First of all let‼sup>TMs look at the season from the standpoint of Management. If you are Chris Cohan or Robert Rowell, you are very happy with the profitability of the franchise and the huge increase in attendance. Nearly 4,000 new season ticket holders flocked to the Arena this year in anticipation of the Warriors revival. The presence of Davis and Richardson in the backcourt was sure to produce an exciting and high scoring brand of basketball the likes of which have not been seen in these parts since RUN-TMC. The team got off to a fast start with a soft schedule in November and December, but when the calendar turned to 2006 the Cinderella Story started to unravel.
So who is to blame? Why did such a promising season turn into another disappointing failure? Is there hope for the future? Did they really just raise the price of my season tickets? Why on earth would I invest one more ounce of emotion, let alone my hard earned money for this pathetic franchise? Let‼sup>TMs take a minute to examine these questions.
There is plenty of blame to go around for the failure of this team this season. The number one reason the team failed is because Baron Davis failed to play up to his ability and suffered through an injury plagued and mediocre (by his standards) season. After watching Baron down the stretch last season make his teammates better and elevate their games it was somewhat surprising to see him go back to his selfish street ball mentality this season. Perhaps he was the victim of too much hype or maybe he fell pray to unrealistic expectations. In my mind anything short of an MVP type season from Baron and a playoff birth for the team is a failure.
Another huge slice of the blame pie has to go to Mike Montgomery. This guy now has two NBA seasons under his belt and failing to improve upon the team‼sup>TMs win/loss record this season in my mind is an unforgivable offense. He really can‼sup>TMt blame the record on injuries or factors beyond his control, the fact of the matter is that he had a talented and deep roster of players to work with and he could not figure out a way to make them play up to their ability. The team was often un-prepared and lacked energy at the beginning of games, failed to make adjustments during the games and often made critical mistakes in judgment late in games. His substitution patterns were inconsistent and his lack of discipline seemed to lead to a divided locker room.
As bad as the coaching was this season, it has been said that this is a player‼sup>TMs league. It really comes down to talent and how well that talent performs on the court. The warriors had many disappointing performances this season from many different players. Here is a rundown of who did what and what we can expect from them in the future.
Baron Davis: Despite an injury plagued and somewhat mediocre season from Baron there is still hope for him. He shot an unbelievably bad percentage from the floor this season and his free throw shooting leaves a lot to be desired, but those are things that can be improved. His intangibles and feel for the game are still there and he was second in the league in assists per game.
Jason Richardson: J-Rich had an outstanding season and continues to progress toward all-star level. Undoubtedly this will be the year the Warriors part ways with Jason as he is poised to take his game to the next level. He has improved every year and is now established as a very solid player just slightly under the level of an all-star performer. The only thing he can‼sup>TMt do is lead a team to the playoffs.
Derek Fisher: Fish played pretty well at times this season and established his all time high in points per game average. He was a consistent contributor off the bench and provided veteran leadership to the second unit. He definitely showed his effectiveness as a spot up shooter and continued to demonstrate his hard nosed style of play and overall passion for the game. He lacks playmaking ability and tends to dominate the ball but for a backup Point Guard in this league, you can do a lot worse.
Monta Ellis: Ellis proved to be a steal in the second round of the draft besting all H.S. players taken in the draft in minutes and points per game. After sitting for much of the first half, he took full advantage of his opportunities and was a key member of the rotation late in the season. His poise, quickness and tenacious defense make him a coach and crowd favorite. Everybody knew he could score in a variety of ways and his outside shot was somewhat chronicled, but his explosiveness and athleticism has surprised some people. He has the potential to be a special player in this league and creates some interesting decisions for the front office about the future of our backcourt.
Mike Dunleavy Jr: This was supposed to be the year that Dunleavy broke through and lived up to his potential as the third pick in the draft. The coach‼sup>TMs son and golden boy has had four seasons now to scratch the surface of his seemingly limitless potential and once again he has failed quite miserably. To make matters worse, he signed a multi-year and very lucrative contract extension in the off-season making him an albatross around the neck of the organization for many years to come.
Mickael Pietrus: At the end of last season Pietrus looked like he was poised to break out and become a legit force in the league. He took a huge step back this past season when he failed to capitalize on the opportunity that came his way when Mike Dunleavy was unable to fulfill his duties as starting small forward. Pietrus battled injuries and slumps the majority of the year and showed only a few flashes of the budding superstar that we all thought was ready to emerge. A talented defender, with tremendous offensive potential, the Frenchman finds it difficult to slow down and let the game come to him. He is entering his contract year and I would be surprised if they extended him. He should be motivated and if he can stay healthy, he could contend for sixth man of the year.
Troy Murphy: Murphy is a pro‼sup>TMs pro, a reliable role player that can be counted on for a double, double almost every night and is capable of having some big scoring and rebounding nights. His outside shooting ability stretches the defense and opens up the interior for the guards to more easily penetrate. His pick and pop game is well suited for a half court attack, however his transition defense and his lack of weak side help can make him a liability at times. Murphy made some strides in his individual defense this season with strong efforts against Tim Duncan and Dirk Nowitski but he has a long way to go before he will be considered anything other than an average defensive player.
Ike Diogu: The rookie power forward got off to a slow start due to a broken hand suffered in training camp and when he was able to return, he was inexplicably asked to play Center. At 6‼sup>TM7, Ike is unable to defend NBA fours let alone fives at this point in his career, but the young man is fairly close to unstoppable on the offensive end, especially when he works in the painted area. If the coaching staff can figure out a more effective way to incorporate his low post skills into the offense he is going to be ok.
Andris Biedrins: Plagued by foul trouble early in the year it took him nearly three quarters of a season to work himself into the rotation, but once he established himself there appears to be no looking back. His quickness to the ball and his energetic style of play lends itself to an up tempo style of play. He has soft hands and can catch and finish in traffic. He is still very young and raw, but if he can improve his free throw shooting, he can become a very effective role player on this team.
Adonal Foyle: Adonal had yet another disappointing season since signing his big contract and becoming the starting Center. He has one or two games where he is the difference maker by hustling and blocking shots, but those games are way too few and far between. He has a difficult time catching the ball and is not a good finisher inside for a big man. He has a nice baby hook, but it‼sup>TMs difficult to get an entry pass to him for fear that he will fumble it away. He is not particularly good in transition on offense or defense and his conditioning appears to be a major factor. His best days are definitely behind him, if they ever existed at all, and the Warriors desperately need an upgrade at his position.
Chris Taft: The rookie suffered a serious back injury in Summer League and was never able to overcome his injury for an extended period of time. He did have a brief stretch early in the year where he was physically able to contribute and he took advantage by playing solid defense and displaying a quiet confidence in his overall game. I am anxious to see what he can do if healthy.
Zarko Cabarkapa: Put him in the same boat as Pietrus, a young promising player with loads of talent, but just can‼sup>TMt seem to put it all together for whatever reason. He is a near seven footer with ball handling ability, shooting ability and a nice feel for the game. He is not a good defender and is a terrible rebounder for his size. It boggles the mind how someone with so much talent can have so little confidence. I still hold out hope that he can get back to the player we saw at the end of the 2005 season and maintain that level with some consistency.
Will Bynum: A tough minded energetic combo guard with an ability to score in bunches. Not really a playmaker, but does have the ability to break down defenses and can finish in traffic. He is somewhat of an unknown quantity; however I do believe he can play in the league.
Calbert Cheaney: A consummate pro, winding down a nice career. Hopefully he will stay with the organization in some capacity and continue to work with the warriors young players. Calbert is a class act and a roll model for guys like Monta Ellis and will make a good coach someday.