SF Examiner: Warriors make a major change, but will it be progress?

By Art Spander
Special to The Examiner

So, isn’t that a heck of a deal for the Warriors, trading one of the NBA’s best scorers, Monta Ellis, to Milwaukee for a tall Australian with a broken ankle?   But hey, it proves the front office is willing to make moves, and didn’t Dante say something like, in times of moral crisis, the hottest places in hell are reserved for those who stand around using a zone defense?

The suspicion is the W’s could suit up five guys from Mosswood Park in Oakland and still sell out Oracle Arena, as they did Wednesday night against the Boston Celtics — Monta or no Monta, and certainly no Andrew Bogut, the Aussie with the ankle.

Read the full story here.

Copyright 2012 SF Newspaper Company

SF Examiner: Jeremy Lin leaves Warriors wondering 'What if?'

By Art Spander
Special to The Examiner

"This is unbelievable. I’ve never been part of something like this," Jeremy Lin said. But not about becoming the toast of New York, about signing with the Warriors.

Hey, the young man had to start some place.

He was a curiosity, a hometown kid...

Read the full story here.

Copyright 2012 SF Newspaper Company

RealClearSports: Oakland Teams Find There's No There There

By Art Spander
For RealClearSports.com

OAKLAND, Calif. – She didn’t mean what we thought she meant. Gertrude Stein’s infamous quote about this town, “There is no there there,’’ was misinterpreted. The intent of teams that, like Stein, called Oakland home is well understood, however.

They can’t wait to get out.

Stein, the poet, author and art collector...

Read the full story here.

© RealClearSports 2011

RealClearSports: As Coach, Jackson's View Different Now

By Art Spander
For RealClearSports.com

OAKLAND, Calif. — This was classic NBA, the near catchup, which keeps some fans in the arena and, more importantly, keeps others from turning off the TV.

A year ago, Mark Jackson, ESPN announcer, would have been thrilled as a lead of 19 points was reduced to five. "I would have embraced it and had about 10 catchphrases locked and loaded,'' Jackson said.

Now, Mark Jackson, Golden State Warriors coach, was properly concerned.

Read the full story here.

© RealClearSports 2011

SF Examiner: Uphill battle awaits Golden State Warriors

By Art Spander
Special to The Examiner

They are the NBA’s mystery team, led by a coach who never has coached, constructed upon two guards with divergent problems, and opening with games that may get them in headlines and perhaps into a hole from which the Warriors can’t escape.

Their past is haunting, 16 seasons of the past 17 unable to make the playoffs. Their future is promising, if the words of Mark Jackson — a man of many words as a TV commentator before switching jobs — are to be believed.

Read the full story here.

Copyright 2011 SF Newspaper Company