Anthony Morrow said he would win the Three-Point Shootout if he got invited. Here’s why he’s so confident.

(Note: He said the racks are taller than the ones the league uses in the shootout. Plus, he had to reach back a few times for the last couple of balls. In the shootout, there is someone there to push the balls forward.)

Morrow 3-Point Shootout Practice

The help the Warriors needed arrived Sunday as Nellie got the small forward for which he’s been wishing. Cartier Martin is getting his shot with the Warriors. Oddly enough, it’s coming three months after it should’ve happened – at least in his mind.

MARTIN: “If I could do it again, I would’ve been here for training camp. I promise you that. But that’s an experience for me. I got a chance to go over there. It was a great life experience. But it wasn’t the best situation for me at the time. But, you know, we live and we learn.”

Read the rest of this entry »

I just saw this, but the fourth returns from the NBA All-Star balloting was announced Thursday. It doesn’t look good for Monta Ellis’ All-Star chances.

The fourth and final update saw that Houston Rockets guard Tracy McGrady, who has totaled 47 minutes of playing time this season, still in the starting lineup. Ellis really needs Phoenix PG Steve Nash to be named a starter to have a legitimate chance.

Read the rest of this entry »

Some of you may think I’m crazy for even posing the question. But I was just talking with a die-hard Warriors fan who posed this interesting question to me. There is no question who is the better player. But taking away age, contract situation, other abilities on the court and just going on pure ability to score. Who is better: Ellis or Maggette?

Does Ellis get the nod since he leads the team in scoring? Or does Maggette get the nod because he scores more efficiently?

Is it Ellis because he can score in more ways? Or is it Maggette because he’s so good at his specialized way of scoring?

Check out Maggette’s numbers lately, furnished by the Dubs:

* Maggette is one of six (6) players to average 18+ points and shoot at least 53% this season (Amare Stoudemire, Tim Duncan, Carlos Boozer, David Lee and Steve Nash). Maggette and Nash are the only perimeter players (Can we call Maggette a perimeter player since he primarily plays PF? LOL)

* Only seven players this year average at least 15.0 points and shoot at least 50% from field and 80% from the line: Maggette, Chris Paul, Zach Randolph, Steve Nash, Kevin Garnett, Paul Gasol and Carl Landry.

Warriors have waived center Mikki Moore, who is out after surgery to repair bone spurs in his right heel. The simple reason: they cut Moore to keep Chris Hunter, the center they called up from the D-League. The explanation, though, gets convoluted, and it likely means no other player will be added.

Pretty much, the league made the Warriors to make a decision on Chris Hunter before contracts become guaranteed on Jan. 10.

Read the rest of this entry »

Nelson went after his team today, turning what was initially scheduled to be an off day into a grueling two-hour practice. They ran a bunch of defensive drills, including taxing one-on-one post-up defense drills (one player would have to guard each player in the group consecutively, one-on-one in the post). They even ran a three-man weave.

The players were visibly feeling it. A few balls were slammed, a few expletives were shouted in frustration. Corey Maggette and Monta Ellis got the night off. Maggette showed up on the court halfway through practice and sat on the side and watched. Ellis apparently came and lifted weights, but stayed in the locker room area.

Nelson was so disappointed in the effort during Saturday’s loss at Portland that he put it on them at practice. During practice, he went off on them about his disappointment, two players told me. He shared some of his frustrations during his post-practice interview. Here is the transcript:

Read the rest of this entry »