By: Billy Hoyle @wwnetbillyhoyle
The Warriors started off playing very good basketball tonight. There was definitely an emphasis on passing the ball as well as defense and hustling. Where against the lakers the Warriors couldn’t secure the ball on rebounds, against the nuggets they were very good grabbing and hanging on.
Steph Curry was playing with a lot of confidence and composure and defended the quicker but smaller ty Lawson very well. Steph started hot but cooled significantly, ending the night with a sorry 38 field goal percentage.
Rodney Carney and Dan Gadzuric really showed up to play and when those two players have good games, so do the Warriors, typically. I have said often that the emphasis on a deep bench is overvalued by many basketball fans but as depleted as the warriors are it can really effect the outcome of the game.
Andris played possibly his most complete game of the year, playing under control and smart. He caught and finished the balls he was delivered down low. Playing as he did against a good Denver front line is a nice feat and it would be nice if he were able to perform with this type of effort night in and out. It speaks to the idea that he is somewhat of a head case because he can be shut down and disappear against smaller front lines but play well against Nene and Chris Anderson, two veteran big men.
In the first two and a half quarters the Warriors were penetrating the lane very well. In the last quarter and a half the ball movement stopped as did the penetration. Coupling the stagnating offense with the nuggets hitting the three ball and the Warriors lost control of the game.
This game would have been an evenly matched contest save for one factor, Carmelo Anthony. Melo scored 39 points, grabbed 9 boards and was a perfect 17 of 17 from the free-throw line. It boggles the mind that Warrior’s fans don’t see the value, or even more importantly the absolute need, in having a player of his caliber on this team. ANY player on our team should be included in a deal that could net us this elite swingman. If we ever were to hope to be a serious contender for a title, Melo is exactly the player we need. As I understand it, he can actually could be had.
As Amare was in the past, Melo is not as coveted by the fans because of their emotional attachment to their current favorite players. In the Amare situation, the deal hung up on an unwillingness to move, the now seemingly permanent bench fixture in New York, Anthony Randolph. Not trading a player with “potential” for one who has already realized it, is the height of idiocy. I am perpetually frustrated with this sentimental line of thinking.
If the Warriors ever want to move beyond a middling, some-what competitive team, to one that is taken seriously around the league, a move must be made and it needs to be made soon. I’m not advocating mortgaging the farm, but an equitable deal to land us a star. It could be the Warriors on the winning end of contests like these against the Nuggets, beating the Knicks at home or not almost being run out of the gym by the Pistons.
It is now time for the new ownership to take the reins of this franchise and follow up on their promises of a move to legitimacy… or we will continue to be mired in mediocrity and lose to divisional rivals, as we did tonight. It is no longer acceptable to “bide our time” and “develop internally”. We need to get better players and we need someone who can make that happen.
Finally! Somebody writing down some senseI If Curry is still playing like this come the trade deadline, trade him not Ellis. He is waay too much of a liability on defense, getting beat every possession by WHOEVER! Plus he’s not a money shooter, he’s a streak shooter. The first thing he was drafted for was his high pct shooting and he can’t even knock down the open shot consistently. I hope he was watching Carmelo. Now, that’s a pure shooter. If the dubs could somehow get Melo for Curry they should do it. Provided they are able to sign Melo long term. Think about it…Melo, Ellis and Lee says playoffs more than Curry, Ellis, Lee. I mean that’s what it’s all about right? Getting to playoffs and stop having reservations for the lottery. I’m Just sayin
Warriors lost because our bench is not as good as last year’s. Denver may not have KMart but they can manage his absence. For the Warriors, no Lee (and to a lesser extent, no Amundson, Wright and Udoh) is a big difference. Denver is just the better team. The bright side is that we are only one game behind the Miami Heat! LOL
Sheed, as the first poster mentioned, we should NOT give up our best players unless Melo will sign an extension. Would I give up our expirings for a 1 year rental…hell yes! Also, while I know we are all sick of losing, it is important that Lacob/Riley make the right move, and not just any move. Unfortunately, we may need to be patient just a little longer. We have a bunch of expirings, but so do a lot of teams this year. We may have to wait until next offseason to pick up an impact player.
The risk is his contract, Carmelo Anthony has to agree to a new deal before any team will trade for him. Losing a player like Monta Ellis to have Anthony on the team as a 60 game rental makes little sense and it appears he doesn’t want to play for the Warriors and wants to be on the east coast.
Of course this team would be better with Anthony on the roster, but at what price?