Golden State Warriors Blog – Page 75 – NBA Blog

Warriors will not keep Keith Smart as their head coach

The Golden State Warriors have informed Head Coach Keith Smart that he will not be retained for the 2011-12 season, the team announced today. Smart, who was named head coach of the Warriors on September 27, 2010, led Golden State to a 36-46 record during the recently-completed 2010-11 NBA season.

“It’s never easy to make difficult decisions, especially when it involves someone that we have a great deal of respect for like Keith Smart,” said Warriors Owner Joe Lacob. “After meeting extensively with Larry Riley and Bob Myers, we came to the conclusion that a change was necessary at this particular time. I think Keith did an admirable job this season and he should be commended for many of the positive things that transpired both on and off the floor. The team showed improvement and their effort was never in question. However, we’ve elected to pursue a new path and we wish Keith the very best. He’s a quality person and we thank him for the time he invested with our organization.”

Smart, 46, originally began his tour of duty with the Warriors as an assistant coach during the 2003-04 season. He spent seven seasons in that capacity before being elevated to head coach – the 23rd in franchise history – prior to the start of last season. A native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Smart also served as interim head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers for the final 40 games of the 2002-03 season.

“I obviously have a great deal of admiration for Keith as both a professional and a friend,” said Warriors Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations/GM Larry Riley. “He’s dedicated a lot of time, hard work and commitment to this job, not only over the course of the last year as the head coach, but the previous seven years with our organization. We’re grateful for his contributions and have the utmost respect for him. From our standpoint, however, we feel it is in our best interest as we move as an organization and begin to focus and prepare for the future. At this time, we do not have a timetable for hiring a successor. We’ll conduct our due diligence and make a good, sound decision when we’ve identified that individual.”

Monta Ellis suffers concussion, will not play final two Warriors games

Golden State Warriors guard Monta Ellis, who exited last night’s game vs. Sacramento with 58.9 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter after falling to the floor and hitting his head, did not travel with the team to Denver for Monday’s game against the Nuggets.

Ellis spent last night in a Bay Area Hospital for observations after suffering a Grade 2 concussion and was released earlier this morning. A CT Scan was negative.

Ellis will not play in the final two games of the season tonight in Denver and Wednesday vs. Portland.

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Trail Blazers lose to Warriors, still clinch playoff spot

The AP reports:

Trail Blazers beat Warriors, clinch playoff spot

There were no smiles of accomplishment in the Trail Blazers’ locker room on Tuesday night.

Yes, the Blazers clinched a playoff spot. But they also got thumped 108-87 by the Golden State Warriors—and at home of all places.

“We didn’t play well at all,” guard Brandon Roy said succinctly.

Portland secured a postseason berth just before the half when the Houston Rockets lost 104-101 to Sacramento.

Even with the loss to Golden State, the Blazers still sit in the sixth spot in the Western Conference. But they’re only a half-game ahead of New Orleans and only a game in front of Memphis.

It will be Portland’s third straight trip to the postseason. Last year the Blazers were eliminated in the first round by the Phoenix Suns, and the year before they were bumped in the opening round by the Rockets.

Warriors reassign Jeremy Lin to D-League

The Golden State Warriors have reassigned guard Jeremy Lin to the Reno Bighorns of the NBA Development League, the team announced today.

Lin has previously appeared in 16 games over two stints with the Bighorns this season, averaging 17.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 2.19 steals in 32.0 minutes per contest. The 22-year-old has shot 51.8 % (103-199 FG) from the floor, 40.0 % (12-30 3FG) from three-point range and 69.7 % (69-99 FT) from the free throw line in D-League action.

With the Warriors this season, Lin has appeared in 23 games, averaging 1.9 points, 1.1 assists and 1.13 steals in 8.7 minutes per contest.

Kings guard Marcus Thornton drops 42 on Warriors

The AP reports:

Marcus Thornton and Samuel Dalembert had career scoring nights with 42 and 27 points and the Kings beat the Golden State Warriors 129-119 Monday night in what might have been the final meeting ever in Sacramento between the Northern California rivals.

Al Thornton scored 23 points and Stephen Curry added 19 to lead the Warriors, who were never in this game a night after beating Minnesota 100-77 in their most lopsided win of the season.

Kevin Love double-double streak ends at 53

The AP reports:

Kevin Love’s remarkable streak of consecutive double-doubles came to an end with a thud, and no one was happier about it than the Minnesota star himself.

Slowed by a thigh injury and worn out from all the attention he’s been receiving lately, Love sounded relieved and eager to move on now that it’s over.

“Now I can start focusing on playing my game,” said Love after being held to six points and 12 rebounds in the Timberwolves’ 100-77 loss to the Golden State Warriors on Sunday. “I thought I was doing it for myself but a lot of it was for the fans and everybody watching. I feel a big weight off my shoulders.”

It’s the first time since Nov. 19 that Love has failed to register a double-double. His 53-game streak was a franchise record and the longest in the NBA since Elvin Hayes did it in 55 consecutive games in 1973-74.

Love’s streak has been the only thing keeping the Timberwolves (17-51) in the headlines these days. Not anymore.

Warriors sign Al Thornton

The AP reports:

The Golden State Warriors have signed free agent forward Al Thornton after he was released by the Washington Wizards earlier this week.

Golden State said Thursday that Thornton was expected to join the Warriors before Friday night’s game with the Celtics in Boston.

Celtics sign Troy Murphy

By Jeff Lenchiner

The Boston Celtics announced today that they have signed forward Troy Murphy. The deal is for the pro-rated value of the veteran’s minimum.

It’s a great move for the Celtics, who are already a championship contender but just added the best player in the league who was available to be signed.

Murphy can shoot and rebound. He stretches the floor and adds yet another offensive weapon to a very diverse squad.

A 6’11” forward, Murphy has posted career averages of 11.8 points, 8.5 rebounds and has shot 39.1% from three-point range in his 10 NBA seasons. Murphy has posted five seasons during which he averaged a double-double (points-rebounds). Murphy recorded one of the best seasons of his career during 2008-09 when he averaged 14.3 points and a career-high 11.8 rebounds to go along with a 45.0% shooting percentage from the three-point line.

Knicks waive Kelenna Azubuike

The AP reports:

The New York Knicks have waived guard Kelenna Azubuike, who never played for the team while recovering from major knee surgery.

Azubuike was acquired from Golden State on July 9 in the sign-and-trade deal that sent David Lee(notes) to the Warriors. He was expected to be ready early in the season after missing the last 73 games in 2009-10, but never got into a game despite saying recently he believed he was close.

InsideHoops.com editor says: This dude can play and, once healthy, is absolutely worthy of being signed. Anyway, the Knicks will reportedly use the available roster spot to sign Jared Jeffries any day now, possibly Tuesday.

Warriors sign Jeff Adrien

The Golden State Warriors have signed forward Jeff Adrien to a contract, the team announced today. Adrien is being called up from the NBA Development League’s Rio Grande Valley Vipers.

Adrien, 25, began the season with Golden State and appeared in 15 games for the Warriors, averaging 2.9 points and 3.3 rebounds in 10.8 minutes per contest. He was waived on December 9, 2010, and joined the D-League’s Erie BayHawks for five games before being traded to Rio Grande Valley. Overall in the D-League this season, Adrien has appeared in 26 games, averaging 18.0 points, 11.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.04 steals and 1.47 blocks in 32.5 minutes per contest. He currently leads the D-League in rebounding and ranks eighth in scoring, having posted a league-leading 20 double-doubles in 26 games.

Adrien will once again wear uniform #4.