Stephen Curry

Let’s Go Warriors 2012-2013 Report Cards: Klay Thompson

7285652

This article was originally published on Let’s Go Warriors.

Klay Thompson had a solid sophomore season for the Golden State Warriors last year. He played in all 82 games, and he averaged 16.6 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.0 steal on 42.4 percent shooting, 40.1 percent shooting from three, and 84.1 percent free-throw shooting.

As many Warriors fans know, Thompson is known for his three-point shooting, but he’s started to show that he’s not just a catch-and-shoot player. Thompson has shown that he can create his own shot off the dribble, off a fadeaway, and off a pump fake from two-point range and from three. He doesn’t often need to do this though because of his perfect form and quick release of his jump shot.

Thompson put on some incredible shooting displays in the playoffs. For example, in Game 1 in the Warriors’ first round series against the Denver Nuggets, Thompson had a great all-around game scoring 22 points and three blocks on 52.6 percent shooting and 40 percent shooting from three. In Game 2 of that series, he scored 21 points, extremely efficiently, on 72.7 percent shooting and 83.3 percent shooting from three.

(Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

(Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

Also, in Game 2 in the Western Conference semifinals series against the San Antonio Spurs, Thompson had 34 points and 14 rebounds on 50 percent shooting and 88.9 percent shooting from three.

Thompson and Stephen Curry, the Splash Brothers, create quite the three-point shooting tandem for the Warriors. They are both so lethal from three-point range that it creates all kinds of matchup problems for their opponent, and it’s hard to contain both of them in one game. The Splash Brothers were arguably the best shooting backcourt in the NBA last season.

Last season, Thompson expanded his game beyond just being an excellent shooter. Thompson became the Warriors’ best perimeter defender. He uses his size (6’7″) and length so effectively, in order to stop smaller guards from shooting mid-range jumpers or driving into the lane. Thompson shut down Ty Lawson in the series against the Nuggets, and he also did a fantastic job slowing down Tony Parker and bothering Manu Ginobili in the series against the Spurs.

Going into his third season in the NBA, Thompson still has room for improvement though. First of all, he needs to become more consistent. After his miraculous Game 2 against the Spurs, he shot 34 percent from the field for the rest of the series, and, in games 4-6, he failed to make a three-pointer.

Also, on the defensive end, he needs to be more consistent about limiting his fouls. In Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Spurs, the Warriors were up by 16 points and Thompson fouled out with 3:57 left in the fourth quarter. At that point, Thompson had limited Parker to 12 points on 4-of-15 shooting. The Spurs then went on a 18-2 run to send the game to overtime. In that span, Parker scored six points on 3-of-3 shooting, since he was able to score more freely without Thompson guarding him. Thompson needs to find a way to stay on the floor and limit his fouls.

(Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports)

(Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports)

Second, Thompson can improve on attacking the basket more and finishing. There were several times last season when Thompson would drive to the basket and would miss a fairly wide-open layup, which fans stared to call a “Klayup.” It didn’t appear that Thompson had trouble getting to the rim, but he couldn’t always finish. Thompson needs to use his quickness more to attack the basket, because as he converts on more of those shots, it will cause defenders to lay off him a little more on the three-point line, in order to prevent him from driving to the basket. Once he’s more comfortable with that, hopefully, finishing the play will become easier.

If Thompson can become more consistent on offense and defense, limit his fouls, and drive to the basket more often and more effectively, than he will become one of the Warriors’ best players, alongside Curry. His development is key to the Warriors’ success.

KlayGrade

Player Breakdown: What Andre Iguodala Brings to the Golden State Warriors

12_8

This article was originally published on Let’s Go Warriors.

On Thursday, the Golden State Warriors officially acquired small forward and nine-year NBA veteran Andre Iguodala. The 2012 Eastern Conference All-Star has played for the Philadelphia 76ers and Denver Nuggets, and he has career averages of 15.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.7 steals in 37.4 minutes per game.

Iguodala, 29, has also played in 41 career playoff games, averaging 14.4 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.8 steals during the postseason.

In last season’s playoff series against the Warriors, Iguodala averaged 18.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 2.0 steals on 50 percent shooting and 48.3 percent shooting from three in 40.5 minutes per game.

Iguodala was offered a four-year, $52 million contract offer with the Sacramento Kings, but the Kings ultimately rescinded the offer. Iguodala wanted to be a Warrior, so he decided to wait and see if the Warriors were going to be able to move their large contracts and sign him.

“Mainly, the coach and the culture, the environment,” Iguodala said about why he wanted to sign with the Warriors. “I feel like they have a good culture there, a lot of great guys, great locker room. The way they’ve got those guys playing with such confidence, that comes from the coach.”

So what will Iguodala bring to the Warriors? Well, he brings a little bit of everything. Iguodala is an extremely versatile player who can play and guard several positions. He can score, he can rebound, he can pass, he’s good in transition, and he’s one of the best perimeter defenders in the league. He’s also extremely athletic, he can come through in the clutch, and he’s a fierce competitor.

Because of Iguodala’s defensive prowess, the Warriors now finally have someone strong enough and quick enough to guard the elite small forwards like Kevin Durant and LeBron James.

Just ask Stephen Curry how good of a defender Iguodala is. Iguodala used his length, size, and quickness to disrupt Curry throughout the Warriors’ playoff series against the Nuggets.

Off the court though, Curry and Iguodala are good friends. They both played on the USA men’s national basketball team that won the gold-medal in the 2010 FIBA World Championship. Curry claims that Iguodala will have a positive impact on the Warriors’ team chemistry.

“From my experience with him, he’s a really low key guy who works hard,” Curry said. “He’s not high-maintenance or anything. Doesn’t have an ego. That’s pretty much the make-up of our locker room. He can be a vocal guy, a guy that can check somebody but be respectful about it. He fits that accountability style we’re going for.”

Iguodala seems like the perfect pairing to this Warriors team. First of all, he’s aggressive on offense and likes to drive to the basket, which will help Klay Thompson and Curry get open on the three-point line.

Second, as Curry alluded to, he will be a great addition to the Warriors’ locker room. His veteran leadership and impressive work ethic will set a great example for the younger players on the Warriors such as Thompson, Harrison Barnes, Kent Bazemore, and Nemanja Nedovic.

Third, Iguodala thrives in an up-tempo system, which he played in while on the Nuggets. His speed and athleticism in transition will certainly be a valuable asset to the Warriors.

The Warriors have added other key pieces to their rotation including Nedovic, Marreese Speights, Toney Douglas, and Jermaine O’Neal. The Warriors will have a deep, well-rounded roster next year, and they could definitely make a deep playoff run. The addition of Iguodala makes this Warriors team a serious contender in the Western Conference.

Player Breakdown: What Toney Douglas Brings to the Golden State Warriors

This article was originally published on Let’s Go Warriors.

Photo courtesy of NBA.com

Photo courtesy of NBA.com

The Golden State Warriors have reached an agreement with point guard Toney Douglas. Although the exact terms of the deal are unknown at this point, it will most likely be a one-year deal.

Per 48 minutes last season, Douglas would have averaged 19.9 points, 5.6 assists, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.6 steals on 40.3 percent shooting, 38 percent shooting from three, and 90.5 percent free-throw shooting.

The Warriors were in need of a backup point guard with the departure of Jarrett Jack. Douglas is a very different player than Jack is, but he will fit in nicely with this Warriors team.

First of all, he’s a quality defender. The 6-foot-2 guard has been known for his defense in his three years in the NBA. He’s quick, he gets deflections, he gets steals, and he strongly pressures the ball.

“(My mindset is) don’t let him feel comfortable, be physical with him and take on the challenge,” Douglas said about his approach on defense. “I like doing it because I know my capabilities. I’m a big, strong guard and I’m just as athletic, just as quick.”

Stephen Curry certainly knows how good of a defender Douglas is. In a game against the Sacramento Kings on March 6th, Douglas guarded Curry, the eight-leading scorer in the NBA at the time, and held him to 13 points on 3-for-11 shooting.

Second, Douglas is a pretty good three-point shooter. Last season, he shot 38.9 percent from three, matching a career-high. On March 17th, 2011, when Douglas was on the New York Knicks, he tied a Knicks’ franchise record with nine three-pointers made in one game. That night, he shot 9-for-12 from three-point range.

Third, Douglas is not necessarily a great shooter or passer, but he has a high basketball IQ. With the Kings last season, coach Keith Smart often turned to Douglas in crunch time situations because of his high level of expertise on defense and his understanding of situational basketball. He knows when to pass to his teammates and when to take the shot himself.

Lastly, Douglas is a hard worker and will provide veteran leadership to this team. Now that Nemanja Nedovic is expected to sign with the Warriors and play for them next season, Douglas could act as a mentor to him. Also, Douglas credits playing with Chauncey Billups on the Knicks as to why he puts so much effort into studying the game.

“I learned a lot from Chauncey Billups – he helped me out a lot when he was there – and then when he was hurt, I ended up starting,” Douglas said. “Playing with (Carmelo Anthony) and (Amar’e) Stoudemire (when I was) starting my second year really helped me, too.”

The addition of Douglas also gives Mark Jackson some flexibility in terms of what lineups he could use. Jackson could decide to sometimes play Douglas at point guard and slide Curry over to the shooting guard position, just like he did with Jack last year.

Douglas wasn’t acquired to be a primary scorer off the bench. He’s a solid defender, he’s a veteran, and he will provide solid minutes for the Warriors off the bench.

Will Klay Thompson or Harrison Barnes Start Next Season?

thompson_klay_barnes_harrison_split1

This article was originally published on Let’s Go Warriors.

The addition of Andre Iguodala brings up questions as to whether Klay Thompson or Harrison Barnes will come off the bench for the Golden State Warriors next season. It would make more sense for the Warriors to start Thompson and have Barnes be the sixth man. Here are four reasons why:

1. Thompson plays both sides of the court better than Barnes does, so Thompson is more valuable as a starter.
Although Barnes has potential to become a quality one-on-one defender, Thompson proved in the postseason that he’s the better defender of the two. Thompson shut down Ty Lawson in the series against the Denver Nuggets, and he also did a fantastic job guarding Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili in the series against the San Antonio Spurs. He was able to use his length and size to prevent Parker and Ginobili from penetrating to the basket and scoring on easy mid-range baskets or three-pointers.
Iguodala is a versatile defender who can guard several positions, and he’s one of the best perimeter defenders in the league. Having him alongside Thompson and Andrew Bogut would certainly make this team even better defensively.

2. If Barnes came off the bench, it would allow him to excel even more, given the fact that he’d play against the reserves of the opposing team.
Although some people fear that the addition of Iguodala will stifle Barnes’ growth, Barnes actually would have the opportunity to show off his game even more coming off the bench. Instead of competing against LeBron James or Kevin Durant, Barnes would be able to play against the small forward or power forward in an opponent’s weaker lineup.
Also, with the departure of Brandon Rush, Barnes could become the Warriors’ sixth man and primary scorer off the bench. Given Barnes’ athleticism, he could really excel in this role and become even more of a key component in the Warriors’ rotation.

3. Barnes’ skillset is similar to Iguodala’s, offensively, so it would benefit the Warriors more to have Barnes come off the bench.
Both Barnes and Iguodala are strong, athletic, and quick, so it would make more sense for the Warriors to avoid having two players who play the same position, with very similar skillsets, on the floor at the same time.
Having Thompson start would give Iguodala more room to drive to the basket. It would also allow the Warriors to spread the floor more with an extra three-point shooter, since Thompson is a better three-point shooter than Barnes. If Iguodala, Stephen Curry, or Nemanja Nedovic (if he plays for the Warriors this season) drives to the basket, they will require more attention from the defense in the paint, which would free up Thompson on the three-point line.

4. If Barnes comes off the bench, the Warriors have more range in the types of lineups they can use.
The Warriors would start Curry, Thompson, Iguodala, David Lee, and Bogut. However, the Warriors could decide to go small at any point in the game and use a lineup of Curry, Thompson, Iguodala, Barnes, and Lee or Bogut.
The Warriors have had success before with a small lineup like this one. In their series against Denver, Barnes played power forward several times and did well. He was more active on the boards, and he was able to use his quickness to his advantage against slower power forwards. In addition, Barnes’ ability to play power forward gives the Warriors some flexibility if Bogut gets injured again.

Let’s Go Warriors 2012-2013 Report Cards: Stephen Curry
(AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

(AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

This article was originally published on Let’s Go Warriors.

Stephen Curry is the best player on the Golden State Warriors. In fact, he should’ve been an All-Star this past season. After averaging 21 points, 6.6 assists, four rebounds, and 1.6 steals on 43.4 percent shooting, 44.7 percent shooting from three, and 90.5 percent free-throw shooting in the first half of last season, he was more than deserving of his first All-Star selection.

NBA legends such as Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, Shaquille O’Neal, and Chris Mullin all believed that Curry should’ve been an All-Star too.

“The biggest omission was Stephen Curry,” Mullin said. “He has been the key player in the Warriors’ 26-15 record. He has played great and has had to do so without Andrew Bogut and Brandon Rush – two key players out with injuries. Curry is the main reason for the Warriors’ first-half success, and he’s the NBA’s best shooter.”

WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 8: Copyright 2012 NBAE (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC – DECEMBER 8: Copyright 2012 NBAE (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images)

Instead of being disappointed about not being selected as an All-Star, Curry raised his game to a whole other level in the second half of the season. Curry averaged 26 points, 7.4 assists, four rebounds, and 1.7 steals on 47.6 percent shooting, 46.1 percent shooting from three, and 89.4 percent free-throw shooting.

The second half of the season also included Curry’s unbelievable 54-point game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. In that game, Curry shot 18-for-28 on field goals, 11-for-13 on threes, and 100 percent from the free-throw line as well. He set a franchise record with 11 made 3-pointers in the game, and he scored the most points in NBA history for a player with 10 or more 3-pointers made. This performance was arguably one of the greatest shooting displays ever.

Curry finished the season averaging 22.9 points (seventh in the NBA), 6.9 assists, four rebounds, and 1.6 steals on 45.1 percent shooting, 45.3 percent shooting from three (third in the NBA), and 90 percent free-throw shooting (second in the NBA) in 38.2 minutes per game in 78 games.

The fact that Curry was able to play 78 games was an impressive feat in itself. Curry had two right ankle surgeries in the past two offseasons, which led many people to label him as “injury-prone.” In the shortened 2011-2012 season (66 total games instead of 82 games), he only played in 26 games and was shut down due to his right ankle injuries. He tweaked his ankle a few times during the 2012-2013 regular season, but given how minor they were, he only had to miss four games. He also played in 12 postseason games and 90 total games this past year, which is incredible.

(April 25, 2013 - Source: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images North America)

(April 25, 2013 – Source: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images North America)

In the postseason, Curry officially became a superstar. He had some incredible performances, including his 31-point effort in Game 4 of the series against the Denver Nuggets. He scored 22 points in the span of about five and a half minutes, and 19 of those 22 points came in the final 4:22 of the quarter.

In the postseason, Curry averaged 23.4 points (sixth in the NBA), 8.1 assists (second in the NBA), 3.8 rebounds, and 1.7 steals on 43.4 percent shooting, 39.6 percent shooting from three, and 92.1 percent free-throw shooting. Curry stepped up when David Lee went down with his right hip flexor injury in Game 1 of the Denver series. Curry also badly sprained his left ankle in Game 2 of the Denver series, but he knew he had to play through it and lead his team to victory.

“He embraced the moment,” Mark Jackson said. “It was like this was something he’s been waiting his entire life for.”

Curry is considered a superstar and one of the best point guards in the NBA by many people, but every superstar can improve their game in some way or another. Curry needs to work on limiting his turnovers, getting physically stronger, drawing more fouls, and becoming a better one-on-one defender. If he can do that next season, he will raise his game to a new level of superstardom.

With Monta Ellis not on the team anymore, Curry knew he had to become more of a leader and a vocal presence on and off the court this past season, which he certainly did. Curry is the face of this franchise, and he’s ready to lead this team to even higher levels of success next season.

StephGrade4

Golden State Warriors: A Perfect Offseason So Far

This article was originally published on Golden Gate Sports.

Make no mistake, the culture’s changing.

The Golden State Warriors made a series of moves in the past few days that have already, arguably, made them one of the best teams in the Western Conference. They traded Richard Jefferson, Andris Biedrins, Brandon Rush, and first round picks in 2014 and 2017 to the Utah Jazz in order to clear cap space. They also received guard Kevin Murphy in the deal.

April 24, 2012; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors owner Joe Lacob (right) and former general manager Larry Riley (right) motion for new general manager Bob Myers (center) to address a question from the media during a press conference before the game against the New Orleans Hornets at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

With more cap room available, the Warriors were able to sign small forward Andre Iguodala to a four-year, $48 million dollar contract. The Warriors have been pursuing Iguodala for a couple years now, and their hard work has finally paid off. The best part of these corresponding moves was that the Warriors were able to keep Klay Thompson, Harrison Barnes, and Andrew Bogut and reduce their payroll for this upcoming season by $11 million.

Although the Warriors weren’t able to persuade Dwight Howard to sign with them, they still have a fantastic lineup. The Warriors will start Stephen Curry, Thompson or Barnes, Iguodala, David Lee, and Bogut.

Regardless of if Thompson or Barnes will start, the Warriors have so much talent in their starting lineup, with a good mix of both young players and veterans, that they will most certainly contend for some of the top spots in the Western Conference this upcoming season.

The Warriors were not only able to shed a significant amount of cap room, but they also were able to trade two players, Jefferson and Biedrins, who didn’t contribute much of anything last season. It’s a little unfortunate for fans to see Rush leave, but they should be optimistic about the player they were able to get by shedding these contracts.

Iguodala averaged 13.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 5.4 assists with the Nuggets last season. For his career though, he’s averaged 15.1 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game. His scoring has declined over the past couple years, but he’s also expanded and developed his game more.

The one-time All-Star can do a little bit of everything. He can score, he can rebound, he can pass, and he’s one of the best perimeter defenders in the league. He’s also very active and intense on the court. He will bring lots of energy and passion to this team, because he is such a fierce competitor. He also makes big plays on both offense and defense when his team needs it the most, which the Warriors witnessed in their playoff series against the Nuggets. He’s versatile too, as he can play and guard several positions.

May 2, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors shooting guard Klay Thompson (11) defends Denver Nuggets shooting guard Andre Iguodala (9) on the drive during the first quarter of game six of the first round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

The Warriors finally have someone who is strong enough and quick enough to guard players like Kevin Durant and LeBron James. He could also guard Russell Westbrook and help Thompson guard Tony Parker, if the Warriors end up facing the Spurs in the playoffs again next season.

Curry surely knows how good of a defender Iguodala is. Iguodala guarded Curry for much of the Warriors-Nuggets playoff series, and when Iguodala was defending him, Curry had a hard time establishing his rhythm and scoring. Iguodala used his length, size, and quickness to disrupt Curry.

Those two also have a history off the court. They both were on the USA men’s national basketball team that won the gold-medal in the 2010 FIBA World Championship, and they became good friends. It will be interesting to see how much of their chemistry on the court will carry over from that experience.

The addition of Iguodala will not affect the Warriors’ overall team chemistry. First of all, Iguodala’s skillset matches the other Warriors players’ skillsets very nicely. For example, he is aggressive on offense and likes to drive to the basket, which will help Thompson and Curry get open on the three-point line.

Second, his energy and enthusiasm will be great in the locker room. He’s a veteran presence who can help teach younger players such as Kent Bazemore or Nemanja Nedovic, if he is able to play for the Warriors next season. Iguodala is also a hard worker and focused on winning, which are qualities that can be contagious in a locker room.

Third, Iguodala loves playing in an up-tempo system like the Warriors play in. He loves utilizing his speed and athleticism in transition. He’s also used to playing in fast-paced games, because it’s the same style he played in on the Denver Nuggets.

Iguodala was offered a four-year, $52 million contract offer with the Sacramento Kings, but the Kings ultimately rescinded the offer. Iguodala wanted to play for a contending team, so he clearly wanted to wait and see if the Warriors were going to be able to move their large contracts and sign him.

May 2, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; Denver Nuggets shooting guard Andre Iguodala (9) congratulates Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry (30) game six of the first round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Nuggets 92-88. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

“Mainly, the coach and the culture, the environment,” Iguodala said about why he wanted to sign with the Warriors. “I feel like they have a good culture there, a lot of great guys, great locker room. The way they’ve got those guys playing with such confidence, that comes from the coach.”

The Warriors still have some areas to address though. Since Festus Ezeli is sidelined with a knee injury, Jarrett Jack signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers, and Carl Landry signed with the Sacramento Kings, the Warriors need to acquire a backup center, a backup point guard (if Nedovic doesn’t play this upcoming season), and another big off the bench.

With the use of their traded player exceptions, the Warriors will have about $17 million to spend before they hit their hard cap. They will have to use this money to acquire players using minimum salary contracts, their full mid-level exception ($5.15 million first-year salary), or either their room exception ($2.6 million) or bi-annual exception (about $2 million).

After all of these moves, both the Warriors and Iguodala have to be extremely happy about this upcoming season. Now that a high-calibur player like Iguodala has signed with the Warriors, Golden State has become a destination where other players will want to play.

This is exactly what Joe Lacob wanted to happen. He wanted to create a winning franchise, make bold moves, and lure big-name free agents to sign with the Warriors. He certainly has done that and more so far. This offseason has been pretty close to perfect for the Warriors.