2007 Golden State Warriors Season Preview

2007 Golden State Warriors basketball preview from Maddux Sports handicappers. At our website you can also find our Expert NBA picks and live NBA odds each and every single day.

Coach Don Nelson’s Warriors made the post season with a 42- 40 mark and then Nelson managed to get his 8th seed team to upset and take out the first-seed Dallas Mavs. After that the Jazz beat the Golden State Warriors and the Warriors were out of the post-season. The question is can Golden State do it again—get to the playoffs? And if they can, might they go deeper into the post-season?

Upfront, it’s forward Al Harrington (.457 FG%, .433 3P%, .694 FT%, 6.4 RPG, 1.9 APG, 16.5 PPG), swingman Stephen Jackson (.433 FG%, .322 3P%, .813 FT%, 3.0 RPG, 3.8 APG, 15.5 PPG) and forward/center Andris Biendris (.599 FG%, .000 3P%, .521 FT%, 9.3 RPG, 1.1 APG, 9.5 PPG) teaming up to form the club’s matrix. Harrington is the shooter, Jackson the foul shooter and Biendris the rebounder. Journeyman Matt Barnes (.438 FG%, .366 3P%, .732 FT%, 4.6 RPG, 2.1 APG, 9.8 PPG) comes off the bench, bringing athleticism and versatility to the Warriors. Upfront, there are three rookies who can be difference makers on this team.

Baron Davis (.439 FG%, .304 3P%, .745 FT%, 4.4 RPG, 8.1 APG, 20.1 PPG) at point will be key to this team’s success. That’s worrisome for Nelson and company, since the eight-year vet has an iffy back that could take him out of the lineup any time. When healthy, he’s a fine playmaker. Across from Davis is Monta Ellis (.475 FG%, .273 3P%, .763 FT%, 3.2 RPG, 4.1 APG, 16.5 PPG), who was voted the NBA’s Most Improved Player of 2006- 2007. Ellis, who’s only been in the league for two years, should be a major contributor.

It will be tough for Golden State to repeat last year’s performance but not impossible. Health is a key issue for a club with so little leeway in terms of topnotch players versus average guys, and it’ll be extremely helpful to Golden State if the bench can contribute. Last season backcourt man Jason Richardson, who was traded to Charlotte, was key to the team’s success. Exactly who will take up that slack is yet to be seen.

To see how the Golden State Warriors stack up against the rest of the Pacific division read our previews on the Suns, Clippers, Lakers, and Kings.