Nets trade Marcus Williams to Golden State for a 1st?

Nellie-ball is more than just creating mismatches. It centered around BD and the other players feeding off him. BD's leadership gave that team confidence. Corey Maggette doesn't provide any of that. The Warriors have lost the source of their mojo.

 

From last season, the Warriors lost BD, Azubuke & Pietrus while gaining Maggette, Randolph, Turiaf, Williams and Evans. IMO, for the upcoming season, that is a draw if you stretch the limits of reason. Also, you can expect Ellis and Biedrins to be better.

The Blazers lost James Jones & Jarrett Jack while gaining Greg Oden, Rudy Fernandez and Bayless. That is a slam dunk big improvement. You can expect Roy, Aldridge, Outlaw and Webster to improve.

I thought the Warriors would drop into oblivion on the forum, but it looks like we'll be talking about them at least to start the season. I can't wait. I like Monta Ellis a lot and hope he is serviceable at PG but I doubt it.

 

Exactly why I think the Warriors will make some noise, but eventually fall short of last season's win total.

Ellis is a nice player. But he is no Baron Davis that's for sure. And neither is he a point guard.

I'll eat my words if he proves me wrong.

 

I vividly remember the degree Parker used to be out of control and at times being benched for not managing his team well (too many of his own shots, too many TOs, not gettting the ball to the right guys[Duncan] in the right spot). IMO he isn't a natural PG. But to his and Popv's credit he has become a stable enough PG in those respects where his superior scoring instincts make him a very very effective overall PG.

Barbosa 2 years ago looked like he could go this route. Since then it looks like he can't. Not sure Barbosa's problem (confidence, others figured him out, lost focus/motivation after the big cobtract, outside of BB issues), but most players don't regress in year 4 like he did. I think he is more of the exception.

You are right both players are scrubs. But MW is 22 and Dudan will be 26 soon (and hasn't gotten a lick better in 4 years in the league after a long college career). Quite a big difference in growth potential.

 

I think S Jack was a big part of the Mojo as well. If I recall a big part of GS's turn was post the Indy trade. S Jack, Harrington, blossoming of Ellis, without that Baron at GS looked like the Baron at NO--fine player but not enough to carry a team.

Further, I won't say Ellis, Jackson and Maggette are equal to Davis, Ellis & Jackson. But they might not be far off (should gain in defense and rebounding while losing in offesive creativity). And Williams and Evans give them a potentially decent subs (and Belinelli like MW is just 22 and could develop).

But the real improvement potential is in the bigs. Biedrins is only 22, Wright 20, and Randolph is 19. Major potential there with guys already showing flashes of game. And they have some decent vets in Harrington and Turiaf while they learn. In the end rebounding and interior defense has held them back, and they should be a lot better in those departments.

Now to me the major concern in Portland is leadership. When you main leader has been in the league only 2 years (Roy) and your other veteran leader is a journeyman PG (Blake) who will mainly be on the bench if your prized rookie plays like they want I have questions how ready that team is to challenge for a playoff spot in the West. Brilliant future, but is this team ready this year? Not sure. How they could use a guy like Steven Jackson to provide the grit and the confidence while the young guys grow.

 

Oh yes, SJax is important to GS's mojo, but he isn't a real team leader. He sets an example by his fearless attitude and what he does on the court. BD was the heart and soul of that team. If SJax is the best leader the Warriors have, that is a negative. And when the lack of motivation bug bites them at times during the season, they won't have BD to help pull them out.

On the other hand, you, like many others, just don't realize what Brandon Roy is all about. He is the true heart and soul of that team. He is the one who, during a team meeting two years ago, challenged Z-Bo's attitude in front of everyone. He's the one who played like an MVP last December and led them to 15 straight wins with clutch play. Adding Oden, Fernandez and Bayless along with more maturation of their existing players should be good for 10 more wins. I'm NOT saying they are a Finals contender but they will definitely make the playoffs.

I sure hope Roy stays healthy this season and fans around the league learn more about him. TNT & ABC need to show them more often. Here's a YouTube for ya. Roy likes the Lakers just like we do.

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I like Marcus Williams. Sure he's not proven yet, but I think the talent is there: The passing skills, the size, the potential for good defense (the shooting still needs work, but he can be a good shooter). The guy needs some PT to develop. He's well worth a protected first round pick IMO. And honestly, is Brooks any more proven than MWill? People on this board rave about him constantly.

And for the record, I would gladly trade Brooks for Marcus Williams.

 

I asked about a backup who had a better than 2:1 assist to turnover ratio (with more than 2 assists per contest) and a better than 38% 3pt%. Those are the numbers. Not overall FG%, 3G%.

Duhon shot 34.8% from 3pt land last season.

That's fail 1.


Fail 2 is that Duhon got signed by the Knicks to be their starter this season.

So basically you're taking a guy whose numbers are about the same as Williams' (in more minutes), who got signed to START for a team, and using a statistical analysis to say that means Williams will be out of the league in 2 years

You don't seem to have grasped a solid method of evaluating basketball players...
Are you Isaiah Thomas??????

 

You're probably right!!!

I just expect Brandon Wright to make some big strides - and Turiaf will make a bigger difference to the team as a whole than his talent level shows. The simple things that he does just don't get done if Biedrins doesn't play - so his addition is rather significant (imo).

Anyway - we'll see!

I still think there's a chance GSW have a better record than Portland (but I wouldn't put my farm on it)