Golden State Warriors Blog – Page 85 – NBA Blog

Stephen Jackson sticks up for Baron Davis

Friday night the Golden State Warriors, playing at home, lost to the Los Angeles Clippers, who enjoyed very good games from Baron Davis and Chris Kaman.

As you surely recall, Davis used to be a Warrior and helped inject some nice life into the team while he was there.

Baron’s buddy Stephen Jackson, currently an unhappy Warrior who has requested to be traded, does not support any boos from Golden State fans in Baron’s direction.

The AP reports:

Jackson took exception to the fans’ reception of Davis, who was making his second appearance in Oakland since leaving the Warriors. Davis was booed every time he touched the ball.

“Baron is a great player,” Jackson said. “What upsets me is they boo him but they have short memories. They forgot the reason they’re still coming here is because of what he did when he was here. The organization was in the trash can before we had that year.”

The way I see it, the Warriors currently have so many issues, the last thing any members of the team need to worry about is how fans react to former players or anyone wearing the wrong jersey.

Raptors exercise Marco Belinelli option

The Toronto Raptors announced Thursday they have exercised the fourth year team option on the Rookie Scale Contract of guard Marco Belinelli. Belinelli is now guaranteed through the 2010-11season. In accordance with the league’s collective bargaining agreement, the Raptors had until October 31 to exercise their option on Belinelli. Per team policy, financial terms of the deal was not disclosed.

Belinelli had 10 points in 19 minutes in Wednesday’s season-opening win versus Cleveland.

The 18th overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft, Belinelli averaged 8.9 points, 2.1 assists, 1.7 rebounds and 21.0 minutes in 42 games last season with Golden State. He registered four 20-point games during the 2008-09 campaign, including a career-high 27 points December 12, 2008 at Atlanta.

Through 76 career games Belinelli owns a .397 mark from three-point range (69-for-174). As a rookie he appeared in 33 games, averaging 2.9 points in 7.3 minutes.

Prior to joining the Warriors, the 23 year-old, 6-foot-5 guard from Bologna, Italy, played professionally in Italy for five seasons. In 33 games during the 2006-07 season with Fortitudo Bologna in Serie A, Belinelli averaged 16.4 points, while shooting .544 (99-for-182) from the field. In 13 Euroleague contests, he averaged 12.9 points on .438 (32-for-73) from the field.

Stephen Curry missing shots early on

The Golden State Warriors have all sorts of issues. A minor one, for now, is that rookie guard Stephen Curry isn’t quite a shooting star just yet.

Marcus Thompson II of the Bay Area News Group reports:

The rookie No. 1 draft pick entered the game shooting 34.8 percent, including 4-for-21 from 3-point range.

Nelson said Curry is not even making shots in practice.

“I just thought it was a fluke for the first few weeks,” Nelson said.

“He was always a volume shooter,” Nelson said. “We’re having him think more as a point guard. That may be a factor, but I don’t think so. He feels free to take shots, and we encourage him to do it. I don’t really know any reason.

“He was a great shooter in college. … All I’ve been doing is just encouraging him. Keep shooting.”

Nelson has told the Warriors’ strength and conditioning personnel about cutting back Curry’s weightlifting to see if that’s the problem.

Curry said he lifts three days a week “heavy” for an hour straight. At most at Davidson, he said, he lifted “light” twice a week. But he said he doesn’t think weights are the issue.

I see this as no big deal at all. He’s shooting 35 percent now, on a team that’s making all sorts of adjustments. He’ll probably start shooting 40 percent soon, and perhaps higher in the near future. No problem just yet.

Don Nelson to use Acie Law as small forward

The Golden State Warriors have lots of talented small and medium-sized players, and not a lot of good big dudes. Which is why they tend to play small-ball. But coach Don Nelson tends to take that concept to a whole other level.

Rusty Simmons of the San Francisco Chronicle reports:

The Warriors were already planning on playing small for stretches, but no one saw this coming. Nelson said this week that 6-foot-3, 202-pound Acie Law would get the majority of his minutes at small forward.

“He’s a natural there. He’s just small,” Nelson said. “But I think that’s about the only spot I have unless there’s an injury or something.”

Law is one of five point guards under contract with the Warriors.

A 6-foot-3, 202-pound player at small forward? I am 6-3 and around 205 pounds, which means in Don Nelson’s system I might be a slightly undersized power forward and play alongside “center” Corey Maggette.

Warriors exercise options on Brandan Wright and Anthony Randolph

The Golden State Warriors announced today that the team has exercised the fourth-year contract option on forward Brandan Wright and the third-year contract option on forward Anthony Randolph, which are both for the 2010-11 NBA season.

Wright, 22, underwent successful surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder on October 9 and will have his shoulder immobilized for up to six (6) weeks, at which point he will be re-evaluated prior to the next phase of rehabilitation. A 6-10 forward, Wright appeared in 39 games last season, averaging 8.3 points and 4.0 rebounds in 17.6 minutes per contest. Overall in two NBA seasons, the University of North Carolina product has appeared in 77 games, averaging 6.2 points, 3.3 rebounds and 13.8 minutes per contest.

Randolph, 20, appeared in 63 games last season, averaging 7.9 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.17 blocks in 17.9 minutes during a rookie campaign in which he was the youngest player in the NBA. The 6-11 forward started 22 games last season, averaging 10.6 points, 8.5 rebounds and 25.7 minutes in those assignments.

Under the terms of the NBA’s current collective bargaining agreement, the first two years of a first round draft pick’s contract are guaranteed, while the third and fourth year of the contract are the team’s option. Wright was selected with the eighth overall selection in the 2007 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Bobcats and later acquired by Golden State, while Randolph was selected by the Warriors with the 14th pick in the 2008 NBA Draft.

Warriors suspend Stephen Jackson

The Golden State Warriors have suspended guard/forward Stephen Jackson for two games due to conduct detrimental to the team during last night’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers, the team announced today. Jackson will serve the suspension for the team’s next two games – tonight against the Phoenix Suns at Indian Wells and Monday, October 12, against the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center.

The AP reports: The team said the suspension is for Jackson’s behavior Friday night against the Lakers. He picked up five fouls plus a technical foul in less than 10 minutes of action. He went to the locker room from the bench and never returned.

The AP continues: Jackson has been unhappy with Golden State’s decline since reaching the second round of the 2007 playoffs. He was fined $25,000 by the NBA last month for publicly requesting a trade.

Marcus Thompson of the Contra Costa Times reports (via blog): Nellie pulled Jackson from the game after he picked up his fifth foul Friday in the first quarter. Jackson was clearly upset/frustrated/emotional. He was in a mano-y-mano with Kobe and he wasn’t happy with the way the refs were calling it. Jackson’s tirade continued on the bench. Eventually, Nelson sent Jackson to the locker room to “cool off” one team source told me. Jack never came out for the second half. Not sure if that was Nellie’s decision or Jackson’s decision. I also heard he got into with an assistant coach. That rumor was disputed. I don’t know what happened once he left the bench, as Nelson isn’t talking and Jackson isn’t available. But it must’ve been serious because it forced Nelson into a first.

Read fan reaction and discuss your own opinion in this forum topic.

Brandan Wright has left shoulder surgery

Golden State Warriors forward Brandan Wright underwent successful surgery today to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder, the team announced. Following the surgery, which was performed by Dr. James Andrews at the Andrews Institute in Gulf Breeze, Florida, Wright’s shoulder will be immobilized for up to six (6) weeks, at which point he will be re-evaluated prior to the next phase of rehabilitation.

Wright, 22, suffered the injury during practice on the evening of Friday, October 2. A 6-9 forward, Wright appeared in 39 games last season, averaging 8.3 points and 4.0 rebounds in 17.6 minutes per contest. He missed 41 games due to injury or illness in 2008-09, including 37 games due to injury or pain in his left shoulder. Overall in two NBA seasons, the University of North Carolina product has appeared in 77 games, averaging 6.2 points, 3.3 rebounds and 13.8 minutes per contest.

NBA tells bench players stay seated so fans can see

Good NBA seats are expensive. Fans shelling out big money to sit near the court should expect a good view of the action.

But what about when players get off the bench and remain standing for a while? On the one hand, it’s nice to see guys cheer their teammates. On the other, these giants prevent fans from seeing what they paid to see.

The Cavs are one team with players who remained standing a lot, and now the league office has reportedly taken action.

Brian Windhorst of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports:

The NBA has issued a memo to its teams directing players on the bench to remain seated during games. Game officials will be keeping a closer eye and will issue faster warnings and possible technical fouls if not followed. Players are permitted to cheer, but standing during regular-game action and blocking the fans’ views apparently isn’t going to be allowed.

That goes for Tuesday night’s first preseason game at The Q, where the Cavs will host the Charlotte Bobcats in the first of eight practice games before the season opener.

The Cavs weren’t exactly thrilled that their custom has been legislated.

“It is hard to take that out of the game,” LeBron James said. “Part of the game is emotions, your teammates are all you have. That was part of the reason we played great basketball, because we cheered each other.”

I support the league protecting the paying fan’s view.

Oct 4: Warriors 108, Clippers 101

The AP reports: Anthony Morrow scored 15 of his 21 points in the first half and the Golden State Warriors beat the Los Angeles Clippers 108-101 on Sunday night in the preseason opener for both teams. Kelenna Azubuike added 19 points and 10 rebounds and Corey Maggette had 18 for the Warriors. Stephen Jackson scored 11 and Anthony Rudolph added 10. DeAndre Jordan recorded a double-double with 22 points and 10 rebounds for the Clippers. He made all eight of his shots. Eric Gordon added 19 points and Chris Kaman had 13.

Brandan Wright to have left shoulder surgery

Golden State Warriors forward Brandan Wright underwent an MRI today, which did confirm damage to the capsule of his left shoulder, the team announced. Surgery is required, but no timetable has been set. A timetable for his rehabilitation and recovery will be established following the surgery.

Wright, who turns 22-years-old tomorrow (October 5), suffered the injury during practice on the evening of Friday, October 2. A 6-9 forward, Wright appeared in 39 games last season, averaging 8.3 points and 4.0 rebounds in 17.6 minutes per contest. He missed 41 games due to injury or illness in 2008-09, including 37 games due to injury or pain in his left shoulder. Overall in two NBA seasons, the University of North Carolina product has appeared in 77 games, averaging 6.2 points, 3.3 rebounds and 13.8 minutes per contest.