Training Camp News and First Exhibition Game Shows Glimpse of Things to Come? By Jason We have heard that the Golden State Warriors training camp has been a love fest and filled with more positive energy than the Barney and Friends show. I love you, you love me, we're a happy family... Now, we see after their first exhibition game of the season, the Golden State Warriors dismantled the Los Angeles Clippers 127 - 87 and gave newly appointed head coach Keith Smart his first victory as a head coach on his own. No more being a head coach as fill in for Don Nelson when he was ill. Being a Warriors fan, it’s natural to get carried away and start thinking this team has a chance to make the playoffs. One could think this team will improve from their miserable 26 - 56 record of last season. However, it’s too early to tell. This was an exhibition game and these games are to see how well the players run the plays they have learned and worked on. It’s also to get them in game ready condition and to see how new players mesh with the team. In that regard, the Warriors fans have a lot to be positive about. I think getting a win right off the bat was a positive sign about their coach Keith Smart because the team seems to be gelling very fast with all the positive things coming out of training camp. I’ve seen the pictures of camp and most of them show players smiling when they’re not playing. They seem loose, happy and enjoying themselves. Furthermore, the Warriors appear to be more defense focused with Smart as coach because he was the defensive coordinator. Credit would also have to go to Larry Riley for getting more defensive minded players and bigger players who can run. The team seems to be headed away from small ball and playing mismatches that Don Nelson favored and more towards a traditional big rebounding and defensive team. Still, the players the Warriors got appear to be able to spread and run the floor. Monta Ellis seems to have become a leader and captain on this team. We’ll have to see how he distributes the ball when the going gets tough, but right off the bat, his offense seems improved with the addition of the 3-point shot. Other players to watch were the starters Andris Biedrins, David Lee, Stephen Curry and Dorell Wright. Biedrins did well and players, coaches and media were saying he could be the AB of 2007 again. David Lee seemed to be meshing well with his new teammates and once he gets comfortable could be putting up the 20-10 numbers he was doing with the New York Knicks. He could be the all-star the Warriors have lacked in seasons past and a huge force on the boards. Stephen Curry will be interesting to watch as he can really fill up the stat sheet with his myriad of skills. He could be another potential all-star if he can pick up where he left off last season. Dorell Wright is the new starting small forward and he seems to fit in with the other Warriors well. His defense will be a welcome addition if he does not score a lot, but I think he'll be another offensive weapon. Let's not forget the bench either. Reggie Williams made an impact with his instant offense. He’s going to be a key guy off the bench and I see him as a sixth man who’ll allow the Warriors to go small and give other teams a fit on offense. Jeremy Lin appears to be able to contribute off the bench and could be the surprise backup point guard. Brandan Wright could be a big contributor, but he's been hit by injuries the past years, so I think he'll continue to come off the bench. The development and incorporation of his low post game will be interesting. He'll be another shot blocker and rebounder if he can prevent from getting hurt. Besides, we still have yet to see Charlie Bell, Lou Admundson, Rodney Carney and #6 pick Ekpe Udoh when he gets healthy. Another area to watch will be 3-point shooting. That was a key area under Don Nelson and I thought there would be a drop off under Smart because he said that he wanted to emphasize it less. However, the Warriors were shooting the 3-ball well. I already mentioned Ellis may have a new weapon, but Curry, Dwright, Reggie and Vladimir Radmanovic were filling it up. The Warriors players will probably try to convince Smart to stay with the 3-ball if they can shoot like they did in their first exhibition.
Bad Vlad from thrrrreeeeeeee..... cash money!!!!!!!!!!!! This dude could become the next poor man's Danny Ferry, you never know...
