Friday, March 1, 2013

My 10 Favorite Warriors Players (Version 1.5)

Surprise, surprise El Guapo is back with another post so soon.  I actually wasn't planning on writing anything for a while but my hand was pretty much forced.  See, this isn't really a new post.  If you've been keeping up with my blog you know I already wrote about my favorite players to ever play for the Warriors.  (Chances are you probably loved it.)  At the time that I wrote it I was completely satisfied with the list, but Wednesday night something profound happened.  Steph Curry went for 54 in Madison Square Garden hitting 11 three-pointers.  54.  Sure we lost but still Steph's amazing game shouldn't be taken lightly.  I'm sure a lot of people out there are thinking, "Wow, this guy wasn't an all star?"  And to be fair I looked back at one of my blog posts I wrote back in October before the season began and I realized that my blog wasn't doing Stephen Curry justice.  So I've returned to make things right and give you my latest version of my favorite Warriors list.

 

10. Mickael Pietrus (2003-2008)


Oh, Mickael, you lovable French bastard.  Always full of personality.  I remember when I first found out he was French the first thing that came to my mind was, "Why is he black then?"  I was so young and naive.  Anyway, this dude was a corner three specialist.  He played some defense and dunked it every now and then, but his spot was that corner.

9. Kelenna Azubuike (2007-2010)


The Warriors have had a habit of picking up players from the D-League.  All the time.  Some of them have worked out (e.g. Reggie Williams) and some haven't (e.g. Chris Hunter).  Kelenna definitely worked out for us.  He was never a star or anything like that but he was consistent.

8. Al Harrington (2007-2008)

 

I'm not super crazy about this guy, but without him the Warriors wouldn't have had that amazing We Believe season.  He came to us in a trade that shipped away Mike Dunleavy Jr. and Troy Murphy (Thank God!), hit a bunch of threes for us, then a year and a half later decided he wanted to leave.  Last time I checked he's playing for Orlando Magic and I saw him on Attack of the Show.  That's not too bad, I guess.


7. Andris Biedrins (2004-Present)


Honestly I want to put 2004-2009.  I don't know what the fuck this guy is doing with his life anymore.  I guess he just lost all confidence.  Either way for a good 5 year span he was a consistent double-double kind of guy.  At this point of his career though he's happy to get to touch the ball 2 times a game.


6. David Lee (2010-Present)


Not the most exciting player to watch but he puts up numbers.  He goes out there and gets those rebounds and finishes.  Pretty skilled big man, but I just wish he'd add some flare every now and then.  And if you've been keeping up with this blog you know how much I love flare.  This season he's been a walking 20-10 kind of guy.  He's proven to be one of the most dominant big men in the league.  (It's not like Andrew Bogut has gotten off his lazy ass to help David out either.)  To top it off he was selected to the All Star team this year becoming the first Warrior since Latrell Sprewell back in 1997.  He was this close to being moved up the list but I need a little something more from him.


5. Stephen Jackson (2007-2009)


Captain Jack!  You can't not love this guy and his fast break threes.  We got him in the same trade that got us Al Harrington and helped the Warriors in their playoff run.  This guy was dynamite in a Warriors' uniform.  The dude hit 7 threes in game 6 of the first round of the playoffs against the Mavs, who we beat, and he did that shit with flash.  Every now and then Nellie had him run the point, and every now and then he would deliver.  Sure you can complain that he was constantly getting hit with technicals, sure he thought he was better than what he actually was, sure he fired a gun outside a strip club and was involved in Malice in the Palace, and yes he did leave the Warriors on bad terms, but that's what made him such an exciting player.  Currently he's back with the Spurs AND he's a rapper.  Talk about moving up in life.  


4. Stephen Curry (2009-Present)


Young Steph Curry is a nice player indeed.  He has that range, he has those handles, and he can dish the ball too.  Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think he won the Skills Challenge during the All-Star break once.  (I just checked Wikipedia.  I'm right.)  I just love watching this guy play.  This will be his first full year without Monta Ellis so this is basically his team now.  Only problem is he has weak ankles.  Okay, let me start off by apologizing to Steph for putting him behind Captain Jack the first time around.  I still love Jack but I really fucked up.  Steph Curry has been playing like an All Star and yet he was still snubbed.  (Those bastards!)  Not only that, but he's been leading the Warriors to a winning season.  And then came the 54 point night.  That's some shit you get from franchise players and Curry is a franchise player.  I knew I had to move him up the list.  Considered putting him above Baron Davis but it was Baron who led us to that We Believe season. Steph hasn't led us to the playoffs...yet.  We'll see if I move him up when the season is over.


3. Baron Davis (2005-2008)


Baron.  After all these years I just want to say that I forgive you.  It took a while, but then I got to reminiscing about the good old days.  He was out there rocking the full beard before James Harden decided to do it.  At his peak with the Warriors I could say he was easily one of the top 5 point guards in the league. Easily.  He could do no wrong.  He had them handles, he threw those dimes, he had that flash and most of all he was clutch.  You might not know this, but they sometimes call me Crunch Time Guapo and everything I learned about being clutch I learned it from him.  This dude was fucking sick.  When he made those alley-oop connections with J-Rich it was like watching art.  And every now and then he would come in with that slam dunk.  He put the team on his back during the We Believe season, and for that I'm forever grateful.  Then, before the 08-09 season, Baron decided to leave the Warriors and join the Clippers.  Yes, the fucking Clippers.  And not the Black Griffin/Chris Paul-having Clippers, I'm talking about the Chris-Kaman-Is-The-Best-Player-They-Have Clippers.  But like I said, I have finally forgiven you.

2. Monta Ellis (2005-2012)


It was sad to see him go last season.  I basically watched him grow up on the basketball court.  His relationship with the Warriors was kind of like a roller coaster. He got that "Most Improved Player" during his second season, the same season we beat the Mavs, and I think we all knew he was going to be a really good player.  But then he decides to ride a moped and fucks up his ankle pretty badly.  (Dumbass!)  But the kid comes back right where he left off and better.  Even after the ankle injury this guy was one of the fastest players in the league.  He was a pure scorer.  If he only knows how to do one thing, it's putting the ball in the basket.  He's done amazing moves so effortlessly (with flare), where as when I attempt them I usually pull a hammy.  Yet every single year he was snubbed from the All-Star team.  Every single goddamn year!  (Seriously, how was Chris Kaman an all star guys?)  Hopefully he can get a spot now that he's in Milwaukee.

1. Jason Richardson (2001-2007)


J-Rich.  Probably the most exciting player to watch as a Warrior.  Back to back Slam Dunk Champion.  Even when I was a small lad I would watch the games just to see this guy dunk.  He doesn't do much of that now over in Philly, but in his prime this dude got up there.  And he wouldn't just settle for for a simple dunk.  J-Rich would say, "Not today!" and windmill that shit.  And if not he'd do a 360.  Why not?  J-Rich was the epitome of flare.  Then when Baron Davis came in J-Rich said, "Let's just alley-oop it every time."  Somewhere along the way he started hitting threes.  Now, that's all he does.  For me, Jason Richardson is by far the most memorable player to play for the Warriors.


Alright guys that's the end of the blog.  Yes, I copied and pasted most of it from my last blog but this was more of a bonus post than anything.  Consider it a gift.  Stay tuned for more original blog posts that are coming up soon.  Have a good night and stay Guapo.


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