By Abe Chong
I was reading ESPN’s chat with NBA analyst Ric Bucher the other day and came across this Warriors-related question:
First reaction: that stings, Buch. Second reaction: Peter in VA is Asian because 99% of people that post Jeremy Lin questions are Asian. I know this because I post Jeremy Lin questions all the time.
No, the Warriors aren’t making the playoffs this year, but there’s plenty of reasons for us to still care. Stephen Curry is the goods, and getting better. Monta Ellis can score like an All-Star. David Lee is averaging 17 and 10 over the past month. Dorrell Wright should win the Most Improved Player Award. We picked up Al Thornton. Non-homers should be able to see some promise.
And unlike Chris Cohan, our new owner actually seems like he knows what he’s doing. In an insightful article written by Marcus Thompson of the Contra Costa times, we learn that Lacob has the hardworking rag-to-riches background, eventually building 70 companies as a successful venture capitalist. But more importantly, in addition to being an expert on making truckloads of bling, “he’s a basketball junkie.”
We’re talking serious basketball junkie. He still plays pickup ball, even though he’s probably the token old guy that you take it kind of easy on because you’re scared that a hip could fall out. And get this: he was a primary investor in the American Basketball League — the professional women’s basketball league that ultimately failed.
It takes a special kind of basketball fan to love women’s pro ball. If you can name me five WNBA teams off the top of your head, than you have the right to call me a chauvinist. Alls I’m saying is that it’s encouraging to have a super-fan at the helm.
Sorry Bucher, but you got it twisted, son: with Lacob in charge, we’re in much better shape than the Cavs, who are so lost right now they somehow ended up trading FOR Baron Davis. Yup, they actually took Baron out of his hometown, away from a team with an exciting young core and some real buzz, and put him on the worst team in the league.
Now might be a good time to open up a restaurant in Cleveland. I don’t think the usual “out-of-shape” reports that Baron gets like clockwork every year at training camp will even begin to describe his new, uh, portliness.
You know your favorite team is in a sad state when you hear more about the owner(s) then the teams’ play. Yes we are “on par” with the T-Wolves & Cavs. Kings and Wizards too for that matter.
In the weekly rankings by BBR we’re 22nd. http://www.basketball-reference.com/blog/?p=9042
Not impressive by any means, but ahead of 8 teams nonetheless. Record-wise we’re 30-36, 12th in conference, 19th in the league, about 3 games behind houston and philly. We’d be the 8th seed in the east, just ahead of the Pacers.
By all accounts we’re not a good team, but bottom rung? Hardly.
We don’t hear more about the owner than we do the players. You actually hear more about Lacob than Monta or Curry? Child, please.
This is a really good core of players that is only getting better. Keep in mind this is year one under Smart, and Lee was hurt for the better part of 20 games with a freak injury. As the article stated, Lee’s been averaging a very healthy 17 and 10, and will only get better the more he plays (and if we get a legit big man, watch out – he will be an all star again).