Golden State Warriors Report Card: Grades for Key Players Through First Quarter

This year’s Golden State Warriors have actually been in a position to win almost every game so far.

Resembling last year’s Warriors, they have been losing most of them.

They have had to deal with numerous injuries, but really what team hasn’t in this shortened, intense schedule this NBA season? After the first quarter of the NBA season, they stand at 5-10, good for 14th in the Western Conference.

New head coach Mark Jackson appears to be instilling his defensive philosophy with marginal success, as it’s going to take some time and maybe some new players.

While the team thus far deserves about a C grade (5-10 probably deserves lower, but again they have been banged up), here are the grades for the team's key contributors so far this year. 

1. Monta Ellis: B+

Monta Ellis is doing what Monta Ellis does.

He is scoring points, making unbelievable shots and still getting to the rim whenever he wants.

His shooting percentage is down, but his assist total is up and he is still an average defender.

This is who he is: an elite scorer on a losing team.

While it’s not all on him, he is having a fine season, but the only way to get him an A grade (or for anyone else on this team,) is if the Warriors ever start winning with his repertoire. 

2. Stephen Curry: Incomplete

Have to give him an incomplete since he has only played in six games through Jan. 22nd.

His ankle has been a lingering problem and hopefully he can get past it because the Warriors really need him back and healthy. 

3. Andris Biedrins: D

Remember all the preseason talk that Biedrins was stronger, confident and ready to play like he used to? Or at least like he belonged in the NBA?

Have you seen any of that talk come to fruition on the court?

I haven’t.

The confidence he was supposed to have back has resulted in four free-throw attempts so far this season.

Most players get more attempts than that by accident.

He has been so inept this season that he was even making Kwame Brown look good this year.

You can’t really say he has been a disappointment, because this isn’t surprising at all.

If the Warriors plan on making any kind of run, he is going to need to step up enormously.

4. David Lee: B

David Lee looks like David Lee again.

After a slow start, he is back to being a double-double machine, and his field-goal percentage is right around his career average.

His free-throw percentage is down a bit, but it looks like it will climb back up.

He is showing why he was commanding big money; whether it is deserved is another question.

Unfortunately, he is being asked the guard the opposing team's best frontcourt player each night because no other big man can stay on the court long enough to provide any kind of consistency on either end.

He is playing good ball this year and this is who he is, for better or worse. This is the David Lee that the Warriors paid for.

5. Dorell Wright: D

One, if not the biggest disappointment of the Warriors season thus far.

His shots aren’t falling and it looks like it’s causing him to shy away from taking more.

Makes sense, but shooters need to shoot themselves out of slumps and that’s exactly what he should be doing. He needs to get his confidence back and the main problem is that his shot attempts are down by nearly six attempts per game.

Not coincidentally, that’s the exact same number of attempts per game by rookie Klay Thompson. 

Maybe he was shaken when they brought in another player that, well, pretty much brings the exact same thing to the table as he does.

If the Warriors are to start turning those losses into wins, he needs to turns it around here soon as his last couple games may suggest…but so far?

Not so good.

6. Brandon Rush: B+

Rush has been a pleasant surprise this season.

He has really filled in nicely especially with Curry out. Shooting 53.7 percent from behind the three-point line, you’d hope that he will get more looks from outside as the season progresses.

Hopefully Curry gets healthy quickly and that his ankle is fine, but it’s nice to know that Rush can come in and fill his spot admirably.

Even though the Warriors could use Louis Amundson now with Brown out for the year, the Warriors clearly benefited in that one-for-one swap.

7. Klay Thompson: B-

Thompson can flat out shoot the ball.

He fits in really well coming off the bench, providing instant offense.

While he doesn’t look like he is going to make anyone ever say “wow” when they see him play, he does look exactly like what the Warriors knew they were getting when they were drafting him.

A fundamentally sound player and a very gifted shooter.

It’s very early in his career, but so far I think he is doing exactly what is asked of him and looks to have a bright future in this league.

8. Nate Robinson: B

What a perfect match.

Warrior fans bring high-level energy to every game and so does Nate.

Robinson has been a spark plug coming off of the bench so far this season and has been a key contributor. Hard to believe that he couldn’t find a team until the Warriors came calling.

While he is not going to win many or any games on his own, If/when the Warriors start making these games matter (by winning), Robinson will only get better and become a key contributor in crucial minutes.

9. Kwame Brown: Incomplete

The Warriors actually miss Brown; who would’ve thought that could happen?

Not so much of his ability, but they miss a seven-footer who gave them with a banger in the post providing a much needed low-post defender.

After watching him play, though, I don’t think many Warriors fans are hoping this $7 million rental turns into a long-term purchase. 

10. Ekpe Udoh: D

Fair or not, whenever I see Udoh on the court I think of Greg Monroe and what might have been.

Udoh’s play is not making it easy on anyone who thinks the same. 

He really hasn’t had any consistent minutes, but there is a reason for that. When he does play he is shooting 37 percent from the field and he is averaging 3.8 rebounds per game.

He is going to have to block every shot he sees to earn any more minutes with those numbers. Needless to say, he hasn’t made any strides in his sophomore year in the NBA.

Sure, it’s only his second year, but at age 24 you have to wonder if what we have seen from him thus far is what you’re going to get with him?