Starting Five |
Player
Rating |
C |
Adonal Foyle |
5 |
PF |
Troy Murphy |
6 |
SF |
Mike Dunleavy |
6 |
SG |
Jason Richardson |
6 |
PG |
Speedy Claxton |
6 |
| |
|
29 |
* Player Rating on a 1 to 10 Scale. 10
denotes best at position in the NBA with no weaknesses, 5 would be average
player who holds his own etc.
Reserves |
Position
Rating |
C |
Dale Davis |
5 |
PF |
Eduardo Najera / Popeye Jones / Andris Biedrins |
6 |
SF |
Cliff Robinson / Luis Flores |
6 |
SG |
Mikael Pietrus / Calbert Cheaney |
6 |
PG |
Derek Fisher |
6 |
| |
|
29 |
* Ratings based on ability of bench to
fill in a position. More than one backup at a position would influence
the rating as would one player's ability to play multiple positions.
Sep '04
Looks like Mullin is trying to build a team in the Jerry West -- Memphis
mould: Lots of good players, no stars. This team has quietly become
solid at every position, with the backup almost as good as the starter.
Memphis proved that you can win 50 games that way but can a coach straight
out of college duplicate Hubie Brown's achievements?
I don't think so and don't forget, this team has no Pau
Gasol. Also, the Memphis players were all above average (think Posey,
Battier, Wells) and good defenders while this team is not as good or
as tough. 40 wins in the tough West would be an achievement. Considering
how much the others improved, the low 30s are more likely and expect
some disharmony over minutes (Claxton vs Fisher, Richardson vs Pietrus
and Dunleavy/Murphy/Najera/Robinson at the forward spots).
Old Post -- July '04
Needs:
This team has been very quiet in the offseason. Maybe thats a good thing.
In a year, NVE will be off their books, Dampier will be gone in a couple
of weeks and this team will be young, talented with no overpriced players.
Damn! forgot about Foyle! What the hell were they thinking? A nice young
nucleus of Claxton, Pietrus, Richardson, Dunleavy and Murphy with cap
space was theirs for the taking. Instead they go and lock up money in
Adonal Foyle, a career backup.
That said, all this team really needs is good health and continued improvement
from their young players. Dunleavy showed flashes last year and Murphy
was working his way back from injury. Having both PGs on the bench really
hurt them too. They should move NVE if they can. I can't see him being
happy as a backup to Speedy but benching Speedy would hurt his development.
All Golden State really needs is some cheap backups and should grab
any talent going cheap -- eg. Rodney White.
Backup Point Guard
Reliable, low priced player like Greg Anthony may be their
best bet.
Update: They went and gave a huge contract to Derek
Fisher instead. A waste of money. Fish and Foyle will guarantee mediocrity
for the Warriors for years to come.
Prediction: Losing Dampier is going to
hurt. They could still surprise everyone and pull off a sign-and-trade.
Dampier to Memphis for Stromile Swift and Battier would be a great trade
for the Warriors and could catapult them into the playoffs. If they
lose Dampier for nothing, they should win about as many games as last
year. My prediction: they take a step back, 36 wins.