Stephen Curry and David Lee have made sure the Golden State Warriors’ season-high seven-game road trip is off to a solid start.
Dec 082012
Dec 072012
The Warriors knocked out the Nets with a heavy dose of David Lee. That’s right, the ex-Knickerbocker went off in his first game in Brooklyn, scoring 13 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter of a 109-102 Golden State victory.
Dec 012012
David West and David Lee each are coming off season-best scoring performances, helping their respective teams continue their recent surges.
Nov 302012
(Reuters) – The Golden State Warriors had to survive a video review after the final buzzer on Thursday but prevailed 106-105 in a thriller against the Denver Nuggets in Oakland. Denver forward Andre Iguodala’s three-point shot at the end hit nothing but net, but upon review the ball failed to leave his hand before the buzzer and the basket was waved off, leaving the Warriors with the win. The Warriors improved to 9-6 on the year, moving back into a tie for the Pacific division lead, thanks mainly to David Lee’s game high 31 points and nine rebounds. …
Nov 202012
DALLAS (AP) — Stephen Curry scored 20 of his 31 points in the fourth quarter and overtime and David Lee’s layup with 32.8 seconds left helped the Golden State Warriors beat the Dallas Mavericks 105-101 Monday night.
Nov 152012
David Lee will never be able to win. That doesn’t mean you should feel sorry for him, not with another decade to enjoy in his NBA career and a six-year $80 million contract to currently have and to hold, but no NBA fan that is aware of his reputation or Golden State Warrior fan that is aware of his defensive shortcomings will ever get past that years-old scouting report of David’s:
Good finisher, fine scorer. Great rebounder. Possible league-worst defender at his position. Puts up great numbers and has yet to play in the playoffs. That’s the scouting report.
Unless you’re one of Sports Illustrated’s anonymous NBA scouts, the ones that for almost a decade have routinely infuriated us with step-slow takes ( like calling this team great on offense and terrible at defense) that seem way out of line with the fantastic work the great majority of NBA scouts do each season. Reports that may push the limits of tact with, well, take a look :
Everyone says David Lee is a great guy, but talk about overrated. He’s looking for his own numbers big-time. I’m guessing he leads the league in rebounds off missed free throws. He has turned himself into a 20-and-10 guy — an accomplishment, for sure. But he’s never been a guy who is constantly helping on defense. The story you hear from the Knicks is that his teammates used to call him FEMA, because he’s never there when you need him.
Nov 052012
The NBA grabbed headlines before the season by announcing plans to crack down on flopping with fines and suspensions. There were questions about how effective the penalties would be or if they could be enforced consistently, but the root of the concept wasn’t necessarily bad. There are some notorious floppers around the league, and getting them to stop doing so would be a nice change.
Los Angeles Clippers power forward Blake Griffin is one of the players, and so far this season he hasn’t curbed his propensity to embellish contact. On Saturday night, the man guarding him decided he’d had enough.
With a bit more than six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter of the Clippers’ home game vs. the Golden State Warriors, Jamal Crawford knocked down a long jumper. As the ball went through the hoop, Griffin and his Warriors counterpart David Lee made slight contact under the hoop, which Griffin exaggerated to make it seem as if Lee had knocked him off balance. It wasn’t a particularly egregious flop, but it was the kind of move that Griffin makes fairly often. Lee had seen enough, and so he challenged Griffin with a shout: “Stop flopping!” The players got in each other’s faces for a minute before referees broke them apart.
Sep 012012
The Golden State Warriors finished the 2011-12 season with an overall record of 23-43. Monta Ellis led the team with 20.4 points per game, David Lee led the team with 9.6 rebounds per game, and Monta Ellis led the team with 6.0 assists per game. The Warriors ranked 12th overall averaging 97.8 points per game while ranking 28th overall allowing 101.2 points per game.
Jun 282012
After years of mismanagement and poor personnel decisions, the Golden State Warriors could finally take a step in tight direction come Thursday night’s NBA draft.
If reports are true, the Warriors are looking to make a big move with the seventh overall pick.
Per Bill Ingram of HoopsWorld.com:
The Golden State Warriors are desperately looking for some star power, and if they can’t land Dwight Howard they would love to have Rudy Gay. The Warriors also want to unload at least one and perhaps more of their four 2012 draft picks, and would happily package them with a combination of players – including David Lee – to make a trade happen.
First off the bat, the Warriors are aiming quite high with their interest in Dwight Howard, probably too high.
A trade for Howard is unlikely, but if the Warriors can flip the seventh pick for Rudy Gay, the team would be getting a big-name player to feature.
Rudy Gay would be a huge addition to the Warriors in terms of both pure basketball value and marketing value, as well. Gay is a big-name, All-Star-caliber player that would bring attention to a franchise that hasn’t had a true, consistent star in years.
On the basketball side of things, Gay would add more scoring power to the squad, helping to fill the void left by Monta Ellis.
Gay would be a huge addition to some solid pieces the Warriors already have in place.
Steph Curry has shown his ability to score the basketball, although his health remains an issue. Klay Thompson surprised some in his rookie season. Andrew Bogut has yet to don a Warriors jersey, but if healthy, he will be a force at center. David Lee will continue to prove his value, provided his services are retained.
In shopping the seventh pick, the Warriors are certainly doing their homework.
According to John N. Mitchell of The Philadelphia Inquirer:
The Golden State Warriors, with four picks in the draft (7, 30, 35, and 52), are believed to be interested in adding a veteran small forward capable of playing defense to their starting lineup, and naturally Iguodala’s name has come up.
According to Chris Broussard of ESPN:
Lots of teams calling Denver to trade for Nuggets’ young players. 1of several moves being discussed: Wil Chandler to G State for 7th pick
— Chris Broussard (@Chris_Broussard) June 27, 2012
Finally, according to ESPNChicago’s Ian Whittell, “speculation [is] mounting that Chicago could send Deng to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for the No. 7 overall pick.”
Gay is the best option at small forward for the Warriors, but players like Andre Iguodala, Wilson Chandler and Luol Deng could also be good additions for the Warriors.
If the Warriors could grab Gay or Iguodala in a trade, either player would also bring a veteran presence that the Warriors don’t really have on their roster.
While any big name would be welcome in Oakland, the most important thing of note coming from the days before the draft is that the Warriors front office appears to be putting its team in a position to improve.
This would be a welcomed change for most Warriors fans after witnessing terrible management and watching their team suffer.
Whether the Warriors are able to complete a trade, the fans of the organization should take comfort that the team is headed in the right direction.
With the core they have and some likely additions, the Warriors could become competitive in the next few seasons.
Whatever happens on Thursday night, the Warriors are finally in good hands, and the future shows a brighter sky over the Bay Bridge.
Read more NBA news on BleacherReport.com
Jun 202012
The Golden State Warriors have plenty of armor available as they enter the 2012 NBA draft. The Dubs have two first-round picks (Nos. 7 and 30) and two second-round picks (Nos. 35 and 52) in what has been projected as the deepest draft in a decade.
The Dubs need a small forward to fill out an up-and-coming roster. Names like Andre Iguodala, Rudy Gay and Josh Smith headline the players that are currently available. Do the Warriors want to mortgage their future to acquire a proven small forward?
The Dubs will be inquiring about the headline names and the draft is probably the best time and place to strike a deal. It combines the past (player to be traded) with the future (player or draft choices acquired). The Dubs have four picks in their arsenal to make an upgrade.
Any of the headline names would be a great fit for the Dubs and an instant upgrade for years to come, but at what price? Teams that have highly coveted players wait for the best offer and most times it comes in above what they are expecting.
The Warriors have players who are in the peak of their careers (David Lee and Andrew Bogut), a player who is just entering the peak years of his career (Stephen Curry) and a potential future star (Klay Thompson). They need to trade that pick to a team that is looking to start over and won’t mind ditching top talent.
Do the Dubs offer all four draft picks to get that one player? That decision will definitely fill the whole in their lineup, but it will also leave a big whole in their bench. Can they trade only three of the four picks and hold back the 35th pick to add a big man to their depth?
The Warriors are also looking to trade down in the draft to get Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, the only top five small forward talent (h/t baysportsnet.com). If he is available at pick three or later, they will have to seriously consider making that deal.
As I have said before, the Dubs want to make a splash and with new ownership, this is their time to do it. For every star that could be picked in the seventh position, there are as many soon-to-be busts.
It is time for Dubs GM Bob Myers to start getting on the phone and see what talent is available in this poker game. This experience will get his feet wet at the GM position and let the fans know if he currently has the mettle for the role or if it is a growing experience.
Ideally, the Dubs will trade their seventh pick, 35th pick, Dorell Wright and either Andris Biedrins or Richard Jefferson to match the salary of a premier small forward. That package will begin negotiations with teams.
The fallback option for the Dubs is to draft talent and stock their bench. Harrison Barnes, Terrence Jones, Perry Jones III or Jared Sullinger (who now has potential back problems and will probably fall in the draft) could mature with the young core.
This is the first time in years that the Dubs are in a power position. They have a young nucleus, draft choices and a management team that, by all accounts, gets it. It is time to make the Warriors a winner.
Prediction: Kidd-Gilchrist costs too much and the Warriors continue their flirting with Iguodala. The Dubs will push hard, but Atlanta declines on taking Wright and Biedrins, because they aren’t clear what to do with Smith and can delay that decision until the trade deadline. Rudy Gay becomes available but only with the addition of David Lee to the original package. The Warriors decide Iggy is their man and give up Dorell Wright, Richard Jefferson and the seventh and 35th pick in the draft.
Read more NBA news on BleacherReport.com