FanPost

Free Fall Has Begun

What a game...the Jazz and the Warriors. It was the best of times and it was the worst of times...

Let's start with JRich. His personal heroism will not soon be forgotten. This true warrior could barely walk, and he was still unstoppable. The fact that the Warriors ultimately lost makes JRich's sacrifice all the more worthy and inspiring. JRich transcended the sport for those memorable minutes and reminded us all what is so beautiful about athletic competition. In my estimation, JRich rose to the level of Kobe and Michael last night.

Did anyone else notice that when we made our big run in the fourth to come from 20 down and take the lead, three out of five starters were sitting on the bench? That is rather startling. What exactly does that tell us and what questions does it raise?

First of all, kudos to Monty for going with the best five players in his opinion down the stretch. Monty was trying to get us a win. Forget mandatory minutes.

However...

If that's the best we can put on the floor, and they definately turned the game around, why are Adonyl, MP, and Troy starting?

Have you noticed how many times our bench turns games around? The energy Monta and Ike and Andris bring to the court is exciting to watch and it is almost unstoppable at times.

The Warriors are heading into chaos.

Our starting five are not our finishers. Our bench turns games around that our lethargic starters fall behind in. Our bench is outplaying our highly paid, long-term-contract-signed starters!

What does this tell us? Well, it tells us that Mully has a great eye for drafting, but a very questionable technique for handing out long-term-eight-figure contracts.

The Warriors don't give up, but we usually are trying to dig ourselves out of a hole our starting five has dug for us by missing layups and FT among other things.

Where do we go from here?

I think it's clear that Mully's great experiment is in trouble. The fab five with fab contracts: Adonyl, Dun, Troy, JRich and BD are not winning games.

Let's face it, our bench is awesome. Kudos to Mully for developing one of the best benches in the NBA.

However.....

Our fab five just are not cutting the mustard.

I would predict it's just not going to happen this year. We are just too far away in terms of knowing how to win as a team to seriously think about the playoffs.

It's Lottery Time again!

However.....

We are different from Warrior teams of the past. We have a great young group. Don't lose them.

Let's examine our strengths:

BD is great. Sure, he needs to improve in many areas, but he is solid. So are Fish and Monta. PG: OK!

JRich is awesome. Just learn some more D and learn to make FT and it's All-Star time. Guaranteed. He's our franchise player. MP? Good bench player to rest JRich. Same for Calbert. SG: OK!

SF: Big problems. Dun just isn't developing. Maybe as a bench player. Same for MP. They both play silently for quarters at a time. The Warriors seriously need a game-changing SF. Lottery? Trades? SF: Big problem. Mully! Calling Mully!

PF: Difficult to say. Troy is a double-double guy and Ike is an awesome bench PF. And Zarko is excellent as #3 PF off the bench. But the nagging question remains of why is Troy usually on the bench in crunch time or silent when he's on the court in crunch time? Can Troy handle the pressure of crunch time basketball, which is another term for playoff basketball, where every minute is crunch time? If Troy can't play at playoff level, we have a problem, Houston. PF: What's up, Troy?

C: Ah, this is a problem. Adonyl just isn't an NBA starting C. Would he start for any other NBA team? Is he even really a solid bench C?

Andris is young and has excellent potential. Andris is young. Andris is young. Did I say Andris is still young? Mully. please don't lose this guy. Get a good big-man coach and teach him well. He's the C we need in future playoff years. Andris knows no fear. His glacial stare will become legendary.

I still suggest considering trading Adonyl and Taft for a solid back-up C. Say a "Derek Fisher" type of a player. Great playoff experience, attitude and willing to come off the bench. Someone like Dale Davis. Oh, sorry. C: Calling Mully!

Well, we still have to try. Play as strong as we can and see what happens.

Short term change?

Starters:

BD - JRich - Dun - Troy - Andris.

Major - Did I say major? - Major minutes for Monta, Ike and MP. Fish as our secret weapon when needed.

Stay healthy
Run
Hit the free throws
and
Who knows?

This FanPost is a submission from a member of the mighty Golden State of Mind community. While we're all here to throw up that W, these words do not necessarily reflect the views of the GSoM Crew. Still, chances are the preceding post is Unstoppable Baby!