By Geoff Lepper
48minutes.net

Your daily guided tour through the national and local media coverage of the always-entertaining Golden State Warriors.

WEB MEDIA

CSNBayArea.com (Matt Steinmetz): Singing the praises of the Ronny Turiaf-Andris Biedrins tandem: “The Warriors forced Boston into 26 turnovers, which led to 31 points, many of which were committed on the perimeter with Watson and Ellis hounding the Celtics guards.

Both Watson and Ellis said afterward that the return of the Warriors centers has allowed them to be more aggressive and to gamble more on the perimeter.”

Also: The Warriors should use the next month to give themselves a thorough self assessment.

P.S. I disagree with Matt’s take in one major way: I think Kelenna Azubuike is a big loss — arguably, bigger than Biedrins and Turiaf have been. He’s a smallball 4 who can shoot the 3 (in the manner of Matt Barnes or Mickael Pietrus, something this roster sorely lacks, especially with Nelson at the helm) and an above-average defender (at least when compared to the rest of this roster).

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DON NELSON

So the force was with us. . . . Let me put in a word for Monta, how well he’s playing and would like to somehow get him considered to be an All-Star this year. He’s playing as well as anybody in basketball right now and carrying a team every night, very difficult to do, and also has to guard tough opponents. So anyway, just a word there, if you would, please?

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By Geoff Lepper
48minutes.net

Your daily guided tour through the national and local media coverage of the always-entertaining Golden State Warriors.

PRINT MEDIA

Contra Costa Times (Marcus Thompson II): “(Don) Nelson said (Stephen) Curry is tougher on his post defense now, and he defends pick-and-rolls well. Perhaps his biggest asset is that he understands and executes the game plan, which sets him up to have the help he needs.”

I’ll admit, I’m not in the room for post-practice film sessions or present during the installation of game-by-game tweaks during morning shootarounds. And, indeed, much of playing perimeter defense in the NBA is simply a matter of guiding a player the direction you want him to go. Maybe Curry is grading out higher on these internal measuring sticks.

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By Geoff Lepper
48minutes.net

Some quick thoughts from watching the replay of the Warriors’ 132-127 win over Phoenix on Saturday:

** All hail the Warriors for breaking their seven-game losing streak, but let’s not lose sight of how bad the defense was: Golden State allowed a team on the second half of a back-to-back to put up a ridiculous eFG% of 61.4. On the season, the Warriors are back to being dead last in eFG% allowed at 53.0.

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By Geoff Lepper
48minutes.net

Your daily guided tour through the national and local media coverage of the always-entertaining Golden State Warriors.

PRINT MEDIA

San Francisco Chronicle (Bruce Jenkins): Bruce hits leadoff for the second straight day by coming with the splash of cold water for Warrior fans: Golden State has been passed up by not only Oklahoma City, but also Sacramento and Memphis.

I’m not sure I agree, over the long-term, with the last two picks — Sacramento “has moxie”? What is this, the Girl Scouts? And of course Mike Conley is ascending; he can’t possibly go any lower — but it’s certainly not out of the realm of possibility.

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