Hope for Future, or Same Old Thang?

What I Learned From Opening Night-

Warrior fans are not, apparently and contrary to all prior evidence, all Earth Day celebrators and Brothers and Sisters devotees. They booed Stephen Jackson relentlessly, giving him the Chris Pronger treatment every time he touched the ball- at least early. Note to We Believers- increase the heat until he's gone, and watch the young guys relax.

Stephen Curry has skills, baby. Several passes illustrated a full understanding of geometry and his quickness on defense created a number of turnovers. He looks slight out there, but at least for one game against perhaps the only team smaller than the Warriors, he did not get pushed around. Absurd prognosis after a single game- if he stays healthy, he'll be fixture at point and a Bay Area favorite by Christmas.

Yes, they can play together. The best moment of the first half came after Curry stripped the ball from his man, brought it up the right side, whipped a pass crosscourt to Monte at the left corner three-line who deked his man and then elevated for the baseline one-handed slam. And that's your Warriors' future moment choreographed to erase the memory of Media Day.

Remember two years ago when Monte's 18-foot jumper was automatic? Last night, it wasn't, and any chance at respectability for this team demands it return to its machine-like state.

Corey Maggette stunk up the joint and cost the team the game by continuing to fling outside set shots that threatened to explode the backboard. They originally signed the guy to go to the rim (well, they got him because Baron left and like all Bay Area owners, they panicked in fear of the violent rush of pitchfork-carrying season-ticket holders and signed a player who has east coast slow-down offense written all over him), get fouled and put double-digit free throw numbers, but last night they got a drunk Bob Cousy.

Maggette is not a 4, and his spot in the 3 rotation should be Kelenna Azubuike's, who regularly puts up positive plus/minus numbers, hits a high percentage of threes, pounds the glass, rebounds and defends tenaciously, and does it all with a brahmin's stoicism. He would be in the running for 6th Man of the Year award if Nellie ever developed a consistent substitution pattern.


The Biedrins/Turiaf starting combo should be over. Against a tiny team they managed a collective 12 points and 11 rebounds, underwhelming by even Biedrins' regular numbers. Get Randolph in there, as anybody knows who saw the second best moment of the first half, Tony's , lofting a majestic 25-foot three at the buzzer. There's your second image in the hope-for-the-future sweepstakes, diehards.

But in the end, of course, the Warriors found a way to lose. A bad turnover here, a missed defensive assignment there, an obvious choice to take the last shot, and there's your Warrior replay. Contrast that with the Sharks, our teel friends from the south, who always find a way to win in the regular season (shut up playoff breath). They get outplayed at home by the resurgent Kings (I know, I had trouble typing it), hang around on one Patty Marleau goal, and then squeeze it out in the shootout with the goalless Ryan Clowe playing the hero in round six.

The Warriors will be exciting this year, but they need to move Jackson, find the right substitution mix and then play Maggette some of his Clipper tapes.

By hey, I'll be watching Friday night in Phoenix. Nash/Curry, baby. Nash/Curry.