Murphleavy Redux

Golden State Warriors Redux

Having abandoned the Griffin Lives! Dynasty, I wanted to start again with something fresh. My first attempt to start fresh ended when the program would crash after five seasons. With that in mind, I took out all of the patches that had been keeping my rosters up to date and was left with the 2006-2007 Warriors, pre-Monta's ascent. What I was left with was the Murphleavy era. For those of you unfamiliar with the Warriors suffering, the Warriors grossly overpaid two serviceable forwards, thus vilifying them and leading the team into a financial swamp. Though the content may be slow to get here, my basic premise is that the "We Believe" season never happened, and the Warriors are still on the outside of the playoffs, looking in. Until rookies start coming along, I will only play games against the Dallas Mavericks (a team Warriors fans love to hate, as much as Dirk seems like a great guy) or games in the playoffs.
Game: NBA Live 07 (PC)

Difficulty Superstar

Sim Quarters 12 minutes

Player Controlled Quarters 12 minutes

Input : Custom keyboard settings.


That being said, enter Murphleavy Redux!


The Starters
Adonal Foyle - C - Canouan, St. Vincent 6-10 265
NBA Experience: Golden State Warriors (9 years)
Pre-NBA Experience: Colgate University

Troy Murphy - PF/C - Morristown, New Jersey 6-11 245
NBA Experience: Golden State Warriors (5 years)
Pre-NBA Experience: Notre Dame University


Michael “Mike” Dunleavy, Jr. -SF- Fort Worth, Texas 6-9 230
NBA Experience: Golden State Warriors (4 years)
Pre-NBA Experience: Duke University

Jason Richardson -SG- Flint, Michigan 6-5 210
NBA Experience: Golden State Warriors (5 years)
Pre-NBA Experience: Michigan State University

Baron Davis - PG- Los Angeles, California 6-3 215
NBA Experience: Charlotte / New Orleans Hornets (6 seasons), Golden State Warriors (1 season)
Pre-NBA Experience: University of California at Los Angeles


The Bench
Andris Biedrins - PF/C - Riga, Latvia 6-11 240
NBA Experience: Golden State Warriors (2 years)
Pre-NBA Experience: BK Skonto Riga (Latvia)

Patrick O’Bryant - C - Oskaloosa, Iowa 7-0 250
NBA Experience: Rookie year
Pre-NBA Experience: Bradley University


Zarko Cabarkapa - SF/PF - Zrenjanin, Serbia 6-11 235
NBA Experience: Golden State Warriors (1 year); Phoenix Suns (2 years)
Pre-NBA Experience: Beopetrol Belgrade (3 years); Budo_nost Podgorica (2 years)

Ikechukwu “Ike” Diogu - PF- Buffalo, New York 6-9 250
NBA Experience: Golden State Warriors (1 year)
Pre-NBA Experience: Arizona State University

Chris Taft - PF- Brooklyn, New York 6-10 261
NBA Experience: Golden State Warriors (1 year)
Pre-NBA Experience: University of Pittsburgh

Mickaël Piétrus -SG/SF- Les Abymes, Guadaloupe 6-6 215
NBA Experience: Golden State Warriors (3 years)
Pre-NBA Experience: Élan Béarnais Pau-Orthez (4 years)

Devin Brown -SG/SF- Salt Lake City, Utah 6-5 210
NBA Experience: San Antonio Spurs (3 years), Fayetteville Patriots (D-League, 1 year), Denver Nuggets (1 year), Utah Jazz (1 year)
Pre-NBA Experience: University of Texas – San Antonio; Kansas City Cagerz (USBL, 1 year)

Andre Owens -PG/SG- Indianapolis, Indiana 6-4
NBA Experience: Utah Jazz (1 year)
Pre-NBA Experience: Indiana University; University of Houston

Monta Ellis -PG/SG- Jackson, Mississippi 6-3 180
NBA Experience: Golden State Warriors (1 year)
Pre-NBA Experience: Lanier High School (Jackson, Mississippi)

Keith McLeod - PG/SG - Canton, Ohio 6-2 188
NBA Experience: Minnesota Timberwolves (1 year), Utah Jazz (2 years)
Pre-NBA Experience: Saint Joseph Express (USBL, 1 year), Basket Livorno (Italian Lega A, 1 year), Yakima Sun Kings (CBA, 1 year), Lottomatica Virtus Roma (1 year)

The Coach
Don Nelson, 1st year in his second stint with the Warriors.

Last edited by Hg8Harrier on Wed Sep 22, 2010 2:24 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Monta Ellis Waived
October 30, 2006
OAKLAND – Little-used guard Monta Ellis was waived today after failing to rehabilitate from a late-season knee injury. Ellis’s waiver will allow him to sign on with another team.

[NOTE: At the start of this franchise, Ellis was ranked a 61, as consistent with his performance at the end of his rookie year.]

Warriors Get Brazilian Big Man to help with Paint.
October 31, 2006
OAKLAND—To open the 2006 – 2007 season, the Warriors announced a potentially franchise changing trade. The Warriors acquired under-performing post player Nenê, a 6-11 power player from São Carlos, Brazil. In four seasons, Nenê has missed 115 games, including 81 last year due to a torn ACL, a sprained MCL, and a torn meniscus. Despite this, Nenê came into the Nuggets camp in the best shape of his young career.

“We are looking primarily for someone to start the break,” Warriors coach Don Nelson said, “what we got is a hustler and a person who isn’t afraid to bang down low. We’ll platoon him with Andris and see who wants it more. Eventually, if one of them improves on offense, we might see what they can do together. However, right now it looks like we’ll start the season with either Biedrins or Nenê at center and Murphy at the four. Murphy is a little out of shape, but he’ll hustle for me as long as he knows that everyone will be getting their shots.”

The primary piece for the Nuggets in this trade is Patrick O’Bryant, who has long been coveted for his feathery touch and his solid fundamentals.

“O’Bryant has a lot of tools,” assistant coach Keith Smart said, “but he still needs to put it all together. If he does, then Denver really gets a complementary player for Carmelo Anthony. I think Denver’s real motivation is that he is low risk. He’s still a rookie and will be on his rookie salary for four years.”

To complete the trade, the Warriors also sent Keith McLeod, and Devin Brown to the Nuggets. The Nuggets also sent second-year player Linas Kleiza to the Warriors for cap purposes. Kleiza, a classic tweener, will be stuck among a number of giants during the 2006-2007 season. Nenê will share time with Andris Biedrins and Adonal Foyle in his first season.


“Of course we’ll give Kleiza a look,” Nelson said, “We wouldn’t have taken him if we didn’t want him, you dumb bastard. We know he can shoot, so we’ll have to figure out what else he can do for us.”

The New Imports

Maybyner “Nenê” Hilario - PF/C - São Carlos, Brazil 6-11 250
NBA Experience: Denver Nuggets (4 years)
Pre-NBA Experience: Vasco da Gama (Brazil)

Linas Kleiza - SF/PF - Kaunas, Lithuania 6-8 245
NBA Experience: Denver Nuggets (1 year)
Pre-NBA Experience: University of Missouri

Last edited by Hg8Harrier on Thu Sep 23, 2010 12:59 am, edited 1 time in total.

Warriors Acquire Skita
November 1, 2006
OAKLAND-The Warriors announced today that they have reacquired Nikoloz Tskitishvili. The 7-foot Georgian forward has been working hard to improve his defensive skills, and the Warriors recognize his continued effort. “Skita” was signed for five years at a rate of 4.5 million per year.

“I’ve done more with less,” Nelson said, “the thing that strikes me about Tskitishvili is that he is willing to work on his game.”

With the move, Nelson is hoping to strike the same vein of gold that he struck with fellow European big man Dirk Nowitzki. Nowitzki, it should be known, was an all-star at this same point in his career.

“We don’t expect Skita to be an all-star for us,” President Robert Rowell said. “I think Nellie is going to attempt his own walking great wall. There is a giant in this coming year’s draft. I’d be lying if I said that we’ve invested any time in scouting him.

The Warriors begin their season today against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Nikoloz Tskitishvili -SF/PF- Tbilisi, Georgia 7-0 245
NBA Experience: Denver Nuggets (3 years), Minnesota Timberwolves (1 year), Golden State Warriors (1 year)
Pre-NBA Experience: KK Slovan (2 years), Benetton Treviso (1 year)

Why you waive Ellis.....

Why you waive Ellis.....

I waived Ellis because he is a 61, and I intend to focus more energy on developing the big men (Nene, Biedrins, Skita, and Ike). Nothing against the guy. If I was using a more modern roster patch, I would keep him, but oh well..

Opening Week (All Games Simulated):

Lakers 101, at Golden State 89
Baron Davis matched Kobe point for point, 26-to-26, and racked up 13 assists, but the Warriors fell behind early and never recovered.

Portland 92, at Golden State 83
Brandon Roy scored twenty, LaMarcus Aldridge added 18 and the rookies crushed the elderly Warriors. Troy Murphy led the Warriors with sixteen.

Utah 109, Golden State 68
in Salt Lake City
Andre Kirilenko scored twenty points, gobbled up sixteen rebounds, and really didn't need to play nearly the whole game (44 minutes) as the Jazz dashed the Warriors. Nene led all Warriors in scoring with twelve.

Also in the news

Charlotte signs Al Harrington to a contract worth 5 years at 6.25 million per year.

Scouting:
Identified Weaknesses: Forwards; Back-up point guard
Jonathan dos Santos reports on the first round of players scouted.

Edward Kaminski (Predicted 2nd overall) 6'7" 232 lbs Poland
Strongest Point: Three-pointer
Weakest Point: Quickness
Potential: Average

Erick Hank (Predicted Top Ten) 5'10" 203 lbs Maryland
Strongest Point: Quickness
Weakest Point: Inside Scoring
Potential: Average

Harry Perriera (Predicted Top Ten) 6'7" 222 lbs Bethune-Cookman
Strongest Point: Durability (fatigue)
Weakest Point: Free Throws
Potential: Excellent

Blaise Wood (Predicted Top Twenty) 6'6" 242 lbs Temple
Strongest Point: Passing
Weakest Point: Shot blocking
Potential: Limited

David Carmona (Predicted Top Twenty) 6'7" 202 lbs Syracuse
Strongest Point: Shot blocking
Weakest Point: Three-pointers
Potential: Good

You have J-Rich!

From now on you should win every game this season.

You have J-Rich!

From now on you should win every game this season.

Yes, I am excited to have the real thunder still by the bay.

Nowitzki’s forty too much for Warriors
DALLAS – Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks walloped the new look Warriors in the first meeting of the two in the season. The big German scored twenty points in the final quarter to help his team pull away from the reeling Warriors. Dallas’s 120-to-97 demolition of the Warriors was nearly complete at the beginning of the fourth quarter. However, to add insult to injury, the Mavericks pulled away despite a thirty-five point fourth quarter by the Warriors.

“Coach Johnson knows Nelson’s defensive schemes,” Nowitzki said, “as long as we kept passing and shooting, all we had to do was worry about finding the right person in the corner.”

Nowitzki did it all, from the post and from the three-point line, despite the platoon of Warriors big men thrown his way. In the fourth quarter alone, six players 6-foot-9 and above took turns guarding the big Bavarian.

The drubbing came despite a surprising game from veteran center Adonal Foyle, who scored ten of the Warriors last twenty points.

“Baron and I were connecting for a lot of shots,” Foyle said, “there is some satisfaction that comes from knowing I was doing it all against my good friend Erick [Dampier] because we spent a lot of time going one-on-one when he was with the Warriors.”

a surprising game from veteran center Adonal Foyle, who scored ten of the Warriors last twenty points.

“Baron and I were connecting for a lot of shots,” Foyle said

gonna be a looong season if wins are in the (small) hands of Foyle as your go-to-guy!

true story: was at a Barnes & Noble (or was it Border's? forget which) bookstore in Union City of all places; i see this huge white mass in my peripheral vision off to the right and turn to see Adonal walking casually in the isle wearing a white Miami Vice-ish blazer, neutral grey/pink-ish t-shirt, matching white slacks rolled up a few cuffs and some dressy sandals; i knew it was him because another guy and his girlfriend recognized him and got an autograph; nobody else talked to him after that and he parked it on a stool in the inspiration/self-help section browsing books no more than 10 yards away; i kept whispering to my friend (a non-sports-following female) who it was but she didn't care; was right around GS losing Arenas to Washington now i think about it, as i was searching for something to strike a conversation after making eye contact with Foyle once (probably wondering what the hell i was whispering about lol); never did talk to him and just left after a while but remember my lasting impression was, "that is one BIG ASS dude up close in real life; Shaq must be HUUUGE!"

gonna be a looong season if wins are in the (small) hands of Foyle as your go-to-guy!

true story: was at a Barnes & Noble (or was it Border's? forget which) bookstore in Union City of all places; i see this huge white mass in my peripheral vision off to the right and turn to see Adonal walking casually in the isle

After copying down my notes to the computer, you'll see that I am in for a loooong season. It's not looking good. Completely OT, but why is it that the big guys like that dress to stand out? I saw Patrick O'Bryant at a college graduation, and aside from being way taller than everyone there (and about as wide as a doorway) he was also wearing a shirt that really made him stand out. Not quite Miami Vice, but the same kind of garishness.

Okay, on to the Franchise:

Golden State 101 , New Orleans 97
NEW ORLEANS--Despite 27 from Peja Stojakovic, the Warriors (1-and-4) get their first win of the season, coincidentally on the road. Troy Murphy led the charge with twenty points.

Golden State 104, New Orleans 90
OAKLAND--Jason Richardson scored 36 points as Golden State defeated New Orleans. Chris Paul had a big game with 19 points, ten assists, and five steals.

Golden State 90, Detroit 86
OAKLAND--Baron Davis outplayed Chauncey Billups (19 points to 17), as the Warriors (3-and-4) approach .500.

Toronto 98, Golden State 87
OAKLAND--Surprising Toronto (5-and-1) pummeled the Warriors (3-and-5). Chris Bosh led the way with 34 points. Mike Dunleavy tallied 26 in defeat.

Golden State 110, Sacramento 104 [img]http://211.75.117.72/球隊logo/2007103015511867138087_170px-Sacramento_Kings.png[/img]
OAKLAND--The Warriors got 27 points from Baron Davis and 20 from Mike Dunleavy as they hit 110 for the first time all season and defeat the in-state rival Kings. Shareef Abdur-Rahim scored 24 points for the Kings as NBA Live 07 missed the memo that Reef’s career was pretty much over at this point.

Seattle 91, Golden State 80
OAKLAND--One step forward, one step back. A game after posting their season high, the Warriors (4-and-6) post their second lowest point total of the season (to date). Adonal Foyle and Jason Richardson were the high point men with fourteen each. Seattle’s Rashard Lewis scored 25 points to lead the Sonics, while Ray Allen tallied 19.

Phoenix 117, Golden State 113
OAKLAND—As the Warriors prove that winning at home is not a given, their scores have vacillated all over the place. In their latest loss, the Warriors (4-and-7, 3-and-5 at home) saw thirty from Shawn Marion and another twenty-four from Steve Nash, as the Suns cruised past the Warriors. Baron Davis was the high point man for the game with thirty-six, while Jason Richardson registered twenty-two.

Denver 96, Golden State 92
OAKLAND—‘Melo and the Nuggets demolished Golden State, owners of a three game home losing streak. Carmelo Anthony had 27, while Patrick O’Bryant (DEN) outscored Nene (GSW), 14-to-10 in the first match-up between the two since they were swapped. Devin Brown, the other big piece in the trade, scored six points.

Denver 104, Golden State 100
DENVER—Hate when you watch a simulated game go from a surprising win to a ridiculous comeback over the course of a few seconds? Denver scored 30 to Golden State’s fourteen in the fourth quarter, and then outscored the Warriors 10-to-6 in overtime to sink the Warriors (4-and-9) and send them to their fourth straight loss. The loss gives them their second four game losing streak of the young year. Baron Davis scored twenty points for the Warriors, while Kenyon Martin scored twenty for the Nuggets, who saw six players score in double figures. In this game, Patrick O’Bryant and Nene were evenly matched, with eight apiece.

Utah 84, Golden State 80
OAKLAND—Different venue, same result. Just weeks after blowing out the Warriors in Salt Lake City, the Utah Jazz steal one in Oakland. Mehmet Okur scored twenty-five and Andrei Kirilenko had a double double with seventeen points and seventeen rebounds as the Warriors were generally outplayed in all facets of the game.

Golden State 92, San Antonio 87
OAKLAND—The Warriors felled the Spurs in a big upset to help right the Warriors’ ship. Baron Davis scored thirty, Troy Murphy and Nene both posted double doubles (17-and-10, 10-and-10 respectively) and the Warriors overcame a pair of nineteens from Tony Parker and Tim Duncan. The Warriors improved their record to 5-and-10 and snapped a five game losing streak.

Indiana 96, Golden State 90
OAKLAND—The Pacers beat the Warriors at two key positions, center and point guard, as Jermaine O’Neal (27 points) and Jamaal Tinsley (25 points) combined for 52. Troy Murphy led the Warriors with 22, while Jason Richardson scored 18.

The Warriors end November with a record of 5-and-11, in fourth place in the Pacific Division, just ahead of the Clippers (4-and-10), and right behind the Lakers (5-and-10).

Player of the Month Awards
Western Conference: Amare Stoudemire 27.2 points, 10.1 rebounds, 2.45 blocks, 1.57 steals
Eastern Conference: Chris Bosh, 27.4 points, 12.4 rebounds, 2.00 blocks, 1.40 steals

Rookie of the Month Awards
Western Conference: Rashad McCants 20.0 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists, .10 blocks, 1.22 steals
Eastern Conference: Adam Morrison 17.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists, .43 blocks, .85 steals

NBA News
The New Jersey Nets trade G/F Richard Jefferson to the Portland Trailblazers. In return the Nets get F Zach Randolph .

The Milwaukee Bucks trade C Dan Gadzuric to the Seattle Sonics. In return the Bucks receive C Mohammed Saer Sene

MVP Candidates
Chris Bosh 27.4 points, 12.4 rebounds, 2.00 blocks, 1.40 steals
Amare Stoudemire 27.2 points, 10.1 rebounds, 2.45 blocks, 1.57 steals
Dirk Nowitzki 26.8 points, 9.7 rebounds
Dwayne Wade 26 points, 5.6 assists
Allen Iverson 25 points, 6.8 assists (tied for second in the league)

December 2006 Recap

Milwaukee 99, Golden State 91
OAKLAND – December began on a high note for the Warriors as Mike Dunleavy played the hero in a balanced attack. Mike Dunleavy, Jr. scored twenty points, while Baron Davis and Jason Richardson scored sixteen apiece to lead the Warriors. Michael Redd scored 29 points and David Noel scored twenty to counter the Warriors.

San Antonio 94, Golden State 89
SAN ANTONIO – Tony Parker scored thirty, and Manu Ginobili tallied twenty-six as the Spurs overcame a poor shooting night from Tim Duncan, whose 8 points came on 4-of-18 shooting. [Side note: What the hell? The Big Fundamental shoots 56% in this franchise. What gives?] Troy Murphy had the hot hand with 23, while Baron Davis added 21 and eight assists.

Houston 100, Golden State 73
HOUSTON – The second step in this Texas Two-Step was a misstep, as the Warriors got blanked by the Rockets. Yao’s 30 points and 14 rebounds led the way against the hapless Warriors, while Tracy McGrady (yeah, remember him?) scored 24 points, matching the high point total for the Warriors: Baron Davis’s 24 on 10-of-23 shooting. Andre Owens was the only other Warrior in double figures with ten.

With the loss, the Warriors dropped to 6-and-13

New Orleans 89, Golden State 86
OAKLAND—The Warriors were in for a rude homecoming as they lost to the Hornets in Oakland. Chris Paul scored twenty for the Hornets, who also saw 18 from Peja Stojakovic. The Warriors were led in defeat by Jason Richardson’s 22. The Warriors led 73-67 after three.

[Side Note: Looks like I could use some players with some clutch ratings!

Golden State 99, Seattle 89
SEATTLE – The Northwest has never been particularly friendly to the Warriors. Thank NBA Live for its scheduling AI as Golden State silenced the Sonics in Seattle. Baron Davis scored 26, Jason Richardson scored 18, and the Warriors held on to a halftime lead.

[img]h%20t%20t%20p%20:%20/%20/%202%201%201%20.%207%205%20.%201%201%207%20.%207%202%20/t%20ñä%20l%20o%20g%20o%20/%202%200%200%207%201%200%203%200%201%205%205%201%201%208%206%207%201%203%208%200%208%207%20_%201%207%200%20p%20x%20-%20S%20a%20c%20r%20a%20m%20e%20n%20t%20o%20_%20K%20i%20n%20g%20s%20.%20p%20n%20g[/img]Golden State 105, Sacramento 97
OAKLAND – The Warriors outplayed the Kings in the most ridiculous of fashions. Nothing like a return home to fight against Sacramento as the cure for what ails ye! Ron Artest and Brad Miller were outplayed by their Warriors counterparts, Mike Dunleavy and Nene, respectively, to bring the Warriors one step closer to relevancy. For the record, Mike Dunleavy beat Ron Artest, 24-to-18, and Nene beat Brad Miller, 20-to-13. It was Nene’s first game of note in a while.

Golden State 109, Houston 104
OAKLAND – In typical Warriors fashion, a week after being all but decapitated by the Houston Rockets, the Warriors fought back to defeat the Houston Rockets. Jason Richardson’s 43 points led the way, and is the high point total for any Warrior this season. Yao Ming scored 36, but was held in check in terms of rebounding, finishing with eight.

With the win, the Warriors clawed back to 9-and-14, crawling to within percentage points of .400.

Phoenix 89, Golden State 85
PHOENIX – Amare Stoudemire’s twenty-and-ten led the way for the Suns, whose twenty-six from Steve Nash was just icing on the cake. Even though Baron Davis managed to outpass Steve Nash 10-to-3, it is clear who the better team is.

Toronto 107, Golden State 93
TORONTO – Chris Bosh continued his dominance over the Warriors, scoring 34 points which brings his average for the year against the Warriors to… 34 points, as the Warriors fell to 9-and-16.

New Jersey 96, Golden State 89
EAST RUTHERFORD – Newly acquired Zach Randolph did what he normally does to Troy Murphy and the Warriors: make them want to cry. Mike Dunleavy’s 26 was negated by Zach Randolph’s 29, as the Warriors fell again, coming dangerously close to losing twenty games before they win their first ten.

Boston 84, Golden State 83
BOSTON – It was a tough game, with Golden State only trailing by three after three, but the moribund Celtics were just good enough to defeat the godless Golden State Warriors, 84-to-83. Paul Pierce had 36 for the Celtics. Baron Davis had 24 for the Warriors.

Orlando 100, Golden State 90
ORLANDO – Dwight Howard scored twenty and gathered fourteen boards, Hedo Turkoglu similarly had twenty points, and Jameer Nelson had eleven assists in the win. The Warriors bench corps, Mickael Pietrus (fourteen), Andris Biedrins (ten), and Adonal Foyle (ten) registered the only numbers that really jump out of the stat sheet.

Miami 113, Golden State 84
MIAMI – The dynamic duo of Flash and the Diesel combined for sixty points to help bury the Warriors. Dwayne Wade’s 38 and Shaquille O’Neal’s 22 and 12 were quite impressive. The Warriors leading scorer, Troy Murphy, also registered 22.

Golden State 100, Philadelphia 87
OAKLAND – The anemic Atlantic is the Warriors’ present to cap the holiday season. With Allan Iverson’s 14, and an alarming 25 from Chris Webber, Philadelphia didn’t have much of an answer for 35 from Baron Davis.

Golden State 102, Boston 83
OAKLAND – The Boston Celtics helped give the Warriors a bit of momentum going into 2007, as the Warriors easily overcame 17 points by Sebastian Telfair to notch their biggest win of the season. Jason Richardson’s twenty-two points led the scoring for the Warriors, who saw all five starters in double figures.

The Warriors, who have notched losses of 41 (at Utah), 29 (at Miami) and 27 (at Houston), have not won by twenty points this season. The win brings them to 11-and-20.

Sacramento 108, Golden State 105
SACRAMENTO – Ron Artest took the loss to the lowly Warriors personally. Sacramento, second to Phoenix in the Pacific, notched a close win over the Warriors. Artest’s 26 paced the Kings, while Baron Davis’ 21 led the Warriors.

The loss sinks the Warriors to 11-and-21 to ring in the New Year.

Player of the Month Awards
Western Conference: Dirk Nowitzki 27.0 points, 9.7 rebounds, 1.78 blocks, 1.08 steals
Eastern Conference: Chris Bosh, 27.2 points, 12.0 rebounds, 2.10 blocks, 1.44 steals

Rookie of the Month Awards
Western Conference: Brandon Roy 17.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists, .30 blocks, 1.04 steals
Eastern Conference: Adam Morrison 17.8 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists, .37 blocks, .90 steals

MVP Candidates
Chris Bosh 27.3 points, 12.2 rebounds, 2.06 blocks, 1.41 steals
Amare Stoudemire 26.2 points, 10.1 rebounds, 2.48 blocks, 1.53 steals
Dirk Nowitzki 26.9 points, 9.3 rebounds
Dwayne Wade 26.2 points, 5.6 assists
Allen Iverson 25 points, 6.8 assists (tied for second in the league)

Transaction Wire

The Detroit Pistons trade G Flip Murray to the Denver Nuggets for G/F Devin Brown.


The Detroit Pistons trade Jason Maxiell to Philadelphia for G Willie Green .

Nene Struggling in New Offense.

OAKLAND—Nene, a player of colossal strength and fan appeal, has shown that even his superhuman strength cannot lift him up as an elite point center, the position of choice for him in coach Don Nelson’s offensive schemes.

“Nene’s a big, and sometimes it takes big players a long time to learn how to play facing the basket,” Nelson said. “Nene shouldn’t be too concerned about his touches. He’s going to get 5-to-10 shots a game when he eventually settles into his position.”

Nene has struggled since coming over from the Nuggets. He currently holds averages of eight points and six rebounds per game. More importantly, his numbers are bound to suffer as Nelson unveiled his latest plans to bring Nene along in the offense.

“For the next few games,” Nelson said. “We’re going to have Murphy start at the five, and platoon Nene in with Biedrins to give us a different look. Nene can be our rebounder, while Biedrins works the high post and the point center. It’ll help for Nene to get a couple different looks, and Horse (Murphy) and Beans (Biedrins) are the best we’ve got at that role.

Nene has admitted that the change comes at the perfect time for him, as he may also sit a few games to nurse a nagging hamstring injury that has not healed as quickly as expected.

“Fitting in with a team is a lot like breaking in a new car. It takes a while to know how you’ll both perform,” the big Brazilian said.

The change also comes at a time when owner Chris Cohan has publicly expressed his distrust in the management staff. The Warriors will have a long ways to go if they want to rise up to be one of the elite teams in the West.

January 2007 Report

New Orleans 100, Golden State 93
NEW ORLEANS – Frustration and drama started the New Year, and ended another road game for the Warriors. Peja Stojakovic scored twenty-seven, and the Warriors shot merely 0-for-13 from the three point line as the Hornets downed the Warriors With new designated “Point Center” Troy Murphy on the bench, nursing an injured arm, the Warriors saw big minutes and big numbers from Andris Biedrins, whose fourteen rebounds and four blocked shots led both teams in both categories.

Troy Murphy will not miss any games, but will be hampered by his injury.

Golden State 104, Memphis 100
MEMPHIS—The Warriors added one in the win column and one in the loss column, as Warriors season leading scorer, Baron Davis, went down to injury late in the third quarter. Davis, who tacked on eighteen before going down with a leg injury, helped the Warriors win only the third of the past ten games, as the Warriors squeaked past Memphis, 104-to-100.

Jason Richardson had 27 for the Warriors. Mike Miller had 33 and Pau Gasol had 23 for the Grizzlies.

Seattle 103, Golden State 96
OAKLAND—Seattle is rarely the salve that heals all wounds, and this game was no exception. With Baron Davis sidelined for the next three weeks, Andre Owens got the start in his place. Owens was merely a side-note, as the real game was between forwards Mike Dunleavy (GSW, 28 points) and Rashard Lewis (SEA, 31 points).

Jason Richardson, the Warriors second leading scorer, was also outscored by his counterpart, as Ray Allen notched 24 to Jason Richardson’s 21. With the loss, the Warriors are now 12-and-23.

Phoenix 107, Golden State 98
PHOENIX – The tandem of Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire could have been playing with three players cut from O’Dowd’s JV team and still have come out on top. Nash had 34, Stoudemire had 27, and the Warriors defense looked overwhelmed as the Suns downed the Warriors, 107-to-98. Jason Richardson had 30 in defeat.

Golden State 92, Orlando 86
OAKLAND – Nene had twenty off of the bench as the Warriors post presence shocked Dwight Howard and the Magic. At times showing three players at-or-near seven feet at one time, the Warriors played match-up zone with Dwight Howard, who had 19 points, but shot 40%.

Miami 98, Golden State 90
OAKLAND – Dwayne Wade’s forty was all that needs to be written about this game, as the Heat cruised past the Warriors, sending their record to 13-and-25.

Golden State 102, Los Angeles Clippers 87
OAKLAND – Golden State’s backcourt had fifty points (Jason Richardson had 36 and Andre Owens scored fourteen points), and the Warriors overcame 35 points and a 14-of-14 free-throwing night by Corey Maggette to win one at home. The Warriors home record now stands at 11-and-11, or .500, for the season.

Golden State 99, Los Angeles Clippers 89
LOS ANGELES – Same two teams, different arena, same result. Dunleavy’s 27 led the Warriors, Brand’s 33 led the Clippers. Brand also had five blocks in defeat.

Golden State 90, Cleveland 87
OAKLAND – King James and the Cavaliers came to town. With big man Zydrunas Ilgauskas missing in action, the Warriors tandem of Troy Murphy and Nene scored eighteen points apiece to lead Golden State past Cleveland. Mickael Pietrus, getting the nod over Dunleavy for the start, could not hold LeBron James in check, as LeBron’s 34 doubled his season average!

Los Angeles Lakers 114, Golden State 104.
LOS ANGELES – The Lakers put a stop to the Warriors three-game winning streak, and the supporting cast catapulted Kobe Bryant and his team past the Warriors at Staples Center. Lamar Odom had 30, Kwame Brown had 20, and Derek Fisher had 17 to lead the way for the Lakers. Kobe’s 14 and 8 assists were also worth mention. The Warriors leading scorer, Mike Dunleavy, had 28.

Golden State 103, New Jersey 100
OAKLAND – Vince Carter had 22, and Jason Kidd was one assist shy of a triple double, but the Warriors six scorers in double figures helped perplex the Nets. The Warriors have won four-of-five to move to 17-and-26.

Golden State 115, Charlotte 87
OAKLAND – The Warriors finally got that twenty-point win, using forty in the first period to put the game away early. Jason Richardson’s thirty points led the way, and trumped Charlotte rookie Adam Morrison’s 23.

Cleveland 90, Golden State 79
CLEVELAND – The Cavaliers struck back after a poor showing in Oakland. Zydrunas Ilgauskas and LeBron James combined for fifty-five (27 and 28, respectively) and the Warriors saw twenty from Nene as the Cavaliers cruised.

Atlanta 92, Golden State 86
ATLANTA – A narrow loss at Atlanta closes out the month with the harbinger of good news on the horizon. Joe Johnson and Josh Childress each scored 23 to counter the Murphleavy duo (Murphy 19, Dunleavy 17) as the Hawks scraped past the Warriors.

At the end of the game, it was announced that Baron Davis would be joining the Warriors for their next game, on the road at Philadelphia.

Player of the Month
West – Jason Richardson 27.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 0.58 blocks, 2.24 steals
East – Shaquille O’Neal 25.0 points 10.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 2.40 blocks, 2.00 steal

Rookies of the Month
West – Rudy Gay, 11.4 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists
East – Adam Morrison, 18.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.2 assists

MVP Candidates
Chris Bosh 27.5 points, 12.3 rebounds, 2.08 blocks, 1.36 steals
Amare Stoudemire 26.0 points, 10.2 rebounds, 2.38 blocks, 1.38 steals
Dirk Nowitzki 27.2 points, 9.5 rebounds
Dwayne Wade 26.2 points, 5.6 assists

Kevin Garnett 21.1 points, 12.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 2.29 blocks, 2.20 steals

February 2007, Part One

Philadelphia 100, Golden State 80
PHILADELPHIA – The Sixers got a big game from Chris Webber, who posted 27 points and 14 rebounds on the Warriors’ Troy Murphy. Allen Iverson added twenty, and Samuel Dalembert had five blocks as the Sixers cruised in Philadelphia. Baron Davis, in his first game back from injury, also posted twenty to go with seven assists, while Mike Dunleavy’s 22 led the Warriors in scoring.

Golden State 104, Charlotte 92
CHARLOTTE – The Warriors swept the series from the Charlotte Bobcats. Jason Richardson had 26 and Mike Dunleavy had 14 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Warriors. Adam Morrison’s 27 led all scorers, but his Bobcats fell at home.

Golden State 103, Indiana 87
INDIANAPOLIS – The Warriors’ backcourt of Jason Richardson and Baron Davis thrashed the Pacers. Baron Davis’s 36 points capped off a near triple double, as his eight rebounds and eight assists filled the stat sheet. Jason Richardson’s 22 were also more than Indiana could handle.

[img] http://l.yimg.com/a/i/us/sp/v/nba/playe ... 4J2TtP3A--[//img]Pacers guard Jamaal Tinsley led the scoring charge for Indiana, with eighteen points. Brad Miller had sixteen and eleven rebounds. With the win, the Warriors are 20-and-29.

Golden State 100, Minnesota 90
MINNEAPOLIS – While the Warriors silenced Kevin Garnett, whose 9 points and 14 rebounds reflect perhaps his worst ever performance against the club, they could do nothing more than outscore C Mark Blount. Blount had thirty and ten, but even his unusual posting was not enough for the Wolves to overcome a road-weary Warriors team. Baron Davis, who has the freshest legs on the team, scored thirty-two points, and racked up 13 assists—accounting for at least 58 of the Warriors 100 points—as the Warriors rolled early and survived a furious comeback by the Wolves.

Chicago 104, Golden State 101
OAKLAND – The first game back has always been a tough one for the Warriors. At least they kept this one close. Ben Gordon’s 27 and Kirk Hinrich’s 23 paced the Bulls, as they stole a win at Oracle Arena. The Warriors leading scorer, Baron Davis, scored 37, but his singularly dominant performance needed another player to score more than twenty in order to keep the Warriors in this one.

Golden State 90, Atlanta 87
OAKLAND – The crowd had more reason to cheer as the Warriors inched closer to .500 with a win over the hapless Hawks. Baron Davis, who led the Warriors again, posted 30 points to mark his fourth consecutive game of 30-plus points, and the Warriors defeat Joe Johnson and the Hawks. Joe Johnson’s 24 paced the Hawks, who also saw 19 from Josh Smith.

Before the game, it was announced that Baron Davis will play in this year’s All-Star game [Similarly simulated], while Jason Richardson would compete in the Sprite Rising Stars Slam Dunk Competition. For the Hawks, Josh Smith will compete in the Slam Dunk contest, while Joe Johnson will represent the Hawks in the 3 point contest.

The Warriors have two more games leading into the All-Star break.

Trade News
The rumor mill has announced that Chicago is rumored to be trading Luol Deng. Don Nelson, who has long coveted Luol Deng based on his athleticism and his ability to play four positions, is actively seeking the right package to send to the Bulls.

Golden State 113, Denver 110 {OT}
DENVER – On the night that Baron Davis’s thirty-plus streak ended, Golden State erupted for its most meaningful road win of the year, bouncing the Nuggets in Denver in OT. Jason Richardson (24), Troy Murphy (21) and Mickael Pietrus (20) all scored twenty points, Nene (8 points, 17 rebounds) was a force on the boards, and Baron Davis orchestrated a brilliant win to shock the Nuggets.

The game also saw Carmelo Anthony score 49 points in defeat. The big win for the Warriors comes in a timely fashion, as the Warriors seek to become relevant in the playoff picture.

Golden State 110, New York 103
OAKLAND – The Warriors’s team chemistry is riding high, thanks to Assistant Head Coach Martin Gorman, and it shows. The Warriors saw Mike Dunleavy erupt for 36, Jason Richardson pace the team with 24, and the Warriors win three in a row going into the All-Star break. Their win comes from what reality might know as the Ghosts of Bad Trades Past, with Eddy Curry (27 points and 14 boards), Steve Francis (28 points) and Stephon Marbury (17 points and 11 assists) putting up one hell of a display.

The All-Star Players (but no recaps) and the results of my attempts to get Luol Deng in the next installment. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you… might remember a time when some of these players were good.

Rookie Game


Sophomores
Andrew Bogut – In his second year, Bogut is averaging a respectable 12 points and 8 rebounds per game. The Bucks have recently acquired Ray Allen, so he’s the starting center on a likely-playoff team.
Marvin Williams – Averaging a middling 11 points per game and 4 rebounds. Live 2007 seriously underestimated the star power of Marvin Williams and Josh Smith, who is similarly middling, each of them averaging starters’ minutes.
Hakim Warrick – Warrick is averaging eight points per game, and four rebounds for the Grizzlies. Let’s face it, this was a weak draft for guys over 6’7”.
Rashad McCants – Averaging a surprising eighteen points per game. The Timberwolves are moribund, but what else is new?
Deron Williams – Averaging fifteen points per game and a healthy five assists for the Jazz. If only the Jazz weren’t in the cellar in the West.
Chris Paul – averaging sixteen points and four assists at the All-Star break. The Hornets aren’t winning, but I bet they would if he was getting the numbers he earned in real life in 2006-2007.
Channing Frye – 15 points and 6 rebounds for the Knicks? Wow, I’m sure they would’ve kept him if he was regularly putting up those numbers.
Charlie Villanueva – In the trade of all trades, the Bucks got rid of Villanueva and received Ray Allen from Seattle in return. He’s averaging 11 points per game, while Ray Allen is averaging All-Star numbers.
Julius Hodge – Hodge is averaging a decent 5.5 points per game as what appears to be the sixth man for the Denver Nuggets.


Rookie Team
Patrick O’Bryant – traded to the Nuggets, O’Bryant is averaging 14.3 points and 10 rebounds. After looking at Nenê’s numbers, it looks like I made the wrong call here!
LaMarcus Aldridge – Zach Randolph was one of the first trades of the year, as New Jersey sent Richard Jefferson back in return. After being thrust from the bench to the limelight, Aldridge is averaging 16 points and 10 rebounds per game, Aldridge is making a case for Rookie of the Year.
Adam Morrison – The Bobcats’ rookie phenom is averaging 18 points per game and is giving the Bobcats an outside chance at the playoffs.
Brandon Roy – Brandon Roy is averaging fifteen points per game for the Trailblazers. I’m surprised that there are two starters from the Blazers when they are on pace to win about twelve games.
Randy Foye – If only the Timberwolves got these stats out of their backcourt at this point. Foye is averaging a respectable 15 points, five boards, and five assists as the lead guard for the Wolves. 33 points from Foye and McCants on a nightly basis? I’d take that!
Andrea Bargnani – averaging ten points per game for the Raptors as a center. However, his four rebounds per game are quite pathetic. Good thing Bosh is having a monster year.
Tyrus Thomas – Eight points and eight rebounds would have been enough to keep Tyrus Thomas in Chicago in real life. However, his rebounding numbers never approached this in real life.
Rodney Carney – Considering how little burn the bench gets in NBA Live, five points per game is a fairly healthy total. He’s sitting behind Andre Iguodala, who’s averaging a respectable fifteen points per game, on a team that is leading the East, and has Allen Iverson and Chris Webber coexisting and healthy. Wow, so much for realism!


All Star Game
Western Conference
Starters
Yao Ming – The Chinese giant is averaging 22 and 10 for a play-off bound team. The Texas big-three are alive and well.
Kevin Garnett – KG is averaging nearly twenty and nearly thirteen. How on earth is his team so bad?
Andrei Kirilenko – AK47 is a defensive beast.
Kobe Bryant – Kobe’s numbers are down from real life, but his team is in the hunt for the playoffs. Amazing to think that this team is the team without Pau and Artest, and before Bynum became hot sh*t.
Baron Davis – Boom-Dizzle is averaging solid numbers. Over twenty-two points per game and near the top of the leaderboard in assists.

Bench
Shawn Marion – Marion is in the driver’s seat as Phoenix is the hottest team in the league.
Tracy McGrady – T-Mac gives the Rockets two twenty points per game scorers. This is certainly odd in the NBA Live world.
Tim Duncan Duncan averaging a respectable 20 and 10, again.
Richard Jefferson – It’s strange, and strangely appropriate to see RJ in a Blazers’ uniform. He’s averaging close to twenty points per game.
Dirk Nowitzki – Second in the league in scoring to Chris Bosh (27.1 points per game) and he isn’t even a starter on the All-Star team?
Amare Stoudemire – second to Marion for Suns scoring, but on the winningest team in the league.
Jason Terry – Terry gives the Mavericks two 20 ppg scorers and the lead in the Texas trio

Eastern Conference
Starters
Shaquille O’Neal – Shaq is back, and the Heat are primed to win the East with forty wins to twelve losses.
Chris Bosh – Chris Bosh is leading the league in scoring at this point, but also is averaging a double-double.
LeBron James – James’ numbers are down from reality, but James has his Cavs in the hunt in the East with no discernable supporting cast. Go figure!
Dwayne Wade – Third in the scoring race, with 26.7 points per game. Wade and the Heat are on the short list atop the East.
Gilbert Arenas – Agent Zero is averaging a mild twenty points per game, good for the All-Star team, even though AI is averaging 24 and six, and is on the bench. Go Computer logic go!

Bench
Chris Webber – C-Webb is averaging eighteen points per game and the Sixers are in the playoffs. In contrast to reality, in which Webber had the most pronounced downturn of his career to that point. Webber has been injury free, to boot.
Jason Kidd – 17 and 8 and doubling up with Vince Carter to make the Nets… irrelevant.
Vince Carter – 20 points and… nothing else of statistical notoriety.
Allen Iverson – 24 points, six assists, and on the bench behind Gilbert Arenas. Well, at least the Sixers are securing a playoff spot. Wait… does any of this make sense?
Ray Allen – 21 points per game in a glut of twenty point per game scorers. Allen is a Buck again in the steal of the Century.
Dwight Howard – 18 and 12, and Orlando is not quite good enough for playoff contention.
Rasheed Wallace – The Pistons are in the hunt, but don’t figure to be contending for the crown.

Major Trades Going Into the Deadline!
As indicated above, All-Star Ray Allen, then of the Seattle Sonics, was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks for Charlie Villanueva.
Ray Allen
Charlie Villanueva

In a previously hinted trade, Luol Deng left the Chicago Bulls. In return, the Chicago Bulls get Dallas’s first-round draft pick from the Mavericks. The Mavericks are in a tight race with San Antonio and Cleveland for the second-best record in the league. This means that the Bulls are virtually guaranteed a pick between 27 and 29.