They may not get coach Don Nelson the record and may not even stick with the team beyond this year, but the Golden State D-Leaguers are, at the very least, going to make the final few weeks of the regular season fun and the offseason interesting.
Anthony Tolliver, Reggie Williams and Chris Hunter, once viewed simply as tourniquets on a season that was in danger of bleeding out, were at the heart of a stunning comeback Wednesday night as the Warriors rallied from 21 points down midway through the third quarter to not only catch the New Orleans Hornets early in the fourth, but pull away for a 131-121 victory at Oracle.
The game marked the fourth time this year the Warriors trailed by at least 18 points and came back to win. It also marked the latest example of how far these overlooked minor-leaguers have come.
With the Warriors down 87-66 with 5:35 to go in the third quarter, the D-Leaguers spearheaded a 22-9 run to end the quarter. Hunter scored seven, Tolliver scored five and Williams, who was just warming up, scored two.
The run continued in the fourth quarter as the Warriors scored 12 of the first 14 of the final frame to take a 100-98 lead as the spurt reached 34-11 in about eight minutes of game action. The Warriors led 105-104 when Williams, who led the country in scoring his final two years in college, got caught up in the Warriors' wave of points and knocked down four straight 3-pointers to make it 117-111 with five minutes left. A Monta Ellis jumper and two more 3-pointers, giving the Warriors nine in the quarter, later and it was all but over as the Warriors led 125-116 with 3:09 left.
It was shocking, stunning and exhilarating, all at once. And it was the D-Leaguers mostly responsible.
Tolliver scored a career-high 30 points with six rebounds, four steals and three assists.
Williams had 18 in the fourth quarter and finished with 22 on 8-of-11 shooting while adding four rebounds, four assists and two steals.
Hunter, building off his career game against the Lakers on Monday, came off the bench to score 17 points (7-of-9 shooting) and grab eight rebounds.
Both Tolliver and Hunter are signed through the end of the season but Williams is nearing the end of his second 10-day contract and possibly his Warriors career if they can't find a way to keep him.
At the risk of sounding like a Johnny Come Lately who is quick to forget what many of the injured players brought to the table before they got hurt, I hope the Warriors are exploring ways to bring any or all of these guys back next year.
Contracts aside, if only it were that easy, the Warriors likely would rather keep these guys than some of the players they're already committed to.
In a game of "take your pick, no strings attached," who do you take?
Hunter or Turiaf or dare I throw in Biedrins?
Tolliver or Maggette or Randolph or Wright or Radmanovic? (Definitely not Radmanovic)
Williams or Watson or Morrow or Azubuike?
Tough choices all after Wednesday's thrilling win.
But we can't forget the contributions of the old vets.
Ellis, playing the point with Stephen Curry missing his first game of the year with a sprained ankle, scored 28 points, dished out 13 assists and had four of the Warriors' 14 steals -- all while looking at ease running the team in the absence of Curry (another tough decision that may need to be made sooner than later).
And then there's Devean George, who I suddenly love to see play. In 17 minutes, George had eight points, five rebounds, a steal and an assist. It doesn't sound like much, but playing alongside Ellis and the three D-Leaguers, he provided a spark that resulted in a +26 ratio. Starters Maggette, Morrow and Watson, meanwhile, were all negative. George also played well against the Lakers and after thinking he was just taking up space on the roster at the beginning of the year, he's become a consistent contributor as of late (I wonder, though, if he'll become a casualty if the Warriors try to keep Williams.)
The Warriors now have 15 games left, with nine on the road, to get Nelson the five more wins he needs to break the record. They may not get there, but it won't be for lack of trying -- or lack of effort by some former D-League guys fighting for their NBA futures.
Comments
sit tight, hold on to everyone, add a draft pick... looking like a good plan now...
Tolliver and Hunter are keepers.
Warriors still the most exciting team to watch. They've got plenty of players with heart and great attitudes. So now we see chemistry back in the mix. They are having fun. I love it.
Choices, choices, choices...
I think Nelson should be added to the Basketball Hall of Fame for his amazing achievements. I know not everyone likes him, but the guy has won more games as coach than anyone else. You can't get a better argument than that, right? After all, that is the whole point of being a coach - to win games. Some sports bloggers listed on www.dozensports.com/ say Nelson doesn't deserve the praise. But I say, get him in the Hall of Fame where he belongs. It is surely a travesty that this great coach is not given his rightful honor and place in basketball history.
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