Warriors, Thunder Early Comparisons

Yes, Folks! It's fun to compare a team that most NBA fans would classify as "Trash" to title contending teams. The Warriors do, however, have a lot in common with the Thunder. Although they are crushed in nearly every position they lose, they still would put up a good battle. Like Bob Fitzgerald always says, "The Warriors WILL NOT go away!!" Hopefully they won't go away this season, when they're creeping behind the Nuggets to steal their spot in the playoffs.. hopefully..

PG: Russell Westbrook: Stephen Curry: This one is tough. Westbrook receives a lot of criticism, but he the most explosive player in the game, as well as athletic, and acrobatic. Curry, on the other hand is a true PG. This matchup will have to be classified into different categories:
-All-around Talent: Winner: OKC
-PG Talent: Winner: Warriors

SG: Klay Thompson: Thabo Sefoloshia: While Sefo is an outstanding perimeter shooter, a great defender, and his basketball IQ, rookie sensation, Klay Thompson's skill level is too high for him to guard. Thompson will end up crushing him in the matchup. Winner: Warriors

SF: Harrison Barnes: Kevin Durant: Well, Durant clearly has the height, skill, explosiveness, length, and shooting advantage, but Harrison Barnes gets hot quickly. Barnes won't have any problem scoring double digits, but the Warriors don't have any guy who can move his feet like a guy that's Durant's size. He's tough to stop. Winner: OKC

PF: David Lee: Serge Ibaka: Lee and Ibaka hae completely different playing styles. Lee is a static player, who only plays within the perimeters of his game. Ibaka is courageous. He will take the three pointer if he wants to. Ibaka is a blocking sensation, Lee has a high basketball IQ. They're two incomparable PF's. Winner: Nobody

C: Kendrick Perkins: Andrew Bogut: Come on everyone. While Perkins is a tough guy who doesn't smile, Bogut delivers in more ways, and gets it done with a smile on his face. There is a clear winner here. Winner: Warriors

Bench Productivity: The Warriors have an overall good bench, but the shining brilliance of Harden just cancels all of that out. Maybe next season, it'll be different..Winner: OKC

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Lakers, Warriors: Early Comparisons

The Lakers and Warriors have the simplest and most explanatory rivalry in the NBA. All though the Lakers don't think of the Warriors as much, probably, you can be assured that you're in for a treat when you have tickets to this game. The Lakers underestimate the Warriors, and the Warriors play with shining brilliance: until of course the end, when forget what basketball is.


The Lakers have successfully assembled a superteam, but what does that mean? The Warriors' big three is arguably not that far away from the Lakers, skill wise. Let's have a quick comparison.


1. PG: Steve Nash, Steph Curry: Both excellent free throw shooters, smart players, three point god's, and PG's. Last time Curry and Nash matched up, Nash was forced into 5 TO's. That's pretty good for a youngster playing with the big boy. The Warriors lost that game to the Suns, unfortunately. I think that with the skill level these two have, the matchup is about equal. That's why it comes down to veteran ship. Winner: Lakers


2. SG: Really? I wonder who the winner is here. The Black Mamba strikes at the perfect time, deadly and unexpected. He can hit 3 threes in a row, easily. In every game, there are times where he shows glimpses of himself in his prime. That's tough to matchup against, but he's getting older. Young star Klay Thompson is going to get burned a few times when matching up with Kobe. All he has on Kobe is height advantage, which could lead to a few interior victories. Most likely, Metta World Peace will guard Klay Thompson. Winner: Lakers


3. SF: My hypothesis is that the hot shooting of Harrison Barnes and Klay Thompson are going to really anger Peace. He'll be running all over the place. Although Peace can deliver a clutch shot, or make a clutch play, his skill level isn't equal to that of Harrison Barnes. Barnes is a smarter player, and he can get the job done without throwing a punch. Sorry, Metta! Winner: Warriors


4. PF: Oh, yes. This is the only matchup that's actually hard to pick a winner. Gasol is always rated as one of the best PF's in the league, but many forget that he has Kobe to make him look good. Gasol is a good, smart player, but Lee isn't any worse than he is. Lee has high efficiency, and a similar arsenal of scoring as Gasol. The only thing Gasol has on Lee is height. Otherwise, they're pretty much equal. Hate me if you must, but I'm not overlooking the fact that Gasol is no better than Lee. Winner: Nobody


5. C: Don't worry, Magic fans, you're not the only one out there who hates Dwight Howard! Howard's everlasting drama about which team he would 'take his talents to' really angered a lot of fans. It was classless and embarrassing for the NBA. That doesn't, however, effect his playing style. Although Andrew Bogut is one of the top 5 Centers in the NBA, Howard is just a little better. They're both strong, tough, and aggressive, and post up well. The difference is that Howard knows how to score on the inside a little better. This'll be another interesting matchup. Winner: Lakers


Bench Productivity: Winner: Warriors
You cant win an NBA title without bench play. The Warriors' whole second unit looks like they could take on the Lakers. The Warriors definitely have the Lakers down in this area.

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NBA Players Destined to Start Off Hot

The NBA is filled with incredible players who just want to win the title. That's hard to do when there's two superteams in the NBA. The Lakers and the Heat. That is a favored finals matchup, as Kobe and LeBron will finally go head to head. The Dwight Howard would destroy Joel Anthony.

Let's not rule other teams out though. The Thunder, the Nets, the Warriors, the Hornets, the Timberwolves, the Sixers, and many other teams are capable of pulling off upsets in the first round. All these teams have a legitimate shot of making it to the finals. The question is, who wants it more?

- Monta Ellis/Brandon Jennings: I swear, I'm not being biased. Monta Ellis and Jennings are supposed to have the best backcourt in the NBA. With the added big man presence, the Bucks are looking to get it going.. They finally have what it takes.

- David Lee: He is 29 years old, and not getting any younger. Lee knows that it's time to go to work with his team's reloaded roster. Anything is possible. I don't think Lee is going to wait any longer to be in his first playoff game.

- D-Will: Obviously. Deron Williams hasn't been in the playoffs since the Jazz. He wasn't going anywhere with them, so he took his talents to New Jersey. With Gerald Wallace, Kris Humphries, Lopez, and Johnson, there's no limit to what they can accomplish. Especially if they can pull off an upset.

- Dwight Howard: With new hope on the Lakers, Howard looks to get into the finals again, but this time, he'll be playing alongside Kobe. With the addition of him and Nash, the Lakers must make a title run quickly, and they know that. Before they know it, Kobe's jersey will be hung at the top of the stadium.

- Carmelo Anthony: I'm sure Carmelo Anthony does not want to be the criticized one, just like LeBron was. Critics are already getting on his back about winning a ring. Bosh, Wade, LeBron, and even Darko Milicic have rings. It's time for Melo to get his. He carried team USA on his back most of the way, and he should be confident enough to do that with his Knicks.

- LeBron James: LeBron has had the taste of one title, and he's not going to stop there. He and the Heat without question have the most talented roster in the NBA. LeBron and the Heat are hungry, and they will crush any team that stands in their line of fire.

- Kobe Bryant: Kobe knows that in a couple seasons, he'll retire, but it'd be nice to get one more title to put him ahead of Jordan. The only downside to this is that the rest of the NBA will hear it from Laker fans that Kobe's better than Jordan. (He won't ever be, although he is close). Kobe will go hard from day 1.

- Kevin Durant: After a heart-breaking loss to the Heat in the NBA finals, Durant, Westbrook and Ibaka are looking for more. With the return of Eric Maynor, the Thunder should look to start off strong and hit each team hard. Durant will be relentless this season in his scoring, and will surpass Kobe and LeBron as the league's leading scorer again. He and Westbrook know that they have something to prove this season.

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Warriors Chat: Toughness an Issue?

The Warriors have it all. A strong, solid frontcourt, and strong and solid backcourt, and a coach that knows what he needs to do. There is another issue/worry that should be dissected and analyzed. Do the Warriors lack toughness?

The point guard and center are supposed to be the most aggressive players on typical teams. Curry and Bogut are both injury prone. This means that Jarrett Jack, Klay Thompson, David Lee, and Festus Ezeli, to say the least, need to fill the shoes and step up. Jarrett Jack knows what he's doing on the court: I'm confident that he'll drive fearlessly and set up his teammates. Klay Thompson is developing into a more versatile player who has the ability to penetrate the defense. He needs to find the drive that makes him want to knock over all his opponents (not literally).

David Lee, as we all already know, is a machine. He'll get into it with another guy if he feels it's necessary. He proved that along with Richard Jefferson, he's one tough guy to not be messed with. He doesn't care if he's underrated, Lee will give you 110% everyday, without getting injured. By far, Lee is the Warriors toughest player. Bogut will be tough as well, but as said before, he's injury prone. The Warriors 4-5 combo should be tough to defend: unless playing the Lakers.

Festus Ezeli, the backup center will hopefully be tough. He has the ability to block shots, so he's not afraid to commit a foul: with all the flopping done professionally by Manu Ginobli and Chris Paul, he's bound to foul out a few games, but that's okay because the Warriors always have Andris Biedrins to go to!

Just kidding. The Warriors should be fine this season with toughness. They key part to success, however, is each player knowing what their role is and how to play it properly. Centers shouldn't be shooting threes. Point Guards shouldn't be trying to smack the ball out of a Centers' hands. 

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Stats Analysis: David Lee

David Lee is going to have huge success this year. I think that in his veteran career so far, he is tired of having so many consecutive seasons without playing a single playoff game. Now, with new hope on the Warriors, Lee will play better, as he will be more motivated. If Lee continues his outstanding numbers, then the Warriors will for sure make the playoffs.

Points: Lee is a strong scorer: He can make the jumpshot, drive to the basket and kick out, and finish at the rim. These are all the things that coaches like in their PF's. The only weak part of his offensive game are three pointers, but come on, he's a PF. I predict Lee will average around 18.2 PPG. Those are excellent numbers.

Assists: He is one of the better passers among big men in the NBA. Lee has the vision to see cutting teammates, or foresee a scenario in which one of his teammates is in a better position to score than he is. Lee will average around 3.6 Assists per game.

Rebounds: Last season, Lee did an excellent job of imitating Kevin Love with a double double streak. Lee was pulling all the balls off the glass defensively. He was doing so well that he gained some recognition from it. Whenever a player on the opposing team shot the ball, Lee was at the basket. Lee will average at least 9.7 Rebounds per game.

Steals: The big men on most rosters don't often come up with many steals, but Lee's basketball IQ is so high that he may just average 0.5 steals per game.

Turnovers: As said before, Lee has a very high basketball IQ. He has the ability to analyze a situation and look at his best options: all in less than 24 seconds. Lee won't be the cause of many turnovers. He is likely to average less than 1.

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David Lee's Analysis

My predictions about David Lee are that he will have a breakout season. He was a close second as the Warriors' MVP. I believe that Lee will finally have another outstanding season. He will be in the shadows of Curry and possibly Bogut, but he will be possibly the biggest factor on the Warriors.

Lee usually puts up double double streaks. This is good for the Warriors. Alongside Bogut, he will be unstoppable rebounding the basketball. Lee also has the ability to post up, face the basket, and shoot the jumpshot. He's a perfect PF, and he and Landry quite uniquely fit as a PF duo. Often times, they will be on the floor together.

If Lee continues to score at the average rate of play, then he and the Warriors should have no problem scoring, obviously. They also shouldn't have a problem defending or rebounding either.

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Predictions for Warriors' First Month Games

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Will the Warriors start off strong? We know that Harrison Barnes, Andrew Bogut, and Jarrett Jack are going to make immediate impacts, of course positive. Can they get it done in this 82 game season? Let's see!

1. Season Opener: Phoenix Suns: 10/31
No explanation necessary: If I took a poll, every Warrior fan, and maybe even some Suns' fans would agree that the Warriors are most likely going to win this game, but the Suns do have Scola and Dragic: Who knows? Comment Below. Season Openers haven't gone so well in recent years..

2. Home Opener: Memphis Grizzlies: 11/2
The Grizzlies are a tough beat. Last season, however, the Warriors did go head-to-head with them and steadily... lost. Each game ended up in a heartbreak. Maybe this time, the Warriors will know how to maintain their lead, so when their hot shooting goes cold, they will still be able to play defense.
Prediction: Warriors win in by more than 5

3. Warriors @ Kings: 11/5
Ah, a classic North Cal rivalry. While I'm sure that there's going to be enough Warrior fans at this game, they may have a tough time. Of course, the Kings are still in a stage of rebuilding, and the Warriors usually play an entertaining game against them. It'll probably be a close one. The Dubs may top them, but not by many.
Prediction: Warriors take it by 4 or less

4. Cavaliers @ Warriors: 11/7
The Cavs are looking really good this season. With a strong center piece in Kyrie Irving, they may just be able to make the playoffs this year. This will be a good game, as both teams are young and ambitious.
Prediction: Cavs take it by 5

5. Warriors @ Lakers: 11/9
The Warriors are looking at a reloaded team that was already good before this offseason. With the addition of Dwight Howard, the best center in the NBA, the Lakers could easily be crushing teams one by one. Then again they are old: unfortunately not old enough.
Prediction: Lakers win by 10+

6. Nuggets @ Warriors: 11/10
The Nuggets are also reloaded with the addition of all star, and olympian, Andre Iquadala. That's great and all, but the Nuggets are missing many crucial pieces. They need more length and size. The Manimal, although amazing, can't do it by himself.
Prediction: Warriors win by 10

7. Hawks @ Warriors: 11/14:
The Hawks aren't bad. They have many shooters, and Josh Smith is at his prime right now. Losing Joe Johnson, however, is a huge whole that Lou Williams can't fill. He does score a lot of points, but he's not that type of pure scorer who can lead his team to the playoffs. The Hawks would be lucky to win this game: Bogut will dominate on the inside, Thompson and Curry on the perimeter.
Prediction: Warriors win by 8+

8. Warriors @ Timberwolves: 11/16
This will be a fun game to watch. The Wolves came from right under the Dubs and took Kirilenko, as well as Brandon Roy. Both teams have good strong cores, and depth. Each player has another to match up to. This one is going to be close. Any Thoughts? Comment Below:

9. Warriors @ Thunder: 11/18
Perry Jones III fell so far down in the NBA draft, that (arguably) the second best team in the NBA took him close to the second round. He's only going to add more depth. That's not good for the Warriors. Curry, with his ankle injury won't be able to keep up with Bogut. Ibaka will have fun at the rim with David Lee, and Harrison Barnes and Draymond Green are likely going to guard Kevin Durant. That might not go well for them.
Prediction: Thunder win by 15+

10. Warriors @ Mavericks: 11/19
Okay, so the Mavericks picked up OJ Mayo, Elton Brand, and Chris Kaman? So what. They're all old, is what many people think. These combinations can be deadly. Plus, the never ending brilliance of Dirk Nowitzki is a huge factor: the Warriors could have a tough time knocking them off. They will, however, find a way to keep it close.
Prediction: Mavericks win by 8 or less

11. Brooklyn Nets @ Warriors: 11/21
Will The Warriors be able to handle the 'core four'? Or will they surrender and let D-Will and HIS reloaded Nets to blow them out. I think the Warriors are also reloaded: the critics and analyzers all leave out the Warriors as one of the best core. Bad mistake: The Warriors do have one of the best cores. I believe that the Warriors will be able to edge the Nets.
Prediction: Warriors win by 5

12. Warriors @ Nuggets: 11/23
The Nuggets will obviously be more energized with their home crowd. Lawson, Iquadala, and Kenneth Faried are all capable of having huge games, and the Warriors don't do so well in the Mile High city.
Prediction: Nuggets win by 12

13. Timberwolves @ Warriors: 11/24
The Warriors and the Timberwolves are going to be rivals after this year. The two amazing PF's Lee and Love go at it each time. Brandon Roy and Curry will go head-to-head. Harrison Barnes is younger, quicker, and more explosive than Kirilenko. So this might go well for the Warriors. Then again, these ones are hard to predict.
Comment Below.

14. Nuggets @ Warriors: 11/29
Another tough one. Any thoughts? You know what to do.

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Top 10 Players on the Golden State Warriors, 2000-2012

This article was first published by Elijah Abramson on basesandbaskets.com. He has generously given us permission to use his work.

Warriors fans don’t need to be reminded of their sparing success since the new millennium.

Aside from the “We Believe” year in 2007 where the eighth-seeded Warriors beat the top-seeded Dallas Mavericks, there have been numerous miserable seasons as few as 17 wins to complement six seasons of less than 30 wins. But, as players legacies are often defined by playoff success, half of this list is composed of members from the We Believe team.

B/R featured columnist Dave Leonardis ranks the Warriors as the fourth-best fan base in basketball in between perennial contenders like the Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls and Dallas Mavericks.

Here is a list of the top-10 players to hit the court at Oracle Arena since 2000.

Note: Statistics include entire years when players also played for teams other than the Warriors (ie Monta Ellis playing for the Warriors and Bucks in 2011-12).

Honorable Mention

Erick Dampier—

12.3 PPG/12.0 RPG in 2003-04

Larry Hughes—

22.7 PPG/5.9 RPG/4.1 APG in 32 games for the Warriors in 2000

Gilbert Arenas —

15.6 PPG/4.0 RPG/5.3 APG in two seasons as a Warrior

Jamal Crawford—

19.7 PPG/3.3 RPG/4.4 APG in 2008-09

Dorell Wright

16.4 PPG/5.3 RPG/3.0 APG in 2010-11, started all 82 games

10. Troy Murphy

Years: 6

Points per game: 11.2

Rebounds per game: 8.0

Assists per game: 1.3

Troy Murphy was never a particularly glamorous player but he got the job done. It always seemed like when the Warriors were in need of a three pointer to stop the bleeding , either Murphy or Mike Dunleavy was there to at least temporarily quell the onslaught.

Sadly, Murphy left in the middle of the 2007 season and was a member of the Indiana Pacers when the Warriors defeated the Mavericks in the playoffs.

9. Al Harrington

Years: 3

Points per game: 16.6

Rebounds per game: 6.0

Assists per game: 1.7

Al Harrington is one of those in-between players that created excellent mismatches. Harrington was kind of a hybrid like Dirk Nowitzki and Lamar Odom, possessing the ability to succeed at the power forward position and occasionally the small forward if necessary.

A pivotal part of the 2007 team that made a playoff run for the first time since 1975, Harrington was a fan favorite who was known for draining three pointers.

8. Corey Maggette

Years: 2

Points per game: 19.3

Rebounds per game: 5.4

Assists per game: 2.2

Although Maggette was not a Warrior for as long as Al Harrington or Troy Murphy, he did make the most of his time in Golden State. Coming off a season averaging 22 points per game with the Clippers, the Warriors were excited to get the former Duke star.

Even though he started only 19 of his 51 games played in 2008-09, Maggette managed to still average 18.6 points per game—adding a much needed spark of offensive production.

7. Stephen Curry

Years: 3

Points per game: 17.5

Rebounds per game: 4.1

Assists per game: 5.8

Although hopefully his best years are ahead of him, Stephen Curry has already put together a couple of solid years as a Warrior. From earning All-Rookie first team honors to nearly grabbing a quadruple-double on April 7, 2010 with 27 points, 14 assists, eight rebounds and seven steals, Curry gave the Warriors hope that their rebuilding effort was not futile.

Coming off an injury-shortened season, Curry will look to rebound and make his way up this list.

6. David Lee

Years: 2

Points per game: 18.1

Rebounds per game: 9.7

Assists per game: 3.0

Last season David Lee had nothing short of a spectacular season.

Even though he didn’t make the All-Star team, Lee put up the season worthy of such honors. 20 points and nearly 10 rebounds per game went largely unnoticed in a season that the Warriors ended up tanking in the hopes of getting a high draft pick.

His performance during the previous season (his first as a Warrior) wasn’t unimpressive, either. Lee’s 17 points and 10 rebounds per game were quite comparable to the following season.

The Warriors will definitely be more than happy if Lee can continue this type of production in 2012 and he may, like Curry, make his way up lists of top players to don the blue and gold.

5. Stephen Jackson

Years: 3+

Points per game: 19.2

Rebounds per game: 4.3

Assists per game: 4.4

It’s too bad that Stephen Jackson’s name will be forever attached to the Malice at the Palace because he was (and is) an excellent player.

But, I do believe it wasn’t in the Warriors best interest for Jackson to make a return to Golden State in the Monta Ellis trade—thankfully he ended up being traded nearly immediately (for Richard Jefferson).

That’s certainly not to say he didn’t make a significant contribution to the Warriors—especially in the “We Believe” run. His 33-point show in Game 6 clinched the series against the Mavs for the Dubs.

In the words of teammate Baron Davis: “He is the heart and soul of this team. He is a big-game performer.”

Enough said.

4. Jason Richardson

Years: 6

Points per game: 18.3

Rebounds per game: 5.4

Assists per game: 3.2

Let’s be real, you don’t remember J-Rich for his on-court performances. Well maybe aside from his nasty jams in those five-on-five opportunities, Richardson is famous for his incredible dunk contest shows.

If you need to be refreshed on how—with Vince Carter, of course—Richardson made the dunk contest relevant to the NBA again, look no further than this video.

His consistent effort in the regular season was hidden behind that between-the-legs reverse dunk.

3. Baron Davis

Years: 3+

Points per game: 20.0

Rebounds per game: 4.4

Assists per game: 8.1

Baron Davis was the Monta Ellis before Monta Ellis.

He would take shot after shot in transition but more often than not you had to keep your mouth shut because it went in.

Davis was another critical cog in the wheels that led the Warriors to their first playoff appearance in more than three decades.

If you get nothing else out of this list, check out the video. This dunk over Andrei Kirilenko never fails to give you chills, nostalgia and an uncanny desire to high-five the nearest Warrior fan.

2. Antawn Jamison

Years: 5

Points per game: 20.2

Rebounds per game: 7.5

Assists per game: 1.8

In the 2000-01 season, Antawn Jamison had his best season in Golden State, averaging 25 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. He played in all 82 regular season games for the Warriors from 2001 to 2003 and led the team in scoring each of those years.

Before being traded to Dallas, Jamison scored over 50 points per game on two separate occasions and provided something for Warriors fans to cheer for in years when they won as few as 17 games and never reached a .500 record.

1. Monta Ellis

Years: 7

Points per game: 19.5

Rebounds per game: 3.7

Assists per game: 4.5

Love him or hate him, there is no disputing his place atop this list.

Monta was a blur heading to the rim and a well above average, if not elite, scorer. He played some high-risk defense that often led to easy baskets for opposing offenses rather than transition baskets for the Warriors but Monta was the undeniable heart and soul for the Warriors from the conclusion of the 2007 season until being traded to the Bucks last season.

The peak of his time as a Warrior was back-to-back seasons as a 24 PPG scorer in 2009-10 and the following season.

Logging unparalleled 48-minute games across his tenure (which occasionally led to injuries), Monta was a warrior among Warriors.

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Predicting Warriors' Stat Leaders in 2012-2013

The Warriors have a very deep roster this season, so many players are going to have high averages. Who will lead the team in what though?

1. Points: Klay Thompson: This sharpshooter will end up averaging about 18-19 PPG. He's a pure shooter and scorer, and when he gets better at driving, he'll be a powerful force.
Runners Up: David Lee: If Lee doesn't get the ball as much because of other offensive weapons, he won't score over 20 PPG. He will, however score at least 16-17. Stephen Curry: Curry will averaged about 17.6 PPG, while occasionally leading the team and breaking out.

2. Assists: Jarrett Jack: I assume Jack is going to play with Curry on the floor. Jack will be the facilitator when Stephen Curry will go on a shooting frenzy and break out with Klay Thompson. Jack will average 6.5 assists.
Runner Up: Stephen Curry: Curry is a good passer, but he really shines when he's shooting the ball. This is why Jack will play PG, and Curry will play SG for some of the game.

3. Rebounds: Andrew Bogut: Bogut's interior defense, his offensive skill, and mainly his rebounding is why the Warriors traded for him. If he doesn't lead the team in rebounds, then he has to score twice as many points and increase his efficiency, which everyone knows is extremely hard.
Runners Up: David Lee: Lee isn't injury prone at all. He knows he can go hard and get those rebounds. He showed us last season with averaging 10 boards a game. Draymond Green: Green was known for his defensive presence and his rebounding skill. He was the all-time leader in rebounds at Michigan State.

4. Blocks: Festus Ezeli: Ezeli is a great interior defender. PG's and other players driving to the basket will be intimidated by his presence. Although he will come off the bench, he can still make an impact.
Runner Up: Andris Biedrins: I hate to say this, but the Warriors still need size on the floor. He's a veteran, and a shot-blocker. If Biedrins can contribute on the defensive end, that huge chunk of money the Dubs spent on him, won't all go to waste..

5. Steals: Harrison Barnes: Barnes has quick hands, and his ability to get into the passing lane amazes me. He will end up with a lot of fast breaks this season - hopefully he doesn't just shoot threes like Jason Terry would. Barnes is athletic and has quick hands.
Runner Up: Stephen Curry: Curry has proved to us that he has quick hands and can steal the ball. He sneaks up behind centers and swipes it. Every coach loves that.

6. Three Point %: Klay Thompson: Thompson lead all rookies last year shooting the ball from behind the arc at 41%. He's only going to get better. Thompson may earn himself a spot in the three point contest this year. I predict he will shoot the ball at about 44%.
Runner Up: Stephen Curry: Curry is a close second. He will shoot the ball at 42%. Usually, Steph doesn't have to worry about getting injured when shooting threes. He almost never gets blocked from behind the three point line: His release is that fast. As soon as the ball is in his hands, it's in the air.

7. Field Goal %: David Lee: As I said before, Lee rarely misses jumpshots. He drives to the basket and usually finishes. Lee will have a really high FG percentage this season. I predict he will shoot the ball at aroun 49%.
Runner Up: Kent Bazemore: As an undrafted rookie, unless feeling it, Bazemore will try to be conservative and efficient. He will help the Warriors by scoring about 5 or 6 points for the time that he's in. Unless he really impresses Marc Jackson, he won't play over 15 minutes. Consequently, he wont take more than 5 shots.

8. Free Throw %: Stephen Curry
Runner Up: What if I put Andris Biedrins? The Runner Up will most likely be Klay Thompson.

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Will Lee Have a Breakout Season?

Last season, by the end, Lee was the hardest worker, the toughest players, as arguably one of the top 5 PFs in the league. He played his greatest basketball, and he should have, as he has a huge contract.

Behind Kevin Love's average of a double double, Lee also had his own double double streak. Lee was the Warriors' only consistent rebounder and player: Literally every time he took a jumpshot, I knew it was going right in the bottom of the net. When he missed it was a surprise for me. Will Lee have a breakout season and deliver in the playoffs? Or will he live in the shadows of Curry and Bogut who are expected to take the team to the playoffs?

Lee and Bogut will create a good core in the front line with Harrison Barnes, but everyone is looking to Bogut. I expect Bogut to start out slowly ad smoothly, averaging 12 PPG and 10 Rebounds, while occasionally breaking
out. His averages will steadily increase.
I think Lee can have a better season than last year:

I expect him to average around 20.7 PPG, 10.3 Rebounds, and 4 Assists.
Curry is an unselfish PG, Lee is going to get the ball a lot.

Is this going to be a season, where Lee has to prove something to everyone? Comment Below.

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