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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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.