Stephen Curry almost went to Phoenix on draft day, then walked into a s**t storm on Day 1 of Warriors’ training camp

Posted on January 23, 2017 by Steinmetz

If you’re going to start with Stephen Curry in our book that will never be written (don’t worry, we’ll have some older Warriors’ stuff down the line), you’ve got to start with the 2009 NBA draft. In addition, you must go back and look at the Warriors’ draft history — previous picks like Joe Smith, Antawn Jamison (I know, actually acquired in a draft-day trade), Anthony Randolph, Mike Dunleavy, Adonal Foyle, etc.

You’d also have to include that the Warriors were considering trading Curry to Phoenix for Amare Stoudemire on draft night. Or that David Kahn, the Minnesota GM at the time, gifted Curry to the Warriors by selecting Ricky Rubio and Johnny Flynn ahead of him.

You’d also have to take a look back at the NBA draft lottery, and document how the Warriors were almost always a part of it. The Warriors didn’t used to go to the playoffs so those ping-pong balls held a lot of allure for the fans and franchise.

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‘Warriors WrapUp’: Another huge 3rd quarter paces GSW to easy win over Orlando 118-98; Thompson, Curry lead way from 3-point range; McGee’s energy changes game in first quarter

Posted on January 22, 2017 by Steinmetz

The Warriors tipped-off at 9 a.m., West Coast time, on Sunday when they started their game against the Orlando Magic. It was the earliest starting time for a Warriors’ game since 1995 — and it showed.

Golden State was sluggish in the first half, then did what they’ve done a lot this year — blow out an opponent in the third quarter. The Warriors used a 42-point third quarter and rode it to a 118-98 win over the Magic.

Link to “Warriors WrapUp,” the postgame show on 95.7-FM The Game.

It was the Warriors’ seventh consecutive win and they raised their record to a league-best 38-6. Golden State was at its best from beyond the arc on Sunday. They shot 45.2 percent from 3-point range (19-for-42). Klay Thompson went 7-for-9 and Stephen Curry 7-for-13 from 3-point range.

–The Warriors’ sloppy start should have been somewhat predictable. Golden State left the West Coast on Thursday, then played in Houston on Friday, where they stayed overnight. Golden State committed eight turnovers in the first quarter alone and 12 in the first-half.

–Warriors coach Steve Kerr was able to keep his starters’ minutes down in this one. Draymond Green and Thompson played 33 minutes apiece, which led the team. The Warriors play the Heat in Miami on Monday.

–Kerr may have found the perfect way to utilize center JaVale McGee. With the Warriors struggling to find their game early, McGee checked into the game and gave the team a boost immediately.

McGee finished with 13 points and four rebounds in just 12 minutes. He single-handedly transformed Golden State from lethargic to wound up late in that first quarter — and then Curry and Thompson took it from there.

McGee was a plus-26 in 12 minutes.

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‘Warriors WrapUp’: 125-108 blowout of Rockets punctuates phenomenal week for GSW; Green’s defense the key; Warriors’ 3-point defense shines; another monster third quarter

Posted on January 20, 2017 by Steinmetz

The Warriors put an exclamation point on a big week of basketball on Friday, punctuating it with a convincing win over the Rockets in Houston, 125-108. This was supposed to be a monster Monday-Wednesday-Friday for Golden State and each night they come through in a big way.

On Monday, the Warriors routed the Cavaliers 126-91 at Oracle Arena; on Wednesday, they hammered the Oklahoma City Thunder 121-100. Their victory over the Rockets raises the Warriors’ record to 37-6.

Link to “Warriors WrapUp,” the postgame show on 95.7-FM The Game.

Among the topics:

–The best player on the floor on Friday night very well may have been Draymond Green. If, in fact, defense is every bit as important as offense, then there’s no doubt about it. Green was absolutely phenomenal, blocking shots, getting deflections, helping teammates beaten on penetration and, of course, guarding his own man extremely well.

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