Golden State Warriors-Los Angeles Clippers: 5 Things for Keith Smart to See
After a 132-128 Warriors season-opening win over the Rockets--the team's first victorious season opener since Coach Mike Montgomery was at the helm in 2005--Coach Keith Smart had to be encouraged. And with his club finding a way to snap a nine-game losing streak to the Rockets, Smart could even be excited.
Realistically, though, it was more of a hesitant excitement. As good as the Warriors looked in certain aspects—55.4 percent from the floor, 84.6 percent from the free throw line—some lingering issues should have kept Smart's attention in the film room.
These are all areas that will need improvement—or at least consistency—if the team's new owners hope to give the fanbase its first postseason trip since upsetting the top-seeded Mavericks in 2007.
5. Backup Point Guard
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Stop me if you've heard this one before: the Warriors have point guard depth issues. Indeed, they don't have any depth at the position.
After the team failed to match C.J. Watson's offer sheet from the Chicago Bulls this summer, the Warriors have yet to definitively answer this looming question.
They have certainly tried to find an answer, but their search has been as productive as any Bay Area sports fan's work has been during the Giants postseason run.
Their first option, Charlie Bell, was brought in more as cap relief next season than point guard relief this season. Their second option, Jeremy Lin, showed some flashes in the summer league, but appears to perhaps be more of a marketing tool than a productive player. Their third option, Jannero Pargo, never even signed on to the team, despite reports of a two-year contract.
With coach Don Nelson out of the picture, Warriors fans are hopeful that the days of 42-plus minutes for starters are a thing of the past. But without some production behind them, Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry could battle each other for the league lead in minutes played.
4. Bench Consistency
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The Warriors can live with problems at the backup point guard position. Just ask Kelenna Azubuike, C.J. Watson and Reggie Williams if the team's scouts know a thing or two about finding a gem in the D-League.
But as hard as it is to find one gem, imagine the scouts being asked to find an entire bench.
The second unit did not have a bad game in the team's opener, but no player really separated himself from the rest. The aforementioned Williams should be the team's go-to option off the bench over the long haul, but he posted a lackluster seven points and three rebounds in 16 minutes Tuesday night.
Rodney Carney, brought in to be a defensive stopper and high-energy player at the end of the bench, actually led all Warriors reserves with 16:46 of court action. He also led the reserves with eight points and four rebounds, but his career 6.1 points and 2.0 rebounds per game should show Smart and Co. that this is about all they should expect from him over the season.
The only other reserve to crack double-digit minutes was the healthy--for now--Brandan Wright. Wright was less than impressive, with four points, two rebounds and a block in 10:44, even with starting center Andris Biedrins seeing the court for less than 30 minutes after fouling out. Wright has the potential—we think—to help Williams lead a productive bench, but his health has never allowed him to develop any consistency.
3. Big Three to Big Five
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Despite what South Beach might hope for, the NBA takes more than three players to make a good team. And as good as the Warriors' top three may be, they'll need their starting five to be hitting on all cylinders to battle for a playoff berth.
Though they probably have the talent to do it, it's hard to expect Stephen Curry and Monta Ellis to combine for 71 points a night. The hardest thing for Smart to swallow about that total is that the Warriors needed every one of those 71 points to close out the Rockets.
David Lee did what he does best, posting another double-double with 17 points and 15 rebounds. Given his history, one can reasonably expect more of the same for the rest of the season.
But the players who can take this club from decent to good—trust me, I wanted to say good to great—are the other 40 percent of their starting five: Andris Biedrins and Dorell Wright. Both players looked good in the opener. Wright finished with 15 points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals, while Biedrins went for 11 rebounds, eight points and two blocks. But neither looked great.
A good season from Wright and Biedrins could be enough to push the Warriors back into the postseason. A great season from these two could guide this team past the first round.
2. Rebounding
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The Warriors were atrocious on the glass last season. Their -9.7 rebounding differential last season was dead last in the league, nearly five rebounds behind the second-to-last team.
As badly as the club was decimated by injuries, if one wants to know why the team struggled last season, that statistic explains it all. Granted, one of the big injuries was to big man Andris Biedrins, but the club's rebounding effort was called into question all season.
The team showed a better overall effort against the Rockets, winning the rebound battle 45-39. Despite 16 rebounds from Luis Scola, the Warriors managed to box out the rest of the Rockets. The Warriors finished with 14 offensive rebounds, including four by Biedrins and three each by Lee and Carney.
Smart will need to see that same intensity tonight, as the team faces a formidable Clippers front court. The Clippers were out-rebounded by 10 in their season opening loss against the Blazers, but did get 25 rebounds out of Chris Kaman and Blake Griffin.
1. Defense
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While it's been refreshing to hear a Warriors coach stress defense to his team, it would be more refreshing to see that message be received by a better defensive effort on the floor.
Despite getting a win, the team still gave up 128 points to the Rockets. Luis Scola and Kevin Martin—good scorers, but not NBA elite scorers—torched the Warriors defense to the tune of 64 points. And David Lee looked as good as advertised on the offensive end and as bad as advertised on the defensive end.
The Warriors bigs were physically dominated for most of the game against the Rockets, and the league boasts more physically-gifted front courts, including that of the Clippers. Smart said he wants to see a better effort earlier in the shot clock to keep the opposition from bullying their way into good post position.
But on a good defensive team, as pointed out by Stephen Curry, the perimeter players harass opposing front courts to help out their own big men. The team's rotation looked spotty at times, and will need to return to the crisp movement that seemed to be coming near the end of the preseason.
