Warriors' Anthony Randolph Is Most Improved Player
April 22, 2010 - Warriors big man Anthony Randolph has been named the NBA's 2009-10 Most Improved Player award. Randolph, 20, has dramatically improved his numbers. In his rookie season last year, he put up 7.9 points, 5.8 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game. This year, he is averaging 16.8 points, 11.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists. Furthermore, his Warriors went from 29 wins last season to 47 this year.
The lanky seven-footer was dubbed as a major project going into the draft, but the Warriors scooped him up with the final lottery pick in 2008, and since earning his way into the rotation, he has been sensational. Warriors fans had high hopes for the forward, nicknamed "Meal Ticket", but he has exceeded all expectations, being the league's second leading rebounder, and finishing third in field goal percentage. Randolph is playing in what would be his Junior year of college had he entered the draft, and the sky seems to be the limit for the young man.
Randolph won the award nearly unanimously, earning 117 of the 122 first place votes. Celtics guard Rajon Rondo was a distant second, earning the other five first place nods. Portland forward Carl Landry came in third. Randolph will be presented with the award trophy tomorrow night before the Warriors play game three against the Kings in their conference quarterfinals series, which is tied at a game apiece.
he put up 7.9 points, 5.8 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game. This year, he is averaging 16.8 points, 11.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists. Furthermore, his Warriors went from 29 wins last season to 47 this year.
the sky seems to be the limit for the young man
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Randolph Scores 32 As Warriors Advance To Conference Semis
by Jim Fayer, Oakland Tribune
April 29, 2010 - It's time to believe again. Three years ago, the Warriors stole game one, then won out at home to advance to the second round, pulling off one of the biggest upsets in playoff history, knocking off the 67-15 Dallas Mavericks... as an 8 seed. Last night's 113-105 victory, while not quite a massive upset, makes this an exciting time for Bay Area hoops fans.
Sacramento and Golden State split the first two games at Arco, with the Warriors winning the first 94-89, and the Kings taking the second 113-92. When the series shifted to the Oracle, there was an absence of "We Believe" T-Shirts, but that didn't stop the Warriors. Fresh off accepting the Most Improved Player award, forward Anthony Randolph went off for 22 points and 17 boards, while holding opposing power forward Carlos Boozer to 13 and 11 en route to a 101-92 win.
An ensemble effort yielded their now legendary 130-125 double-OT game 4 win, despite Randolph fouling out. After the Kings took game 5 with a 113-99 home victory, the "Nellieballers", ran up the scoreboard in the rollercoaster game 6. The Kings seemed to have all the momentum, winning the first quarter 35-22, but the home team got its act together, narrowing the deficit to 56-52 by the half. A barrage of triples opened up a double digit lead for the Warriors in the third, and the Kings would never come within 5 points, as they were held off 113-105.
Anthony "Meal Ticket" Randolph averaged 21.3 points and 12.5 rebounds per game in the series on 57% shooting. Stephen Jackson and Steve Nash contributed 19 and 16 points per game respectively. Rookie Tyreke Evans posed match-up problems for Nelson's Warriors, leading the team with 20.5 points per game, and outshining fellow rookie Ricky Rubio. All-stars Carlos Boozer and Kevin Martin underwhelmed with 17.5 and 14.8 points per game respectively. ESPN statistician John Hollinger listed Randolph as the #3 player in the postseason thus far behind Chris Paul and LeBron James.
The Warriors will face the winner of the "Staples Series" between the Lakers and Clippers, which is currently tied at three games apiece. When asked who he would rather face in the first round, Don Nelson said he wanted the Clippers. "I'm sorry, but you've gotta be nuts to want the Lakers. They are the defending champs! No offense to Shaq and the Clippers, but they are a far easier match-up". The Clippers recovered from a 3-1 series deficit with a narrow victories in games 5 and 6. When asked about whether the 2007 or 2010 Warriors were better, Nelson said "these guys are the best I've ever coached".
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