Season Preview: Golden State Warriors

I don't dislike the Warriors, in fact, they're the closest team that I can go watch, so I have a slight personal vested interest, sort of. I'm not a fan either though, however, objectively, I can't say they'll be very good this year.

Starting 5:
PG- Monta Ellis
SG- Stephen Jackson
SF- Corey Maggette
PF- Al Harrington
C- Andris Biedrins

Off the bench
Guards: Marcus Williams, CJ Watson, Dan Dickau, DeMarcus Nelson
Forwards: Marco Bellinelli, Kelenna Azubuike, Anthony Randolph, Brandon Wright, Anthony Morrow, Ronny Turiaf
Centers: None

Technically, Harrington and Turiaf would likely split time at the 5 with Biedrins, given how Nellie runs his small ball lineups. I wouldn't be surprised to see Randolph and/or Wright get playing time there too. The season hasn't even started and it's already been ruined for most Warriors fans, everything went downhill when Baron Davis opted out and fled south to his favored hometown of LA to join the Clippers. The features of this year's Warriors will be the same as those of previous years; minimal defense, lots of running. All this of course less Baron Davis and Monta Ellis.

It hurts that Ellis is out for so long, and from what I hear, his injury is not a quick recovery, he could very well be rehabbing for the better part of the season. Much of the onus of scoring and production now fall upon new acquisition Corey Maggette and captain Stephen Jackson. Al Harrington also will now have a chance to prove himself worth something, maybe that'll get him traded or something, if that's what he wants. Azubuike and Bellinelli look to fill the void left by reserves Barnes and Pietrus, which some might consider an upgrade. I hope that Nellie opts to develop his younger players more. Ronny Turiaf was a solid, but expensive addition to help mitigate the post and assist Biedrins on the glass, I think they can do better.

Playoffs unfortunately are well out of the picture. Stephen Jackson and Corey Maggette will be interesting playing next to each other, but all in all everything remains the same, minus the beard. Hopefully Marcus Williams or CJ Watson can really step it up.

38-44.