Warriors have plenty of scorers but not enough passers

November 25, 8:03 PMGolden State Warriors ExaminerMatt Steinmetz

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Yeah, it was only one game, a demoralizing 124-100 defeat at Washington -- in Jamal Crawford’s Warriors debut, no less.

Too easy to pick apart the game.

Let’s forget about this one, for now,  and take a step back and look at this Warriors roster.

The scariest thing to me is the utter lack of passers and sound decision-makers.

Yes, there are some playmakers...Stephen Jackson and Crawford come to mind.

But is there anyone on this team who is unselfish? Who is thinking pass first? How about someone who might be considering a teammate before himself?

The Warriors have too many players who only pass when they don't have a shot. Moving the ball without a reason just doesn't come naturally to most of the players logging most of the playing time.

Baron Davis does not necessarily fit the above description, either. And Davis could surely do a bone-headed thing here and there.

But he was a pretty smart player, knew how to run an offense and understood time and situation.

Even if this team has the talent to get into the playoffs, do they really have the wherewithal...the intangibles...the heady things that sometimes win you a couple of games?

Again, Jackson can make nice play for a teammate now and then, and hopefully Crawford can too, but that doesn’t mean it’s either guy’s top priority or that the pass or decision they’re making is the right one.

Warriors coach Don Nelson will likely do a great job putting each of the team’s offensive weapons in positions to succeed, whether it’s Jackson, Crawford, Corey Maggette or Monta Ellis (upon his return).

But it will be isolation and screen and roll.

Right now, the Warriors aren’t exactly the team that makes the extra pass and finds the open man.

It’s the kind of team that makes one pass too few and takes something contested.