Category Archives: Player Analysis

Andrew Bogut: Myth or Miracle?

Posted on February 3, 2013 by feltbot| 58 Comments

I’ve now been to two Warriors games this season, and in both games Andrew Bogut has played.

What are the odds?            Continue reading →

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The Barnes Identity: Warriors 115 Clippers 94

Posted on January 3, 2013 by feltbot| 225 Comments

There are plenty of reasons to discount this Warriors win over the Clippers. I sensed this would be a blowout before it happened, and missed an opportunity to make myself look good by predicting it in the last thread. I have noticed before that when teams come off a long winning streak, they often suffer a sustained letdown. This was also a road back-to-back. The Clippers were without Caron Butler, which threw off their normal rotation and further sapped their energy. And they are certainly looking ahead to the Lakers on Friday.        Continue reading →

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Why Brandon Rush Must Start

Posted on October 11, 2012 by feltbot| 43 Comments

We’ve heard a lot in the press lately about the raging battle for the Warriors’ starting small forward role. It appears to be a two-way battle between last year’s standout reserve guard Brandon Rush, and the promising rookie lottery pick, Harrison Barnes. Aging all-star Richard Jefferson is apparently not in the running, despite the fact that he’s been the starting small forward on some pretty good teams every single year of his career.

Today’s news adds some fuel to the fire, as Barnes is slotted to start tonight’s exhibition against Maccabi Haifa, after Rush started the first two preseason games.

I’m not buying the hype on Barnes starting though. Jackson probably does want to get a look at Barnes playing with the first unit. But it is Maccabi Haifa. And the argument against Harrison Barnes starting for the Warriors this season is simply too strong. But that’s not the right way to put it. Here’s a better way:

If they want to win this season, the Golden State Warriors absolutely must start Brandon Rush.

Why? Jump for a two word answer.                          Continue reading →

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The Truth about Andrew Bogut

Posted on July 23, 2012 by feltbot| 260 Comments

“Training over. Good news on ankle: swelling is getting close to being all gone. Bad News: The less swelling the more achy.” — @AndrewMBogut

When I saw this tweet of Andrew Bogut’s last night, I knew that it was finally time to write this post. I’ve been contemplating writing it for some months. Ever since, in fact, Bogut gave that little interview near the end of last season to that Warriors shill, the interview that was supposed to be about how he’d just gotten out of his walking boot, and all was progressing well. But the interview didn’t go down that way. Before it ended, the naturally loquacious Bogut let slip that the temperature in his ankle was 10 degrees higher than normal. When I heard that, my eyebrows shot up. 10 degrees? Like, 108? I really wanted to hear more about this, but the shill quickly got the discussion back on course. This was, after all, not an actual interview. It was advertising, for the people that paid the shill’s wages, and meant to generate excitement and sell season tickets, not explore the truth.

Didn’t matter. Within a week, we all found out the truth about that 108 degree ankle: Bogut was scheduled for another surgery.               Continue reading →

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Notes on the Summer League

Posted on July 14, 2012 by feltbot| 184 Comments

OK, I watched most of the last two summer league games. And that will suffice for me. I have a limited appetite for wretched basketball, which is why I don’t watch college freshmen contend for NCAA titles. And my curiosity concerning the Warriors draftees has been sated.

Here are my notes on the players likely to make the Warriors roster: Continue reading →

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Bye Bye Dorell

Posted on July 11, 2012 by feltbot| 108 Comments

This wasn’t a trade, it was a pure salary dump. From what I’ve read, that euro meatball the Warriors traded Dorell Wright for is unlikely to ever set foot on NBA hardwood.

I see several reasons for the move:                   Continue reading →

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Joe Lacob’s Big Deal: Monta Ellis and Ekpe Udoh for Andrew Bogut

Posted on March 18, 2012 by feltbot| 203 Comments

Golden State grabs 2-guard Klay Thompson (son of Mychal), a pick that has “We’re trading Monta Ellis” written all over it. — Bill Simmons, 2011 Draft Diary, 6-23-2011.

Let’s be real: Klay Thompson has no chance of becoming rookie of the year. Zero. None. Unless of course, Joe Lacob trades Monta Ellis. Does Lacob know something we don’t? — Feltbot, The Klay Thompson Problem, 12-21-2011.

One thing this trade is not is shocking. It’s something we all knew was coming from day one, when Joe Lacob told us that running teams can’t win in the playoffs, that the “architecture” of the team needed fixing, and that the culture needed changing. And that Stephen Curry and David Lee were the core of the Warriors, and Monta Ellis something else.                                        Continue reading →

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Posted in Golden State Warriors, Joe Lacob, Player Analysis

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The Klay Thompson Problem

Posted on December 21, 2011 by feltbot| 30 Comments

Klay Thompson will be in the running for Rookie of the Year. — Joe Lacob

Joe Lacob is gonna really, really regret saying these words, which he splashed all over the media in the preseason.  They are wrong on so many levels, not least in the ridiculous expectations they set in the mind of a young player, for all the wrong reasons (see Evans, Tyreke).  They are words grounded more in trying to establish Lacob’s credibility as Warriors GM, and in selling tickets and jerseys, than they are in reality, or the best interests of the Golden State Warriors (see Lin, Jeremy).

Let’s be real: Klay Thompson has no chance of becoming rookie of the year. Continue reading →

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Posted in Don Nelson, Golden State Warriors, Joe Lacob, Player Analysis, Previews

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Who is David Lee? — 2011-12 Golden State Warriors Preview (Pt 3)

Posted on December 19, 2011 by feltbot| 34 Comments

Nelson says his plan for the 2010-11 season was to play David Lee at center, because he considers Lee a good power forward and an All-Star center. — Scott Ostler, SF Chronicle April 18, 2011

David Lee played 5 seasons for the New York Knicks, most of which he spent at the center position.  In 2009-10, his last Knicks season, he averaged 20 points and 12 rebounds a game, playing exclusively at center. This earned him a well-deserved trip to the All Star game.

So why is it that since Joe Lacob has taken over the Warriors, David Lee has been considered strictly a power forward? Continue reading →

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Lacob Makes His Move: Warriors sign Kwame Brown

Posted on December 13, 2011 by feltbot| 179 Comments

I hate this signing for many reasons, but most particularly because the Warriors now have THREE big men who are afraid to catch the ball for fear of getting fouled.

Before doing anything else, check out this Kobe Bryant story about Kwame Brown.  That’s the man that Joe Lacob wants in the middle for the Warriors.

Continue reading →

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