2007 NBA Warriors Playoff Hopes
Bay Area's Pro Basketball team a Long-Shot for Postseason
Advice for NBA teams to improve their teams as the 2007 trade deadline nears, covering all 30 teams, from worst to first. This installment: Golden State Warriors
Pick one of the following statements as true: (a) Don Nelson was a great NBA coach;
(b) Don Nelson is a great NBA coach; or (c) Don Nelson will continue to be a great NBA coach into the future. The blunt truth is, almost all of you will choose (a), and you would be correct in doing so. The single most mystifying move of the off-season this time around was Chris Mullin listening to his heart instead of his mind and reanimating the Nellie Beast to wreak havoc upon announcer’s pronunciation skills.
It will only take awhile for Nelson to reinvent his roster to look more like a FIFA friendly between Croatia and Lithuania. For at least a decade, Nellie has obviously been sold on the idea that only in Europe can one find the stars-to-be of the NBA. And he was right for one shining moment, and the plucking of Dirk Nowitzki from German obscurity makes up for many misses. But in 2007, there are no more 7 footers who run like gazelles and shoot like Alan Houston around to be had. The blunt truth is this was a bad hire for this team that has gone through decades of poor coaching fits. The historic problem for this franchise has been limiting the opponents scoring, and Nelson is an offense first last and always coach. How else could a team possibly have nine players averaging double-figures? So at the All-Star Break, the stats confirm: the Warriors are 2nd in the league in offense, dead last in defense, and they are mired at the eleven spot in the race for the final 8. Déjà vu all over again, anyone?
Since there’s no fixing the coaching issue, we need to focus on what GS can do to get into the tourney. Baron Davis is crazy good, at times a top 10 league star, and his fearlessness in running the offense is a key to their success. But his health is a big question mark at present. He’ll certainly be back this season after recovering from knee arthroscopy performed just days ago, but the time he misses will be a test for the rest of the loaded offensive unit the Warriors suit up. That firepower got a turbo boost in the 8 player swap with the Pacers, as Al Harrington (18 points and 7 rebounds post trade), Steven Jackson (18 and 3 assists post trade) have become starters But the 6-8 record since the January 17th trade has not shown any dividends toward the playoff goal.
Jason Richardson is an enigma – he has talent, but the display of these abilities is erratic. He’s having a horrible shooting year and is losing playing time to both Jackson and Pietrus, who has emerged as a good shooter (.483 from the field) and a superior defender. They are both horrible from the foul line, though, another weakness of the Bay Area team. Andris Biedrins has been a find at center – Nellie isn’t always wrong on the value of the Euro – as he’s averaging almost a double-double. Monta Ellis reminds one of a younger Tony Parker just two years out of high school. His most recent line in a win against the Knicks playing the point in Davis’ absence – 23/7/4.
Adonal Foyle will never get off the bench because he’s not a Nellie type, but his shot-blocking could take 2-4 points per game away from the opponents’ average. Matt Barnes somehow finds enough playing time at small forward to contribute 10/5, and the rookie Azubuike has shown some flair for the pro game this year. Both should play more, but who to move off the court to make way for them? I would suggest moving Richardson, Jackson and perhaps Barnes if necessary to a team headed for the lottery that would give that pick and two players in return who can play defense. Of course, this would require a dance partner willing to step to that tune, but stranger deals have been done.
Golden State is just a few games off the pace and could make it into the first round, but the disparity in defensive intensity between them and a Dallas or San Antonio makes it the longest of long-shots that a first-round upset could be in the offing. Next year is when a healthy Davis, an improved Ellis and Biedrins, a settled-in Harrington, and an emerging star Pietrus can make some serious noise as a contender
Next: Hornets to Give OKC a Playoff Goodbye?
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