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Ranking the Warriors Assets- Countdown to #1 (a series). Part 10: Rush to judgement (and the 10th cut).

First of all, thank you for participating.

The idea of this series is to alleviate massive amounts of boredom and to encourage some healthy Warriors-related basketball discussions by debating the merits of each one of the Warriors current assets, eliminating one asset per poll, from worst to first. Only guaranteed contracts and our 2015 first round pick are included.

I'd also like to thank the anonymous mod that keeps adding pictures to these FanPosts. They add a great touch.

Before we move on to the next cut, let's review where we are so far. We started with 14 players and a first round pick, totally 15 assets to be ranked. Here's the rankings so far. I've included the percentage of votes the assets received when they were ranked:

15) Nemanja Nedovic (58%)

14) Ognjen Kuzmic (77%)

13) Marreese Speights (61%)

12) Leandro Barbosa (46%)

11) Festus Ezeli (40%)

10) 2015 First Round Pick (48%)

9) Harrison Barnes (51%)

8) David Lee (43%)

Which brings us to #7. This time, there was little controversy, as Brandon Rush ran away with the vote, receiving 201 out of 234 votes, good for 86%. After coming in second place for several polls, always-a-bridesmaid BRush is finally a bride in our least contested vote to date. Before we move on to the next vote, let's take a look at what our 7th highest ranked asset brings to the table.

Two seasons ago, the former Kansas star was coming off a season where he put up 13.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per 36, while posting a .628 TS%. Yes, you read that correctly, that said .628 TS%. The very definition of a "3 and D" player, he shot 45% from behind the arc, and blocked 1.2 shots per 36, many of which were chase-down blocks in transition. His man defense had many GSoM faithful calling for him to start over Klay Thompson or Harrison Barnes, though former head coach Mark Jackson opted to keep him in the sixth man role he had excelled in.

Things looked very bright for Rush and the Warriors to start the 2012-13 campaign, as Rush put up 14 points in 23 minutes of the opener, on .667 shooting from the field. Then disaster struck. In just the second game of the season, after less than two minutes on the court, the Warriors sixth man went up for a huge dunk against the Memphis Grizzlies and was fouled hard by a beaten Zach Randolph. Rush landed wrong, and his knee basically exploded.

Roaracle fell silent. Zach Harper wrote: "After the injury happened, there was that eerie sense from his teammates and the members of the Grizzlies that something horrible had happened. Not just because of the way that he landed, but his reaction just had a feeling of doom. This really sucks. There's just no other way to describe it."

Twenty five minutes into his new two year, 8 million dollar contract and Brandon Rush was done in a Warriors uniform. The Warriors rallied around the injury, uniting around the "4B-Rush" campaign and made the playoffs for the first time since 2007, where they upset the #3 seeded Denver Nuggets and gave the Western Conference champion Spurs all they could handle in the second round before succumbing to myriad injuries and a lack of overall experience. The season was considered a success for many, but Rush was left to wonder "what if?".

In the following offseason, Warriors GM Bob Myers somehow found the opportunity to sign former all star and defensive juggernaut Andre Iguodala, but had to unload Andris Biedrins and Richard Jefferson to make room. The Utah Jazz were willing to take the 20 million dollars worth of expirings, but insisted that Rush and several 2nd round picks be included as the price of doing business.

As he recovered from surgery on his left knee’s anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments, the 6-foot-6, 29-year-old was in and out of the Jazz lineup. He played a career-low 11 minutes per game in 38 games. His free-throw, field-goal and three-point shooting percentages were the worst of his career, as he posted a horrendous .428 TS%. His per 36 numbers plummeted to 6.8 points and 3.8 rebounds.

According to an article by Rusty Simmons:

"It was difficult — playing, not playing, playing a little bit," Rush said. "I wasn’t mentally ready, and it took a toll.

"But I had a great summer, I worked out hard and I’m definitely ready."

Warriors general manager Bob Myers represented one of 25-plus teams that watched Rush work out in July in Las Vegas. Myers needed only 10 minutes to determine that Rush had returned to being the player he saw with the Warriors in 2011-12.

And that brings us to today. Through the preseason, Rush seems a little tentative, but if he can get back to his career averages (per 36) of 11.9 points and 4.8 rebounds on .540 shooting, then his 1.1 million dollar contract will be a huge bargain for the team this season. If he approaches his 2011-12 numbers, he might be one of the best bargains in the league. I, for one, hope he plays so well that his second year player option of 1.3 is declined because his production warrants a much bigger contract. The man has handled his ups and downs with dignity and professionalism, and I wish him the best going forward.

Other assets receiving votes were Shaun Livingston (18), Andre Iguodala (5), Klay Thompson (4), Draymond Green (3), Stephen Curry (2), and Andrew Bogut (1).

Which brings us to the next selection! Remember to consider skill, contract, injuries, need, and anything else you find valid in your reasoning. Also keep in mind that your vote is for the LEAST valuable asset TO THE WARRIORS. This time, pretty please, with sugar on top, voice the reason for your opinion in the comment thread following your vote, so that we can engage in a healthy debate. I certainly would love to read the reasoning behind the votes. Now that we're down to our top 6, I expect things to get hotly contested.

And thanks again for participating.



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!