Golden State Warriors Team Preview 2010-2011 Season
By Anonymous
Sat, 10/09/2010 - 7:19pm
By Ryan Reed
It is the beginning of a new era for the Golden State Warriors. With new ownership, a coaching change, new uniforms, and new faces, the 2010/11 season could be another year of transition while new owners Joe Lacob and Peter Guber evaluate the people in place and bring along more of their own. With the Nellieball era in Golden State officially over, it is up to Keith Smart to steer this team in a new direction. In the incredibly deep Western conference, this young team could improve while still not even sniffing the playoffs. Hopefully for fans this team will continue to be entertaining and transition back to a format similar to the Chris Mullin led “We Believe” era as they navigate the Pacific division.
The Bad
The two remaining players from their last playoff birth
Golden State cannot defend period and the little improvements they did make this in offseason was not nearly enough to address this problem. The Warriors easily allowed the most ppg last season (a staggering 112) and while it led to entertaining high scoring games, it did not lead to wins. Drafting Ekpe Udoh, who some compare to Ben Wallace, could help but a change in philosophy would serve them better. Getting rid of Don Nelson, who was simply holding on to get the all time wins record, was another step in the right direction. And the additions of [player: Charlie Bell] and David Lee and the return to health of Brandan Wright and Andris Biedrins should aid the squad defensively, particularly on in rebounding. These additions may be offset by losses of their two main shot blockers: Anthony Randolph and Ronny Turiaf. A change of coach and minor personnel moves do not change things overnight. This process could take awhile.
While this team has some great talent, their overall depth is not there to compete on a nightly basis. Stephen Curry, Monta Ellis, and David Lee could be the highest scoring trio in the league and bring back memories of Run TMC in the Bay area and should be a real treat watching the pick and roll chemistry develop between Curry and Lee. After them, its slim pickings with a roster full of youngsters and unproven NBA talents. Ellis is injury prone and last season there were issues surrounding how well he and Curry can coexist. This is something that he acknowledged this training camp and has attempted to address but fans and the media will be watching for friction all season long. Ellis loves to have the ball in his hands and rack up the points if the team decides that he is no longer the # 1 option on offense he could be traded around the All Star game trade deadline.
The Good
Luckily for Smart he has a young man named Stephen Curry to help ease him into his new role in Golden State. Curry exceeded many people’s expectations in his first season as he finished 2nd in rookie of the year voting and brought excitement to Bay Area hoops fans. While Ellis led the Warriors in scoring last year, Curry was the straw that stirred the drink. Averaging 17.5 ppg, 5.9 apg, and 4.5 rpg, the Davidson grad showed flashes of what is to come. His experience with the national team this summer should only help this young talent as he looks to avoid the sophomore slump and take his game to the next level. Look for Curry to expand his leadership role in Golden State and make this team his own.
With the addition of Curry to the fold a year ago it seemed to spark the rabid Bay Area fans. With new ownership and a new (old) logo, basketball is alive and well in Oakland. Golden State has some of the best fans in the NBA and with young and entertaining team built around stable ownership, it may become a destination for NBA free agents.
Individual Forecasts
Joining Curry in California is high scoring forward David Lee. Acquired in a trade this summer, Lee will be looked upon to provide inside scoring and rebounding the team desperately needs. Lee brings incredible versatility to the floor as he can spread teams out or hurt them inside. Nowhere was this more apparent than last season in Oakland when as a member of the New York Knicks Lee dropped 37 points, 20 rebounds, and 10 assists as the Knicks defeated the Warriors. This may say something about Lee’s offensive potential, but it should highlight the problem with the Warriors. They simply do not defend. While Lee should provide a huge boost for the Warriors offense he won’t be able to help as much on the defensive end. Look for Lee to post similar numbers to his 20/10 average of last season while watching his game blossom with Stephen Curry.
Monta Ellis
An almost forgotten player in the NBA, Monta Ellis is one of the most explosive backcourt scorers in the NBA. Averaging 25 ppg in just 64 games last year, Ellis once again proved that he can fill it up. The big question with Ellis is whether his presence on the floor hinders the play of franchise guard Stephen Curry. While Curry is a phenomenal shooter and beautiful passer, Ellis needs the ball in his hands a lot to do what he does best: score.
When the Warriors selected Baylor center Ekpe Udoh with the 6th overall pick in the 2010 draft, they moved to shore up the defensive side of the ball. Udoh was a surprise pick as many people had the Warriors going with talented forward Greg Monroe or swingman Al Farouq Aminu and saw him as an older version of current teammate Brandan Wright. In Udoh the Warriors get the most prolific shot blocker in the draft. If Udoh can live up to those comparisons the pick will have been a wise one for the Warriors. Comibing Udoh and Andris Biedrins gives the Warriors two live bodies who could cause other teams issues on the defensive end.
Lost in the shuffle is 3rd year forward Brandan Wright. Once considered a top prospect coming out of North Carolina, the lanky lefty has been plagued with injuries throughout his first two seasons in the league. If he can stay healthy, Wright could provide the Warriors with another great option at the forward position. Staying healthy is a huge issue for Wright though as he has played a combined 77 games in his first 2 seasons. Look for great improvement from Wright as he enters year number three.
Athletic forward [player: Louis Amundson] is looking to build upon his last season for the Suns. His offensive rebounding, hustle and shot blocking ability should be a big asset for the Warriors. Harvard grad and Bay Area product Jeremy Lin should be an interesting story as he is already a legend in the local community and if he were to succeed would boost the Warriors presence in the area. He will have ample opportunity as the only two players other than Curry with point guard experience are Ellis and Bell. Super athletic swing man Rodney Carney is looking for a fresh start on the coast as he flamed out in his past 2 stops. Coming out of college Carney was regarded as one of the best athletes in his draft class and should provide a boost to the Warriors perimeter troops. Journeymen Dan Gadzuric and Vladimir Radmanovic will be looked upon to provide bench leadership and guidance to this young squad.
Conclusion
The frustrating aspect of being a Warriors fan is that no matter how much improvement this lineup shows, they always seem to be a few years away from being a playoff contender. While they have great talent at the top, they simply do not have the depth in their organization to compete in the uber competitive western conference. They will take strides towards respectability this year and Steph Curry and David Lee will both make a lot of fantasy owners happy, but the 2010/2011 season will not end in a playoff berth.
Predicted Record: 33 – 49
Training Camp Roster
4 Jeff Adrien F 6-7 Connecticut R
19 Louis Amundson F 6-9 Nevada-Las Vegas
34 Charlie Bell G 6-3 Michigan State
15 Andris Biedrins C 7-0 Riga, Latvia
25 Rodney Carney F 6-7 Memphis
30 Stephen Curry G 6-3 Davidson
8 Monta Ellis G 6-3 Lanier HS (Jackson, MS)
50 Dan Gadzuric C 6-11 UCLA
2 Vernon Goodridge F 6-9 La Salle R
10 David Lee F-C 6-9 Florida
7 Jeremy Lin G 6-3 Harvard R
11 Aaron Miles G 6-1 Kansas
77 Vladimir Radmanovic F 6-10 Belgrade, Serbia
20 Ekpe Udoh F 6-10 Baylor R
55 Reggie Williams F 6-6 Virginia Military Inst.
32 Brandan Wright F 6-10 North Carolina
1 Dorell Wright G-F 6-9 South Kent Prep HS (Lawndale, CA)
Media Day
It is the beginning of a new era for the Golden State Warriors. With new ownership, a coaching change, new uniforms, and new faces, the 2010/11 season could be another year of transition while new owners Joe Lacob and Peter Guber evaluate the people in place and bring along more of their own. With the Nellieball era in Golden State officially over, it is up to Keith Smart to steer this team in a new direction. In the incredibly deep Western conference, this young team could improve while still not even sniffing the playoffs. Hopefully for fans this team will continue to be entertaining and transition back to a format similar to the Chris Mullin led “We Believe” era as they navigate the Pacific division.
The Bad
The two remaining players from their last playoff birthGolden State cannot defend period and the little improvements they did make this in offseason was not nearly enough to address this problem. The Warriors easily allowed the most ppg last season (a staggering 112) and while it led to entertaining high scoring games, it did not lead to wins. Drafting Ekpe Udoh, who some compare to Ben Wallace, could help but a change in philosophy would serve them better. Getting rid of Don Nelson, who was simply holding on to get the all time wins record, was another step in the right direction. And the additions of [player: Charlie Bell] and David Lee and the return to health of Brandan Wright and Andris Biedrins should aid the squad defensively, particularly on in rebounding. These additions may be offset by losses of their two main shot blockers: Anthony Randolph and Ronny Turiaf. A change of coach and minor personnel moves do not change things overnight. This process could take awhile.
While this team has some great talent, their overall depth is not there to compete on a nightly basis. Stephen Curry, Monta Ellis, and David Lee could be the highest scoring trio in the league and bring back memories of Run TMC in the Bay area and should be a real treat watching the pick and roll chemistry develop between Curry and Lee. After them, its slim pickings with a roster full of youngsters and unproven NBA talents. Ellis is injury prone and last season there were issues surrounding how well he and Curry can coexist. This is something that he acknowledged this training camp and has attempted to address but fans and the media will be watching for friction all season long. Ellis loves to have the ball in his hands and rack up the points if the team decides that he is no longer the # 1 option on offense he could be traded around the All Star game trade deadline.
The Good
Luckily for Smart he has a young man named Stephen Curry to help ease him into his new role in Golden State. Curry exceeded many people’s expectations in his first season as he finished 2nd in rookie of the year voting and brought excitement to Bay Area hoops fans. While Ellis led the Warriors in scoring last year, Curry was the straw that stirred the drink. Averaging 17.5 ppg, 5.9 apg, and 4.5 rpg, the Davidson grad showed flashes of what is to come. His experience with the national team this summer should only help this young talent as he looks to avoid the sophomore slump and take his game to the next level. Look for Curry to expand his leadership role in Golden State and make this team his own.
With the addition of Curry to the fold a year ago it seemed to spark the rabid Bay Area fans. With new ownership and a new (old) logo, basketball is alive and well in Oakland. Golden State has some of the best fans in the NBA and with young and entertaining team built around stable ownership, it may become a destination for NBA free agents.
Individual Forecasts
Joining Curry in California is high scoring forward David Lee. Acquired in a trade this summer, Lee will be looked upon to provide inside scoring and rebounding the team desperately needs. Lee brings incredible versatility to the floor as he can spread teams out or hurt them inside. Nowhere was this more apparent than last season in Oakland when as a member of the New York Knicks Lee dropped 37 points, 20 rebounds, and 10 assists as the Knicks defeated the Warriors. This may say something about Lee’s offensive potential, but it should highlight the problem with the Warriors. They simply do not defend. While Lee should provide a huge boost for the Warriors offense he won’t be able to help as much on the defensive end. Look for Lee to post similar numbers to his 20/10 average of last season while watching his game blossom with Stephen Curry.
Monta EllisAn almost forgotten player in the NBA, Monta Ellis is one of the most explosive backcourt scorers in the NBA. Averaging 25 ppg in just 64 games last year, Ellis once again proved that he can fill it up. The big question with Ellis is whether his presence on the floor hinders the play of franchise guard Stephen Curry. While Curry is a phenomenal shooter and beautiful passer, Ellis needs the ball in his hands a lot to do what he does best: score.
When the Warriors selected Baylor center Ekpe Udoh with the 6th overall pick in the 2010 draft, they moved to shore up the defensive side of the ball. Udoh was a surprise pick as many people had the Warriors going with talented forward Greg Monroe or swingman Al Farouq Aminu and saw him as an older version of current teammate Brandan Wright. In Udoh the Warriors get the most prolific shot blocker in the draft. If Udoh can live up to those comparisons the pick will have been a wise one for the Warriors. Comibing Udoh and Andris Biedrins gives the Warriors two live bodies who could cause other teams issues on the defensive end.
Lost in the shuffle is 3rd year forward Brandan Wright. Once considered a top prospect coming out of North Carolina, the lanky lefty has been plagued with injuries throughout his first two seasons in the league. If he can stay healthy, Wright could provide the Warriors with another great option at the forward position. Staying healthy is a huge issue for Wright though as he has played a combined 77 games in his first 2 seasons. Look for great improvement from Wright as he enters year number three.
Athletic forward [player: Louis Amundson] is looking to build upon his last season for the Suns. His offensive rebounding, hustle and shot blocking ability should be a big asset for the Warriors. Harvard grad and Bay Area product Jeremy Lin should be an interesting story as he is already a legend in the local community and if he were to succeed would boost the Warriors presence in the area. He will have ample opportunity as the only two players other than Curry with point guard experience are Ellis and Bell. Super athletic swing man Rodney Carney is looking for a fresh start on the coast as he flamed out in his past 2 stops. Coming out of college Carney was regarded as one of the best athletes in his draft class and should provide a boost to the Warriors perimeter troops. Journeymen Dan Gadzuric and Vladimir Radmanovic will be looked upon to provide bench leadership and guidance to this young squad.
Conclusion
The frustrating aspect of being a Warriors fan is that no matter how much improvement this lineup shows, they always seem to be a few years away from being a playoff contender. While they have great talent at the top, they simply do not have the depth in their organization to compete in the uber competitive western conference. They will take strides towards respectability this year and Steph Curry and David Lee will both make a lot of fantasy owners happy, but the 2010/2011 season will not end in a playoff berth.
Predicted Record: 33 – 49
Training Camp Roster
4 Jeff Adrien F 6-7 Connecticut R
19 Louis Amundson F 6-9 Nevada-Las Vegas
34 Charlie Bell G 6-3 Michigan State
15 Andris Biedrins C 7-0 Riga, Latvia
25 Rodney Carney F 6-7 Memphis
30 Stephen Curry G 6-3 Davidson
8 Monta Ellis G 6-3 Lanier HS (Jackson, MS)
50 Dan Gadzuric C 6-11 UCLA
2 Vernon Goodridge F 6-9 La Salle R
10 David Lee F-C 6-9 Florida
7 Jeremy Lin G 6-3 Harvard R
11 Aaron Miles G 6-1 Kansas
77 Vladimir Radmanovic F 6-10 Belgrade, Serbia
20 Ekpe Udoh F 6-10 Baylor R
55 Reggie Williams F 6-6 Virginia Military Inst.
32 Brandan Wright F 6-10 North Carolina
1 Dorell Wright G-F 6-9 South Kent Prep HS (Lawndale, CA)
Media Day
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