Midseason Report Cards for Every Golden State Warriors Player

The Golden State Warriors have blown this season’s expectations out of the water, as they currently hold the best record in the NBA. The team has excelled in head coach Steve Kerr’s new offense, and the chemistry is strong.

"The Splash Brothers" of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson get most of the attention, as the two are having strong seasons. However, the play of Draymond Green and his stealing the 4 position from David Lee is also making major headlines.

The team is greater than the individual efforts, but how is each player doing at the midpoint of the season? It is time to take a closer look at each player’s contribution to this burgeoning squad.

The grades are based on the overall contribution to the team, comparative stats to previous seasons and time away with injuries.

James Michael McAdoo: Incomplete

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James Michael McAdoo snags the board.

James Michael McAdoo signed a 10-day contract with the Warriors on Monday and made his NBA debut in the 122-79 home win over the Denver Nuggets on Jan. 19. Since the team had the game in control early on, McAdoo was able to give fans a glimpse of his ability.

The crowd roared when seeing McAdoo come onto the floor in the second half. He responded with a solid effort by scoring 11 points, securing five boards, making a solid block and getting the game ball.

Like Justin Holiday before him, the Warriors hope that the D-League can provide more ammunition for the Warriors' postseason run. McAdoo will be in search of a follow-up 10-day contract—or to be signed for the remainder of the season.

Ognjen Kuzmic: C

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Ognjen Kuzmic positions himself to score.

Ognjen Kuzmic gets more attention in his time with the D-League Santa Cruz Warriors than he does with the main team. He is still a project, but Kuzmic needs the opportunity to contribute in more than garbage time by season’s end.

Kuzmic is averaging only 4.5 minutes per game, and in that time, he is putting up only 1.3 points, 1.1 rebounds and 0.1 blocks per game. He is getting better on defense with the help of center Andrew Bogut, but he has to increase his offensive contribution.

He signed a two-year contract before the start of last season, so he will become a restricted free agent at season’s end. General manager Bob Myers and the Warriors brass will then determine whether both parties have a future togehter.

Brandon Rush: C

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Brandon Rush drives to the basket.

Brandon Rush has the skill level to contribute, but he is languishing on the bench for the Warriors. He is not a regular member of the rotation, but he is well-liked by his floormates.

When he makes an appearance, players try to set him up with opportunities to score and make him feel that his practice and preparation are worth it.

Injuries have been a significant deterrence since he initially was injured in a 104-94 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Nov. 2, 2012. Rush tore his left ACL and MCL and was sidelined for the season.

After being traded to Utah on July 10, 2013 in the process of the Warriors freeing up cap space for Andre Iguodala, Rush returned to his former team this season. 

In his previous stint, he was known for his three-point shooting and perimeter defense. Nowadays, he can only hope to get a few worthwhile minutes and contribute as much as possible.

The lack of playing time is a factor, as he is shooting just 25.9 percent from the field and a horrific 7.7 percent from deep. In just below eight minutes per appearance, Rush averages 0.9 points, 1.2 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game.

Festus Ezeli: B-

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Festus Ezeli is looking to return to the floor soon.

Festus Ezeli has had to fight through injuries for most of his young NBA career. He sat out all of last season due to surgery on his right knee, and he missed this year's preseason due to shin inflammation.

He has been out since he sprained his left ankle in the 115-105 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Dec. 23. No return date has been set for his potential return.

During the 21 games he has appeared, Ezeli is a strong defensive force who can rebound, block shots and recover quickly. On offense, he is comfortable between 0-9 feet, where he has taken all but six of his shots so far.

Warriors management has faith in the development of Ezeli, because the brass decided to pick up his option this past offseason. Hopefully, he can return to form and build upon the 4.3 points, 3.0 rebounds and 0.9 blocks per game line that he currently possesses.

Leandro Barbosa: B-

Leandro Barbosa started the season playing with the energy of his nickname, "The Brazilian Blur.” After the Warriors’ 107-95 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Nov. 9, Barbosa went from an integral part of the rotation to an afterthought.

Justin Holiday caught the eye of head coach Steve Kerr and stole significant time from Barbosa. He still brings his game, but Barbosa is now taking advantage of more playing time based on planned rest for his backcourt mates.

Barbosa might not be getting the chances that he likes, but he is still turning back the clock as the oldest member of the team. So far this season, he is putting up a line of 6.0 points, 1.3 rebounds and 1.0 assist per game.

Justin Holiday: B

Justin Holiday is a D-League find who is having a lot of success with the Warriors. He brings his athleticism, wingspan and defensive abilities to a strong second unit.

At the start of the season, he was known primarily for being the older brother of New Orleans Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday. His brother’s statistics and playing time still dominate, but Justin is getting closer.

His minutes and responsibilities have risen each month of the season as he builds confidence and produces. He is becoming more of a threat from behind the arc trying to become a second-unit Splash Brother.

Holiday will continue to try to rip away minutes, as he averages 4.7 points, 1.2 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game.

Shaun Livingston: B

Shaun Livingston is having a good season, but he is not getting the looks or the minutes that he received last season with the Brooklyn Nets. The main reason for his lack of opportunities is that he is backing up the potential MVP in Stephen Curry.

He does provide a necessary service in that he gives Curry valuable rest time and keeps his average minutes below 40 per game. Livingston has a solid handle, sees the floor well and is known for posting up smaller guards.

Since he is only playing an average of 17 minutes per night, his numbers are down compared to last season. However, he is shooting at a higher percentage, which is partially based on the success of coach Kerr’s floor spacing.

Expect Livingston to get more playing time, especially with the Warriors’ record and additional rest coming for Curry after the All-Star break.

Livingston’s line through Jan. 21 is 5.7 points, 2.9 assists and 1.9 rebounds per game.

Andre Iguodala: B

Andre Iguodala has been the true team player this season after being switched from the starting small forward position to a bench role. Coach Kerr still believes in him because Iguodala is usually in the game during the deciding moments of close contests.

The switch has dropped his minutes per game from 32.4 to 26.9, and his statistics have had a noticeable decline because of it.

His current line is 6.9 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game, while he is shooting 45 percent from the field and 34 percent from the three-point line.

He is versatile for the second unit, as he is a point forward. He can play just about any position except center and can lead the attack when Curry or Livingston is not in play.

He still provides top-notch defense and a slew of athletic moves. We shall see what kind of impact he will make come playoff time.

David Lee: B+

David Lee has successfully returned to the lineup after missing 20-plus games with a hamstring injury. He has adjusted smoothly to a new bench role due to the success of Draymond Green.

Lee understands the move and wants to win, according to Carl Steward of the San Jose Mercury News:

"

You've already seen, I've made a sacrifice coming off the bench, and I have no issue with that. Everybody in this locker room is about winning, and that's what we're going to be about. We're going to continue to keep working hard and challenging one another to be ready when it's their time.

"

Lee has taken advantage of his second-unit position, where he can use his offensive tools to both score in the post or set up teammates against weaker opponents. He has also paid more attention to his defensive effort, which has marginally improved.

Lee’s line so far this season is 9.9 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game.

Harrison Barnes: B+

Harrison Barnes has made a dramatic improvement since he took the starting role back at the beginning of the season. He has incorporated a more physical style of play, as he occasionally rotates between the small and power forward spots.

His rebounding average has increased from 4.0 rebounds per game last season to 6.1 this campaign. He now has more confidence because he is being used the correct way.

His athleticism is still profound, as he shows off why he is called the "Black Falcon" with his slams and moves to the hoop. He is also very comfortable shooting the corner three-ball.

Consistency is the key to Barnes’ improvement. He still has a few games where he seems invisible, but he is contributing more meaningful minutes.

The statistics show that bump, as he is shooting 49.7 percent from the field, 44 percent from behind the arc and is scoring 10.5 points per game.

Andrew Bogut: A-

Andrew Bogut is the key to the Warriors’ title chances, and he has already missed one month. He sat because of chondromalacia and went through platelet-rich plasma therapy.

Per Rusty Simmons of the San Francisco Chronicle, Bogut feels like he is progressing:

"

My body is holding up very well. … I feel like I’m back in my rhythm. I feel like I’m moving around quicker. I woke up that morning in Oklahoma City feeling like I’d been in a car accident. The next day, I felt great, so I thank Coach for giving me a spell. It worked out well, and my body is feeling good.

"

Bogut provides so much to the team on the defensive end with his blocks, defensive positioning and physicality. He helps open the transition offense with his play.

On offense, he is the facilitator that spaces the floor, finds the open looks to a cutting Curry or Thompson and brings the thunder with his hard-hitting screens.

His stats are down a bit from last season, but his two key increases are 2.7 assists per game and 62 percent shooting from the line (16 out of 26 attempts).

As long as his health holds, Bogut will be a major factor going forward.

Marreese Speights: A

Marreese Speights has truly earned the “Mo Buckets” nickname this season with a scoring rate of 0.67 points per minute played. He plays above his team average, which is ranked first in the Association with 0.46 points per minute, per C.

He is putting up career highs so far this season in points (12.5), shooting percentage (52.0), assists (1.0), and blocks (0.7). He is a floor-spacer, as he can step out to consistently hit the 20-foot jumper.

His defense is solid too, as he is corralling 5.0 boards per game and has a defensive rating of 101. He is not afraid to step in to draw a charge.

Speights has been multidimensional, as he usually comes off the bench, but he became the starting center with the injuries to Bogut and Ezeli. This season is a dream compared to the struggles he had last year.

Speights is already positioning himself for Sixth Man of the Year award.

Draymond Green: A

Draymond Green started this season with a goal to beat out David Lee for the starting power forward spot. He has accomplished a lot more than what was expected of him.

Per Basketball-Reference.com, Green leads the NBA in defensive rating and defensive win shares, while he is third in defensive plus/minus. Green uses his genius-level basketball IQ and hard-working mentality to outwork and outscheme his opponents.

This is not a bad outcome for an overlooked second-round draft pick out of Michigan State who was the Big Ten Player of the Year in 2012 and was considered a “tweener” by many.

In his third year as a professional, Green can start setting his sights on two potential awards: Most Improved Player and Defensive Player of the Year.

Per Chelsea Janes of The Washington Post, assistant coach Alvin Gentry loves Green’s intangibles:

"

I don’t know if you can lock him into any position. He’s just a really good basketball player – he can be whatever you want him to be. I don’t think you can pigeon-hole him to one position, pigeon-hole him to one thing we’d like him to be: We just like what he brings to the table, mainly the intangibles.

"

Green has provided the stretch 4 that coach Kerr wanted from the get-go. Yes, Green does go cold at times from behind the arc, but his 34.3 percent shooting from that range does create more spacing and ample opportunities.

Defense is key in the postseason, and the Warriors are ecstatic to have a player the caliber of Green in their arsenal.

Klay Thompson: A

Klay Thompson seems to evolve every year on the court. This season is no different, as he now takes it to his opponent with driving force.

The first glimpse of Thompson’s new aggressive style was displayed when he posterized Robin Lopez before hitting the game-winning basket in the 95-90 win versus the Portland Trail Blazers at the Moda Center on Nov. 2.

Thompson has steadied his handle this season and given himself more opportunities. By having the ability to drive right by a defender, Thompson has created more space to pull up for jumpers.

Thompson is two dunks shy of his career high (15), and as a result, he has increased the number of visits to the charity stripe from 2.3 last season to 3.7 this go-around.

He is arguably the best two-way shooting guard in the NBA and shows his aggressiveness on defense. He positions himself in a way to garner 1.3 steals per game, but he is also having a block party this season with nearly one per game.

Thompson was given the task of shutting down the NBA’s leading scorer, James Harden, in the Warriors’ 131-106 win at the Toyota Center in Houston on Jan. 17. Thompson had five blocks and held Harden to 12 points (4-of-15 shooting, including 0-of-4 from beyond the arc).

He is scoring a career-high 21.9 points to go along with 3.6 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game on the season.

Stephen Curry: A+

Stephen Curry is showing the NBA that he is a serious contender for the Most Valuable Player award. He is the primary ball-handler on a team that is leading the league with a point differential that almost doubles second place, per ESPN.com.

As the starting point guard of last season’s Western Conference All-Star squad, Curry gained a lot of notoriety. His play this campaign has solidified that and moved him to the league's upper echelon of players.

He is a very unselfish player who likes to get his teammates involved in the action. His passes in space to cutting players facilitate the scoring and build team confidence.

Curry is currently shooting 58.5 percent in front of the three-point line, 40.2 percent from beyond the arc and a cool 91.5 percent from the charity stripe.

His shot release is so quick and smooth that defenders have a hard time getting in front of it. They try to attack him in different ways, but it seems like Curry has it figured out before the opponent does.

His line is currently 23.2 points, 8.1 assists, 4.8 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game.

The biggest adjustment that Curry has made is his play on the defensive end. He uses his hand-eye coordination and positioning to make steals, but it is more than just that.

He wants to be an elite two-way point guard, and he is learning to fight through screens, take on the opponent’s top guard and play better help defense.

His continued ascent combined with all of those additions add up to Curry being arguably the best player in the Association right now.

All stats provided courtesy of Basketball-Reference and NBA.com unless otherwise stated. 

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