3-1 in the preseason? Break up the Warriors!
With about 3 minutes left in the third quarter and the Warriors down by four or five, Don Nelson went small, with Biedrins at center and Anthony Morrow at power forward(!). The rest is history. The Warriors outscored the Suns by 8 in the final period, and cruised to victory. (That’s for the haters like Adam Lauridsen and Geoff Lepper. Just couldn’t resist.) Continue reading
Posted in Don Nelson, Golden State Warriors, Recaps
Tagged Anthony Morrow, anthony randolph, Don Nelson, Stephen Curry
“There is no great genius without some insanity.” –Seneca
This is the introduction to what will be a recurring feature here. Most of the NBA commentators, journalists and statistics-peddlers around the league think that Don Nelson is batshit crazy. In the Bay Area, you can adjust that number upward, to close to 100%. I will credit Scott Ostler for evincing a hint, or an undertone, or perhaps a suspicion, that Nellie is crazy like a fox, but he stands alone. There is no doubt among the rest of the Bay Area sportswriters that Don Nelson belongs in Maui, under 24 hour lock-down, in the ward for believers in up-tempo basketball (just down the hall from Napolean complexes), in the asylum for the criminally insane. Continue reading
Posted in Crazy Nellie, Don Nelson, Golden State Warriors
Tagged Don Nelson, Monta Ellis, Stephen Curry
Toward the end of last year, as I observed the unveiling of Anthony Randolph’s transcendent talent, I became convinced that the Warriors were very close to becoming a special team. I believed that if Monta Ellis returned to health, and to his commitment to this team, and if Nellie added the right big man to fill the Warriors’ hole at power forward, then this team could easily make the playoffs. And even possibly, given what I feel is a steep drop-off behind the Lakers and the Spurs in the West, do better than the 8th seed.
I am backing off this prediction now, for the following reasons: Continue reading
to bring you this late-breaking news: Brandon Wright has dislocated the same shoulder that he dislocated last year. Continue reading
Corey Maggette
The Warriors’ sixth man could be getting set for a big year. After a year in Nellie’s system, and hopefully injury free, I expect Maggette to start this year as fast as he started last year slow. Continue reading
MONTA ELLIS
To say the success of this season begins and ends with the play of Monta Ellis would not be an exaggeration. The Monta Ellis we saw pre-moped had the makings of a very special player in the league. The blazing quickness, and ability to penetrate and finish after absorbing contact reminded many of Allen Iverson. Coupling his quickness with an uncanny ability to rise up on a dime and bury the mid-range jumper, he was an unstoppable offensive force, capable of putting up 30 pts. with ease. He was mesmerizing to watch, but what was really startling was the efficiency with which he operated. His shooting percentages were among the best ever seen in this league for a guard. Did he really shoot over 60% for a month? Everyone around the league was watching Ellis with their mouths open, including Kobe Bryant, who stated he was his favorite NBA player. It was only a matter of time until Ellis became an all-star. A very short time.
And then, tragedy. Continue reading
Hi y’all, welcome to my new blog. I’m a Golden State Warriors fan, and this blog will be dedicated to following the team’s progress. I will be trying to post after every game with my analysis. Occasionally pre-game as well if I anticipate that a particular matchup will be intriguing. Don Nelson is the most creative coach in the league, and I get a kick out of trying to anticipate how he will deal with difficult matchups. Maggette on Aldridge? Harrington on Yao? Jackson on Nowitzki? Jackson on Chris Paul? Biedrins on David West? Nellie rarely disappoints in this regard. He’s the best in the league at making adjustments, mixing and matching, completely unafraid to try something new. Some of his experiments go down in flames. But a great many more are successful beyond measure, and all are entertaining regardless of success. If you enjoy watching the Warriors, and watching the great basketball mind of Don Nelson in action, you might enjoy this blog. Continue reading
Posted in Don Nelson, Golden State Warriors, Mission Statement
Tagged Don Nelson, Golden State Warriors
