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Ghosts of Seasons Past: Previewing the 2007-08 Warriors

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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 feedMilwaukee'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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