WarriorsWorld TV welcomes Marc Spears to the show as he gives us his insight on the Warriors, Nellie and the Warriors future outlook!

WarriorsWorld

Warriors end their road-trip tonight in New Orleans as they take on the Hornets.  A win tonight would save them from going winless on the 5 game trip in which they’ve been competitive and in all the games with the exception of the debacle in Orlando.

Corey Maggette rejoined the team in Atlanta after flying in from Los Angeles where he was undergoing rehabilitation for his injured hamstring.  Maggette tired of watching his team lose underhanded made the decision to join the team and gut it out even though he’s not completely healthy.

Warriors have a favorable schedule coming up as they play at home 7 out of the next 9 games.  The home-stand gets started Thursday vs Portland which will be the back-end of a doubleheader on TNT.  Always interesting as to what Charles Barkley will have to say when the Warriors are on TNT, usually the comments aren’t exactly sweet.

Quick Hits with Zach Harper of Talkhoops.net

Matt “My Bad” Barnes vs The Black Mamba

Stephen Curry following the loss vs the Bobcats

Twitter

Follow Rasheed Malek @WarriorsWorld

How long have you been a warriors fan?

I have been a warriors fan since I was at least 10 years old when the Run TMC team went down to the Lakers in the 2nd round of the playoffs. I fell in love with that team and from then on I was hooked on everyone from Tim Hardaway to Chris Gatling, Mario Elie, Mitch Richmond, Mully and even Tom Tolbert. I still remember the first game I ever went to was when the Warriors played the David Robinson led Spurs and freaking Vinnie Del Negro KILLED the Dubs that night. The guy could not miss and all I kept yelling was “Sprewell guard freaking Vinny D!” So I’ve been through the good times, the really long bad times, back to the ever so brief good times, and now finally back to the bad times.

Fav. Current Warrior? Why?

My current favorite Warrior has got to be Anthony Randolph. The kid just amazes me with the talent that he has and I just hope he can put it all together in order to become a top 10 player in the league. I remember watching his draft interview when they took him and thinking he’s got something to prove and they asked him about being so skinny and he said something like, “I’m may look skinny but I’m stronger than I look.” That made me crack up because the kid was just oozing with confidence and I think that is what I liked the most about him.

It really sucks that he hurt his ankle so bad this year because I felt that he was turning a corner in his development and I just figured he was going to have to get a lot of playing time on a 6 man roster with Nellie having no choice but to keep him in the rotation.

Fav. All-time Warrior? Why?

As for my all time favorite warrior, it has got to be Tim Hardaway. I loved the way the guy played because he always played a lot tougher and bigger than he was. I remember reading an article about Tim Hardaway where he was asked how he developed his 3 pt. shot and he said that he had to work harder at it than everyone because of how small he was and because he always practiced outside in the Chicago winds. I would always picture him trying to fight off the mean, swirling, and powerful winds of Chicago with every ounce of his being and then just jacking up a 3 as if his life depended on it. (Yes that was my imagination as a kid fawning over his favorite player & being upset that Union City, CA didn’t have more wind to make my shot better.)

Plus I can’t count how many hours I spent practicing the “Killer Crossover” and never quite getting it as smooth as his.

Fav. Moment?

For me, there are two favorite moments first and foremost the Dubs beating the Mavs in the playoffs. I just remember not being able to wait to get home from work and just waiting for the game to start and sitting on the edge of my seat the entire game going crazy with excitement at every twist and turn. I’m sure every fan knows what I’m talking about, it’s that point when your fandom makes you begin to feel like you are actually part of the team and that every little thing that you do somehow cosmically affects how the team plays and whether or not it wins or loses.

My second favorite moment is when PJ Carlesimo got choked out by Latrell Sprewell. I just never felt Carlesimo was the right coach for that team and Sprewell choking him was in some insane way an extension of me being able to choke the coach because of how bad the team was at that point.

Worst moment as a Warriors fan?

OHHHHHH, there are so many too choose from but for me I would have to say it was when Webber was traded to the Bullets for Tom Gugliotta. The way that whole situation went down; I felt that Nelson could have been the bigger person in the situation and should have helped in smoothing things out. That whole trade just really hurt me as a fan. Webber got us back into the playoffs, flushed one on Barkley and I thought the sky was the limit and then all of a sudden he is traded and we get TOM ‘FREAKING’ Gugliotta back in the trade. It was AWESOMENESS at its finest!!!

What’s your feelings on the current Ownership/Management of the Warriors?

My feelings on the Current Ownership are as follows:

A.) Ownership does not appreciate the rabid fan base that it has. They appreciate how they can get money from us but that is the extent of their appreciation.

B.) The lack of accountability that this management group has had is quite frankly, Amazing. The fact that someone like Robert Rowell can fail upwards in an organization has got to be on of the craziest things I’ve ever seen. He should write a book called, “How to Fail Up with a Smile” with a forward by Chris Cohan.

C.) The amount of excuses that one ownership/management group can produce for Sucktitude should be in the Guiness Book of World Records. Seriously, even FEMA is shocked at the amount of excuses that this organization produces. Overall, I’m just mad at how our fan-base is taken for granted every single year and just expected to be quite and take it.

You’re named Warriors GM, How would you improve the team? What changes do you think need to be made?

First move I make to improve the team is to clean house from top to bottom. I go out and hire some of the top statistical analysts and great basketball talent evaluators and have them put together a juggernaut team. I would bring back guys like Rick Barry, Mullin, and Hardaway as Special Basketball Assistants to talk about winning and what it takes to be a winner’s and the sacrifices that need to be made in order to be champions. I then set up a ticket structure that allows the hardcore fans the opportunity to sit on the floor or as close to the floor as possible. Those are the fans that I want because I know rain or shine, crappiness or greatness they will be there and those are the people I want to make happy. Plus season ticket prices will be based on how good we do and will never exceed 3-5% increases. I want to make sure people can afford to attend and bring their family and not have to spend an entire paycheck to attend a game. I want to just change the cultural philosophy of this organization to one of winning being the only goal and no expense will be spared to do that. Oh and people in the Club 200 seats will always have the same opportunities to get free shirts, pizza, and other items just like the people in the lower bowl.

In terms of a basketball philosophy, I will move away from Small Ball and make sure the coach that I hire still plays an up-tempo style but really emphasizes defense and rebounding. People seem to think that those two styles aren’t mutually exclusive and that if you have one that you can’t have the other but the fact is that you can do both with the right mindset and players. Finally I will poach away the Phoenix Suns training staff to make sure that our team is never hurt again.

You can bring any current NBA player to the Warriors, who would it be?

It would have to be Lebron James. Not only is the guy the best Basketball player in the world, but he wants to be great and looks like he will stop at nothing to do so. He is also a great team guy and is able to make everyone around him better and make them want to play up to his level. That kind of talent, fire, and dedication only comes around once every 10-15 years and when it comes, you have to do everything in your power to acquire it. Plus how sick would it be to see the best player on earth wearing a throwback “The City” jersey and making the bay area a place where every great player wants to come and play.

Finish the sentence, When the warriors win the championship, I will…..?

I am going to get in my car and drive down to Southern California and stop at the Staples center and then yell “The Lakers HELLA Suck!” and get back in my car and drive back to the bay and have a Warriors Championship party for 2 Weeks straight. Every day we would celebrate one Warrior on the Championship team and maybe even have that player come down for a Warriorsworld exclusive interview. That would be how I would celebrate a championship.

Do you Visit Warriorsworld.net?

Warriorsworld.net is my favorite site because unlike some other sites, the people who post here are some of the most hardcore, insightful, well-informed, and realistic fans about the Warriors that I have found. Optimism is always tempered with reality on this site and that is what I love so much about it. Plus you get all the exclusive content from WarriorsworldTV, which is always on point and awesome.

Bio:

Name: Frank Gomez

Twitter.com/MR_FJG_SON

Also I have begun a little sports blog that is still currently under construction but can be found at:

www.thebayareasportsreport.tumblr.com

And you can email us at e-mail: thebasr@gmail.com

Me and one of my best friends are going to be starting a podcast soon that is going to be all about Bay Area sports and general craziness. If you’re interested in stuff like that or you’re just bored and want some background noise give it a try. I will try and keep everyone posted on when our 1st podcast goes up. Plus its free!!!

WarriorsWorld TV welcomes Bay Area Rap Legend San Quinn to the show as he gives his take on the Warriors and catches us up on what he’s been working on musically.

Quick Hits with Idan Ravin

By: Rasheed Malek

Who is the “Hoops Whisperer”?

I am a basketball trainer. Some NBA front office personnel would refer to me this way. The Hoops Whisperer nickname references how I engage the players and how committed the players are to me in the process of self improvement.

I have been fortunate to work with great players. Their God given talents along with their love for the game, their passion and the speed in which they process information makes them unique.

The mental component to success is an integral part of the process. The mind-body connection is everything.

How did you link up with Stephen Curry?  What kind of work did you do with Curry?

He was referred to me by a mutual acquaintance. Basketball is a game of imperfection so there are always many areas of improvement.

Workouts begin at the crack of dawn.  I paired Steph with many of the best players in the League for workouts so he could see what it took to be the best. I had him work out with Carmelo, Chris Paul, Joe Johnson, Kevin Durant, etc.  Last summer was just the beginning of the journey.

How do you think Curry has looked thus far in the season? What are some areas of improvement for him?

I think he has done a good job. He has only scratched the surface of his ability. He has a very good feel for the game and will continue to improve in all facets.

You’ve done extensive work Carmelo Anthony, would you agree that Melo is often overlooked when talking about the best players in the league?

Melo is a top 5 player in the world. His peers would be the first to acknowledge this. For some reason, the media associates winning a championship with being a great player. I don’t agree. There are many factors that can influence whether a team wins a championship, aside from whether the franchise player is playing exceptionally well (e.g. team chemistry, injuries, front office and coaching staff on the same page, etc…)

Melo is an incredibly hard worker, generous, charitable, committed, diligent, passionate, intense, competitive, bright, etc. He is very committed to the process.

Stephen Curry: The Ascent

By: Sherwood Strauss

This is a metamorphosis that’s above all, surprising.  Without consulting basketballprospectus.com, I have to say…never seen a rookie improve like this.  It hasn’t happened before, or if it has, I’d rather not know.  The transformation feels special.

The stats tell part of the story:

Stephen Curry

November   9.8 PPG  5.3 APG 41.6% FG 38.5% 3PT

December  13.5 PPG  3.7 APG 44.5% FG 39.7% 3PT

January      19.1 PPG  5.1 APG 48% FG 48.7% 3PT

February    21.5 PPG  7.3 APG 46.6% FG 34.7% 3PT

And this…

Brandon Jennings

November 22.1 PPG  5.6 APG 42% FG 49.3% 3PT

December  16.7 PPG  6.5 APG 37.5% FG 32.4% 3PT,

January      14.2 PPG  6.6 APG 32.4% FG 35.2% 3PT

February    11.3 PPG  5.3 APG 30.6% FG 30.8% 3PT

I’m contrasting the Curry numbers against Jennings splits because November 14, 2009 was a moment.  Jennings torched the Warriors for a historic 55 points.  Young Buck had conquered the basketball world, he was automatic ROY, and hoop fans were thrilled.  I personally thought him the next Iverson—or at least Kevin Johnson—and made a point to NBA Broadband Bucks games.  That Jennings had thrived after taking a year in Europe supposedly changed the game forever (it still could), and added to his iconoclast image. Brandon was a brash, flashy superstar whom endorsers could brand as the rebel kids flocked to (When I was younger, nothing was cooler than Iverson’s bee-hive patterned Reebok’s).

Since the double nickel had come against the Warriors, Curry/Jennings comparisons were unavoidable. Curry didn’t play badly, but I’m also sure Sam Bowie had a couple decent games against the Bulls.  It didn’t matter, the Warriors (and nearly half the other teams in the league) were fools for passing on greatness.  The game turned 2009 Draft Night into an uneasy memory.

The goal here isn’t to laud a favored guy over a perceived rival (also referred to as the “Mike Bianchi”). I’m using this space to say the simple: This league can surprise us sometimes and that’s a good thing.  With our statistical models and annealing ideas of what a player’s value is, we forget that massive change can happen.  Jennings may be crushed under the weight of the Scott Skiles angry man act, or he could flourish with an improved jumper.  Steph could regress. The past informs our predictions, but a young player gives little history to work with.

Certain parts of the past may be fading away as we slowly delete scenes of a Warriors rookie who couldn’t beat defenders off the dribble or who hurled passes deep into the stands. Today’s Curry is a terror, an impossible question for defenses to answer.  Pinpoint passes fly from all angles off the pick-and-roll. He can score from anywhere and can do so off-balance.  Steph’s lack of speed should keep him from the rim but he’s developed a herky-jerk high dribble that confounds opponents.  Watch how it ruins Birdman before Curry dream-shakes Anderson back to the China League:

Speaking of the dream shake, we saw it again in the Detroit game (Curry missed the bunny).  This fanciful move is part of Curry’s ever-expanding arsenal.  Right now the launch codes unleash: The dream shake, the floater (either hand), the headfake-pause-shot, the over-the-head layups, and much, much more.  That Curry even tries this stuff is meaningful—most rooks are just out there striving to belong.  Steph is confidently test-driving skills of whimsy when he should be struggling.

Please hose me down if this is hyperbole: At this moment, No. 30 looks like an eventual combination of Reggie Miller and Steve Nash. Warning: Since he surprised me over the course of this season, I’m not the one to know.

This is fine, not knowing works.  It’s a comfort when your favorite team delivers predictable suck year after year.  To understand the Warriors isn’t to have your heart broken suddenly—it’s to have your soul slowly sandpapered to a nub. And the erosion continues as D-Leaguers brick wide-open three pointers and bat away available rebounds.

All that’s left is seeing Curry learn, and having a stake in the growth (Warriors fans are polar bears forced into staking claim to ever-shrinking ice pockets; some deal with the situation by conjuring ridiculous metaphors). “What will he do next?” has been turning the pages in a chapter of Warriors history that I should’ve put down months ago.  The ceiling is rising.

Youtube’n It

Charles Barkley’s golf swing vs Andris Biedrins’ free throws

WarriorsWorld TV with Anthony Morrow

WarriorsWorld TV with CJ Watson

How long have you been a Warriors fan?

I have been a Warriors fan since before i can remember, but when I REALLY started understanding basketball and knowing what was going on was around the 89-90 season I was 8 years old.

Fav. Current Warrior? Why?

My current favorite Warrior Player is Monta Ellis (Head Leader).  Like most Warrior fans I have seen this kid go from a super skinny and small second round pick to his current status now as the Warriors best player and snubbed All Star.

There have been some ups and downs, but this kids resiliency and will to be the best really shine through on a night in and night out basis. I am a huge fan of guys who LOVE the game of basketball and in my opinion Monta REALLY loves the game, he’s not just in it for the money in my opinion, I feel he really wants to be the best player he can be, and that’s evident in his evolution  as a player on and off the court.

Fav. All time Warrior? Why?

Tim Hardaway…why? UTEP-Two Step. Not only did Tim Hardaway have one of the most explosive crossover moves (that worked almost every time) he was also one of the most creative finishers around the basket.  He made the most difficult looking layups look easy and I don’t care if he didn’t know how to speak English correctly.

Fav. Moment?

I had to think about this for a minute. the “obvious” moment would be when we defeated the Mavs in the playoffs in ‘07. But actually my FAVORITE moment was when we drafted Chris Webber.  I was a HUGE Fab 5 fan back in the day and I really love Forwards with basketball skills (passing especially) and I felt Chris Webber would be a legit Hall of Fame player which he still is in my opinion.  It’s a shame things worked out how they did, but that’s life as a Warriors fan.

Worst moment as a Warriors fan?

Hands down, the worst moment was when we drafted Patrick O’Bryant.

In fact I was at the Warriors official Draft party and got interviewed by a reporter and he asked me specifically who did I NOT want the Warriors to draft.  I answered Patrick O’Bryant.

Anyone who watches college basketball, could have told you that Patrick O’Braynt is the kind of guy who was blessed with size and decent athleticism for a big man, but his HEART was not in basketball.   Like I said I’m a HUGE fan of guys who LOVE the game, not a knock on Patrick but I just KNEW that he would never amount to anything in the League…or any other league…EVER…and WE drafted him…(I’m STILL mad)

What’s your feelings on the current Ownership/Management of the Warriors?

I feel as though our owner doesn’t care about winning or basketball for that matter.   We as FANS aren’t doing our part to make them care. We religiously buy season tickets, and tickets to games when we haven’t had a winning season more then twice in the last 17 years, that’s ridiculous.  Meanwhile the guy who could care less just continues to milk the cow…(why should he care when people keep buying the “Potential”)..He needs to sell the Team to Larry Ellison, someone who could give the loyal and passionate Bay Area basketball fans what we DESERVE.

You’re named Warriors GM, How would you improve the team? What changes do you think need to be made?

Four Words. Corey. Maggette. Sell. High.

You can bring any current NBA player to the Warriors, who would it be?

Obviously, LeBron James. He is the type of player that comes into the NBA once every 10-15 years. He has the talent to get lesser players easier shots, create his own shot, and he is the prototypical player you could realistically BUILD a championship team around.

Finish the sentence, When the warriors win the championship, I will…..?

Be the most unruly person in the Bay Area for an entire year…no one will be able to talk to me about anything basketball related without me saying the following ” Oh I’m sorry, I only discuss basketball with fans of teams who have won the championship since they have been alive…”

Do you visit Warriorsworld.net?

I check out the main page of WW and the forums.  My favorite part of WW.net is the interviews with the lovely hostess Lucena.

The trading deadline has passed, and the Warriors will spend the rest of the season seeing how good Stephen Curry is, how well he and Monta Ellis can play together, and how Raja Bell fits into the blend. Warriorsworld.net’s senior editor Rasheed Malek along with contributing writers Sherwood Strauss and Rick Blaine answer a few questions that Warriors fans might be asking regarding the first half of the season, last week’s trade activity, and the rest of this season. Feel free to chime in with your own answers in the forum.

Word Association:

Larry Riley

Nellie’s BFF–Sheed

Muppet—Sherwood Strauss

Andy Griffith—Rick Blaine

Larry Ellison

Savior– Sheed

Poker—Strauss

Redeemer—Blaine

Season Ticket Holders

Diehards–Sheed

Duped—Strauss

Enablers (if they renew) —Blaine

Anthony Morrow

Automatic–Sheed

Swish—Strauss

Money—Blaine

Corey Maggette

Free-Throws–Sheed

Squeal—Strauss

Chemistry killer—Blaine

Monta Ellis

Head Leader–Sheed

Scowl—Strauss

Future All Star (on another team, of course) —Blaine

Andris Biedrins

Hair Gel–Sheed

Gump—Strauss

Slumping—Blaine

Bob Fitzgerald

Great Employee–Sheed

Whine—Strauss

TC Firehouse—Blaine

Warriors fans

Tortured–Sheed

Ouch—Strauss

Self Loathing—Blaine

Can Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry co-exist?

Sheed: No, Monta had it right from the beginning.  A backcourt of Ellis/Curry isn’t going to get you many wins.  One of them gets moved this summer, most likely Ellis.

Strauss: No, the dye was cast with the three million dollar fine. Even with an undercurrent of good chemistry it’d be difficult to overcome the collective size deficiency.

My caveat is that with new ownership/coaching/vibe, that situation could change.

Blaine: Ellis and Curry should coexist, but they won’t. Ellis resents Curry’s presence. How many times have we seen him give Curry the cold shoulder? Ellis’s ego and preconceptions have ruined any chance of him and Curry developing good chemistry. Too bad, because Ellis was playing at an All Star level the first quarter of the season, but as Curry’s star began to rise during the second quarter, Ellis’s began to dim. The once efficient Ellis has become a volume scorer and his market value has taken a hit. This is already Curry’s team—at least is should be—and I doubt Ellis can abide.

Now that the trade deadline has passed, and the Warriors have stood pat, what has to happen between now and the beginning of next season in order for the team to become playoff worthy?

Sheed: Easy, ownership change.

Strauss: I’m still down to swap Monta for OJ Mayo. I don’t even like OJ—I just want Curry to handle the rock strafed by a legit shooting guard.

I differ from many in that I believe the Warriors are talented (upon my writing that, the Oakland PD is knocking on my door, prepared to drag me to a drunk tank). So I’d advocate an OKC approach. Draft Evan Turner, and…wait. No get rich quick schemes, just patient, responsible team building. Sounds crazy, right?

Blaine: The playoffs are a long shot under any circumstance. A tall order even for America’s Cup winner Larry Ellison should he buy the team this year. The best hope of getting on track towards the playoff is for Cohan, if he is not going to sell the team, or the new owner to clean house. Purge the front office. Get rid of Rowell, Riley, and Nelson. This organization needs a completely new identity and image. Bring in a great basketball mind to be the General Manager, someone who relates well with players, is the respected throughout the league, and has the aptitude to tackle the financial aspects of the business side of the operation. The selection should be a break with the past, not a former Warrior. The new GM should have attained championship-level success, someone like a Rudy Tomjanovich, Pat Riley, or even Mike Krzyzewski. (Yes, Coach K. He had recent success with NBA athletes at the China Olympics.) The newly appointed General Manager should then select a coach who works well with young players, and is a teacher who runs an elegant offense (a Bay Area must) and preaches defense and rebounding.

After selecting a new coach, the new GM should trade for a dominant player who will mesh with the young talent on the team, preferably a strong finisher who will be on the receiving end of Curry’s passes. He will need to find for Curry his own Karl Malone or Amar’e Stoudemire.

The Warriors are likely to have a top 5 draft pick, but this is a weak draft class. They should package Ellis and their draft pick for an established star on draft night, or make a sign-and-trade deal thereafter, which involves Ellis and our pick.

Finally, the Warriors should improve the chemistry of the team. They need to find players who are willing to play for the team and meet team objectives. This is always the challenge of coaching, and every coach needs to have a dominant star who leads by example and demand conformance from his teammates. Stephen Curry may very well be that leader in the future. He needs to be paired with another star to make that happen. No one on this roster fills that bill at this time.

Evaluate Corey Maggette

Sheed: Scoring machine who can get to the line as well as any player in the NBA.  Ideal 6th man on a winning team, scapegoat on a losing team.  Consummate professional who doesn’t complain and simply does what is asked of him.

Strauss: Misunderstood, and my friends are still clowning me for thinking so. He’s selfish, he flops, these traits are annoying. But if he’s so awful for the Warriors, why isn’t the stink reflected in his +/- numbers? My take: He’s played for the Clippers and Dubs. You can’t make a silk purse out of that, let alone sow ears.

Blaine: First the good. Maggette comes across as a great guy in interviews. He’s a solid citizen and this year appears to be a glue guy in the locker room. Wisdom comes with age. He became much less of a black hole after getting booed by fans early this season. He has looked to pass the ball much more.

Now the bad. In spite of his improvements, the offense still stifles when he is in the game. Too often, fluid ball movement is terminated when the ball comes to him. Playing for a coach who gives his veterans carte blanch, Maggette has not worked out well. Even with his improvements this season, Maggette cannot shake his reputation around the league of being a stat whore. He will be difficult to trade, and I think the only chance they have will be NEXT season’s trade deadline. The Warriors are stuck. The only way to make lemonade out of this lemon is put him in the role of 6th man and cease and desist with playing him at the power forward spot.

Which NBA team helped themselves the most with trades last week?

Sheed: Dallas.  They are the 3rd best team in the West behind only the Lakers and Nuggets.  Caron Butler gives them toughness and another offensive threat who can take some of the load off of Dirk Nowitzki’s back.  Look for them to be a tough out in the playoffs as neither Denver or Los Angelese will look forward to playing them.

Strauss: Cleveland. I’ve read a lot of analysis on this trade but I’m not sure such incisive examination was needed. Jamison’s already the second best player on a team that had the top pre-trade deadline record. Lebron + Three other three point shooters. JJ Hickson upgraded to Twan. Be afraid, East, be very afraid.

Oh, and I love how the Bobcats got Ty Thom for nothing. The Cats might turn into the most frightening defensive team ever (If Tyrus Thomas can de-crazy himself).

Blaine: Not the Warriors. Teams involved in trades last week either helped their cap situation significantly or added talent in areas of need. The Warriors did neither. Cleveland has to be the answer here. They needed to pair Lebron James with another star, and Antoine Jamison fits the bill. He is not quite Amar’e Stoudemire, but he’s a very close second. He’s not just a terrific forward, but he’s one of the league’s great ambassadors. He will be a terrific compliment to James and O’Neil. He will fit in well and do whatever Cleveland asks of him. If James pairs well with Jamison, and they win it all, James may re-sign with Cavs, making it, therefore, one of the great trades in NBA history. It could be the trade that saves the city of Cleveland. And Lord knows, Cleveland, which was recently ranked by Yahoo as America’s most miserable city , is in need of redemption.

What playoff matchups do you want to see?

Sheed: Denver vs Lakers, Cavs vs Celtics, Lakers vs Cavs.

Strauss: Bobcats vs. Celtics, Lakers vs. Denver, Lakers vs Dallas, Cleveland vs. Lakers, Cleveland vs. Orlando

Perhaps I love the NBA a little too much, this list could go on forever. I’m watching any Bobcats series. Same goes for Cleveland.

Blaine: For entertainment value I’d like to see a Dallas-Phoenix match-up in the early rounds. In the Western Conference finals, I’d think a rematch of the Lakers and the Nuggets would be intriguing.

In the East, I would like to see Boston and Atlanta play in the early rounds, though that match-up doesn’t look very likely to happen given their current positioning. Last year Boston and the Bulls played in an epic series. I think pitting the veteran Celtics against the young, talented Hawks has the potential to be a thrilling series as well.

In the Eastern Conference finals, the Cavs and Celtics would be a lot of fun to watch, provided Kevin Garnett is 100%.

Who makes it out of the West, and who are the biggest threats to dethrone the Lakers?

Sheed: Injuries.  Barring injuries, no team is getting close to the Lakers.  The Nuggets have the talent but lack the mental toughness to get it done while all the other teams out West just aren’t talented enough.

Strauss: I hope Chris Cohan makes it out of the West, and makes room for Larry. Denver is my pick.

And Denver/LA intrigues the hell out of me. Denver is the team constructed to beat LA. Ty Lawson will shred Derek Fisher like fish taco cabbage. Birdman will frighten Pau like it’s Gasol’s sixth birthday and Bird’s the scary clown. Afflalo will frustrate Kobe, or at least frustrate people trying to say his name. I don’t see Los Angeles winning this.

Oh, and for bball nerds who’ll argue that Fisher won’t guard Lawson, I say this: You’re right, but the Lakers will have to adjust what they do off the bat. That’s an abstract shredding.

Blaine: How do the Lakers not make it out of the West? I can’t see anyone pulling off the upset, but Chauncey Billups might have the talent and leadership chops to make the Western Conference finals difficult for the Lakers.

Who wins it all this season?

Sheed: The Mamba’s will win it again.  Lakers are too good and too deep to be dethroned.

Strauss: Cleveland. Lebron’s got weapons, and he’s better than anyone else by a wide margin.

Blain: The Cavaliers. It’s their turn. James finally has a strong supporting cast, and he will parlay that talent into the city of Cleveland’s first professional sports championship since 1964. They hold longest championship drought in professional sports. That is reason enough to make the Cavs sentimental favorites.

College Player who can help the Warriors most?

Sheed: John Wall for obvious reasons. I also like DeMarcus Cousins and think he’s going to be an absolute beast in the NBA.  Athletic, tough, skilled big man who won’t back down and loves to compete.

Strauss: Evan Turner. It’s wrong for me to push for him landing here, because he’ll re-hurt his back the second he lands.

Blaine: The best player in the draft is John Wall, but I’m not sure Wall helps the Warriors the most because they already have Curry and Ellis. That doesn’t mean the Dubs don’t draft Wall if they get the #1; it just means that they will be facing a serious dilemma in having three starting NBA point guards on their roster.

Given his game, Evan Turner might be the best fit coming in, assuming that Ellis is moved and Bell is not re-signed. At 6’7” Turner is a tall guard who is noted for his defense and is very unselfish with the ball. He would compliment Curry very well for years to come. DeMarcus Cousins has tremendous size and talent, but his mental and emotional states are cause for concern. Derrick Favors is also a talented big, but he has not shown enough yet to be ranked up there with Wall or Turner.

Is Nellie asked back to coach the Warriors next season?

Sheed: Yes, Nellie will be back next season because no way does Cohan pay him $6 million dollars to get out and go live it up in Hawaii.  Hopefully Nellie gets re-energized by an infusion of some young talent and quality moves over the summer…or maybe not.

Strauss: No. Yes. It’ll probably be decided by a game of “rock, paper, scissors,” that a deranged Cohan plays against himself in the mirror.

Blaine: I just don’t see how Cohan and Rowell can ask Nelson back. The organization has done very little to show its fans that it is committed to moving forward, so bringing back Nelson would be a signal to season ticket holders that the status quo is acceptable. The only viable option I can see for Nellie sticking around is a move upstairs, but that is only if Cohan keeps the team. If the team is sold, the whole front office gets purged.

Can a fan boycott work?

Sheed: Hell no.  The fans will keep coming out because they love basketball and the Warriors play an exciting brand of basketball. 

Strauss: Probably not. We have no idea what motivates Cohan, so pinching his wallet might have no effect.

Blaine: Yes, a boycott can work because of the other elements in play, which include the bad economy and the declining financial health of the NBA, Cohan’s own reported financial troubles, fan disenchantment, and the rising tide of harsh criticism of the team by the local media (which has finally caught up the national media’s scorn). All the factors are in place for a fan boycott to become an effective form of protest and an additional catalyst for the sale of the franchise. Look, truthfully the boycott has already started. Its signs are present in fan blogs where many season ticket holders or former season ticket holders have said they have had enough. The empty seats at recent home games give further evidence of a mounting movement by paying fans who are looking to spend entertainment dollars elsewhere. And many of the seats that are being filled are given away or sold for pennies on the dollar through campy marketing promotions such as yesterday’s “C.J’s Mohawk Night” in which every fan that received a complimentary Mohawk from a Supercuts stylist at the Oracle was given a free ticket to the game. Cohan has to know that his season ticket base will shrink next season. Really, the boycott is already underway, and the movement is gaining momentum as the period for season ticket renewal draws near.

Youtube’n It

Andris Biedrins on WarriorsWorld TV

PART 1


Part 2

WarriorsWorld TV sits down with Latvia’s finest, Andris Biedrins.  We breakdown his struggles at the foul-line, National Team disappointments and dive into the personal side of Andris.  We have some fun with Andris and play “This or That” where we find out some interesting details from the Warriors Center.  Check it Out!

PART 1

Part 2