MF – Steve Kerr has gotten a lot of credit for the improvement of the Warriors, but do you think his guidance or the Warriors roster continuity has been the bigger factor for their progress?
JR – It’s a combination of both, really. There’s no doubt that the camaraderie and relationships built over the past few seasons have benefited this team and helped with the changes, but this team isn’t this good without Steve Kerr, Alvin Gentry and Ron Adams. This roster is a wonderful mix of rising stars and proven veterans, and Kerr has established everyone with a given role. This includes veterans David Lee and Andre Iguodala, who have quickly accepted their new roles on the bench given their previous roles as starters.
Joakim Noah has gotten a lot of praise the last few years for being such a good two-way, passing big man. Does Andrew Bogut get enough recognition for what he does for the Warriors? Seems all I ever hear is injury talk..
He doesn’t, but that’s his own fault. If you miss the amount of games that Andrew Bogut has, it’s tough to build any type of consistent reputation. He’s known more for his injuries as he is his play, which is unfortunate given his importance to this team. He sets incredible screens, has great court vision and has found some touch around the rim that made him the #1 overall pick in 2005. This is in addition to the incredible, stout defense down low that has helped transform this defense into one of the best in the league.
Several teams near the top of the West have made moves to improve their rosters. The Warriors clearly don’t have many holes in their roster, but do you see them making a move before the deadline? Possibly involving David Lee, seeing as the Warriors are projected to be way over the cap next year?
The Warriors will be taking calls, but I don’t see them making any major moves come the trade deadline. They recently brought up former University of Carolina Tar Heel James McAdoo for some spot minutes, and it’s these type of moves that this team will continue to make. The roster is fairly set given the improvements of the bench and role reversals (Lee and Iguodala). The team will indeed need to shed salary given their cap situation heading into next year, but I can’t see that happening with what Kerr is building and the success they’ve had so far this season.
Jalen Rose has been making pretty bold claims that Draymond Green will be wearing a Pistons jersey next season. Is he Important enough to the Warriors to warrant big money? Will they be able to afford him if they don’t make a Lee move?
How many different forms of the word “ABSOLUTELY” are there? Anyways, Draymond Green will be worth whatever his next contract brings him, and his importance to the Warriors can’t be overstated. A defensive stalwart who can guard all five positions, Green single-handily bumped David Lee to the bench. Kerr even acknowledged that he took this job with the assumption that Lee would be the starting power forward, but Green just outplayed him. His shooting has gone down since his early season success, but he’s still a threat from beyond the three-point line and given space when Curry or Thompson are trapped.
