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Stephen Jackson: Significantly bigger role this season
The good people at RaptorsRepublic.com asked me to do an interview to preview Friday’s Warriors-Toronto Raptors game.
That interview will be on their site Friday morning.
I figured while I was at it, I’d give Raptors fans a quick five-point primer on what’s going on with the Warriors.
ON THE COURT:
♦ Stephen Jackson has never had more freedom or responsibility than he’ll have this year with Warriors. He’s likely to play a lot of point guard on Friday, and there are going to be nights he puts up big numbers … to the good and bad.
Jackson remains the Warriors’ best defender, too. Raptors fans might remember Jackson, in his first game back from suspension last season, did a pretty good defensive job on Chris Bosh (4-for-12 from floor; 6 turnovers) in an early season game.
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Ronny Turiaf: Gives the Warriors a physical presence
♦ ♦ The Warriors don’t play as fast as they did last year _ or the year before that. They’ll try, but they can’t really. Not without the injured Monta Ellis or an efficient uptempo point guard (see Warriors fans: I didn’t use his name.)
♦ ♦ ♦ The Warriors’ starting point guard for their opener on Wednesday was DeMarcus Nelson, an undrafted rookie out of Duke. Nelson played shooting guard in college and is learning the position.
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ They won’t be the “Bad Boys,” but the Warriors are going to be better defensively this year, particularly inside. That’s where Ronny Turiaf, signed in the offseason as a free agent, will help.
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ Without a go-to guy, the Warriors are trying to figure out whom to go to down the stretch of a game. It was a hodgepodge in their opener, with a few players coming up short on big possessions.
OFF THE COURT:
♦ Warriors coach Don Nelson signed a two-year contract extension, meaning he’ll be around presumably for the next three years. It virtually assures he’ll pass Lenny Wilkens on the all-time coaching victory list.
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Chris Mullin: Likely done at season's end
♦ ♦ Chris Mullin, the team’s VP of basketball ops, is in the last year of his deal and likely won’t be back.
♦ ♦ ♦ Jackson is likely to receive a three-year contract extension in the next few days, a move that doesn’t make a whole lot of strategic sense for the Warriors’ organization.
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ Monta Ellis is said to be rehabbing and _ so far _ there has been no adjustment to the original timetable that has him returning mid-December, early January. Ellis is also grieving his 30-game, $3 million suspension for his moped accident.
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ If the Warriors do sign Jackson to an expected three-year $27 million extension it will have meant the organization committed more than $235 million in contracts to players and coaches since July.
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ THE BONUS: Al Harrington wants out of Golden State. The short story: He feels disrespected by coach Don Nelson, and he hasn’t gotten in on all that money being handed out.
Comments
So Al Harrington's real issue is money? Did not know that..I assumed it was playing time.
we dont have any photos of Turiaf wearing a Warriors uni?
al harrington thinking he deserves more money than he's getting is one of the craziest things i've ever heard
Matt, do they restrict what you can say on CSN BA? Do your comments have to be more tempered in regards to what you can an can't say? You really bring it on the radio in a way that is refreshing. Most Warrior fans just want to hear the truth about what is going on with the team, not a bunch of smoke like Fitzgerald so famously likes to blow. Anyways, keep up the good work.
Matt, do they restrict what you can say on CSN BA? Do your comments have to be more tempered in regards to what you can an can't say? You really bring it on the radio in a way that is refreshing. Most Warrior fans just want to hear the truth about what is going on with the team, not a bunch of smoke like Fitzgerald so famously likes to blow. Anyways, keep up the good work.
Sorry about the double post.
sports broadcasters are paid to be optimistic about the local team they work for. If you were watching a pregame of the warriors and fitz said "hey warriors are screwed this game, don't bother" are you going to watch that game? no.
steinmetz is trying as hard as he can to optimistic for the warriors on CSN, but you can tell he is itching to blurt "We're f*****!"
btw steinmetz.
what happened to the hot chick you were paired with on air last year for dubs games? this guy is alright but if I wanna listen to your insight at least have some eye candy to ur right for us!
whats up with that?
Re: squall
I'm gonna watch the home team regardless, so I would much rather have the announcers give me the straight poop, than some bs talking point aimed only at getting people to got to the games. It's insulting.
Marcus Williams is as good as any point guard in the league - he made a big mistake as a rookie - showing up Kidd (in the 4th quarter of the first Suns game - he not only dished out 4 assists - he outscored the Suns team by himself -- the only time that was done by a NET in the last 2 yrs.) - his "bad D" shut Steve Nash down like a rusty gate . . .why would Nellie be SO prejudiced against a kid who was SO glad to be playing for him?
It'll serve Kidd right if Cuban picks up Marcus and dumps Kidd! [Don't believe me? Ask RJ, or Lucas - who Frank brought in to address Marcus's "conditioning" when he was coming back after his broken foot -- Luke's comment: "The only problem is getting him to realize how great he is." -- GREAT WORK Nellie, you screwed the fans AGAIN - - - and obviously haven't enough guts to form youir own opinion.
The point guard that shall not be named called and said if you dress up like grandmama, he'll take you to the gala tonight.
Lucky Matt, your prince charming really does like you back.
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