Knightofoceans wrote:"Preseason Warrior's Player Rankings" - unofficial of course.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1365970-nba-preseason-golden-state-warriors-player-power-rankings

Raider1015 wrote:

Knightofoceans wrote:"Preseason Warrior's Player Rankings" - unofficial of course.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1365970-nba-preseason-golden-state-warriors-player-power-rankings

Whose "official" pre-season scouting report should we trust?

Anyway, this is awesome stuff. I can tell you put a lot of work into it, nicely done.

About the boards, I think Lee is a good rebounder but not a great one. The fact is, he inflated his career stats a bit during his stint with the Knicks (almost 12 a game in back to back seasons), and our previous inability to find another legit big to pair him with so far in O-Town has kept his numbers artificially high. Keep in mind a few things: the Warriors have had the 5th and 10th fastest pace in the league since Lee joined, which means there are a lot more rebounds available per game. Also, without a second rebounder on the roster, he gets more uncontested defensive rebounds than most bigs in the league (Dwight probably leads in that category every year...).

I think we should look more closely at Total Rebounding Rate, a measure of the percentage of rebounds a player collects whenever on the floor. Its not perfect (see point number two about intra-team competition), but its telling. Among players who got 25+ minutes a game (basically, starter's minutes), Lee was around 30th league wide (at 14.5%, and 15.3% the year before but his ranking was essentially the same). And some of the guys in his range have super-tough team competition for rebounds (for example, Marc Gasol has to share with Zach Randolph and Rudy Gay every game).

For comparison, Bogut was at 18.2% and 17.9% his last two full seasons, which put him about 10th both years. When the season ends, I expect them to each average around 8-9 rebounds a game, and that should get out of the team rebounding cellar.

Raider1015 wrote:

Knightofoceans wrote:"Preseason Warrior's Player Rankings" - unofficial of course.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1365970-nba-preseason-golden-state-warriors-player-power-rankings

Whose "official" pre-season scouting report should we trust?

Anyway, this is awesome stuff. I can tell you put a lot of work into it, nicely done.

About the boards, I think Lee is a good rebounder but not a great one. The fact is, he inflated his career stats a bit during his stint with the Knicks (almost 12 a game in back to back seasons), and our previous inability to find another legit big to pair him with so far in O-Town has kept his numbers artificially high. Keep in mind a few things: the Warriors have had the 5th and 10th fastest pace in the league since Lee joined, which means there are a lot more rebounds available per game. Also, without a second rebounder on the roster, he gets more uncontested defensive rebounds than most bigs in the league (Dwight probably leads in that category every year...).

I think we should look more closely at Total Rebounding Rate, a measure of the percentage of rebounds a player collects whenever on the floor. Its not perfect (see point number two about intra-team competition), but its telling. Among players who got 25+ minutes a game (basically, starter's minutes), Lee was around 30th league wide (at 14.5%, and 15.3% the year before but his ranking was essentially the same). And some of the guys in his range have super-tough team competition for rebounds (for example, Marc Gasol has to share with Zach Randolph and Rudy Gay every game).

For comparison, Bogut was at 18.2% and 17.9% his last two full seasons, which put him about 10th both years. When the season ends, I expect them to each average around 8-9 rebounds a game, and that should get out of the team rebounding cellar.

32 wrote:PF - 5 - Carl Landry

Strengths (+) -  Warriors fans will recognize Carl Landry as the player Ike Diogu should have turned into: a stocky, old school power forward with a 1970's skill-set and a dragon-esque wingspan. Landry is an extremely educated player from inside 6 feet, who knows how to score in a myriad of ways; he can sink it with contact, has a Monta Ellis spin from the triple threat, can use glass or net it straight, hides the ball well inside, and bullies the opposition every moment he's on the floor. He has a solid midrange that will reach out to 15 feet. Effort is never an issue, nor is character; Landry is an excellent locker room guy and a solid influence on young players. A supremely talented low-post option, Landry doesn't pass out of the low block because he doesn't have to. He can score in multiple coverage and is easily among the league's best bench power forwards. An asset on the offensive glass, Landry gives his team extra possessions and is furiously quick off of two feet for unblockable put-backs. A career 6th man, Landry is starter-quality without the egocentric urge to rock the boat when it comes to his coach's rotations.

Weaknesses (-) - Landry has a reputation as a bit of a foul machine and is anemic on the defensive end. While he isn't quite the red carpet that David Lee is, the two of them may combine to be the least efficient defensive tandem at power forward in the league. As mentioned above, Landry does not look to pass (ever) and has averaged a shade under twice as many turnovers as assists on his career. A below-average rebounder whose RP35 average on his life amounts to 7.1 - which puts him on the same level as Chris Bosh as far as useless 4's on the glass. Landry typically averages as many defensive rebounds as offensive rebounds, which would be great if he hauled down 14 a night, but as it stands, the results translate into a general lack of enthusiasm on the defensive glass. The bottom line is that Landry's contributions are entirely located on one side of the floor.

Offensive game... 4/5
Defensive game... 2/5
Intangibles............ 2.5/5
Skill.......................... 4/5
Effort...................... 4.5/5

Overall = 66

32 wrote:SF - 40 - Harrison Barnes

Strengths (+) -  Barnes is a tremendous shot-creater with the ball in his hands. He can score from a variety of spots on the floor and could possibly provide Golden State with their first true isolation option since the departure of Monta Ellis. He's already a plus forward out of the face-up position and possesses a Maggette-esque combination of strength and quickness (doesn't quite have the explosiveness though). A match-up problem for other teams, Barnes is wet from the perimeter, scores inside with contact, runs the floor, fills lanes, and seems to be equally adept at working from the corner, the elbow, and the top. Defensively, Barnes looks for rebounds in his direction and has a knack for the baseline block on the weak side. He's also a solid, if unspectacular, ball handler who can initiate the offense in small spurts. Overall, his offense is his main course and it looks to resemble a very early model of Paul Pierce. His ceiling is extremely high; the rest is up to Barnes to add. 

Weaknesses (-) - As mentioned above, Harrison Barnes is not supremely athletic in small spurts; his first step doesn't leave anybody in the dust and he has yet to finish above anybody (his size) on the drive. His most pressing offensive improvement needs to be the addition of a low-post game; while Barnes has already flashed a nifty fadeaway, he enters into it from a spin off the dribble. He's strong enough to bully opposing 3's if he can just figure out how to do it. Barnes is also a step slow, defensively. His man sneaks around him without the rock because Barnes tends to eye the ball-handler. HB's rebounding and defense is average at best. Barnes is also a bit shot-happy and Warriors fans must hope his tunnel vision clears up by the regular season.

Offensive game... 3.5/5
Defensive game... 2/5
Intangibles............ 2/5
Skill.......................... 4/5
Effort...................... 3.5/5

Overall = 60

C - 31 - Festus Ezeli

Strengths (+) -  Ezeli is an NBA ready enforcer. Pound for pound, he's the strongest player on the Golden State roster. Broad shouldered and cannon-armed, Ezeli is a physical, tenacious defender who looks for the block as often as the board. He's got veteran level footwork and hustles on every play. A potential starting center, Festus Ezeli uses his wide body as well as anybody taken in the 2012 draft by boxing his man out and using Garnett style wraps and locks as soon as the shot goes up. Offensively, Ezeli is already a thunderous finisher and has displayed a powerful post game in limited touches. Surprisingly, he's also hit jumpers out to 15 feet. He's also been an effective rebounder in terms of rebounding rate; a testament to his fundamental rebounding and team based box outs.

Weaknesses (-) - Typical rookie big men issues: Ezeli doesn't do much offensively, still has to figure out how to expand himself on screens, and picks up a bit too many fouls. It'd be nice to see him improve his rebounding and, fundamentally, he's inept at handling or passing the ball at this stage. The anti-Carl Landry, Ezeli is not in the game for any sort of offense and keeps to his role as the hard-fouling, smash-mouthed enforcer. 

Offensive game... 1.5/5
Defensive game... 4/5
Intangibles............ 3/5
Skill.......................... 2.5/5
Effort...................... 4/5

Overall = 58

SF/PF - 23 - Draymond Green

Strengths (+) - A top notch vocal leader and glue guy, Green's value is best described in terms of the team, rather than individual numbers. He understands spacing and knows where to be at all times. He's a smart defender who doesn't reach, moves his feet, and uses the defender's right to space as his biggest weapon. His shooting is above-average and should eventually open up the middle when he becomes a rotation player. He doesn't need to be the man; he's only concerned with winning. Green can rebound better than any current Warrior wing and looks to mix it up on the glass rather than leak out. Overall, Green will be a career sub, but his value is not to be diminished just because he doesn't seek out flashy plays or numbers. 

Weaknesses (-) - Green is athletically handicapped and quite possibly in over his head at the NBA level. He isn't quick enough to be a 3 and at 6'7" is undersized for a 4. He's a step slow, doesn't have the cleverness offensively to ever be an isolation option, and can't defend the elite class of NBA scorers. Green is best described as solid but unspectacular and that label may limit his potential as far as where he can go at the pro level.

Offensive game... 2/5
Defensive game... 2/5
Intangibles............ 4/5
Skill.......................... 2/5
Effort...................... 3/5

Overall = 52