Warriors Update – December 10, 2009

Warriors Update – December 10, 2009

We are certain we heard it last night: Pfffft.  It was not leaking air from a post game Continental Arena balloon.  Nor was it the sound of resignation from Warrior fans after realizing their team has the 25^th best record in the NBA – after last night’s victory.

It was, in fact, Warrior management’s collective sigh of relief after defeating the 2-18 Nets, the NBA’s 30^th best team.  Designated coach-in-training Keith Smart got a strong effort from the players to confirm management’s certainty that the Warriors are not the absolute worst team in the league. 

Management is, on this point, spot on.  At full effort (and they pushed hard last night), leaving everything on the court in a contested game (five point lead with five minutes left) against #30, they demonstrated they deserve the #25 spot.  Don’t deny them their due.

Management seems content to ride out Plan A: a strive-for-mediocrity strategy plotted out in preseason (see Warrior Update – September 24).  Yet it is a bit disconcerting to hear GM-in-training Riley, Lil Bobby Rowell and Coach Nellie all continually discuss how difficult it is to evaluate the quality of their roster, given all the injuries and missing players.  We apologize.  We just don’t know how to buy into that one.  Is there something the Warrior brain trust knows that fans, media, players, and other NBA teams don’t know? 

For the record, the evaluation is in.  Its in the standings; they are 25^th best.  And holding.  If Monta Ellis tweaks an ankle, then its an easy call to move to Plan B:  the ping-pong-ball-prayers-strategy, in hopes the balls bounce their way for a franchise changing #1 overall pick in 2010.

The bottom line for the current Warrior roster is the talent isn’t there.

At their best, full effort, full roster, no injuries, playing as well as they can on both sides of the court (for sure, a dream scenario for any NBA team), this Warrior team is a .500, 41 win team. 

Sure, Randolph shows a lot of promise.  And Curry, for all his mistakes and inconsistency, is showing he may belong.  CJ Watson adds some value, and everyone loves Turiaf’s effort and positive presence. 

And, of course, Ellis is making his case as an elite NBA all-star.  But look at the overall team and compare them to, say, the Lakers.  Lets concede that Ellis is Kobe Bryant - which he isn’t.  Would the Lakers fall apart, or even drop to .500 if Kobe missed 30 games?  Artest, Gasol, Bynum, Odom, Shannon Brown.  I don’t think so.  

But the Warriors without Ellis?  As they say in Brooklyn, Faagetaboudit. 

We hate to admit this, but here is: That Laker lineup, without Kobe, is better than a completely healthy Warriors lineup that includes Monta Ellis. 

That’s the difference between defending champs and 25^th best.

Would you or wouldn’t you?  

A dream in the making:  Trade Stephen Curry, Anthony Randolph, two #1s, throw in Speedy Claxton, for Chris Paul? 

An interesting proposition, indeed.  You refuse to give up Randolph, for sure. You don’t really want to trade Curry.  And you pick up a huge, long-term contract without shipping an equivalent elephant, leaving luxury tax or close to it for the next few years.  But now you have, without question, the best backcourt in basketball.  CP3 and Ellis.  The question is can you do anything with it?  Do you have enough firepower left to surround them with enough talent to make a real run?  Where is Chris Mullin when you need him most?  Oh yea, we forgot.  He was let go last year...

Then, of course, you have to wonder if New Orleans would pull the trigger on something like this…would you do it?  Let us know…

As always, Go Dubs...

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