Maggette proves his value in Warriors win over Nets

By Geoff Lepper, for NBA.com
Posted Saturday January 23, 2010 2:25AM

OAKLAND (NBA.com exclusive) -- Every time Warriors coach Don Nelson puts a conventional lineup on the floor, it's an unspoken moment of high praise for forward Corey Maggette.

For years -- especially during his second stint leading the Warriors -- Nelson's trademark has been his use of smallball, putting undersized players at multiple positions and trying to run opponents off the floor.

Over the last month or so, Nelson has been using more traditional lineups in order to maximize the value of Maggette, who has responded with a slew of statistical lines such as the one he put together Friday in Golden State's 111-79 victory over the New Jersey Nets: 29 points, 9-for-14 shooting from the field, 10-for-12 from the line, with five assists and two steals.

It was Maggette's 11th consecutive game with at least 22 points. He's averaging 28.8 points per game in that time, on 59.1 percent shooting from the floor.

"He's a dominant scorer," Nelson said of Maggette. "And he's proven to me that he needs to be a small forward."

Maggette teamed with rookie guard Stephen Curry to take over the Warriors' offense after Monta Ellis, the league leader in minutes played and sixth in scoring, missed most of the second half with a sprained right ankle. X-rays were negative, but Ellis will also miss the Warriors' game Saturday in Phoenix.

Curry set a career-high with 32 points and added seven assists and never came off the floor.

"He managed a real good game," Nelson said. "He guarded like he always does and just carried us, along with Maggette, and took over for us."

Maggette dominated the Nets from his favorite spot at the right elbow. When the Nets tried to check Maggette with single coverage, he drove past Chris Douglas-Roberts and shot over Jarvis Hayes. And when New Jersey brought over an early double-team, he dished to the open man rather than forcing up a bad shot.

"He passed the ball pretty well out of there," Nelson said. "Our cuts were crisp, and he found the right guy."

Paradoxically, even as Maggette makes himself more valuable in the short-term with such glittering numbers, those stats may help pave his way off the Warriors.

Earlier in the season, the Warriors scrambled to quell rumors they were dangling promising second-year forward Anthony Randolph as an enticement for some team to swallow Maggette's deal, which still has three years and more than $30 million remaining after this season.

Now, with the trade deadline looming and general manager Larry Riley making it clear via the local press that he's looking to significantly alter the dynamic of a Warriors franchise headed for its 16th losing season in 18 years, teams gearing up for a playoff push might gave more consideration to acquiring Maggette on his own merits.

On a per-minute basis, the 11th-year veteran is earning more points and free throws than ever. Maggette's 54.3 field-goal percentage, if it holds up, will be a career-best by 6.5 percent. His true shooting mark of 64.9 is tops in the NBA.

And with his 12 free throws Friday, he's now the first Warrior to shoot 10 fouls shots in 11 straight games since Wilt Chamberlain did it during the 1964-65 season.

"When guys went down, I just wanted to take the load off (Ellis)," Maggette said.

In addition to Curry, Cartier Martin and Anthony Tolliver (earning a start in his third game with Golden State) also set career highs with 16 and 12 points, respectively. Both players are recent D-League call-ups hoping to stick with the injury-ravaged Warriors, who will be down to just eight healthy players Saturday.

"They have guys on that team who are trying to stay in this league, without guaranteed contracts, competing for their lives, and that is the way you have to play this game," Nets coach Kiki Vandeweghe said.

Brook Lopez scored 21 points to lead New Jersey, and Courtney Lee added 17. But the rest of the Nets shot a collective 29.2 percent, and what resistance they were offering evaporated when Devin Harris was knocked out at the half with a sprained right wrist.

"Devin Harris gets hurt and we just collapsed," Vandeweghe said. "We gave up 38 points in the third quarter and the game was over. . . . Monta Ellis gets hurt but Stephen Curry steps in and has a career night against us."

The Warriors have to hope Curry has another one in him. The rookie will most likely be asked to play another 48 minutes on Saturday, unless the game gets out of hand early.

"A lot of rookies aren't getting those minutes, so I'm not going to complain about getting too many," Curry said. "Even though my legs might be tired, I've got to suck it up."

• Nets: Battie, Simmons
• Warriors: Azubuike, Bell, Claxton, Randolph, Wright

• Nets: --
• Warriors: --

• Lead Changes: 1
• Times Tied: 3

• Arena: ORACLE Arena, Oakland, CA
• Officials: #10 Ron Garretson, #46 Matt Boland, #77 Kane Fitzgerald
• Attendance: 17308
• Duration: 2:16