Any Closers?!

by Dr. Orpheus on Nov 1, 2008 3:02 AM PDT

From what I've seen these past 2 games (against good teams, I may add) our dubs can still ball with the best.

The goods i noticed, and probably everyone else has too, is defense and crashing the boards has improved greatly with the addition of Ronny (5 blocks tonight!) and AB together in the front court, shot selection has improved a bit, Kaz is a monster in the making, DeMarcus Nelson is surprisingly good for an undrafted rookie and Nellie going tall ball tonight actually was effective since our "bigs" are still quite mobile.

There is a bunch of stuff that still needs improvement of course but one of the things thats bugging me the most is the ability to close out games.

Both nights our dubs have blown leads in the final minutes of the game. I know that BD used to be the go-to guy and Monta should be "the man" but his absence for the time being makes him not an option.

Before the last shot against Toronto in regulation, I pretty much kept thinking give the ball to Magette over and over in my head. Once he had it, the outcome was unbelievable how he tried to flop.

So the question is: who should handle these clutch situations for the time being? Magette? (maybe it was just a bad turn of events?) Or maybe try running a play for Kaz to hit the big shot? What if the Italian Stallion Bellinelli (following statement highly unlikely) pulled through and sunk a game winner? Post up your ideas and what ifs on who you think should be the man.

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!

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Sheesh!

Obviously this is a huge issue, and can dictate the next 30(+/-) games. Both games, the Warriors showed us more than we expected (admit it), but failed to close out games in favoring situations. The point is….. before we begin demanding answers to these late game lapses on offense… realize that this team is for real. Grind it out hoops (with Defense and half court offense) was completely absent last year… = 48 wins. Understand this is an amazing start for a team with no point guard, and minimal time for offensive or defensive chemistry. As time goes…. so will the Warriors late game woes. 0 – 2 isn’t anything to fuss about (especially against top teams).

Its okay to embrace what we’ve seen Warriors fans…

We’ve seen a legit team, with obvious ability to compete with the elite West (and the strong teams in the East). Get it? Got it?

Warriors are a playoff team…. period. I garuntee the Dubs will stay a float (.500) til Monta gets back… and when he does??? Look out….. the future of the NBA is here.

by Gurthy on Nov 1, 2008 4:15 AM PDT reply actions

What are you using to back the "garuntee "? What do we get if it doesn’t happen?

by jae on Nov 1, 2008 6:36 AM PDT up reply actions

it will happen.

by obiandandy on Nov 1, 2008 8:59 AM PDT up reply actions

What do we get if it doesn’t happen?

A round on Gurthy?

Till I get free
I live my life in the Walmart
Cholesterol chasin me

by Skeptic con Urquell on Nov 1, 2008 9:31 AM PDT up reply actions

I'll Buy

… but you’ll have to come up to Portland, just moved.

by Gurthy on Nov 1, 2008 10:26 AM PDT up reply actions

you’ll have to come up to Portland

How’s Oden’s injury?

Till I get free
I live my life in the Walmart
Cholesterol chasin me

by Skeptic con Urquell on Nov 1, 2008 10:40 AM PDT up reply actions

Good for him I believe

He just made front page of the Oregonian.

by lightz0ut on Nov 1, 2008 1:27 PM PDT up reply actions

So the question is: who should handle these clutch situations for the time being?

The answer is no one. We should be playing more movement based offense and create the shot for whoever gets open or gets a clear cut to the basket, our isolation based attempts don’t work against a good shot blocking team. Bosh can’t block the shot if he’s running around chasing guys and ends up out of position. We shoulda noticed that from the way the Hornets closed out the first game. The type of play that gets you in a position to win is not always the type of play that will seal the deal, sometimes you gotta shift gears and throw em a curve ball.

Till I get free
I live my life in the Walmart
Cholesterol chasin me

by Skeptic con Urquell on Nov 1, 2008 9:40 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs

Agreed

Basic rundown of the guys that will be playing the last minute…

Biedrins – uhmmm, unless you have time for a shot and a putback he’s not a guy to give the last shot to.
Turiaf – nope.
SJax – catch and shoot guy. That’s Jax’ ideal place on the last play. You don’t want him fumbling his way to the hoop to get a shot. Maybe set up a drive and dish play for him.
Harrington – same as Jax. I had no problem with him taking that last shot at NOH. At the last play, that’s the kind of shot you want from him. Sure we can probably have picked another guy to take that shot but it was a good shot selection nonetheless.
Maggette – the closest we have to a closer at the moment. Here’s the problem though, he makes a living going to the line and getting fouled. But those last minute plays like you saw last night, they won’t call a foul unless it’s a blatant one.
Buike – another option but only when he’s playing against a smaller guy. He’s shown vision while driving to the basket and if he has a PG guarding him he can easily overpower him. He’s probably the ideal ‘drive’ candidate in a drive and dish play.

by lightz0ut on Nov 1, 2008 1:37 PM PDT up reply actions

Sounds about right

I wouldn’t trust SJax with a drive and dish though.

Ball movement on the last shot usually sucks so We want someone who can hit with a hand in his face- Jackson. Jackson, Harrington, and Buike on the perimeter, Maggette driving off Biedrins screen and roll to the hoop. I’ve watched a grand total of 1 Maggette game but he looks strong enough to finish with contact even if it is not called.

All in all I like this team in crunch time, almost as much as a real closer like Baron or Kobe or Gil.

by antihero on Nov 1, 2008 1:46 PM PDT up reply actions

I wouldn’t trust SJax with a drive and dish though.

Sorry, I should have cleared that up. Drive and Dish where he will be on the dish end. Like set up somebody driving and Sjax will come off an off-ball as an option for a pass.

And I have to disagree, I don’t like this team in crunch time because they don’t resemble an NBA team in the half court. Yah, I said it. I said it last year and I’ll say it again, they resemble a group of guys playing pick up ball, albeit a good one, in the half court.

For gamers, it’s like comparing 2k8 and 2k9. Warriors doesn’t have adaptive A.I.

by lightz0ut on Nov 1, 2008 1:54 PM PDT up reply actions

This is amazing, I agree with the skeptic

by warriorbum on Nov 1, 2008 2:42 PM PDT up reply actions

This is amazing, I agree with the skeptic

Well sometimes even a blind squirrel can find a nut.

Till I get free
I live my life in the Walmart
Cholesterol chasin me

by Skeptic con Urquell on Nov 1, 2008 2:52 PM PDT up reply actions

that would be great but...

it’s very difficult to have ball movement to the open man if there is no point guard that can get in the lane and find that open man once the defense crashes. I hope for the best while Monta is out, but I have a suspision we are going to struggle in late games situations until then (ala games 1&2).

by jnormous on Nov 1, 2008 9:08 PM PDT up reply actions

tell that to last years' wiz, magic, rockets, cavs, celtics, lakers, blazers, nuggets, mavs and hawks

you don’t need a PG, just a superstar.

unless you count Chauncey Billups or Tony Parker, the last time an NBA champion featured a top 5 PG was Isiah Thomas back in 89-90.

defensive intensity picks up in close games. superstars are talented enough to still get a good shot or create one for their teammates. our healthy players are not (talented enough). hopefully, monta will be.

by the evil monkey on Nov 1, 2008 10:03 PM PDT up reply actions

half court sets, chink in coach's armor

Nelson has not been dedicated to running half court sets with any sense of discipline in the early going of many recent seasons – preferring to put in his offensive sets over longer stretches of the season. This has to be a conscious choice since his Bucks teams did run quite a few fairly elaborate sets. Skeptic is right about the effect of ball movement on the defense, and Maggette going 1 vs 5 on repeated possessions didn’t get the job done. We must all have been dismayed at both his ineffectiveness as the go-to guy and the stagnant sets. It’s possible that Nelson didn’t anticipate playing “tall ball” and didn’t have sets in yet to run with that group. The third option is Monta of course, and both Maggette and Jax will benefit when he returns, but until then moving the defense is the only way to help them get into creases.

On the flip side, “tall ball” may become this season’s manifestation of Nelson’s desire to create mismatches and advantages. Ironic relative to all the criticisms that he fell in love with “small ball” to the detriment of the team’s success. Not sure there is a more flexible coach in the association visa vie their “systems” and use of players. His short rotation early on is indicative of the anemicly weak roster. No PT for CJ, Marco is no closer to getting any burn, even with “tall ball” Wright and Randolph are both in seat belts, etc. If any of these guys could give the Dubs an edge, Nelson would be putting them out there – his using DNelson is evidence that he’s willing to try new players, young and inexperienced though they may be.

by hardcore on Nov 1, 2008 10:50 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs

Our closers are Jackson, Ellis, and Azubuike.

JAckson will be up and down, may make some stupid plays at the end. Azubuike is very underrated in the clutch, he needs to be in there more at the end. Ellis is obviously injured.

So if Jack is playing bad, Buike isn’t playing, and Ellis is injured we don’t have much.

by belilaugh on Nov 1, 2008 1:13 PM PDT reply actions

Haven’t seen the new guys or rookies too much so don’t know

by belilaugh on Nov 1, 2008 1:14 PM PDT up reply actions

CLosers are playing too much

I still think we lost the two games because the starters/closers were too tired. That makes them take bad shots. The only way to win these if the starts get more rest, which means using the bench.

In the first game where we needed a three to tie, why the hell didn’t marco go in to spread the floor? He would be another three shooter option in case the others couldn’t open up. I understand that he or CJ aren’t experienced, but they would be better than having turiaf or beans in in that situation.

by mosdl on Nov 1, 2008 2:52 PM PDT reply actions

hm

what about the princeton offense? something free flowing where everybody gets a chance.

by Bigben777 on Nov 1, 2008 3:17 PM PDT reply actions

closer you say?

well we’re bringing back Rob Kurz, he of the 2 three pointers in the clutch fame. Thats our closer I say.

warriors dont fish they hunt!

by VonteegoCummings on Nov 2, 2008 1:20 AM PDT reply actions

okay, i'm going to go there

sure would be nice to have Jason Richardson instead of Maggette, Wright, (and probably Marcus Williams & Morrow? (since Cohan/Rowell are intent to get under the luxury tax))..

we probably wouldn’t have Jiri Welsch.. er Marco Belinelli either. since he was drafted to be JRich’s replacement last year.

oh well. let’s hope Monta pulls through.

by the evil monkey on Nov 2, 2008 11:34 AM PST reply actions