Highs and Lows: Golden State Warriors
Monta Ellis, Dime #44The NBA preseason is underway. While we wait for the real games to start, we’re going team-by-team, from 1 to 30, exploring where each team’s ceiling is for the upcoming season and where their basement is. In other words, what are the realistic best-case and worst-case scenarios for each squad?
Additions: SF Corey Maggette, SF/PF Anthony Randolph, PG Marcus Williams, PF Ronny Turiaf.
Losses: PG Baron Davis, SG Mickael Pietrus, SF Matt Barnes, C Patrick O’Bryant.
Ceiling: An inspired, albeit unsuccessful, late run at the playoffs
For the style of ball that coach Don Nelson wants to play, he’s got the roster pieces in place to have some success. Led by 22-year-old Monta Ellis — one of the fastest and most explosive athletes in the League this side of LeBron — Nellie’s preferred up-tempo, get-your-shots-up style caters to the likes of Maggette, Stephen Jackson, Kelenna Azubuike, Randolph and Marco Belinelli. At the same time, the standard Nellie-ball vulnerabilities exist, namely lack of defense and consistent rebounding. Outside of Andris Biedrins, who else will take on those responsibilities? Turiaf has the hustle and desire, but he’s a solid backup at best. Al Harrington fancies himself a two-guard rather than a power forward, and Randolph and Brandan Wright weigh about as much combined as Eddy Curry. The Warriors will put points on the board and will be able to out-shoot a number of teams, but ultimately they just aren’t good enough to crack the top eight in the West.
Basement: 30 to 35 wins
The Warriors are the Chicago Bulls of the West, only without the championship legacy overshadowing everything they do. (Unless you count the ‘75 chip with Rick Barry, which unfortunately, most people don’t even remember.) Once upon a time — as in just about one year ago — Golden State was an up-and-coming contender that could have struck fear in any conference powerhouse. But the promise of ‘07 turned into yet another hard-luck season in the Bay that ended with Baron Davis and Nellie clashing as the team’s playoff hopes fell apart. Now Baron is gone, the Warriors missed out on Elton Brand and Gilbert Arenas and wound up with the free-agent bronze medal in Maggette, and Monta wrecked his ankle over the summer. Additionally, the 30-game suspension handed down to Ellis exposed a fracture in the organization, a rift that has GM Chris Mullin and Nellie on one side, and team owner Chris Cohan and president Rob Rowell on the other. With Mullin and Nellie in the final year of their respective contracts, who knows what direction this team is headed in the near future?
‘08-09 NBA preview archives
10/10 — Detroit Pistons
10/9 — San Antonio Spurs
10/8 — Chicago Bulls
10/6 — Oklahoma City Thunder
10/3 — Washington Wizards
10/2 — Utah Jazz
10/1 — Charlotte Bobcats
9/30 — Memphis Grizzlies
9/26 — Toronto Raptors
9/25 — New Orleans Hornets
9/24 — Atlanta Hawks
9/23 — Sacramento Kings
9/22 — Miami Heat
9/19 — Portland Trail Blazers
9/18 — New Jersey Nets
9/17 — Minnesota Timberwolves
9/16 — Cleveland Cavaliers
9/15 — Phoenix Suns
9/12 — Milwaukee Bucks
9/11 — L.A. Clippers
9/10 — Orlando Magic
October 14th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
RENO says:
I just don’t see this squad really doing anything. I see them in the Lottery mix.
October 14th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
Homeless J says:
I like the wording of their ceiling. That sounds about right. That basement is a little high though. I could also see them shitting the bed (is it even shitting a bed if you don’t make it up real nice beforehand? This is like when Frank shit the bed in It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.) and getting like 20-25 wins.
October 14th, 2008 at 4:48 pm
Tyrone says:
Them Warriors are gonna be aight y’all – once Monta comes back, they’re gonna be rockin’ the NBA as eva. Ain’t no doubt that them cats are gonna be makin them playoffs.
True thugs never lie.
Tyrone
October 14th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
Drink the Haterade (KB24 Chip 09) says:
I’m just curious to know how in the world due you not pay attention when riding a moped?
OK they are gonna suck! I remember when everyone was all up on Marcus Williams jock and when he got drafted and the Lakers took Farmar, I was like well he’ll be good, but damn, I wanted Marcus, now I’m glad he didn’t fall to 28.
Monta– Is never going to fully recover and Monta should be suspended. He went against what his contract says, if he wanted to ride that moped then he shouldn’t have signed that contract. He’s an adult he made a choice and he should be penalized for his insubordination.
I know here come the haters, but look at it like this, if you told your boss that you were gonna do a project and didn’t wouldn’t he reprimand you?
October 14th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
aj says:
Warriors will be in the lottery. They’ve got decidedly worse this offseason.
Tyrone doens’t have a negative bone in his body. I don’t think I’ve seen one negative comment from him before. He sees the good in everyone and hopes for the best. Such an optimist.
October 14th, 2008 at 5:05 pm
Scott says:
They are easily lottery bound, but they have a VERY talented young nucleus in Ellis-Biedrins-Randolph, add another lotto pick, and thats a really nice young nucleus for the future.
Maggz, Jackson, Harrington, the other name notables on the squad probably won’t even be around when this team makes noise in a few years. When Monta hits his prime, the Warriors, if they stay on pace and keep their nucleus locked up, could be very nice.
But this year one word sums them up….
YUCK.
Holla!
October 14th, 2008 at 5:26 pm
craig990 says:
..would u guys please give the highs and lows for my Houston Rockets?
I’ve been waiting for them since this article started!
October 14th, 2008 at 6:09 pm
alex says:
WE BELIEVE!
October 14th, 2008 at 6:31 pm
George W Kush Sr says:
That suspension is gonna kill them. I agree with it though, if anything I feel he should miss more games. But its a double edged sword
October 14th, 2008 at 6:31 pm
DMC says:
WTF is up with Monta’s outfit and swag in that picture. He looks like Andy from The 40 Year Old Virgin.
October 14th, 2008 at 6:34 pm
Austin Burton says:
@DMC — You didn’t know that button-ups with track pants is what’s hot on the street now?
October 14th, 2008 at 6:40 pm
George W Kush Sr says:
@ Austin – That’s Ricky’s look from Trailer Park Boys… damn
October 14th, 2008 at 6:46 pm
ZACH says:
@ 9
How is the suspension gonna kill them? He wouldn’t be able to play because of the injury anyway
October 14th, 2008 at 6:51 pm
Brown says:
This is a season to let the young guys develop. If they achieve that, it’ll be a success. That’s all I’m hoping for, cuz the playoffs simply are not going to happen.
October 14th, 2008 at 7:30 pm
fallinup says:
Correct me if I’m wrong…but doesn’t the suspension start as soon as he’s healthy?
Eh, either way. They will not make it out of the lottery. Even with Monta pre-Mopedgate,
October 14th, 2008 at 7:56 pm
Austin Burton says:
@fallinup — The suspension is actually underway now; it includes the preseason. They basically timed it so he won’t miss any games once he’s healthy. The larger point of the suspension was the “unpaid” part.
October 14th, 2008 at 8:02 pm
George W Kush Sr says:
@Zach,
Because, if he returns and recovers from his injury as soon as possible, they still aint gonna use him for another 30 games. But they gotta pay him his salary, more than half, thats gotta hurt.
October 14th, 2008 at 8:08 pm
George W Kush Sr says:
just seen austin’s post.
October 15th, 2008 at 1:43 am
dillinger says:
Actually, as a fan from the area, I hope that they suck enough this year so that they can have a shot at grabbing Rubio in the lottery. Now that would be a team that could do some damage in the regular season.
October 15th, 2008 at 5:21 am
Tim says:
Monta is not a point guard.
http://www.squidoo.com/MontaEllis
October 15th, 2008 at 5:48 am
iain. says:
Man, you can tell Monta is just one of those cats that never went a day without playing, and never really cared about his appearance off-court. Because that picture, with the 1970s Bell Bottom warm up pants and that funky shirt, makes him look like the type of guy that rides mopeds every day.
October 15th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
doc says:
Yeah AB where the hell is that the style at?In the salvation army.But I think GS will stink the joint up.
October 15th, 2008 at 7:34 pm
LOu B says:
what kind of get up is that, Monta?
he looks like my 64 year old uncle freddie.
who was a MACK back in the day.