COACH: Mike Montgomery | 2004-05: 34-48
Golden State Warriors

Davis and the Warriors have high expectations.
Rocky Widner/NBAE/Getty Images
Video: NBA TV previews the 2005-06 Warriors
The Warriors were struggling through another rough season before things changed on February 24. On that date, Baron Davis was acquired in a trading deadline deal and the Warriors went 18-10 to finish the season. That was enough for Chris Mullin to leave the team in tact this summer and for people around the league to believe that they will be one of the most improved teams in '05-06. Reigning NBA MVP Steve Nash knows a little bit about turning a team around.

"They'll be very difficult this year," Nash says. "Who knows, Baron could be the MVP this season with his ability and the turnaround that that team is going to have."

Davis won't be distributing the ball as much as Nash does in Phoenix, but he has shown that he can elevate the game of his teammates. He's a score-first point guard who can also create.

Davis and Jason Richardson form one of the best backcourts in the NBA. Richardson has improved in each of his four years in the league, becoming more of a complete offensive player. His field goal percentage was a career-best .446 last season and he averaged more than 20 points per game for the first time with 21.7 ppg. Mike Dunleavy has improved since his rookie year as well, averaging 13.4 ppg last season. Dunleavy has the skills to play several positions, including the court vision to run the point if coach Mike Montgomery wants to take Davis off the ball. The veteran Derek Fisher is a nice piece to have as the first guard off the bench and Mickael Pietrus has the potential to be a valuable back-up to Richardson and Dunleavy.

The Warriors, however, need to show more improvement down low. They had the second-worst rebounding differential in the league last year, getting out-boarded by 4 rebounds per game. Troy Murphy is one of only nine players in the league to average a double-double, but he does most of his scoring on the perimeter. Adonal Foyle is a solid defender, but the Warriors are missing a true low-post scorer. They believe that Ike Diogu, the No. 9 pick of the 2005 Draft, can be that guy. Diogu is a bit undersized as a power forward, but he dominated the Pac-10 last season at Arizona State and performed very well in summer league. Monta Ellis (40th pick) and Chris Taft (42nd pick) each have the potential to be second round steals, but neither is likely to contribute much this season.

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Baron's Burden

Davis
Davis breathed life into the franchise last season and he has been working out furiously this summer but, like Vince Carter in New Jersey, he still needs to prove that he can remain healthy and dedicated for a full season.

"Our goal is to make the playoffs and to play well consistently throughout the whole season," said Davis.

The Warriors will go as far as he takes them. This is a very young team and he is the veteran leader, even if he's only 26 years old.

10.2
THE STAT
The Warriors averaged 95.2 points per game before the Baron Davis trade and 105.4 points after it, a difference of 10.2.
X&O STRENGTH

Murphy
Baron Davis is the Warriors best player and makes them go... His impact was undeniable... The Warriors averaged 105 points when he arrived, up 10 before B.D. Warriors went 14-5 with Davis in the starting lineup... The tandem of Davis and J.R. Richardson gives Golden State one of the premium backcourt duos in the Western Conference... Troy Murphy and Mike Dunleavy make you think you are watching some of the old Notre Dame teams.

X&O WEAKNESS
There is not a lot of depth on the Warriors front line. Andris Biedrins and Ike Diogu need to provide some... This is a team that hasn't made the playoffs since 1994. With a healthy Baron Davis on board for the entire season, that may change.

HEAD COACH PHILOSOPHY
The Warriors finished the season strong and Mike Montgomery seems to have made the adjustment, which I think is a key. I think Terry Stotts and the other assistants may have influenced him into more pro sets. He is an excellent teacher and the addition of John MacLeod as an assistant was a good hire. If the players listen and buy in to what they are trying to do they’ll be a team that you can’t overlook.
-- Don Casey (courtesy of the National Basketball Coaches Association)

Ike Diogu: In a high-powered offense, he could be a top fantasy rookie.
Baron Davis: Shooting percentage and the potential for injuries is a problem.
"It was unbelievable how Baron Davis just carried that team on his shoulders once they made that trade. What they were missing was a consistent scorer and a point guard that could do draw the attention away and get guys like Dunleavy and Richardson open. He did that... I think Dunleavy is solid. He has the ability to play 2, 3 or 4, and occasionally even 1. I know that there are a lot of people that are high on Pietrus, and I think he's solid, but there's something lacking there and I'm not sure exactly what it is. I didn't see him elevate his game. He's more athletic than Dunleavy, but Mike's more consistent and better fundamentally... I'm not sure that they'll be a top-tier team in the West, but I see them in that 6th or 7th spot."
-- Eastern Conference scout
PLAYER/2004-05 STATS
PPG
RPG
APG
PG
19.2
3.8
7.9
SG
21.7
5.9
3.9
SF
13.4
5.5
2.6
PF
15.4
10.8
1.4
C
4.5
5.5
0.7
F-C
3.6
3.9
0.4
F-C
6.0
2.6
0.6
F
--
--
--
G
11.9
2.9
4.1
G-F
9.5
2.8
1.2
F
Draft
G
Draft
C
Free agent
F
Draft
F
Free agent
F
Waived
PPG
21.7
RPG
10.8
APG
8.3
SPG
1.79
BPG
2.04
Points Scored
98.7
(13th)
Points Allowed
100.9
(24th)
Field-Goal Percentage
.430
(28th)
Opponents' FG%
.458
(21st)
Rebounding Diff.
-3.93
(29th)
Nov. 2 vs. Atlanta (10:30 p.m. ET, FSBay)
Marvin Williams makes his NBA debut at the Arena In Oakland.
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