Are Curry, Warriors being criticized or the game itself?

Posted on February 27, 2016 by Steinmetz

The Golden State Warriors are the defending NBA champions and they’re currently 52-5. But that doesn’t seem to be enough. There are still some out there that don’t think the Warriors are quite the juggernaut many think they are.

Recently, Oscar Robertson, one of the all-time greats, suggested that teams don’t know how to defend Stephen Curry and the Warriors, and that coaches have no idea what they’re doing when it comes to the defensive end.

Charles Barkley has long been a Warriors’ critic and he recently said Curry was just a jump shooter. Throw in recent remarks from Wally Szczerbiak, Cedric Ceballos and Stephen  Jackson and you can see why the Warriors and their fans might feel disrespected.

On the “NBA This Week,” we focused on the criticism and the perception of the Golden State Warriors, particularly with the older generation. We also previewed tonight’s game between the Warriors and Oklahoma City Thunder, welcoming Anthony Slater, who covers OKC for the Oklahoman.

You can download the “NBA This Week” here.

Some highlights of the show:

Continue reading →

Posted in NBA, Warriors | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Guide for Warriors’ haters: Get to know Golden State’s fanbase

Posted on February 25, 2016 by Steinmetz

It’s becoming apparent that the more the Warriors win, the more they’re being scrutinized – particularly their on-court behavior. In recent weeks we’ve heard a lot about the Warriors showboating or over-celebrating or simply enjoying themselves a little too much when they’re playing.

There seems to a little bit of a backlash against the boys who are 51-5. That doesn’t seem to be the only backlash that’s occurring. Warriors’ fans are taking some heat, too. You don’t have to spend much time on Twitter to realize that if you’re not a Warriors’ fan, you might think Golden State fans are a little bit obnoxious, a touch arrogant, maybe even entitled.

My buddy Dan, who lives in SF but grew up in Boston, texted me this the other day: “I’m starting to dislike the Warriors. Not the team, per se, but the legions of front-running, freshly T-shirted fans proclaiming their dominance.”

Well, that’s not all of them. Few fan bases have the kind of connection with their team as Warriors fans have with theirs. It’s a passionate, loyal and diverse group. But, yes, a segment of Warriors fans have become overbearing and maybe even a little annoying. But it’s not every fan.

Still, if you can’t stand the Warriors, and you find yourself in a discussion/argument with one of them, here’s a “Hater’s Guide” for you, to understanding which kind Dubs fan you’re dealing with.

Continue reading →

Posted in Warriors | Tagged , | 10 Comments

Whiteside, Vucevic will be tested by Warriors’ small lineup

Posted on February 24, 2016 by Steinmetz

If you’ve watched the Warriors a lot this season, you know that one of their strengths is to neutralize opposing centers, and it sometimes forces them off the floor.

The Warriors’ small unit – Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Andre Iguodala, Harrison Barnes and Draymond Green – is not only a nightmare to defend, they’re also good enough, strong enough, quick enough and savvy enough to defend you, too. No matter how big or small you are.

The Warriors often thrive when playing against limited big men. If you’re a big man and primarily an offensive player, the Warriors will make you pay in a big way on defense by making you guard on the perimeter. If you’re a big man and you’re limited offensively, you’ll be exposed by the Warriors, allowing them to take their defensive to higher level.

The Warriors will face two interesting young big men in the next two days: Miami’s Hassan Whiteside and Orlando’s Nikola Vucecic. And it’s always fun to watch how young bigs play against Golden State.

Continue reading →

Posted in Miami Heat, Orlando Magic, Warriors | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Whiteside, Vucevic will be tested by Warriors’ small lineup