CCT (blog): What I See ./Watson Hurt/Meeting with Ref/Capt..

What I See .

By Marcus
Wednesday, October 22nd, 2008

A few things stood out at today's practice:

* Stephen Jackson is clearly the best player on the team (which maybe scary
to some). In practice, he practically does what he wants and it seems no one
can stop him. He may kick the ball around some times, but others you see him
posting up and scoring with ease, driving to the basket at will, hitting
threes, pointing people around. He's obviously the guy on this team.

* Marco Belinelli hasn't made a shot since John McCain was ahead in the
polls. For someone who is only on the team because of his outside shot, he
can't afford these droughts. He's got to be shooting like 30 percent,
unofficially. He missed a few wide-open looks Wednesday.

* No offense to Rob Kurz, but if the Warriors don't keep Anthony Morrow,
they are crazy. Even if they stash him a way in the D-League, this kid is
going to be serviceable, maybe even good. They need to go with the best
player available and not the biggest need (they do need a big man who can
stretch the court). Morrow can handle, shoot, he's got size and he works
hard. They may have found something.

* I like the way Marcus Williams looks these days. He took DeMarcus Nelson
easily a few times, and that runner of his is pretty money. It seems as if
he's taken the criticism to heart and is stepping up his game. He better,
because DeMarcus isn't going anywhere and is certainly someone to be
reckoned with.




Watson Hurt

By Marcus
Wednesday, October 22nd, 2008

Remember that tumble over the baseline seats C.J. Watson took last night? It
turned out to be a painful fall.

Watson said after the game he was in a lot of pain with a sore right arm.

"I couldn't even shoot in the second half after I fell."

He didn't practice Wednesday, just worked on the side with Mark Grabow,
director of athletic development. He took a million left-handed lay-ups and
some set shots from the free throw line area, his right forearm and elbow
wrapped. He perhaps couldn't have picked a worst time to get hurt, as Nellie
is already down on him and Marcus Williams.




Meeting with Ref

By Marcus
Tuesday, October 21st, 2008

Every pre-season, the league sends an official to each NBA city to update
the press on what the officials will be emphasizing in the coming season.
The session for the Warriors media was before Tuesday's game. Guess who was
the official who ran it?

That's right. Bob Delaney. Yes, the same official who fell for Derek Fisher's
flop and called Monta Ellis for the charge against the Lakers last year, a
call that cost the Warriors a critical game.

He is a great guy. Super honest, and funny. An all-around pleasure to be
around. He even explained why they missed that call. On inbounds, there is
usually a blind spot and they sometimes can't see grabs and holds. Anyway,
there were other things he explained to us. Figured you may be interested.

*Just because a defender is hit square in the chest doesn't mean it's an
offensive foul.

*When the offensive and defensive player arrive at a spot at the same time,
it will be ruled a blocking foul. In other words, a tie goes to the dribbler

*A player flopping does not negate the fact that contact was made and
therefore an offensive foul can be called

*if a defender was not in position before the offensive player gathers the
ball (or picks up his dribble), then it's an automatic blocking foul, even
if the player is set when the contact is made

*The secondary defender coming over to draw a charge will be called for
blocking fouls

*When a player is taking a charge and has his heels on the semi-circle under
the basket (the restricted area) raising his heels does not mean he's not in
the restricted area. There is an imaginary vertical plan

*If a player is in the restricted area but goes straight up and doesn't
bring his hands forward, and the offensive player initiates contact, it's
not a defensive foul

*It was emphasized that body contact with players who are in the air - such
as stepping under a player while he is attempting a shot - will be called a
defensive foul. Officials will be cracking down on that

*They are also going to be looking for holds and grabs on inbounds plays

*Screeners must allow a player to "stop and/or change directions" on back
picks, otherwise it's an offensive foul

*Overt gestures aren't automatic technical fouls anymore; only when it is
directed at referees. Same when a player throws the ball or punches the
padding under the basket




Captain Al

By Marcus
Tuesday, October 21st, 2008

Coach Don Nelson named Al Harrington the third captain, joining Stephen
Jackson and Andris Biedrins. Nellie, for some reason likes three captains,
but he held out on the third. Al's attitude and leadership led to Nellie
giving him the C on his jersey.

Nelson: "He's a veteran, been with me for a year. He's stepped up his
leadership in training camp."

Why is this significant? Because these two haven't been drinking buddies. Al
and Nelli have had their differences. Harrington spent last season and this
offseason frustrated about his role, his lack of fourth-quarter minutes, his
inconsistent playing time. He and Nellie spoke at length late in the
offseason, but Harrington still came into training camp with skepticism
dripping from his tone as he vowed to do "everything I need to do."

So either Al has really done so and has really impressed Nellie, or this is
Nellie's way of extending the olive branch and massaging their rocky
relationship. Either way, it's perhaps good news for the team's chemistry.




Nellie Drops a (Small) Bomb

By Marcus
Monday, October 20th, 2008

If the season started today, the starting five would look like this:

PG DeMarcus Nelson
SG Stephen Jackson
SF Corey Maggette
PF Al Harrington
C Andris Biedrins

That's right. DeMarcus Nelson, as of right now, is the starting point guard.
If Chris Paul was in town today, he would be matched up against the
undrafted rookie out of Duke. Does that spell doom for the Warriors? Or is
DeMarcus Nelson the best chance the Warriors have at this point?

He certainly maybe the best chance defensively. He's big and physical and
defensive-minded. When's the last time the Warriors had that at point guard.

How would you like to be Marcus Williams and C.J. Watson right now, having
the coach exalt a training camp invitee over you?

* Well, with the Marco Belinelli-at-point experiment nixed, Nellie all but
put an end to the Stephen Jackson-at-point experiement.
"Since he's been a turnover machine at the two, I'm a little reluctant at
the one," Nellie said.

He did, however, open up another point guard experience. Andris
Biedrins-at-point. Check out this exchange between Nellie and Matt
Steinmetz.
Would it be a totally ridiculous suggestion to put Andris at point?

"Well, we're going to be going through him more than we did last year, that's
for sure."
Could you use him to break pressure?
"Yes."
Can he initiate the offense?
"Yes. Both our centers can do that."
Is that what you have to do to be called a point-center?
"I wouldn't go that far, but pressure release is the main thing and then
have a couple of plays that they can actually initiate, which we have. I
feel comfortable that, that will work out fine."

Certainly much more of an endorsement than Nellie gave Marcus Williams on
Monday.

* Twice, Biedrins went up for two of his flip shots right at the rim. Twice,
rookie Anthony Randolph swatted it away. The lanky rookie has a knack for
blocking shots. He can get up there quickly and he's got the length to get
to shots.

Maybe Randolph is closer to Brandan Wright than most thought. Because of his
turnover problems, Randolph may be best suited to play power forward and not
small forward at this point in his career. At least his best chance to stay
on the court might be at PF.

Sure, he's skinny, but he's not weak. He is willing to get down there and he
can impact the game on defense because the Warriors desperately need someone
to protect the basket. He won't have to handle the ball as much or make
decisions on offense. He's probably better creating against traditional
power forwards than against small forwards.

Randolph at the four takes minutes away from Wright. But, oh well. Randolph
is the best young talent (other than Monta Ellis) on the team. He's the
asset the Warriors most need to groom. It would probably be best for his
confidence and for his overall production if he plays at PF, where he can be
a garbage player and defender who has the ability to create offense in
certain occasions. Just my two cents.

* Kelenna Azubuike is looking like a beast in practice. He was all over the
court Monday. Rebounding. Scoring. Creating. Once again, he has separated
himself from Belinelli and is clearly the back-up shooting guard. If this is
any indication of how he'll play this season - haven't we seen these flashes
before? - don't be surprised to see Nellie play Jax, Mags and Buike
together, with Biedrins at center (or even Al) and the PG. If Jax stops
kicking the ball around, he may be the point and Al and Biedrins could be on
the floor together with Buike and Mags.

*One spot left. Who will be cut? Rob Kurz or Anthony Morrow? Either way,
Nellie said neither will get much of a chance to make one-last pitch to
stick around. Nelson said the focus for the last preseason game will be to
get the main guys jelling together and ready for the season. Everyone else
will just have to rest on their laurels and hope they've proven what they
can do enough.