Ghosts of Seasons Past: Previewing the 2007-08 Warriors

by Atma Brother ONE on Oct 29, 2007 7:57 AM PDT in History Comment 31 comments

GSoM friend Jason Gurney of Ballhype fame knows his Warriors like Thunder knows BALCO. Last season Jason put together a fun, interactive Warriors preview for the 2006-2007 NBA Blogger Previews. For longtime Warrior fans who suffered through the 12 year drought that preview will always remain timeless. This season Jason's bringing his A-game with his 2007-2008 Warriors season preview to Golden State of Mind. We're extremely lucky to have his well-researched contribution here. For all you longtime Warrior and hoops fans it's a great trip down memory lane!

- Atma Brother #1

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By Jason Gurney

The Golden State Warriors have a rich franchise history, spanning three cities, a half-dozen logos, and more than 400 players. To honor this history, I've previewed the 2007-08 season by making a series of comparisons between current and former Warriors. For each roster member, I chose a best-case comparison, a worst-case comparison, and my guess at the most likely parallel for the upcoming season.

	Best Case	Worst Case	Most Likely
Kelenna Azubuike	Mitch Richmond As with several others, had to leave Oakland to become an All-Star … one of the best video game basketball players of all time	Calbert Cheaney Shooting guard missed all 21 3-point attempts in 3 seasons with Golden State … has the quan	Jim Jackson Warriors were 4th of his 12 NBA teams … could still be playing with Kidd if it weren't for Toni Braxton
	Best Case	Worst Case	Most Likely
Matt Barnes	Billy Owens Still fondly remembered by Syracuse faithful … on wrong end of one of the most lopsided trades in NBA history	Mike Dunleavy Most photogenic ex-Warrior … chosen #3 overall in 2002 draft … little-known fact: son of Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy Sr.	Lester Conner Strong defensive skills earned him the nickname "Lester the Molester" … would rather be playing poker
	Best Case	Worst Case	Most Likely
Marco Belinelli	Rick Barry One of the greatest offensive players of all time … led Warriors to their only NBA title in 1975 … Wikipedia page looks to be self-edited	Jiri Welsch Known in Europe for sweet outside stroke and ability to drive to the basket … uncanny resemblance to J.E. Skeets	Vinny Del Negro Italian-American played two seasons for Italy's Benetton Treviso … not yet enshrined into Basketball Hall of Fame, but they did give him a locker
	Best Case	Worst Case	Most Likely
Andris Biedrins	Nate Thurmond Warriors' all-time leader in minutes played, rebounds … brought authentic southern BBQ to San Francisco's Mission District	Adonal Foyle Terrific community guy, solid defender, offensive liability … paid $13 million by the Warriors to not play here anymore	Rony Seikaly Just about averaged a double-double for his career … only gets half as many search hits as his supermodel wife
	Best Case	Worst Case	Most Likely
Austin Croshere	Jud Buechler Owns more championship rings than Wilt Chamberlain … will never leave Del Mar	Bill Curley Played for 5 NBA teams in 5 seasons … legendary in Massachusetts basketball circles	Brian Cardinal "The Janitor" … earned 2nd-highest GSW PER in 03-04 (#1: Dampier)
	Best Case	Worst Case	Most Likely
Baron Davis	Gilbert Arenas Sleeps in a hypobaric chamber … with eye contact and a handshake, would have stayed	Bimbo Coles Lost at least 29 games to injury in each of 3 seasons in Golden State … 'nuff said: given name is Vernell Eufaye	Tim Hardaway Wore #5 as a rookie … reached 5000 points and 2500 assists faster than any NBA player, except Oscar Robertson … now embraced by some of the gay community
	Best Case	Worst Case	Most Likely
Monta Ellis	Sleepy Floyd Famously torched Lakers for 29 4th quarter points in 1987 playoffs … despite slight (170lb) frame, scored many of his points in the paint	Mister Jennings Taller than Boykins and Bogues, but just barely … often teamed with the 6'0" Hardaway in Nellie's backcourt	Earl Boykins Bench presses 315 pounds … after opting out of contract this summer, still looking for a team
	Best Case	Worst Case	Most Likely
Al Harrington	Marques Johnson Averaged 20.1 ppg for career … retired early due to 1986 neck injury … known to react violently when hustled	Tom Tolbert Looks at the NBA as a football game without the helmet … played point forward during Nellie's first reign … fun fact: played last year with a mock-turtleneck under his jersey	Antawn Jamison Essentially traded to Mavericks for a single Nick Van Exel season … spelling of first name blamed on birth certificate error
	Best Case	Worst Case	Most Likely
Troy Hudson	Mookie Blaylock Pearl Jam's original namesake … made 1,283 career three-pointers (12th all-time)	Vonteego Cummings Along with Marcus Fizer and Will Bynum, playing for Maccabi-Tel Aviv this year … agrees that Knicks still suck	Butch Beard Coached some crazy teams in New Jersey … has first-hand knowledge of Clyde's magnetism, Big Chief Triangle's elbows
	Best Case	Worst Case	Most Likely
Stephen Jackson	Latrell Sprewell (1992-96) Named to 1st Team All-NBA during MJ's first sabbatical … hardly ever dunked with one hand	Latrell Sprewell (1997-) Will put a little mustard on the pass when he damn well pleases … really does have a family to feed … Milwaukee's Best repossessed	Jamaal Wilkes Unorthodox shot: brought ball behind his head before slingshot release … was Cornbread in Cornbread, Earl and Me
	Best Case	Worst Case	Most Likely
Stephane Lasme	Chris Gatling "The Energizer" … career 51% shooter … will give you your props after you dunk on him	Carlos Rogers Tattoo portrays praying hands, sans firearm … grew up in Detroit, balling with Chris Webber and Jalen Rose	Jerome Whitehead Won a championship with the Marquette Warriors … reached playoffs once in 11-year NBA career
	Best Case	Worst Case	Most Likely
Patrick O'Bryant	Ralph Sampson Closer to 6'11" than 7'4" … clinched 1986 Western Conference Finals with most improbable shot ever	Todd Fuller Famously picked ahead of Kobe, Peja, Nash, Jermaine, Big Z … started 18 games as a rookie, 5 more ever	Alton Lister Primary claim to fame: pwned by Shawn Kemp … hired this summer as an assistant coach for the Hawks
	Best Case	Worst Case	Most Likely
Kosta Perovic	Manute Bol Since retiring from basketball, has appeared in hockey, boxing, and horse-racing stunts … for career, jacked up 3-pointers more frequently than Jeff Malone	Uwe Blab Started 30 games for the Warriors in 1989-90 while posting a 3.3 PER … was successful in dramatically increasing customer base, sales and margin by employing quality people, improving processes and working closely with the customers	Paul Mokeski Recipient of prestigious Mokeski Award … hired this summer as an assistant coach for the Bobcats
	Best Case	Worst Case	Most Likely
Mickael Pietrus	Jason Richardson Sees this year's Bobcats as similar to '07 Warriors … Boozer is still pissed	Damon Jones Can shoot the three, not much else … self-proclaimed Black Brad Pitt	Terry Teagle On the losing end of MJ's first title … as far as one Jim Saco is concerned, even with his shortcomings and they were numerous, Teagle had more charisma than 90% of the players in the league today
	Best Case	Worst Case	Most Likely
Brandan Wright	Joe Smith Peaked statistically as a rookie … upon further review, actually is pretty ordinary	Clifford Rozier Peaked statistically as a rookie … jailed in 2001 for stealing a sheriff deputy's personal car	Donyell Marshall Indirectly acquired for Chris Webber … drafted #4 overall in 1994, partially thanks to his long wingspan
	Best Case	Worst Case	Most Likely
Don Nelson	Al Attles Guided Warriors to their only NBA title in 1975 … local icon boasts 36 years of experience with the franchise as a player, coach, general manager, and consultant	Dave Cowens Fired 23 games into his 2nd season as Warriors coach … As a Celtics player, once took a leave of absence to drive a cab	Don Nelson Innovator responsible for "Hack-a-Shaq," "Point Forward," and "Nellie-Ball" … rocky track record with the rookies

Thanks to lifelong GSW fan YGBFKM for helping to put this together.

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Comments

hilarious

woooh, alton lister, we have some great expectations for pob.

personally, i like kelena a lot and think he's definitely closer to being between jimmy j and mitch richmond. hes a nice big guard with a confident game.

not high on brandan wright?

thanks for the laughs man, anytime i hear someone mention rony sickly, i just tear up.

by ktweezee on Oct 29, 2007 9:11 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I disagree with Marco Belinelli's...

"Most Likely!!" I really think he'll end up like a Sarunas Marcellinous (sp?)... Could shoot, good offensive awareness, likely to play extremely well under Nellie's system.

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

by mightymadskillz on Oct 29, 2007 9:59 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

YeaH!

Belinelli's 360 Dunk = Rooney Marciulionis's buff, Behind the back, fake pass lay up.

THIS IS OOOAKLAND!!!

by Tim N Chris Burger on Oct 29, 2007 10:21 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Marciulonis not similar

Sarunas I was a very different player from Belinelli. Sarunas was a bull charging towards the hoop, amazingly strong and fearless. He was going to pick up the foul and make the shot. At his peak, he was among the very best in the game at drawing fouls while heading to the hoop. That was a large part of his offense and helped him to be a very efficient scorer. Nothing in Belinelli's past suggest that he's going to be similar in this regard.

by jae on Oct 29, 2007 1:37 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I actually was trying to be

sarcastic. The only thing similar about them is their height. Of course, rooney was built like buke, and he made as many And 1's per game as belinelli will probably get in a month. I hope buke plays like rooney this year - except buke will have 3pt range.

THIS IS OOOAKLAND!!!

by Tim N Chris Burger on Oct 29, 2007 1:53 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

OMG,

Still laughing over the seperated-by-birth link, featuring Calvin Cheaney.

by San Francisco Slim on Oct 29, 2007 11:07 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I was was pissed at the first

line when I saw Mitch Richmond thinking how good he was. J-rich wasn't even Mitch let alone Buke

then I read the rest and realized it was all in fun

nice job

by Zig on Oct 29, 2007 11:34 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Uwe Blab

that is hilarious

I remember that name

by Zig on Oct 29, 2007 11:36 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

ahh memories

some good, some bad, some i have no clue of lol

by AJC3317 on Oct 29, 2007 11:42 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Carlos Rogers...

He was supposed to be the hyped, athletic high-flyer. I think he was even drafted earlier than Clifford Rozier and couldn't do anything besides dunk in warmups; although, those warmup dunks were amazing. However, I remember that season thinking Rozier was going to be reliable 4 in the NBA for the Warriors. I think he got a decent amount of PT. Shows what I know. That era had the best unis though.

by onetwocross on Oct 29, 2007 1:28 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Carlos Rogers.

Rogers is actually my "worst case" for Brandan and Rozier a more apt "worst case" for Lasme (though neither really describes the sort of player Lasme is supposed to be).

Rogers was rail thin and could get pushed around by junior high forwards, but was lightning quick. The word coming out of college was that he was so quick that he could neutralize being overpowered by being faster than anyone else. That's what he did in college. In the pros he put up very respectable per-minute numbers as a rookie, showing he could score and rebound and block some shots, but he was foul prone with respect to the latter and ridiculously frail. Rogers put up better rebounding numbers in his three seasons in college than Brandan did in one, but the level of competition at TennState ain't what it is in the ACC.

by jae on Oct 29, 2007 1:45 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The draft rights to Carlos Rogers

were traded for what player? Sarunas Mariciulionis. Nellie made his player personnelle mistakes, back when he was chasing for that elusive big man.

by San Francisco Slim on Oct 29, 2007 1:49 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Anyone remember

That horrible radio guy "Ferrell," with the affected raspy voice? When we acquired Rogers, he hyped him up so much he practically gave me chills. I would walk to school fantasizing about how good we'd be. I figured with Hardaway, Mullin, and Spree and a frontcourt of Webber, Rogers, and Rozier we'd win the next ten straight championships, easy. I was kinda like BlueNgoldBlood, only more optimistic ... ;-D

by Sleepy Freud on Oct 29, 2007 3:18 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Haha

I remember that guy. He blew up for a quick sec. I wonder what happened to him. Maybe he'd be down to do a Q&A with us. I used to listen to his show on KNBR when I was a kid religiously.

by Atma Brother ONE on Oct 29, 2007 3:22 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Most memorable birthday present ever...

back in the early 90's, my friend ordered me a "NBA Radio Fantasy Tapes." The Warriors announcer (I think it was Papa at the time) would do a 1 minute play by play with my name used in the broadcast. I still have it, but too bad its on cassette.

by onetwocross on Oct 29, 2007 5:47 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sirius

he's got a show on one of Howard Sterns Sirius channels. He used to have a show on sportschannel as well (pre FSBA)

by azw on Oct 29, 2007 6:23 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ferrell

Ferrell has a show on Sirius radio on Howard Stern Channel 101 most nights. Guy sounds the same but can speak a bit freely without the restraints of commercials and The FCC hammering him. Of course he can cuss away on the satellite.

by boogielew on Oct 30, 2007 1:27 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Gooood Gawd

The "Best Case" for BWright Future is Joe Smith? Shouldn't that be the "Worst Case scenario"?...

The dude is more talented than Donyell Marshall RIGHT NOW.

Looks like someone wants J-Rich back. ;-)

by sadleavy on Oct 29, 2007 2:03 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Antawn

Didn't know that Jamison's first name was misspelled on his birth certificate. Good links though loved em all.

by J2daZ on Oct 29, 2007 2:06 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Haha

Great stuff. Lots of great links, must have taken a while to put this one together and it was worth every minute.

by olympicmike on Oct 29, 2007 2:21 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Thanks

Thanks for the feedback, folks.

Regarding Brandan Wright: keep in mind that these comparisons are for the 2007-08 season. I was actually in favor of the J-Rich trade when it went down, and still hope that Wright will ultimately develop into a Clifford Ray-type contributor.

by jgurney on Oct 29, 2007 2:31 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Wright

wouldn't have to grease his skinny arm. He'd probably get to that bolt before he got his elbow in the Dolphin's mouth (better read the link!).

Thanks again for the great diary!

by San Francisco Slim on Oct 29, 2007 2:46 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Serious props

That was a GREAT read.

by chacabuco on Oct 29, 2007 3:15 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

that was cool

but there are a few that i do not understand. Monta ellis Earl boykins? Brandan Wright as a Joe Smith BEST CASE?! We all know that Baron when healthy is probably the best pg this organization has had. Overall it was a cool piece.

by Proof on Oct 29, 2007 3:47 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

WELL DONE.

Good stuff Jason!

Don't make the beard angry.

by Fearthebeard on Oct 29, 2007 3:57 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

race

A-1, very cool comparisons all - I especially appreciated the best-worst-most likely format

my observation is a repeat one from previous diaries that we all have a tendency to compare players to those of their own race rather than merely upon their playing style -

the Black or Afr Am players were compared to same race players 28/31 instances, while white players were compared to whites at a ratio of 9/12 instances

wouldn't a comparison of KAZ to say Rex Chapman be appropriate? Bellinelli to Vinnie Johnson? AC to Sam Perkins? Even TMNT to Jack Sikma? I know there are other possibilities that I've not time to dig into the cobwebs of my memories as well ...

just an observation, not an accusation, thanks for a thought provoking post!

in Nelson we trust

by hardcore on Oct 29, 2007 4:06 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Warrior comparisons

Unless I'm forgetting something Rex Chapman, Vinnie Johnson, Sam Perkins, and Jack Sikma never played on the Dubs. Jason's comparisons were to former Warrior players. Given the limited people set of the Warriors your counts in my opinion show how open minded Jason was with the selections.

by Atma Brother ONE on Oct 29, 2007 4:17 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

my bad - I missed the GSW

and, attributed it to you rather than Jason

not very attentive to details am I?

in Nelson we trust

by hardcore on Oct 29, 2007 4:23 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

nice work

probably the most interesting article EVER on GSOM, if for no other reason that it is visually engaging and teaches 1-Dub history in a major way.

JB's observation is interesting and something that i hadn't considered but that rings true as soon as you think about it. shows how we are all in "mental slavery" to some extent or another. i would love if bellinelli turned into our version of the vinny "the microwave" johnson. that guy was super exciting when the pistons were in the playoffs back in the day.

the warriors have had a lot of great players over the years. thinking about carlos rogers and sarunas marciulonis brings me back to my youth when i really enjoyed being a pro fan. our current team has a lot of character. i hope we have a great year.

thanks again for this great collaboration.

by OaktownWarrior on Oct 29, 2007 4:17 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

BTW

Rick Barry's Wiki page is definitely self-edited. lol. It read almost exactly the same as listening to him on the radio for any give hour. That seriously had me rolling.

by olympicmike on Oct 29, 2007 5:10 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Troy Hudson

and Mookie as the best case scenario? Hmmm, Mookie was pretty good in his younger days but not in his days as a Warrior.

I would have taken Winston Garland, a very unknown guard pre-Hardaway but posted solid numbers.

Also Matt Barnes doesn't play like Billy Owens. Billy O. could rebound and run, but couldn't hit an outside shot (or free throw for that matter) to save his life.

Maybe this was a place to stick Rod Higgins, another in Nellie's long line of point forwards. At least Higgy could hit the 3 pointers.

by coach41 on Oct 30, 2007 12:29 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs