Author: maggiepilloton

Blake Griffin’s Dunk of the Year

On January 30th, Blake Griffin executed one of the most electrifying dunks of the season. He absolutely posterized Kendrick Perkins and, while doing so, showed off his high vertical leap and his incredible hangtime. Is this the best dunk of the year so far?
WARNING: Be prepared. You will be amazed.

One night before Blake Griffin’s dunk, LeBron James executed an amazing dunk of his own. So far, this is really the sole competition to Blake Griffin’s dunk for “Dunk of the Year.” LeBron James shows off an even more impressive vertical leap by literally jumping over John Lucas of the Chicago Bulls. The dunk was also off of an alley-oop pass, which is always fun to watch. Is this dunk better than Blake Griffin’s?

I personally believe that LeBron’s dunk was technically more difficult than Blake’s. However, Blake Griffin’s dunk was so menacing that, for me, this was the dunk of the year. The first time I saw the dunk, I was in complete and utter shock. I had to watch it over and over again to really comprehend how incredible this dunk was. Chris Mullin claimed that this was the best dunk EVER. However, I don’t agree with this at all though. Does he not remember Vince Carter’s dunk in the 2000 Olympics over Frederic Weis of France?! That dunks was absolutely insane and definitely one of the best dunks of all-time.

Check it out here:

One of my favorite dunks has got to be Baron Davis’ dunk on Andrei Kirilenko during the 2007 playoffs. As a Warriors fan, this was the ultimate statement of “We Believe.” Although the Warriors lost that series to the Jazz, they were able to make a statement that the underdogs can prevail. Baron Davis electrified Oracle Arena with this dunk and it will go down as one of the best dunks in Warriors history.

Check it out here:

What are some of your all-time favorite dunks?

Warriors Season Update

As of Tuesday night, the Warriors have a 7-12 record, and won their last matchup against the Sacramento Kings 93-90. This season hasn’t gone exactly how Mark Jackson envisioned, but there does seem to be some significant improvement from last season. The Warriors’ bench is much stronger than last season and the overall team defense is stronger, but the Warriors still have issues with their offense and their production from the center position.

The Warriors’ second unit, now informally called the Dubstitutes, consists of Nate Robinson, Klay Thompson, Brandon Rush, Ekpe Udoh, and Jeremy Tyler (or Dominic McGuire depending on how small Mark Jackson makes the lineup). Compared to last years’ second unit of Acie Law, Reggie Williams, Vladimir Radmanovic, Lou Amundson, and Ekpe Udoh, this years’ bench is a noticeable upgrade. Nate Robinson has brought a fun, exciting energy to the second unit that not many Warriors have been able to bring since Baron Davis. Klay Thompson, after struggling mightily during the preseason and the beginning of the regular season, has bounced back nicely from a mini rookie slump and has really found his shot nicely. Brandon Rush has been consistent since the beginning of the season. He’s tied with Ray Allen for first in the league in 3-point percentage with 57.1% (as of Tuesday before the game against the Kings). Rush is also a fantastic rebounder for his size and is a great defender. Ekpe Udoh continues his growth in his sophomore season. He continues his defensive prowess, He’s added a nice hook shot to his repertoire, but he still needs to improve his rebounding. Jeremy Tyler is working hard and still learning, and Dominic McGuire is also a solid rebounder and top-notch defender.

Brandon Rush

The Warriors’ defense has also significantly improved since last season. The stats don’t suggest the Warriors are an elite defensive team, but improvement is all that matters at this point. The Warriors are playing more scrappy and aggressive defense. They trap players and double-team a good amount, which usually can throw a team off and force kick-outs. The Warriors have also played zone defense rather effectively as well. When the Warriors are able to play lock-down defense and start their transition game, they create several opportunities for themselves. In the transition, they can score with their speed (specifically, Monta Ellis’ speed), they can score by driving to the hoop and kicking the ball out to Stephen Curry, Dorell Wright, Brandon Rush, or Klay Thompson for a wide-open three pointer, and they can get it inside to David Lee. Stephen Curry is a creative passer who can make great, quick decisions in fast break opportunities.

At the beginning of the season, the offense was in total disarray because of the intense focus on defense during training camp. They’ve found a little more flow and rhythm to their offense now that the rotation is mostly set. With Stephen Curry out 9 games with a nagging ankle injury, the Warriors’ offense didn’t have its point guard and floor leader, so this is a partial explanation for the confused offense. Now that Curry is playing consistently again, the offense is starting to come together. However, Andris Biedrins is still a complete mystery. He has completely disappeared from every game, and without a competent center, the Warriors have struggled to get offensive rebounds and easy points on post-up plays. Although Kwame Brown is known more for his defense, he was becoming the aggressive center the Warriors needed, on the offensive end also. However since Brown is out with a torn pectoral injury, Mark Jackson has no offensive threat at the center position and this has definitely lead to some of the struggles on offense.

Andris Biedrins

The Warriors have had a season full of ups and downs. As much as the Warriors have improved on defense and bench production, offense continues to be a weakness. The Warriors have had trouble closing out games and playing consistently for all four quarters. David Lee has had a spectacular season, Dorell Wright has finally found his shot and playing like he did last season, most of the bench players have played solid all-around games all season, and now the Warriors need more consistent play out of Stephen Curry, Monta Ellis, and Andris Biedrins to make that next jump to the playoffs. No one knows if this same team will be intact after the All-Start Break, but if it is, more adjustments needs to be made. Although it seems unlikely that the Warriors will make the playoffs, they have shown significant improvement and continue to make strides toward being a playoff team.

Monta Ellis: Guts, but No Glory

The Warriors have started off the 2011-2012 season with a 2-6 record (as of Tuesday), with their last loss coming at home against the Jazz on Saturday night. This loss stung a little more than the rest for several reasons. First of all, the Jazz aren’t a particularly good team, so this should’ve been a fairly easy win for the Warriors. Second, the Warriors were in the game until the very end and had many opportunities to seal this win. Despite a slow start, the Warriors, behind Monta Ellis and some timely shooting from Brandon Rush and Nate Robinson, were able to stay in this game without Stephen Curry or Andris Beidrins and a poor shooting night from David Lee. However, with 16 seconds left in a tied game, Monta Ellis committed a turnover that practically lost the game right then and there.

To many Warriors’ fans, Monta Ellis is an elite clutch player. Warriors’ coaches must agree because in every possible situation where the Warriors can take the last shot (even if it’s at the end of a quarter and not in a typical “clutch” situation), they turn to Monta. This makes absolutely no sense though. Yes, he made two great shots last season to either tie the game or win the game. This does not justify him taking the last shot every single time, even at the end of quarters. Besides his two shots last season though, he has not been consistent enough to be the #1 choice in those type of crucial situations. No one really knows if the Warriors have any other great clutch shooters, because no one else besides Monta has received an opportunity. Both Stephen Curry and Dorell Wright had some big shots last season during important games, but neither players were given a chance at taking a potentially game-winning or game-tying shot. Therefore, the Warriors have relied on Monta for all clutch shots.

Monta's Game-Winning Shot vs. Pacers

Monta does have a lot of characteristics of a clutch shooter. He’s extremely confident, he’s quick, and he can create plays for himself. However, he does not have the natural “clutch” instinct. A clutch player needs to know how to manage the shot clock well and have a back-up plan. Generally, he dribbles too much and just wastes time. He must believe that he only needs a couple seconds to get a good shot off because of his amazing speed. By dribbling the ball at the top of the key with no real plan in mind, Monta ends up hurting himself. If he started his drive about 2 seconds earlier, it would give him the chance to find an open teammate, if he’s heavily guarded, or still get off a good shot. Although it’s maddening to admit it, Monta has improved in getting his teammates more involved and is averaging 8.1 assists per game. If he’s guarded closely, he has the skills to pass it off to a teammate, so that should always be an option in his mind. It’s clear based on his track record though that he wants all the glory and credit for winning a game, so he wants to take the final shot no matter what.

Another aspect of Monta’s clutch game this is quite troubling is his predictability. He has a broad skillset, and one would think that he would utilize these particular skills and become more creative with his clutch shots. However, Monta pretty much does the exact same move every time. He generally drives as if he’s moving towards the right elbow of the free throw line, crosses over to the left or steps back, and shoots a left elbow jump shot (watch the videos below to see the two clutch shots that Monta hit last season to see this pattern). Perhaps this explains why Monta has not found much luck in clutch shots recently. Defenders are able to easily predict what moves he is going to make. Also, teams can always send a second defender over towards him because they know he will not pass the ball. If Monta wants to continue to be the clutch player on the team, he’s going to have to change his ways. It’s as simple as that.

Monta’s Game-Tying Shot vs. the Kings

Monta’s Game-Winning Shot vs. the Pacers

Since teams know now that the Warriors use Monta in those types of situations, why not use him as a decoy? Mark Jackson could set up a play so Monta winds down the shot clock, drives to the hoop, and sets up a kick out pass to Stephen Curry (when he returns from injury), Brandon Rush, Nate Robinson, Dorell Wright, or even Klay Thompson. Monta needs to either become a smarter clutch player or the Warriors need to start finding some other options. Even great clutch shooters like Kobe Bryant miss some shots. That’s understandable. However, Kobe has to take the clutch shots because the Lakers simply don’t have any other options to go to in those situations. Monta has options though. He could dish to several of his teammates, or Mark Jackson could draw up a play for someone else like Stephen Curry or Dorell Wright. If the Warriors want to win more of those close games, they need to re-examine their strategies at the end of games.

2011-2012 Warriors Season Preview

The Golden State Warriors start off the 2011-2012 season on Christmas day vs. the Clippers at home in Oracle Arena. The Warriors are facing a new-look Clippers team including new additions Chris Paul, Chauncey Billups, and Caron Butler. The Clippers are a well-rounded athletic team especially with players such as Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan, and Ryan Gomes. With a shortened season (only 66 games), the Warriors will have to get used to playing tough matchups at a faster pace. After playing the Clippers, the Warriors play the Bulls on Dec. 26th, the Knicks on the 28th, and the 76ers on the 31st, all at home. To view the rest of the Warriors schedule, click here.

The Warriors starters this season are the same from last season, so there weren’t any personnel changes in that department. Stephen Curry is still the starting point guard, Monta Ellis is the starting shooting guard, Dorell Wright is the starting small forward, David Lee is the starting power forward, and Andris Biedrins is the starting center. Last season, the Warriors had a horrible bench that wasn’t productive enough to relieve the starters of some minutes. This season, the bench is much more well-rounded and should be more productive in all statistical categories. The backup point guard position is yet to be determined, but it will either be Charles Jenkins or Ish Smith. If Stephen Curry is unable to play in the season opener because of the sprained right ankle he sustained during Tuesday’s preseason game, then one of these two point guards will most likely start in his place.

Warriors' 2011 Draft Picks

The first guard off the bench will most likely be Klay Thompson. The rookie shooting guard/small forward had a miserable preseason shooting 6-25 from the floor, and 0-8 from behind the 3-point line. However, Mark Jackson and Warriors management expect big things from this rookie and believe the only way that he will improve and become effective is with consistent playing time. The next guard off the bench will either be one of the backup point guards or Brandon Rush, who the Warriors acquired in a trade that sent Lou Amundson to the Pacers. Rush is a shooting guard/small forward who is known as a great defender and rebounder. With Klay Thompson’s offensive abilities and Brandon Rush’s defensive prowess, these two guards will be a great combination for providing backup minutes for Monta Ellis and Dorell Wright. Dominic McGuire who can play both small forward and power forward will also come off the bench and provide lock-down defense and rebounding. Chris Wright, a training camp invitee who made the final roster, is also a small forward and power forward combo player who can provide backup minutes for Dorell Wright or David Lee. The first power forward/center off the bench will most likely be Ekpe Udoh, who hopes to follow up a promising rookie season with an even stronger sophomore season (hopefully injury-free). Kwame Brown will also fill in some backup center minutes along with Jeremy Tyler. These players will make up the Warriors general rotation throughout the season.

Based on the two preseason games that the Warriors played against the Kings, it seems as though Mark Jackson has already had an impact on the Warriors’ defensive scheme. It appeared as though the team had really improved upon help defense, traps/double teams, and man-to-man defense fundamentals. The offense struggled at times, especially in the second game because Stephen Curry was injured, but the fact that the Warriors were able to stay in the game because of their defense shows a lot of improvement already. To see highlights from both games click the links below:

Dec. 17th game vs. Sacramento

Dec. 20th game at Sacramento

I predict that the Warriors’ record this season will be 36-30. I believe this will also be good enough for the 8th playoff spot in the Western Conference. The Hornets and the Nuggets both made the playoffs last season, and I don’t believe that they will again this season. The Clippers, with their new and improved roster, will take one of those spots, so there will be one playoff spot available for the Warriors, Rockets, Suns, Minnesota, Sacramento, and Utah. The Warriors can beat out all of those teams, and will therefore earn the 8th spot in the NBA. The top 8 teams in the Western Conference will be (in order): Dallas Mavericks, Oklahoma City Thunder, L.A. Lakers, L.A. Clippers, San Antonio Spurs, Memphis Grizzlies, Portland Trail Blazers, and Golden State Warriors.

The Warriors’ record will be good enough to make the playoffs, but the most important reason why the Warriors are good enough to make the playoffs is their improvement in depth. The Warriors’ bench is much stronger than it was last year because it is much more balanced. At each position there are at least 2 backups, and each bench player brings a different skillet than the other. For example, Dominic McGuire, Ekpe Udoh, and Kwame Brown are really known for their defense. Ish Smith is known for his speed, Charles Jenkins is known for his all-around game, and Klay Thompson is known for his amazing shooting ability. A strong bench that can play quality minutes is key to a team’s success. Another factor that will lead this team to the playoffs is their coaching staff. Mark Jackson is an inspiring leader that demands hard work. Read more about Mark Jackson here. In addition to an influential head coach, the Warriors are lucky to have some of the strongest assistant coaches in the league such as Mike Malone, Pete Myers, etc. This coaching staff also has various skillsets and, generally, has lots of experience coaching or playing in the NBA. Lastly, if the Warriors are to remain healthy throughout the season (especially players like Udoh, Biedrins, Lee, and Curry), they will definitely make the playoffs. If Stephen Curry is able to stay healthy, he will have a breakout season and will have a great chance at making the All-Star team (if the team has a good enough record). Based on all these factors, the Warriors are set to have a playoff-worthy season based on great defense, great coaching, and great chemistry.

The 49ers are the SF Giants of the NFL

Over the past year or so, Bay Area teams have found ways to continue to surprise their loyal fans. The San Francisco Giants were able to win the World Series in 2010 when no one (and I literally mean no one) picked them to win, let alone even make the playoffs. This particular Giants team was labeled a team of “misfits” or “castoffs,” but there was still this type of allure around them. They were the proverbial nerds, geeks, and loners on the playground that no one believed in or understood. The bullies were the Yankees and the Phillies of the world that believe that no one is ever going to be as great as they are. Giants fans were even stunned to see their local team beat the almighty Phillies and continue on to the pivotal World Series. They proved to be a team defined by great pitching and defense, ingenius coaching by Bruce Bochy, and amazing team chemistry. These are the main reasons why many teams win the World Series, but it was much more special with this team because of the fact that winning the World Series was so unexpected.

So how does this connect to the 49ers? This season cannot properly be described as a “surprise,” because this particular word doesn’t do enough justice to what has been accomplished so far. Not only did no one expect this 49ers team to be any good, but no one expected this team to win the division. This 49ers team has a different appearance than any other 49ers team in the recent past. They have a tenacity, a determination, and a fun spirit about them that is so captivating. Like the Giants, they are a team defined by not only these particular traits, but great defense, creative coaching by Jim Harbaugh, and amazing team chemistry. This team, also like the Giants, plays with immense confidence despite having some “misfit” characters. These factors have lead the 49ers to a 10-3 record, which is tied for the 2nd best record in the NFC.

Strong similarities can be seen in the stellar defenses of both teams. The starting pitchers (Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Jonathan Sanchez, and Madison Bumgarner) for the Giants had a collective 3.36 ERA during the regular season and maintained their excellence throughout the postseason. The starting pitchers had a collective 2.17 ERA during the postseason. This includes Matt Cain’s 0 earned runs allowed over 21.1 innings during the postseason. Madison Bumgarner, in his first postseason and first season as a starting pitcher, maintained a 2.18 ERA. Including the relievers, the Giants pitching staff had a 3.36 ERA throughout the season. The Giants defense also had a 98.8% fielding percentage, which ranked first out of all NL teams. The 49ers defense has been regarded as the strongest asset that this current 49ers team has. With new additions Carlos Rogers, Donte Whitner, and other new starters such as Ahmad Brooks, Tarell Brown, and others, the 49ers defense consistently appears to be one of the strongest defenses in all of the NFL. They are ranked 1st in all the NFL in rushing yards allowed per game. In addition to that, the 49ers defense is ranked 4th in all the NFL is total yards allowed per game. Both of these stats are quite impressive and prove how strong this defense really is compared to other great teams.

Although Bruce Bochy and Jim Harbaugh coach with different styles, they both have the ability to inspire a team and get the absolute best out of their players. Bruce Bochy is a calmer force and coaches much more lackadaisically. Bochy rarely argues calls, rarely yells at players, and always believes in his players. His approach to coaching is much more subtle, but he is known to make all the right decisions at the right time. Jim Harbaugh, in his first year as an NFL head coach, is a more fiery, passionate coach who is not afraid to show his emotions. He can often be too exuberant or excited though. For example, right after winning a rather significant game against the Lions, Lions’ head coach Jim Schwartz accused Harbaugh of “shaking his hand too hard” after the game. This is such a bogus argument that it requires no more description or analysis. Anyway, Harbaugh’s passion is inspiring and quite contagious amongst the players. Both coaches can be seen as their own versions of “players’ coaches.” They are both likeable and respected, but still admired for their high-quality coaching. They become a sort of father figure, and truly want and expect the best out of their players. This type of coaching style is often preferable and can often lead to winning results.

In sports, chemistry cannot be forced. Chemistry occurs when players get along on and off the field and truly believe in each other and the system. The Giants were comprised of many players who other teams didn’t want, hence the names “castoffs” and “misfits.” This underdog mentality was definitely a reason why the players were able to bond off the field and perform extremely well together on the field. Here are some examples of the main castoffs on the team. The Giants were the only team to offer Aubrey Huff a deal before the 2010 season. Cody Ross was placed on waivers by the Marlins and the Giants only picked him up to avoid San Diego from acquiring him. Andres Torres was a career minor league player who never really hit his prime and had suffered from ADHD. Pat Burrell was cut from the Tampa Bay Rays after struggling in his role as DH and the Giants offered to sign him to a minor league contract with no guarantees. What’s ironic is that the biggest castoffs on this Giants team were the players that contributed the most to the success of the team. Aubrey Huff supplied constant offense throughout the season, Cody Ross defined clutch hitting, Andres Torres showed off his speed and defensive prowess in center field, and Pat Burrell provided power hitting that the Giants so desperately needed. The term misfits applies because no one would necessarily think that this combination of players would result in a World Series title. However, these players might not have traditionally fit together, but they did know how to have fun and, therefore, win together.

The 49ers’ key example of a misfit is Alex Smith. Every 49ers fan knows his story. The 49ers selected him with the number 1 pick in 2005 (to this day I still believe the 49ers should have drafted the hometown kid, Aaron Rodgers), which was surprising and upsetting to most fans. Smith experienced many different head coaches, offensive coordinators, and various injuries, which all contributed to the general hatred of him amongst fans (talk about a misfit). Jim Harbaugh was brought in as the new head coach this past offseason, and everyone hoped this would finally be the end of the Alex Smith era. Sadly, this was not the case. Harbaugh decided to bring him back and resurrect his career. Fans were more than skeptical about this decision because he was an unproven quarterback and was thought to be overrated. Harbaugh was the absolute perfect coach to help Alex Smith though. He’s a players’ coach, a former NFL quarterback, and he’s extremely smart and creative with his offense. With this mentoring, Alex Smith has become a relevant quarterback once again and has put him relatively good numbers all season. With a confident quarterback leading the way, the 49ers have great chemistry because they are all fierce competitors, hard workers, and talented players that all believe they can win every game.

Sometimes a sport team can have more influence over others than one would think possible. After the Giants won the World Series, Bay Area fans became very emotional because they could relate to this team. Everybody knew what it felt like to be the underdog and to have all the odds against them. The Giants knew how important they became to the city, so the team and the fans became united. Their winning formula seems to have shifted over the 49ers now. After many years of suffering, 49ers fans can finally watch quality football again. Hopefully the 49ers can surprise the Bay Area like the Giants did by making it to the Super Bowl. Both the Giants and 49ers based their game plans on strong defense, coaching, and chemistry, and this has lead to success for both teams. Along with their winning records, their underdog mentality becomes addictive and inspiring to fans. Sports teams can be powerful figures, especially when lead by misfits.

Mark Jackson: Confident, Calm Leader

The Golden State Warriors hired TV analyst, Mark Jackson, on June 6th, and now in November, he still remains an unproven coach. The lockout diminished some teams’ ability to truly find their new identities behind new coaches. The Warriors are one team in particular that needed a short lockout and a longer offseason, in order to adapt to a new coach and a new style. Because of this, no one really knows what type of coach Mark Jackson will be, what plays he will create, and how he will make this team win. Mark Jackson has a huge personality with great charisma, but he also is very smart, analytical, and confident. How will his persona transfer to his NBA coaching duties though? Will he be able to command respect and authority while still maintaining his comedic presence? All we can know for sure about Mark Jackson, is that he will be a confident, but calm leader.

Based on an interview that Mark Jackson did with Comcast Sportsnet Bay Area reporter, Matt Steinmetz, he claims that he is going to go about his job by respecting his players, while still holding them accountable for their actions on and off the court (read part 1 of the interview here and read part 2 of the interview here). Jackson claims he will try to maintain the “running” style of play that the Warriors have employed for the past 3 or 4 seasons, but he still has his own playbook that he will enforce. He has kept a few of the plays from last season, but the rest has his “DNA all over it.” Mark Jackson has worked with or played for some very influential coaches, such as Jeff Van Gundy, Larry Brown, Pat Riley, Jerry Sloan, Lenny Wilkens, and Lou Carnesecca, just to name a few. Because of these impressive coaching influences, Jackson is bound to emphasize defense, instill a fierce sense of competition, and ultimately, having a winning mindset. Just because Jackson was coached by the best, doesn’t necessarily mean he will be as effective as a coach as his mentors. If Jackson wants to be as successful as his previous coaches, he will have to implement an iron-clad defensive system.

Mark Jackson was a successful point guard in the NBA for 17 seasons while playing on many winning teams. Jackson played on playoff teams for 14 of his 17 seasons. He knows how to win, and he knows that it all starts with defense. Right now, the Warriors don’t have the personnel to become an elite defensive team such as the Celtics or the Spurs, but Jackson can either instill a strong team defense, or he can attempt to acquire more defensive-minded players during free agency. Jackson will most likely do a combination of these two plans. Jackson has been around the NBA so long that he knows the players in this league extremely well. He will know which players to target and which players will be dedicated to improving this team’s defense as a whole. As a commentator, he was able to see every team play and then he could analyze their systems. Based on this analysis, he will be able to pick and choose what defensive schemes work best from each team and then apply it to this current Warriors team.

In addition to his individual expertise, Mark Jackson has two of the best assistant coaches in the league on his side. Michael Malone (who was a candidate for the Warriors head coaching job) is the head assistant coach and he was previously the assistant coach for the Cleveland Cavaliers during the LeBron reign and for the New Orleans Hornets last season. Malone could be a head coach for any NBA team just based on his experience and success. He was the mastermind behind the Cavs’ defensive scheme, which was so successful. In addition to being a defensive guru, he has helped coach one of the league’s best point guards, Chris Paul, and this will for sure help in mentoring Stephen Curry this upcoming season. Another asset to the Warriors coaching staff is Pete Myers who has been an assistant coach for the Bulls since 2001. He has also interviewed for head coaching positions and is known around the league as an impressive coach. With these two reliable coaches on his side, Mark Jackson should have all the knowledge and determination to lead the Warriors towards becoming a playoff team again.

Michael Malone

Mark Jackson has a plan. He won’t let many people know the specifics and his players don’t even know what it is yet, but Mark Jackson knows how to win in this league. He has no coaching experience, which can be a little concerning to some Warriors fans. However, Mark Jackson knows how to be a leader. Being a point guard for 17 seasons in the NBA is an impressive and rare feat, and not many players have the strength or talent to accomplish something like that. He possesses all the qualities that a leader and, more specifically, an NBA coach must have in order to be successful. He’s intelligent, perceptive, respected by his peers, determined, and a hard worker. In addition to his personality and his skillset, Jackson has the immense support of his coaching staff, the Warriors ownership, and his previous co-workers, teammates, and coaches. Mark Jackson has all the necessary components to succeed as the Warriors head coach. With the right players around him and the support of the fans, he could significantly improve this team and create the winning culture that every Warriors fan so severely desires. He has a lot to prove, but it is quite certain that Mark Jackson will remain a confident, calm leader throughout.