Golden State Warriors: Grading Every Player 3/4 Way Through the Season

To say the least, it has been a very disappointing season for the Golden State Warriors. Thirteenth place in the Western Conference, injuries to key players and trading Monta Ellis are just some of the reasons why the 2011-2012 campaign is all but lost. 

However, this team does have a bright side. Their oldest player is Richard Jefferson, who is 31 years old. This is a very young, energetic team that can only go up from here. It is safe to say that better days definitely lie ahead. 

But, for now, let's stay in the present. Read on as we grade every Golden State Warrior three-quarters of the way through the season. 

Stephon Curry, Guard: D

With Monta Ellis gone, Warriors head coach Mark Jackson has made it clear that this is Stephon Curry's team now. However, Curry has been injured and has not played since March 11, when he re-injured his ankle against the Clippers.

The team could possibly make him sit out the rest of this season. He averaged 14.7 points in 26 games this season. When healthy, Curry is one of the best point guards in the league—the key word being healthy.

Curry gets a "D" because, obviously, he has been sitting out most of the season. From the very first preseason game against Sacramento, when he tweaked his ankle, Curry has been on and off, occasionally taking a day off because of injuries.

As the team leader, he needs to get healthy. It has been disappointing to watch him thus far this season.

Nate Robinson, Guard: A-

Nate Robinson has been quite a nice find for the Warriors, who picked him up mid-way through the season. He has done a nice job filling in for the injured Stephon Curry, and an even finer job as the starting point guard after Monta Ellis was traded. 

Considering his short temper and alleged team chemistry issues, it seems as if Nate enjoys playing in Golden State—despite the losing record.

The pesky point guard is averaging 10 points a game so far, and really does deserve an A-. 

Charles Jenkins, Guard: C+

The potential is unlimited for Charles Jenkins, who just scored a career-high 27 points against the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday. He was the 44th pick of the 2011 NBA draft, and has been a nice find for the Warriors.

What's even more impressive about Jenkins is how humble he is. Just a day later, he commented to Matt Steinmetz of CSN that his career night "doesn't matter."

If this kid keeps his head down and keeps working, there is no doubt that he will be a very successful player in the NBA.

For now, I will have to give him a C+ because he has not played much this season, but has shown spurts of terrific play in his limited action.

Klay Thompson, Guard: A-

Speaking of potential, this guy probably has the most out of anyone on the team. Klay Thompson is just a rookie, but he could develop into the next Reggie Miller. 

Thompson can just flat out shoot the ball, as he did in his career night—31 points Saturday against the Sacramento Kings.

He will start every game now that Monta Ellis has been traded, and perhaps that is a sign that the organization trusts him. There will be occasional "bad" games, with him being a rookie, but in my opinion, Thompson is right behind Kyrie Irving for the Rookie of the Year award.

Dorell Wright, Forward: C

Wright averaged 16 points a game last year as a starter, and was one of the best three-point shooters in the league. This year, he has just been in a funk. Dorell got off to a very slow start, where he scored no points in several games. 

He has played better as of late, but the Warriors need his production in order to be successful. 

Dominic McGuire, Forward: B+

Dominic McGuire was a very underrated pickup by the Warriors in the offseason. He is now a vital part of the rotation, with his specialty being defense. You can see why this team really needs him. 

Although he averages just three points a game, he more than makes up for it with his superb lock-down defense. 

Richard Jefferson, Forward: C

There was once a time when Richard Jefferson was an excellent player and scorer. He could shoot, pass and dunk with ease. 

Now, Jefferson is a role player at best. However, he still thinks that he is that prolific scorer of 10 years ago. Most of his three-point shots are bricks; unfortunately, he shoots a lot of them. 

Brandon Rush, Forward: B

Rush was a straight-up steal for the Warriors, coming from Indiana in a trade that cost the Warriors Lou Amundson (remember him? I don't). He is sixth in the NBA in three-point shooting, and fits in nicely with this team, contributing off the bench.

David Lee, Forward: A+

You have to feel bad for David Lee. Never in his seven-year NBA career has he been in the playoffs, and it certainly doesn't look like it will come this year. He has done everything that has been asked of him, carrying the Warriors on his shoulders.

Lee is a walking double-double: 19 points and 10 rebounds a game. This is even more impressive given the fact that most opponents single him out as the only offensive threat, so Lee oftentimes has to deal with a ton of defensive pressure. 

Hopefully, the Warriors will improve and help David Lee make the postseason. 

By the way, he more than deserves that A+. 

Andris Biedrins, Center: F

There used to be a time when Andris Biedrins was decent. I mean, decent enough to earn a monster contract of six years, $63 million. Biedrins averaged 12 points and 11 rebounds a game during the 2008-2009 season. As far-fetched as it may seem now, Andris Biedrins was a walking double-double.

Andris Biedrins, a walking double-double. Say that to a Warrior fan today and you might get laughed at. 

Biedrins is having the worst season of his career, averaging just two points per game. He has not scored in the double digits since the season opener, and has definitely not lived up to expectations.

It seems as if, at times, he is simply lost out there on the court. His only asset, if you can even call it that, is that he is seven feet tall and grabs rebounds. But he does not want any part of this team offensively.

His free-throwing, which is his main Achilles' heel, has plummeted. He is one-for-five this season from the charity stripe (that's 20 percent). Why has he only shot five free throws in 25 games played?

Warriors broadcaster Jim Barnett has referenced several times on broadcasts and radio shows that Biedrins is "scared to shoot because [he] is afraid that he will get fouled and have to shoot free throws." (If you have not seen him shoot a free-throw, it isn't pretty.)

In fact, there was a time that Biedrins actually led the NBA in field-goal percentage, at 62 percent, during the 2007-2008 campaign. Oh, the Warriors can only wish to have the Andris of old back again. Now all they have is a no-use, $10.5 million center who contributes nothing and is afraid to shoot the basketball.

Jeremy Tyler, Keith Benson, Chris Wright, Mickell Gladness, Centers: TBD

All of the above players have yet to receive enough playing time to grade them fairly. They are all centers, as the Warriors desperately need big men who can help them out. 

In the meantime, let's just pray that one of them turns out to be the next Hakeem Olajuwon.