<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">23. Golden State. Added: guard Marco Belinelli and forward Brandan Wright. Lost: guard Jason Richardson. The Warriors saved money by trading Richardson and want to re-sign Mickael Pietrus or extend Monta Ellis' contract with the savings. Belinelli will fit right in. But the Warriors didn't land the Big Ticket, Kevin Garnett. That's why they're ranked so low.</div> Source
It's hard to argue with that. I'm OK with the Richardson move, and I like the Belinelli and Wright pickups, and the Barnes 1-year deal. But without KG, ugh. Even assuming Nelson comes back, I think it's likely to be a tough battle for that #8 spot once again. Monta really needs to step up this year, and Wright is going to have to contribute something. I'm still very uneasy with Al H. as our starting PF.
I must be suffering from a disconnect. But to me, that's a laugher. Getting KG meant sacrificing the future. Even if we got him for more than 1 year, he and Baron's two contracts would basically completely strap this team salary wise. Look at the Celtics. Is it intriguing? Sure. Would I want that to have happened to GS? Hell no!! I want to see Beans/Monta, not the last stand at the Alamo. To me, the #1 need this offseason was to figure out a way to keep Monta and Beans. No one was taking Foyle. The Jrich trade was a shocker, but it was a very intelligent move from the overall roster standpoint, and it vaulted us into the lottery, where we nabbed Brandan Wright. If you were to look at immediate gains in terms of win/loss at the start of next season, the Warriors have lost some firepower and aren't as dangerous on paper. If you broaden your view, and consider the overall needs of the franchise, IMO it's clear this team took a very nice step in the right direction, won't slip that much at first, and will eventually blossom tenfold down the road. My analogy is like a shrub that's in a tiny planter. lets say a geranium. It's in a tiny pot, cramped, with no room to spread its roots. because of the tiny pot, the soil gets poor drainage and oxidation. While it is still a decent plant with a few colorful blooms here and there, it's obvious that it's not ever going to grow to it's full potential. If you uproot that plant, and transplant it into the ground, at first the plant way show signs of shock at the change in environment and the new soil. It may loose a few blooms and its body may wilt and droop a bit. Afterall, it's very foundation has just been upended. However, this geranium is in a better place now. Given time, with good attention, watering, and sunlight, the plant will now be able to spread its roots, to entrench a firmer hold in its environment, to grow thicker stems and broader leaves. Because of this, though the plant doesn't immediately look as pretty as it did in the pot, given time, it will have the chance to truly blossom with colorful flowers and grow to its fullest.
That's a nice analogy AO. But man I'm afraid if we change the analogy of gsw roster to geranium to let's say... gsw roster and pink carnations.... and we're growing these carnations and giving them to a girlfriend or wife... it's got to look good immediately or else we won't quite get the reaction we'd be hoping for. But we do have some small window of time to make it up to our girlfriend or wife if the carnations look wilted and she ends up feeling more disappointed than appreciative. But hey, it would be the thought that counts, right? Maybe not or maybe yes. I'm just saying that I hope this year's team has the same swagger and teamwork/individual performance they did late in the season. We didn't exactly address the big man issue that much, although something was done about it (Brandan Wright + the Pacers guy that looks like the dude from Evil Dead/Army of Darkness movie). I just hope this move does something immediately because Baron Davis may end up being disappointed and wanting to move on if we can't get the right pieces built around him. We got a short window of opportunity with the guy and that's not really settled by the fact that Monta Ellis (a possible starting point guard replacement) isn't really a playmaker. Baron is the guy that makes everyone better and I hope he doesn't leave us on a move that may leave him doubting the future of the GSW relationship. But yeah, I agree that this roster may look bad on paper and may under-perform because of inexperience, but it should be pretty talented in all the right places.
The way I see it, we will better this year than we were last year because we dont have Dun/Murphy and Jrich was injured/rusty most of the year. I think Bellinelli should be able to provide the firepower of a bum Jrich in his first year if not more. Would we better with a HEALTHY jrich? Maybe. But that depends on how well Wright performs. If Wright comes out and puts up 10/10 his first year or better then I say we will be better off w/o Jrich, especially in the years to come...
<div class="quote_poster">HiRez Wrote</div><div class="quote_post"> I think it's likely to be a tough battle for that #8 spot once again.</div> I actually think the battle is much easier this coming season. If we assume the top 6 will all be PO teams again, then lets look at the rest of the conference. Seattle, Portland, Minnesota - No chance Memphis - A more healthy gasol + darko isn't going to make them 20 games better. And keep in mind that even with the injury, his averages were higher than his career numbers and they still stank. Virtually no chance. Sacramento - What have they done to make anyone think they'll be 10 games better than last year? A hair more than virtually no chance. LA Clippers - No Brand = no playoffs. not even close New Orleans - The only non-playoff team from last season that I'm worried about. Paul, Chandler & West are a really nice young core. I could easily see them improving by 5 games. LA Lakers - I think you could argue they're at the greatest risk of dropping to #9. IMO, the W's are easily the better team and I would not be surprised if NO is also able to pass them.
If KG wasn't on the market and Khoee on Real GM and Tim K hadn't convinced people KG was coming here, people would be looking at us with one of the best offseasons.
I think you are selling Portland a bit short.... they may be the surprise team rising up. The lakers did nothing to improve themselves and if odom continues his injured ways....and there is no growth in brown and the big man..... kobe may play the baron card of a few years ago and extend an injury to force a move. It certainly is within selfish kobe's make up to pull something like that... I agree the hornets are the team to worry about... so rockets, spurs, nuggets, mavs, jazz, suns... yeah.... warriors and hornets in the mix and lakers/blazers on the outside filling the 9 and 10 slot
<div class="quote_poster">Warriorfansnc93 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">The way I see it, we will better this year than we were last year because we dont have Dun/Murphy and Jrich was injured/rusty most of the year. I think Bellinelli should be able to provide the firepower of a bum Jrich in his first year if not more. Would we better with a HEALTHY jrich? Maybe. But that depends on how well Wright performs. If Wright comes out and puts up 10/10 his first year or better then I say we will be better off w/o Jrich, especially in the years to come...</div> I don't know if I completely concur with the argument that JRich was injured last year so losing him will not be that big of a deal. I guess you aren't really arguing that. However the Warriors were definitley not a playoff team without JRich. Now the Warriors will be better in the since that Jackson/Harrington > Dunleavy/Murphy. But I really don't know how many more games that would count for. Brandan Wright I have no comments on because I have never seen him play. As far as the Warriors chances, I think they have a decent shot at getting about the same amount of wins as they had last season. I think 43 wins is kind of realistic. However I could see anything from 40-48 wins being realistic as well. Also 23rd isn't so bad for a short-sighted ranking. I think getting cap room for AB and Monta will be very important. Also I think Barnes and possibly Pietrus coming back for dirt would be big offseason moves. Croshere may be a decent pick-up once it's all said and done. Obviously the Warriors big moves were already done during last season. Whatever the Warriors can add onto that this offseason would be icying on the cake. But I wouldn't say 23 isn't such a bad ranking for this team's offseason. I don't think it's been a bad offseason at least. As far as competition for the playoffs this season, it will be tough. I think Portland will be tough. New Orleans should be strong, if they are healthier than last year which I'd bet they will be. Brand's injury helps us. LA still has Kobe and Phil Jackson, so I won't count them out. The Lakers did look very strong to start last season. Perhaps they could find that same magic, which won't help the Warriors. Memphis and Sacramento are tough to read. And I'd say Minnesota and Seattle probably won't be much of a competitor for a playoff spot.
I wouldn't say that not having JRich who was injuired will not be a mjor loss, what I will say is that the guys know the system, and it will be easy for role players to learn their spot in it. I fully expect an improvement. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Memphis - A more healthy gasol + darko isn't going to make them 20 games better. And keep in mind that even with the injury, his averages were higher than his career numbers and they still stank. Virtually no chance.</div> As for Memphis, I think you're completely underrating a healthy Gasol. A 20 game improvement there is not a stretch at all. Especially when you throw Darko next to him, I think Memphis will be THE surprise team this season. The 8 seed is definitely within reach, but I think the Warriors will end up somewhere near the 6 seed. Come trade deadline, Mullin may be able to dump Foyle on some team that is desperate for a big man (being that his contract is nearing end) as a 1.5 year rental to fill in the gap on a role player once he sees how this team gels.
<div class="quote_poster">CohanHater Wrote</div><div class="quote_post"> As for Memphis, I think you're completely underrating a healthy Gasol. A 20 game improvement there is not a stretch at all. Especially when you throw Darko next to him, I think Memphis will be THE surprise team this season.</div> Look at his numbers January through April. He was arguably playing the best ball of his career (21/11/2blks) and they still stank. <div class="quote_poster">CohanHater Wrote</div><div class="quote_post"> The 8 seed is definitely within reach, but I think the Warriors will end up somewhere near the 6 seed. </div> Agreed, I also see them closer to 6 than 8.
<div class="quote_poster">MrJ Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">These rankings are laughable. How do the Bulls have the 3rd best off season?</div> They are laughable. Houston, log jam at the PG position, that is a great off season.
Using numbers to say that a guy was arguably playing at his best is short sighted. After watching Spain take the title last summer, I started tivoing a lot of Grizzlies games. Gasol was still visibly not at his peak. Saying that Gasol at less than 100% was still able to put up numbers, speaks to my point. If he's sharp and healthy, then everyone on the team gets better, not to mention that he'll have some help in the front line now.
<div class="quote_poster">CohanHater Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Using numbers to say that a guy was arguably playing at his best is short sighted. After watching Spain take the title last summer, I started tivoing a lot of Grizzlies games. Gasol was still visibly not at his peak. Saying that Gasol at less than 100% was still able to put up numbers, speaks to my point. If he's sharp and healthy, then everyone on the team gets better, not to mention that he'll have some help in the front line now.</div> I'm sure they'll be improved, but 20 games better? Can't go with ya on that one. The key thing is we agree on the important one
