It’s looking like Warriors coach Don Nelson will get to use his “Golden State D-Leaguers” like again.
The Warriors got another exemption from the league and plan on using it to add Reggie Williams of the D-League. The move hasn’t happened yet and wouldn’t until Tuesday, so the Warriors can maximize his 10-day contract.
Williams, 23, would be the 16th player on the roster. So, in order to keep him past 20 days (the Warriors could sign him to a second 10-day contract after the first expires), they would have to cut someone. That would almost assuredly be forward Devean George, should it get that far.
Williams is averaging 26.4 on 57.6 percent shooting. He also shoots 41 percent from 3 and 82.4 percent from the free throw line. In 40 minutes of action, averages 5.5 rebounds and 3.2 assists.
Nelson has said on several occasions that he needs a small forward, and that was before starter Corey Maggette went down with a hamstring injury. Guard Anthony Morrow has been starting at SF, which Nelson desnt like.
The Warriors have had SFs Cartier Martin and Coby Karl from th D-League.

Warriors guard C.J. Watson will miss tonight’s game with flu-like symptoms and possible appendicitis, a team spokesman said. Watson has played an average of roughly 35 minutes a game the last four contests and has scored 20 or more in four his last five games. So, once again, the Warriors are down to eight players. Looks like Stephen Curry and Monta Ellis will both play more than 45 minutes each, especially if the game is close. – Curtis Pashelka

After practice Tuesday, Nellie had to know the media would grill him about his post-game comments regarding Andris Biedrins, in which he said he was “tired” of Biedrins being lifeless and that this wasn’t the first time “the light wasn’t on at home.” Not only did Nellie know, he was ready to elaborate.

It was worse for Biedrins the second time around.

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By Marcus Thompson II
mthomps2@bayareanewsgroup.com

Warriors center Ronny Turiaf is known for playing with passion.

The way he swings his arm with all his might to block a shot, or tries to bend the rim with one of his two-handed dunks. The way he supports his teammates when he’s on the bench, watching intently, cheering demonstratively, lobbying vehemently.

His passion for basketball is unquestionable. But it is rivaled by his other passion: Helping people with heart issues. You can see it in his eyes, hear it in his voice.

“I know what its like to be in those shoes,” Turiaf said Monday from the Leonard J. Meltzer Boys & Girls Club in Oakland. “I don’t wish that on anybody. Especially when it’s a 15-year-old high school kid. I don’t think people understand how serious I take this problem. Especially when I see all those unfortunate events happen to those kids at such a young age.
“That’s why,” he added, “I’m just trying to do whatever I can so hopefully people can jump somewhat on the bandwagon and understand this is something very important to me. This is not a joke. This is very, very dangerous problem that I hope more people will be aware about.”

At a worn Boys & Girls Club in a scruffy part of Oakland, his other passion took a step towards realization. The Ronny Turiaf Heart to Heart Foundation, started last August, held its first official event Monday. A news conference.

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The Warriors will be without Ellis for the second consecutive game thanks to his sprained left knee, opening the door for rookie guard Stephen Curry to get more experience as the undisputed floor general.

Ellis was not with the team in Los Angeles for the annual post-All-Star break evening practice. While the Warriors prepare to take on the Lakers — who will have Kobe Bryant (sprained left ankle) and Andrew Bynum (injured right hip), according to the LA Times — Ellis will be in Birmingham, Ala. getting checked out by Dr. James Andrews. He is the same doctor who repaired Ellis’ left ACL when he tore it in high school.

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An interesting debate arose out of Steph Curry’s historic performance against the disgusting Los Angeles Clippers. You know the numbers by now: 36 point, 13 assists, rebounds.

Curry is the first Warriors rookie to post a triple-double since Chris Webber in 1993. He was the first NBA rookie to post at least 30/10/10 since Kevin Johnson in 1988. He was only the sixth rookie ever to post at least 35/10/10 – the other five being Jason Kidd, Michael Jordan, Jerry West, Oscar Roberton and Elgin Baylor.

The Warriors scored 132 points, tied a season-high with 36 assists, set a season-high with 62 percent shooting, including a season-high 13 3-pointers (7 by Curry, 3 each by the Anthonys – Morrow and Tolliver). Of course, all of these numbers are against a woeful Clippers team, and many of them came when they game was out of hand. Still, it is hard to notice the Warriors’ offense just look more productive and efficient without star guard Monta Ellis.

For the record, I DO NOT believe the Warriors are better without Ellis. I DO NOT believe the stats that show the Warriors are more efficient offensively without Ellis, considering the Warriors have hardly been without Ellis and the statistics don’t account for the opposing defense’s ability or effort. NBA players, and teams game plans, ramp up for big challenges against noteworthy players. Conversely, players relax when all they have to do is contain third, fourth and fifth-best players.

But what is undeniable, the Warriors are inconsistently efficient when Ellis is there, and not as potent offensively as they like to claim. And when he’s not, the ball movement is better, there are more open looks and the pace is faster.

What seems to be apparent is that the Warriors’ offense needs to transition from Ellis being the facilitator to Curry being the facilitator.

RONNY TURIAF (after the game on the offensive performance): “Just a bunch of guys trying to play for each other. It was an amazing experience. … That’s what you call a team effort. It was cool. It was fun.”

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The surprising move of the Warriors not signing swingman Coby Karl to a second 10-day contract is part of the Warriors deciding to go with what it has, ending the roster juggling that would have surely continued.

According to a couple team sources, the Warriors have no plans as of now to bring Karl back, or any other NBA Development League player. Forward Devean George is expected to play tonight, giving the Warriors eight players healthy tonight. Based on recent history, that is more than enough. Plus, guard Monta Ellis — who is out tonight so he can give his sprained left knee a full week of rest and be ready for the Lakers game on Tuesday — and forwards Corey Maggette and Vladimir Radmanovic are expected back after the All-Star break. So, for the forseeable future, the Warriors don’t need another player from the D-League, no matter how much Nelson likes Karl. Obviously, if another significant injury occurs, they still have the 10-day option, and can still use it on Karl once more. But now, it’s just excess.

So tonight they will run with eight (Karl or any D-Leaguer wouldn’t have made much a difference, anyway). After the break, they figure to be up to 10 or 11. Instead of the front office juggling roster spots and harrassing the league for injury exemptions, it will focus on the approaching trade deadline. Instead of the coaching staff focusing on re-teaching the Warriors’ system to a new player, its focus shifts completely to the young players who will should get a lot of time these last 30 or so games. Certainly, Anthony Morrow, C.J. Watson, or even Anthony Tolliver, don’t need a D-Leaguer eating up any minutes.

Sat down with Warriors GM Larry Riley before the game.

Say what you want about the man, he is present and accountable. He didn’t dodge the media, didn’t skirt any questions, nor did he complain about the negative reaction he’s gotten for his decision. And he clearly explained why he made the decision he made.

The gist: he didn’t do anything to hurt the Warriors plans by waiving Speedy Claxton and his $5.2 million contract. Here are his answers in full (The first two questions were from a season-ticket holder who bogarded our interview. They were good questions):

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I have not talked to GM Larry Riley, so I haven’t gotten his explanation. But I’m going to go out on a limb and say this is his first unadulterated bad decision as a GM.

The rest of his moves, I understand the reasoning. I may not have done them, but I get the logic. The Warriors made room for forward Anthony Tolliver on the roster by waiving point guard Speedy Claxton, who is injured and hasn’t played all season. Yes, they did. Giving up Claxton’s $5.2 million expiring contract, a valuable bartering tool, 12 days before the trade deadline for an NBA Development League call-up is just bad.

Bad.

Bad.

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Today is the last day of forward Anthony Tolliver’s second 10-day contract. Tomorrow, the Warriors have to decide whether they want to sign him for the rest of the season.

A week ago, I would’ve said the Warriors would keep Tolliver and cut center Chris Hunter. They would have to eat the rest of Hunter’s contract as he’s guaranteed for the season, and that would be an usually bold admission of a mistake by the team. But Tolliver was looking much more productive than Hunter, who can hardly get into the game. But Tollliver has tapered off, and his shot still hasn’t gone down consistently — a must for a power forward-type in Nelson’s system. Throw in the success of swingman Coby Karl, and it might add up to Tolliver being let go.

Coach Don Nelson is in love with Karl, who can pass and has rebounded fairly well. Of course, he could taper off as did Hunter and Tolliver, as D-Leaguers do. But he may have done enough to make the Warriors more interested in keeping him than Tolliver. The one feasible move the Warriors have is to cut Hunter (which they may not even want to do since it is eating money). The rest involves the trading valuable assets. Since the trade deadine is so close, I seriously doubt they waste an expiring contract to keep a D-Leaguer.

There is a window though that may allow the Warriors to keep Tolliver and Hunter. Say they waive Hunter and keep Tolliver. That leaves them with no spot for Karl, should they decide they want to keep him for the rest of the season. However, Karl’s second 10-day contract expires after the trade deadline. The Warriors will either have capitalized off their expiring contracts, or they’re going to let them come off the cap anyway. Of course, if Cartier Martin is still available, they may want to pick him up.

Who should the Warriors keep: Hunter, Tolliver or Karl?