Golden State
Philip Maymin
Basketball News Services
Two-thirds of Golden State's remaining season expires over the weekend but Warriors fans have to be feeling good about the future of this franchise given the nucleus they have put together coupled with the fact that they are still in the lottery. Do the Warriors have the chance to become the Nets of the past few years?
In their primes, Baron Davis is no Jason Kidd, but Jason Kidd is not in his prime anymore. Steve Nash is a frontrunner for the MVP award for his part in the Phoenix turnaround. Meanwhile, the league's self-professed best point guard Stephon Marbury is leading a lottery Knicks team. But early last season, it was Davis who was playing like an MVP.
A lot of the reason for Nash to be MVP comes from taking note that the Suns do so poorly without him in the lineup. But look at the Hornets this year compared to last year: without Baron Davis, they completely collapsed.
This could develop into possibly the second greatest trade of the 2004-2005 season, trailing only the Miami Heat's acquisition of Shaquille O'Neal. The Steve Nash acquisition was not a trade but merely a higher offer so it doesn't rank.
Whether they end up going to the Finals two years in a row or not, it's an exciting time to be a Warriors fan.
NEXT GAME
The Golden State Warriors (31-48) host the Portland Trail Blazers (40-37) on Friday, April 15th, at 7:30 p.m. Pacific. The game will be televised locally on Fox Sports Bay, nationally on NBA League Pass, and you can catch the game on local radio on KNBR 1050 AM. With three games left on the schedule - all at home against non-playoff teams - the Warriors want to finish the season on a three-game winning streak to get themselves primed for next year.
TEAM NOTES
The Warriors are offering some more charity auctions -check them out...The 2005 edition of Warriors Basketball Camp, presented by 24-Hour Fitness, has been expanded to numerous locations throughout Northern California. The popular youth camp, which began in 2000, will make its summer debut in San Francisco, Alameda and Hayward, while also continuing to expand in Newark, San Ramon, Los Altos Hills, Pleasanton, Santa Rosa and Saratoga...Early Registration Discount – Sign up before June 1, 2005 and receive $15 off each session.
Join the 2005-06 season ticket priority list- and get an autographed Baron Davis jersey!...Send a Warriors E-card..
INJURY UPDATE
GuardCalbert Cheaney(sprained ankle) is out; GuardDerek Fisher(right foot inflammation) is day-to-day.
Dave Newhouse ofInsideBayArea.comwrites: Baron Davis is a composite of the greatest Warriors.He has Larry Smith's court vision, Tim Hardaway's coolness, Guy Rodgers' passing skills, Chris Mullin's creative shotmaking, Sarunas Marciulionis' driving mentality, and Al "The Destroyer" Attles' toughness. Davis, in other words, is the most complete Warrior after Rick Barry.
Broderick Turner ofThe Riverside Press Enterprisewrites: Harry Edwards, a noted sports sociologist who was a consultant with the San Francisco 49ers for 20 years and worked with the Golden State Warriors, watched it all unfold from his Bay Area home."That statement that Kobe is the GM ... whether it was meant, whether it was a slip of the tongue, whether it was something that was taken out of context, somewhere back there, it was back laying in the weeds," said Edwards, a former sociology professor at the University of California in Berkeley. "Nobody ever said Shaq was the GM. There is some chemistry that has to be done. "You can't say that Kobe didn't provide the leadership, because there are too many missing elements. Only time is going to resolve that, if it is going to be resolved." Edwards pointed to Michael Jordan, Joe Montana and Brett Favre, who made their teammates better and won their respect.
The San Francisco Chroniclewrites: Golden State (31-48) opens its final homestand of the season against the Blazers.The Warriors have lost three in a row after winning a season-high eight straight games from March 25 to April 8. Their offense has been sterling -- the Warriors have scored more than 100 points in 12 straight games -- but the defense could use some polish. Golden State is giving up an average of 111 points during that same stretch. ... Tonight marks the last Friends and Family promotional offer. Fans can get four-ticket packages for $70. ... Guard Derek Fisher (right foot inflammation) is questionable and swingman Calbert Cheaney (sprained right ankle) is out.