Comments on: Hello Monta My Old Friend: Warriors 126 Pacers 107 http://feltbot.com/2009/12/01/hello-monta-my-old-friend-warriors-126-pacers-107/ For Golden State Warriors Fans Sat, 19 May 2012 00:21:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: feltbot http://feltbot.com/2009/12/01/hello-monta-my-old-friend-warriors-126-pacers-107/#comment-320 feltbot Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:12:12 +0000 http://feltbot.com/?p=735#comment-320 @onlxn: I missed your point about Smart on the first reading, and I have to say I agree with you. I was very disturbed by how he handled the matchups in the first three quarters. He actually allowed the Pacers to match up small against the Warriors for a stretch in the first half, and they killed us. Given the two teams' respective personnel, that should never have happened. And if Randolph hadn't gotten injured, Smart may never have found the lineup that won this game. I like Coach Smart, especially in the interview room, but I'm looking forward to Nellie taking the reins again. @onlxn: I missed your point about Smart on the first reading, and I have to say I agree with you. I was very disturbed by how he handled the matchups in the first three quarters. He actually allowed the Pacers to match up small against the Warriors for a stretch in the first half, and they killed us. Given the two teams’ respective personnel, that should never have happened. And if Randolph hadn’t gotten injured, Smart may never have found the lineup that won this game.

I like Coach Smart, especially in the interview room, but I’m looking forward to Nellie taking the reins again.

]]> By: feltbot http://feltbot.com/2009/12/01/hello-monta-my-old-friend-warriors-126-pacers-107/#comment-319 feltbot Tue, 01 Dec 2009 18:37:44 +0000 http://feltbot.com/?p=735#comment-319 Thanks for the comments, guys. Excellent points. Thanks for the comments, guys. Excellent points.

]]> By: feltbot http://feltbot.com/2009/12/01/hello-monta-my-old-friend-warriors-126-pacers-107/#comment-318 feltbot Tue, 01 Dec 2009 18:35:21 +0000 http://feltbot.com/?p=735#comment-318 @onlxn Nice recap, I agree with all your points with the exception of #3. Even if your evaluation of Brandan Wright's play to date were correct -- and I couldn't disagree with you more on that -- that wouldn't change my point. The point is that, right or wrong, Nelson made his decisions regarding Wright's playing time based on the philosopy articulated by Keith Smart last night. This is not the same thing as "playing mind games," or "jerking young players around," or "Nellie hates young players," as the Bay Area media would have you believe. @onlxn Nice recap, I agree with all your points with the exception of #3. Even if your evaluation of Brandan Wright’s play to date were correct — and I couldn’t disagree with you more on that — that wouldn’t change my point. The point is that, right or wrong, Nelson made his decisions regarding Wright’s playing time based on the philosopy articulated by Keith Smart last night. This is not the same thing as “playing mind games,” or “jerking young players around,” or “Nellie hates young players,” as the Bay Area media would have you believe.

]]> By: derezee http://feltbot.com/2009/12/01/hello-monta-my-old-friend-warriors-126-pacers-107/#comment-317 derezee Tue, 01 Dec 2009 18:06:33 +0000 http://feltbot.com/?p=735#comment-317 there may actually be no reason to think that Monta can't go wire to wire nearly every night, and the reason lies in the comparisons to Iverson. Iverson's freakish stamina is well-chronicled - every guy around basketball who's commented on it says the guy NEVER gets tired. NEVER. Weber called him the most gifted athlete he's every played with. he's simply built to go faster and longer than everyone else. some people just possess genetic gifts that render them incomparable to just about everyone else. it's certainly not a stretch to believe that Monta's one of those unique individuals. and let's face it, today's NBA doesn't really allow anyone to take advantage of his size and beat his motor to a coughing idle. tell me the next time you even see Monta struggling for a little extra air, mouth agape. no reason to qualify any of the praise with "if he can sustain the workload." his head's always going to be a bigger challenge than his lungs or legs, and he seems on his way to conquering that too. there may actually be no reason to think that Monta can’t go wire to wire nearly every night, and the reason lies in the comparisons to Iverson. Iverson’s freakish stamina is well-chronicled – every guy around basketball who’s commented on it says the guy NEVER gets tired. NEVER. Weber called him the most gifted athlete he’s every played with. he’s simply built to go faster and longer than everyone else. some people just possess genetic gifts that render them incomparable to just about everyone else. it’s certainly not a stretch to believe that Monta’s one of those unique individuals. and let’s face it, today’s NBA doesn’t really allow anyone to take advantage of his size and beat his motor to a coughing idle. tell me the next time you even see Monta struggling for a little extra air, mouth agape. no reason to qualify any of the praise with “if he can sustain the workload.” his head’s always going to be a bigger challenge than his lungs or legs, and he seems on his way to conquering that too.

]]> By: playoffbound http://feltbot.com/2009/12/01/hello-monta-my-old-friend-warriors-126-pacers-107/#comment-316 playoffbound Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:28:50 +0000 http://feltbot.com/?p=735#comment-316 I had my doubts too about Monta--not on his ability level, but the fear that Jackson had poisoned him. But I'm glad I was wrong. Monta used to be my favorite player and he is winning me back over--not because he's scoring so much. He's always had that ability... but because of the great attitude he had displayed since Jackson has been gone. When Jackson was here, he was negative like TK and TK's homers. Now he's been more positive and has taken on the challenge of becoming a leader... That's a good way to win many fans back over--not that many have left... I had my doubts too about Monta–not on his ability level, but the fear that Jackson had poisoned him. But I’m glad I was wrong. Monta used to be my favorite player and he is winning me back over–not because he’s scoring so much. He’s always had that ability… but because of the great attitude he had displayed since Jackson has been gone. When Jackson was here, he was negative like TK and TK’s homers. Now he’s been more positive and has taken on the challenge of becoming a leader… That’s a good way to win many fans back over–not that many have left…

]]> By: California Dreamin http://feltbot.com/2009/12/01/hello-monta-my-old-friend-warriors-126-pacers-107/#comment-315 California Dreamin Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:37:14 +0000 http://feltbot.com/?p=735#comment-315 Great points about Kobe and Jordan taking years to realize that the final key to becoming a superstar is the ability to make your teammates better, it is what ultimately separates the stars from the superstars. Monta Ellis is beginning to talk this theme, I think the next step will be in actually doing it. This is when the winning starts. When the top dog does things to make his teammates successful, they will naturally play hard and fall in line. I also agree completely with you in Hunter and this has huge implications for the future if he is for real, and the Warriors find a way to keep him [something I am still worried about because if there is any team that can botch this and decide keeping Claxton's expiring contract is more meaningful that having Hunter aboard, its the Warriors]. If Hunter is for real, then I can envision ways for the Dubs to play him and Biedrins together, and with Randolph, Turiaf and maybe Wright in the future, suddenly the team has 5 bigs. Can't recall the last time this happened. By the way, I suspect the reason that many Warrior fans have a hard time giving Watson any love is because there is a sense that he will be a short termer on the team, gone after this season. In a perverse sort of way, every great game that he has only makes his exit that much more likely. Still, wins are the thing and if Watson playing well helps the team win, I am all for it. Great points about Kobe and Jordan taking years to realize that the final key to becoming a superstar is the ability to make your teammates better, it is what ultimately separates the stars from the superstars.

Monta Ellis is beginning to talk this theme, I think the next step will be in actually doing it. This is when the winning starts. When the top dog does things to make his teammates successful, they will naturally play hard and fall in line.

I also agree completely with you in Hunter and this has huge implications for the future if he is for real, and the Warriors find a way to keep him [something I am still worried about because if there is any team that can botch this and decide keeping Claxton's expiring contract is more meaningful that having Hunter aboard, its the Warriors].

If Hunter is for real, then I can envision ways for the Dubs to play him and Biedrins together, and with Randolph, Turiaf and maybe Wright in the future, suddenly the team has 5 bigs. Can’t recall the last time this happened.

By the way, I suspect the reason that many Warrior fans have a hard time giving Watson any love is because there is a sense that he will be a short termer on the team, gone after this season. In a perverse sort of way, every great game that he has only makes his exit that much more likely.

Still, wins are the thing and if Watson playing well helps the team win, I am all for it.

]]> By: ...scotch http://feltbot.com/2009/12/01/hello-monta-my-old-friend-warriors-126-pacers-107/#comment-314 ...scotch Tue, 01 Dec 2009 15:57:25 +0000 http://feltbot.com/?p=735#comment-314 Cudos felt...All the "Blackboard" material you put up bashing Monta really got him motivated...way to know your stuff! Cudos felt…All the “Blackboard” material you put up bashing Monta really got him motivated…way to know your stuff!

]]> By: onlxn http://feltbot.com/2009/12/01/hello-monta-my-old-friend-warriors-126-pacers-107/#comment-313 onlxn Tue, 01 Dec 2009 09:53:36 +0000 http://feltbot.com/?p=735#comment-313 Fun game. I can't quite match your enthusiasm, because really this is what any semi-credible NBA team should do against the Pacers at home... I thought Smart actually did a fairly poor job here. Still, a fun game. Five lightning-round reactions to your recap: 1) Boy, Monta's something. The outlook for a team with Monta as its best leader gets brighter by the week, and the folks who were demanding a trade are looking pretty foolish right now. 2) Having said that, don't kid yourself... the calls went our way something fierce. Monta got robbed of a three-point play or two, but got bailed out on several other drives and on several pokes in the backcourt. We got some homecourt officiating tonight, and if anyone has a beef about the refs, it sure ain't us. 3) Agree that CJ is good and highly underrated, but hot damn, you delve into straw-man territory by talking about Wright and Belinelli. Nellie was right to sit on Belinelli; he was wrong to sit on Wright; the verdict on his handling of Randolph and Curry has not come in yet. You're right that some malign Nellie too freely for benching guys, but that doesn't mean that he's always right, either. Brandan Wright's benching received outcries not because "the Bay Area media isn't interested in understanding NBA basketball"... it received outcries because it was stupid coaching. Let some nuance into your analysis, and resist this white-hat/black-hat stuff... you can like Nellie and still acknowledge that he screws up sometimes. 4) Totally agree that Warriors fans underrate Maggette. He's a good player, a far better player than they realize. 5) Every minute that Mikki Moore is on the floor and Chris Hunter isn't is a wasted minute. Enough of this catering to the veterans; it's time to dispense with the Sabean/Bochy garbage. Mikki needs to ride some pine. Fun game. I can’t quite match your enthusiasm, because really this is what any semi-credible NBA team should do against the Pacers at home… I thought Smart actually did a fairly poor job here. Still, a fun game.

Five lightning-round reactions to your recap:

1) Boy, Monta’s something. The outlook for a team with Monta as its best leader gets brighter by the week, and the folks who were demanding a trade are looking pretty foolish right now.

2) Having said that, don’t kid yourself… the calls went our way something fierce. Monta got robbed of a three-point play or two, but got bailed out on several other drives and on several pokes in the backcourt. We got some homecourt officiating tonight, and if anyone has a beef about the refs, it sure ain’t us.

3) Agree that CJ is good and highly underrated, but hot damn, you delve into straw-man territory by talking about Wright and Belinelli. Nellie was right to sit on Belinelli; he was wrong to sit on Wright; the verdict on his handling of Randolph and Curry has not come in yet. You’re right that some malign Nellie too freely for benching guys, but that doesn’t mean that he’s always right, either. Brandan Wright’s benching received outcries not because “the Bay Area media isn’t interested in understanding NBA basketball”… it received outcries because it was stupid coaching. Let some nuance into your analysis, and resist this white-hat/black-hat stuff… you can like Nellie and still acknowledge that he screws up sometimes.

4) Totally agree that Warriors fans underrate Maggette. He’s a good player, a far better player than they realize.

5) Every minute that Mikki Moore is on the floor and Chris Hunter isn’t is a wasted minute. Enough of this catering to the veterans; it’s time to dispense with the Sabean/Bochy garbage. Mikki needs to ride some pine.

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