Steph/Monta.

    So that shows what little sense of the game he has. I mean come on. Are you seriously promising your season ticket holders that? Because it's horseshit. It's just for sales. I mean, I can understand accepting it for now, because it is what it is. But to be foolish enough to say you're going to build around it, like it's a solid core, lol... why not just say you are going to do what it takes?

    If we are stuck with Monta/Curry for the next 4 years, it's going to be a long, up and down period of mediocrity and terrible defense. Sorry.
     
  7. jason bourne

    jason bourne JBB JustBBall Member

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    Lordy, this game was supposed to set the pace for the Warriors road trip, but it does not bode well for the Ws since they lost. i was ready to wave the white flag after this road trip, but I feel like tossing in the towel now. I mean if you can't beat the Timberwolves, who can you beat?

    Monta relies on his speed, but the Wolves were ready for him. There should have been someone open since he was doubled. You think Smart would call a give and go or change giving the ball to Monta and letting him decide, but that looks like the same play every time except where Monta gets the ball. And Monta usually goes to his right. After that, Smart gave the ball to Curry and he couldn't get a shot off. That has happened too many times.

    At this point, we should just buy out Murphy. It would be the classy thing to do.
     
  8. jason bourne

    jason bourne JBB JustBBall Member

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    We're also stuck with Larry Riley. I think Lacob and Riley will look for a scapegoat and fire Smart. I hope they get rid of Rowell, too. If I were Lacob, I'd start clean and hire Kevin Pritchard. He's a still a young guy and he can get the job done.
     
    Last edited: Feb 27, 2011
  9. i hate the warriors

    i hate the warriors Slingboxing from LONDON

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    I'm giving Lacob the benefit of the doubt right now. He took over mid-season, essentially, and I could see why he wouldn't want to shake things up too much right now. We're coming up on a very unique off-season, and I want to believe that he's just waiting things out before he starts making changes. If we start next season without having made some big changes, then that's a whole different story...
     
  10. CohanHater

    CohanHater JBB JustBBall Member

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    You may be right, I can't remember where, but I read that Lacob consulted with a GM from another teamrecently. That's not really a vote of confidence for Riley. I'm hoping that he starts fresh, new GM, new coach.

    Edit: Found the link
    Not as promising as I remembered it:

     
    Last edited: Feb 27, 2011
  11. Run BJM

    Run BJM Heavy lies the crown. Staff Member Global Moderator

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    Agree that its (way, way, way) too early to judge Lacob but he hasn't been impressive so far lol.

    And Smart is fucking awful. He always looks way to happy just to be there. With all of the piss poor play this year he should be yelling and screaming almost the whole game. He rarely gets upset at anything. Seems content with shitty play after shitty player. Its hard to watch our epic fails and see him not seem to be that upset about it. Being optimistic is a good trait in general but I don't think its common for any good NBA coaches.

    FWIW Monta had hit some big shots a few times this year. Its funny because usually he pulls up from mid-range. If I recall correctly he missed a few of those mid-range J's early on and we all criticized. Then he hit a couple in a row and looked very clutch (just hit a big mid-range shot of the same sort the other night against Utah I believe it was). This might be the first time hes ever gone to the rack and he got STUFFED. I maintain that Monta was doing shit at that point and Curry was feeling it. He can find the open man as well. Seems like Smart deferred to the veteran which is a bad sign IMO. And to be quite honest I'm still not convinced Monta is happy when he doesn't get the ball in big situations even when another player (usually Curry) makes a play. You guys probably know I'm far from being judgmental of Monta in an over the top fashion like some fans but I have noticed that sometimes when Curry or someone makes a big play and he never got the ball on the possession he just walks back to the bench nondescriptly while other teammates are cheering and giving props. I think I've seen it happen a few times.
     
  12. Clif10

    Clif10 Member

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    This team is just not smart nor do they play like they are in any kind of sync. You still have players confused on when and who switches on screens defensively. As far as not being Smart, for one the team does not care about matchups. Whereas Beasley, Milicic, and Love dominated the front court, I don't think the Warriors did enough to use the Curry/Ridnour advantage offensively. Monta had nothing going in the half court against Johnson who was just way too long for Ellis. At the end the Warriors should have gone to Curry defended by Ridnour. Johnson pretty much owned Ellis defensively in that end of game play, perhaps the last two plays, plus at least another time in the first half.

    One player I don't get is Biedrins. It seemed like he was benched in the second half. But he did have three blocks in the first quarter or maybe first half. But then again his overall effort wasn't the best. Beasley really wanted to take Wright to school though. I guess they know eachother decently from Miami.

    Again, another bad loss where the squad looked like a bunch of individuals and really not that smart or focused.
     
  13. Run BJM

    Run BJM Heavy lies the crown. Staff Member Global Moderator

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    Re: Beasley/DW didn't they have a bit of a rivalry built from the previous time we were @ Minny? Dorell hit 9 3's and was sizzling hot while Beasley was also hitting everything. I believe the culmination was Wright stuffing an interior shot into the 10th row. Wright had 15 in the first tonight but wasn't great after that.
     
  14. jason bourne

    jason bourne JBB JustBBall Member

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    Good link. I doubt Lacob talked with the GM of the Lakers who probably would have given him the "opposite" advice :lol:.

    Smart has not been a winning coach overall; It wasn't just this year. On the plus side, Smart had some good defensive schemes and the players still like him. Do you want Smart coaching the Warriors beyond next year (I think the team has an option for next year)?

    What coaches are available? I liked Doug Collins as a turnaround guy (good for short-term transition only), but he's gone to Philly. Jeff Van Gundy? Larry Brown? Mike Brown? (all defensive minded coaches who aren't that patient imho and not good for a young team). How about an assistant coach from the NY Knicks, Phx Suns or Den Nuggets? Bill Cartwright (He may not have a winning record)?

    Hmm... Lacob was talking about dealing Curry and/or Ellis to improve and now wants to build around them. I like to see them keep Ellis and Lee. I'd see if I can trade Curry for Deron Williams or Chris Paul in 2012.

    I agree with Lacob about getting a big. The trick will be to get rid of Andris Biedrins' contract.

    "Win as many games as possible" for the rest of the season does not see doable when the team cannot win on the road!

    The BIG move strategy sounds like Larry Riley which means a trade, but it really won't be a big move because we don't have tradable pieces except for Curry and Dorell Wright. Trading Ellis or Lee will involve a veteran player. Maybe the Warriors will sign another free agent like David Lee, i.e. overpay a second-tier free agent. I rather go the way of Sam Presti and get draft picks and build through the draft and then make a big trade when one has accumulated the young tradable assets and picks along with expiring contracts.

    GSOM:
    Since I haven't found any other articles from today's Warriors season ticket-holder conference call with Joe Lacob, here's my report. First off, I called in a few minutes late after the 1:00pm start time and I had to hang up at 1:45pm to go to a meeting (you know, some of us have to work!), so the following is as much as I can remember, and from the meat of the call.

    Here are the main points...

    Key Take-away #1: The Warriors will be keeping Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry, and will be building the franchise around them.

    Key Take-away #2: Lacob has identified nine bigs/centers that the Warriors could go after this summer, to help bring a presence in the post.

    Key Take-away #3: Lacob's strategy to make the Warriors attractive enough to sign a marquee free agent, is to win as many games as possible now.


    After the jump, compare that with my strategy and take a look at the other bullet points from the conference call...

    Star-divide

    Here are my chronologically ordered notes from the conference call. I will be the first one to tell you that this is probably an incomplete set of notes. As I mentioned, I was late to the call and had to leave it early. If you were in on this call, please fill in any important blanks I may have missed.

    * David Lee and Andris Biedrins play a sort of fast pace anyways, so they are in line with the strategy of keeping Steph and Monta.

    * Do not underestimate the value of a 2nd-round draft pick (as was acquired in the Troy Murphy deal). References to Monta, of course, and Paul Millsap are made.

    * Murphy may yet suit up. It is not certain that he will be bought out. Lacob is still evaluating that one.

    * Lacob sought the advice of a "GM of a franchise that has recently won the championship" -- hmmm, lemme guess: Danny Ainge? We can only speculate! -- in regards to how to deal with a coach in which you are not sure of his approach. The GM's response (note: this is NOT word-for-word, but more the gist of it): "I still have such problems with my current coach! In short, let coaches coach. Let them do their job. This happens all the time."

    * Bottom line for Keith Smart: Does he win? But then also compare this to Doc Rivers or Byron Scott. Doc lost 18 in a row in the 24-win season with Boston. Since then, he's had a couple Finals appearances. Similar anecdote with Byron Scott. So, more often than not, it's not really the coach that determines whether or not a team is championship-caliber.

    * Then a season ticket holder named Julie asked perhaps one of the better questions of the call: Seems like lately there have been some improvements making small steps. But are you, Joe Lacob, a small-steps guy? Lacob's response (paraphrasing): "We tried to make the 'transformative, big deal'. We made some offers and we received some offers -- all of which I am not at liberty [Author's note: by league rules and, quite frankly, common sense] to name names. But we didn't want to make a bad transformative big deal. I think we need to be patient. If you look at most or all of the big deals that were made, they had multiple first-round draft picks involved. We have none."

    * Lacob also mentioned that there was not one deal that involved an expiring contract, except perhaps for the Gerald Wallace deal. [Author's note: I am not well-schooled in the area of salary cap, so excuse me for not expounding on such related matters.]

    * Then another caller asked how long fans will have to wait for the team to become one that can make perennial playoff runs. Lacob said a there's probably a few years' timeframe. They have to manage cap space, do well in the Draft. Deals like Kevin Garnett are hard to find.

    * Then came Lacob's best quote of the day: "Give me more than three months PLEASE to make a big move."

    * The topic switched over to Larry Riley. Riley's resume was listed out, including the draft selection of Stephen Curry and the free agent signing of Dorell Wright, of course, but curiously, also David Lee (who has been widely criticized as way overpaid) and the draft of selection of Ekpe Udoh (unproven). It really sounded like Lacob was happy with Riley. It really sounded like Riley is here to stay.

    * Lacob: "The bottom line is wins and losses and are we improving?"

    * Then a caller asked the question about seeking out a bonafide center. There was one other Warriors rep on the call and I never did figure out who it was, but just based on the voice and the fact that he sometimes peppered Lacob with a few interview questions, I'm guessing it was Tim Roye (again, I'm not sure, please help if someone knows), and that voice probably wasn't Riley's since they had just talked about Riley in the third person. Roye said the Warriors should have cap space of around $13 million to bring in a center. You figure, based on NBA Deputy Commish Adam Silver's recent remarks on a hard cap, that if there's a hard cap, it'll probably be around $60 million give or take, and the Warriors have about $49 million committed next season.

    * Lacob said the Warriors have identified nine big men (centers, I presume) who are either restricted or unrestricted free agents this summer. There are some centers who are injured (he did not mention Yao Ming or Greg Oden by name, but I figure those two are definitely somewhere on the radar screen) and there's always the Draft.

    * Also mentioned was that Lacob told Riley not to worry about cash, as the trade deadline approached. The Warriors were willing to spend, if necessary.

    * Lacob did temper the Draft mention in that he would still probably select the best player (or "best asset") available.


    * Riley and Lacob have not yet discussed the future of Smart.

    * Lacob firmly believes that the franchise can attract free agents, but admits that they need to overcome their history. They need to win more to show free agents that the Warriors are committed to winning. Roye then gave the example of Carmelo Anthony signing with a team that's barely at .500 with a recent history of losing.

    * The discussion came back around to Curry. Lacob mentioned that Curry's numbers are really good when compared to other young point guards (Steve Nash, for example, although we all know, and Lacob does too, that Nash struggled in his first few years). As the trade deadline approached, most of the calls Lacob got were inquiring about Steph Curry.


    Here's the link for the video of the actual teleconference:
    http://www.nba.com/warriors/fanzone/owners_box_022511.html
     
  15. CohanHater

    CohanHater JBB JustBBall Member

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    It would be Sloan or bust for me
     
  16. philsmith75

    philsmith75 JBB JustBBall Member

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    Somebody play defense, please. No need to put Love on the line 21 times!!

    Monta needs to learn, there's no shame in passing at the end. MJ's most memorable end of game play? Passes to Hodges and Paxon for the game winner. Kobe has made passes as well.
     

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