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I’m waiting for a conference call with my bosses at home, so I’m reading some more about the draft (I’m obsessed) in the meantime.

Reading the Great Draft Debate ‘08: Simmons and Ford make their lottery picks.

Since they’re doing in-depth analysis and comedic jabs, I’ll do my own of what they say (less of the funny, unfortunately)

Bill Simmons on Michael Beasley:

Beasley is a superb scorer and rebounder, but from what I’ve seen, he doesn’t give you anything else — he’s the kind of guy who puts up a 27-12 and gives up a 26-11 on the other end. He doesn’t seem to have any leadership qualities whatsoever. Do you honestly see him leading an NBA champion some day?

Think about Kobe in 1996 when he got drafted out of high school. We could have said the same back then (and maybe could say it now, ouch). Kobe took a while before he became the noted defender he is now as well. Mike Beasley IS 19 YEARS OLD.

(I am a Beasley fan, by the way, but not against Rose. I think they’ll both be fine)

One thing that stood out for me with Beasley is that he has a negative rep for being immature and a big joker, but when asked about it he said something like “Yeah, I’m a little immature sometimes, but what do you expect? I’m 19. I act like a normal 19 year old because that’s what I am”.

To me, that’s mature. Seriously.

About Kevin Love, I think he will prove to be fine athletically. He has a 35 inch vertical, he’ll get in better shape and lose more weight/get stronger, and he seems like someone who kicks ass, a bruiser with skills and brain. Carlos Boozer (seems amazing he was a 2nd rounder now, especially when he had a fabulous college career) isn’t the greatest athlete ever either, but people seem to think he’s good. Kevin Love, if he’s black, people don’t complain as much, honestly I believe that.

About Derrick Rose:

I loved Derrick Rose at first sight. He’s a great and selfless teammate; he’s a franchise point guard entering a league in which point guards have become inordinately valuable; he’s got a great name (never underestimate the value of a great name); he was the best player on an extremely successful college team; and in short, after watching him a few times, I would have bet my life on him making multiple All-Star appearances (barring injury).

I agree. I kind of feel like a good name, as retarded as that sounds (of course, Blink backs me up on this too) really makes a difference. Joe Smith, Bimbo Coles, didn’t work out so well for those guys did they?

Anyway, my perspective on the Warriors in the draft (8 hours away!)

I want the Warriors to pull a major trade, but it’s really not going to happen. Realistically. But I’m hoping. Kevin Love. OJ Mayo. Michael Beasley (it’d be like Webber/Nelson Part 2).

Here’s what will likely go down:

Kosta Koufos: heard he got really good workouts, but what bothers me most is that he’s not an aggressive player. Some snippets from Draft Express’ stats analysis of him:

• Kosta Koufos and DeAndre Jordan all struggled to find the open man out of double teams.
• (Free Throws Attempted Per 40 Mins) Kosta Koufos ranks last of all the centers, a surprising number for a player with his plethora of skills on the offensive end.

Jason Thompson: A lot of people are saying the Warriors like him a lot. He’s got good size, but went to a small school, and so a lot of people thinking he’s a reach at 14. If the Warriors like him a lot though, they WILL pick him, Don Nelson does not give a crap. He drafted Latrell Spreewell in 1992. I was 11 and listened to it on the radio. I remember Jim Barnett (I think) had to go to the bathroom or something and then when he came back everyone talked about Spree, with no one really knowing a whole lot on him.

2 years later. Spree was a superstar.

Anyway, I’d rather they reach and get Thompson because Nelson is a supreme talent evaluator, and if they get him, that means he knows something.

Brandon Rush:

Good player on both sides of the ball, can shoot, athletic. I’d be fine with this pick, he’d probably be better than people think of him now if he starts with the Warriors. Maybe I’m thinking Latrell again.

The truth is I trust any pick made by Don Nelson. (ignore Chris Mullin as GM, though Chris is getting better for sure)

If as Chad Ford says about the Grizzlies:

If that’s the case, why is he trying to give away the No. 5 to anyone who’ll take Brian Cardinal in a deal?

Marco + #1 for the #5 + $10M trade exception + Brian Cardinal. The Custodian comes home where it all started! Warriors get Kevin Love.

And on the Warriors:

The other guy I like for them is Chris Douglas-Roberts, a really quirky offensive player who will succeed only with a specific kind of coach: Someone who loves isolation matchups and pitting good one-on-one players against guys who have no chance of guarding them. You know, someone exactly like Don Nelson.

I like the Douglas-Roberts pick. Don’t mind it for the same reasons as with Brandon Rush.

Russell Westbrook: Just watch the video and let your jaw drop:

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Jose Calderon is the next Steve Nash. Just watch below:

Actually, if you watched the mix above, it’s kind of boring. The mix is just Calderon shooting 3’s. But look at the stats:

8.3 assists, 2.9 rebounds, 1.04 steals, 11.3 points in 30.3 minutes a night. 52.3% shooting, 42.9% on 3’s, 90.8% on free throws.

Oh yeah, and 5.32 assist to turnover ratio.

Steve Nash: 11.2 assists, 3.5 rebounds, .66 steals, 17.1 points in 34.6 minutes. 50.4% shooting, 47% on 3’s, 90.6% on free throws. 3.04 assist to turnover ratio. I don’t know how well Calderon defends, but Nash is not supposed to be very good, and it doesn’t seem insane to think Calderon could become Nash. (Calderon is 26 right now, Nash was averaging 9 points and 5 assisters per game when he was 26.)

The Raptors have 2 really good point guards, Calderon and TJ Ford, but the way Ford’s been going (injury-prone), they’d probably rather trade Ford.

So why am I talking about Jose Calderon?

The Warriors this summer run a great risk of going back to 1995-1997 era. One name says it all: Vonteego Cummings. I thought he was going to be somebody.

I was wrong.

For 13 years, I thought the Warriors could be somebodies.

I was wrong.

Here’s the risk:

• Baron Davis
• Andris Biendrins
• Monta Ellis
• Mickael Pietrus
• Matt Barnes
• Kelenna Azuibuike

And coach Don Nelson.

All the above are the Warriors’ big potential free agents. The wrong moves in the next 4 months launch us into the Vonteego Cummings/Sam Jacobsen/Todd Fuller years again. It is seriously that easy from becoming a 48 win team to a 25 win team. Remember, this is the the same franchise that went from Chris Webber behind-his-back slam on Sir Charles to “the first pick in the 2005 NBA Draft is Joe Smith” in 1 year.

First, Don Nelson:

Don Nelson is just as likely to leave as he is stay. Actually, he is just as likely to trade Baron Davis to get back Speedy Claxton and 2 #1’s (if he convince Mullin) as he is of staying another 2 years.

Second, Baron Davis:

I hear a lot about how Baron is injury prone and becoming 30 next year. Actually, all that doesn’t bother me. Nash is 34, Kidd is 35, people are lasting longer nowadays. What bothers me is what happens when Don Nelson takes off and Baron’s in the middle of his max deal. Will Baron return to his lazy ways, or will he remain a leader, able to take the Warriors to 48/49 wins a year. That’s the risk.

Third, Andris Biedrins and Monta Ellis:

It’s easy to be down on Andris. He didn’t have a bad year by any means, but I don’t think he improved so much. As for Monta, it’s probably easy to be in love with him right now. He shot 53% from the field this year, averaging 20+! Yet, isn’t it odd that during his first year with Mike Montgomery coaching (go Bears!), he’d get put in for defense, and now that’s his weak spot. Reminds me of Pietrus a little bit; starting off as a big time defender, and then losing a bit of that. Monta’s definitely quick enough to lock down on people, he’s just gotta elevate his game. As for Andris, 10 pts and 10 rebounds on 63% shooting and only 27 minutes per game from a just-turned 22 year old? Amazing.

The others: Pietrus, Barnes, Azuibuike:

These three guys are pretty similar: athletic swingmen who can shoot the 3 and defend when motivated. Barnes didn’t play too well this year, but I’d still love for him to be a Warrior. Pietrus can be a real good bench player worth 25 minutes per game if he has his head on straight. Kaz has a real spot in the NBA, and I think he will get better.

So what should the Warriors do?

I’m not someone who’s saying if they don’t resign everyone, they suck. I don’t think they should get everyone back even if they could. At the same time, I’ve learned that you can’t win big (not even Championship level here, just saying getting to the 2nd round of the playoffs) without a superstar.

That must mean I want to keep Baron right?

Wrong. I love Baron. Not as much as J-Rich, but Baron’s my favorite Warrior now- but I’m sure everyone says that now.

At the same time, look at the risk of Don Nelson and Baron Davis. Plus, I wonder why Nelson benched Baron for the second half of the game in which the Warriors got eliminated from the playoffs. They’ve had good relations, but trusting either of them reminds me of Nelson and Chris Webber, and like I said, this whole things scares me like 1995.

So I gotta say, Nelson is going to let us down. When? Don’t know. But he will. And Baron’s too much of a risk in that scenario, especially for the kind of money he’s going to demand.

Let Baron go.

Keep Andris and Monta. In this scenario, I realize Warriors lack that superstar again. But I think Monta will be it. Sure, he’s got to improve his ball handling and D, but I think he can put up 25 points a game, he can be the next almost-Gilbert Arenas. Monta’s also 6 years younger. Andris, if he just improves a little, gets a little stronger (10+ pounds), adds a little bit more in his post game, defends his man a little bit better, you’re talking about a guy in 2-3 years could average 15 pts, 12 boards, 1.5 blocks on 55%+ shooting every year, a guy who’s a presence on both ends of the court. Those aren’t superstar numbers, but that’s an excellent center.

You also have to remember that the Hornets trading Baron for Speedy Claxton ended up being a steal, for the Hornets. They got Chris Paul. There is life after BD.

As for the other three swing guys, keep at least 1, try to keep at least 2 for no more than $3-4 Million a year.

So lock Monta and Andris both up, both will get $10-12 Million/a year, hopefully no more. Keep hoping Andris improves, Brandan Wright gains 20 pounds of muscle, Captain Jack keeps it together, and while the Warriors won’t reach 48 wins again, they will be fun and primed for the future. They’ll need a good backup pass-first point, which they can find….somewhere. Brevin Knight?

Unless.

Again, Jose Calderon?

This is where Jose Calderon comes in. The next Steve Nash. Imagine him in the Warriors offense. As crazy as this will sound to Warriors fans, maybe with improved Wright, Ellis, and Biedrins, Calderon really does become Steve Nash. The Warriors don’t have trouble scoring you know, as long as they have a creator. I think they can pick up the slack in points with Calderon and be more efficient at it. With Calderon and Ellis in the backcourt, Baron was a lot stronger but height wise, there’s no change.

Or if not Calderon, what about a guy like Kirk Hinrich of the Bulls? The Bulls are going to unload somebody this year, guaranteed. They have a bunch of good players, but no superstars to elevate them. This year they found out, not good enough.

Hinrich, as far as I know, is just a good player. He had a bad year, but he’s a good athlete who can shoot, defend, pass, and he’s tough. Think he could benefit from being a Warrior under Don Nelson?

Calderon’s the perfect fit though.

But what would it take to get either of these guys? The Warriors do have a lottery pick now, around the 15th pick in a very good draft. A lot of interesting big men this year. Maybe the Raptors would like one to team with Chris Bosh, or like the pick + Marco Bellineli, the young Rambo look-alike who will probably end up being a decent player. Add in a Pietrus or another swingman if the money doesn’t work. I don’t think anyone will take TMNT Harrington- he’s got close to $20 Million for two years left. Or if you want to go really crazy, sign and trade Baron for Calderon and junk, but I don’t think that’s realistic.

I guess the Raptors might be happy to deal TJ Ford instead, but I think of him as a slightly better Speedy, and I liked Speedy. But he’s not an all-star PG, while I think Calderon on the Warriors could be.

I was 13 when the Warriors turned bad. I’m now 27. If they self-destruct again, I will 40 when they get out of it, and Don Nelson may not be alive to rescue them once more.

Jose Calderon! Come on Warriors!

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Chris Webber told ESPN.com on Monday night that he will arrive in Oakland on Tuesday to officially re-join the Golden State Warriors and play again for Don Nelson.

ESPN - Webber plans to re-sign with Warriors on Tuesday - NBA

Wow.

I don’t even know what else to say to that.

I can only assume he’ll be cheered after only 14 consecutive years of booing. After all, we love Don Nelson, and they were both the reason for the years of terror.

I was 13 and excited when Webber was on the Warriors, then I turned 14 and I got 10+ years of hope, the Latrell choke, and “hey, maybe Sam Jacobsen/Vonteego Cummings/Chris Porter/Marc Jackson is going to be pretty good”.

Well, I’m definitely going to download a game to see him play. Hope someone ups the J-Rich return.

I feel like the Warriors should go early 90’s throw back jersey, and have Webber sport his old #4 jersey.

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Nellie was asked after Dallas’ game about his comments before that if guys didn’t make free throws, they weren’t going to play. Nellie didn’t respond with some company line, or tap dance his way around the issue. He said what’s real.

“I was lying to you. What, am I going to take Baron out? Those guys know I’m just saying stuff. Sometimes you don’t know what to say. You don’t make your free throws, you’re not going to play. Well, that’s for the 10th and 12th guy.”

This dude is all that.

Posted by Marcus Thompson II on November 9, 2007 11:50 PM

Hoop Junkie

————-

Ha ha, I love it! Keeping it real.

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PACERS: Dunleavy quietly making bold statement

I’ve been a Dunleavy fan (but I am glad I never bought his jersey) for a long time, perhaps only because he was a Warrior, but yet even now I hope he becomes something, probably because I am also a Pacer fan, and I want both teams to do well, even though, yes, the Warriors definitely won that trade. Maybe I just don’t want to see people I have rooted for become total busts. (Yes, last year when Nellie said MD would become the ultimate power forward, I believed, Warriors playoff style believed)

In this picture, is it me or does he look like he’s standing on a stool, like when you’re a kid and your dad lifts you up so you can dunk.

A snippet from the article:

“Let’s put it this way: he played in a game that we won by 11 and we keep a plus-minus on every player and he had a plus-34,” O’Brien said. “I don’t think any of us have ever seen a plus-34 in an 11-point ballgame. That speaks to how valuable he is to every element of what we do. He leads our team in the preseason by a large margin in plus-minus.

“That’s exactly who I thought Mike Dunleavy was – exactly who I thought he was.”

Always a solid all-around player, Dunleavy has been deadly from the 3-point line in the preseason, hitting 61.9 percent (13 of 21). That’s a particularly encouraging sign. Dunleavy entered the league with the reputation of a deadly long-range shooter and backed it up with a .372 percentage from the arc in his first two seasons. He slipped markedly, however, to .298 over the past two seasons, including .283 in 43 games with the Pacers.

Holy cow. I can only say in response, it’s preseason. I think he’s always had confidence issues, but I don’t think it’s ridiculous to say that at his best, he could average 15pts/6 rebounds/3 assists on 45% shooting, 35% on 3pt’ers, 75% from the line.

Would that and his well-known no defense help the Pacers win? I hope so. As for Ike Diogu and Troy? Ike: sporadic offensive bursts, nothing else. Troy: the offensive Jeff Foster. Can rebound like Jeff Foster, he’s white like Jeff Foster, doesn’t look anything like Jeff Foster, cannot defend like Jeff Foster, but will score nothing like Jeff Foster (this part is actually a good thing). Simply put, Jeff Foster + Troy Murphy = 15pts per game, 12 rebounds, tough D, outside shooting, maybe All-Star center. Unfortunately, they’re two different people.

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