On a third-quarter possession in a meaningless game, the Golden
State Warriors’ Stephen Curry saw a Portland Trail Blazer open for
a three-pointer from the wing. Curry high-tailed it, bad ankle and
all, from inside the key to contest the shot. Next time down, the
Warriors’ David Lee hustled from the key to contest a three-pointer
from the corner. They were innocuous plays in Wednesday night’s
110-86 season-finale win over Portland. Still, a couple of key
players were out contesting shots. The credit for that, per several
in the locker room, goes to Keith Smart, who just finished his
first full season as a head coach.
OAKLAND
On a third-quarter possession in a meaningless game, the Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry saw a Portland Trail Blazer open for a three-pointer from the wing.
Curry high-tailed it, bad ankle and all, from inside the key to contest the shot. Next time down, the Warriors’ David Lee hustled from the key to contest a three-pointer from the corner.
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They were innocuous plays in Wednesday night’s 110-86 season-finale win over Portland. Still, a couple of key players were out contesting shots. The credit for that, per several in the locker room, goes to Keith Smart, who just finished his first full season as a head coach.
Golden State had nothing to play for, missing the playoffs for the 16th time and 17 seasons. Neither did the Trail Blazers, who sat LaMarcus Aldridge, Nicolas Batum, Marcus Camby and Gerald Wallace in preparation for their first-round playoff series.
Yet, save for Monta Ellis (concussion), all of the Warriors regular players were ready to go. It was a fitting conclusion to a season of cohesiveness and consistent effort. That says something when compared with years past, when drama and discontent ruled the locker room.
“He’s got this locker room,” said Acie Law, who has played for five teams and under six coaches in his four NBA seasons. “Guys play for him. . . . The effort and togetherness is there.”
Whether that’s enough for Smart—whose contract has a team option for next season—to keep his job, will be left up to co-owner Joe Lacob. Certainly, in the locker room, the dominant preference seems to be for Smart’s return. Why? Because the players feel Smart is building something.
“Consistency is important,” Curry said. “When you’re trying to build something, you want to keep things together. All the change and turnover works against you. It’s good when you have the same message and you can build chemistry and grow together.”
With Wednesday’s victory, the Warriors finished 36-46, which is 10 more wins than last season under coach Don Nelson.
Certainly, some in the locker room have criticisms of Smart, though no one would say them on the record. One player said Ellis “gets away with murder,” while others complained of inconsistent minutes. But the criticisms came with a vote of support. Even Reggie Williams, who’s been in and out of the rotation all season, said Smart deserves to come back.
“It’s tough to judge a guy on one year,” Williams said. “It takes at least two or three years to do what you want to do as a coach. He’s done a good job. He’s a young coach, and he is going to get better.”
Both Lacob and general manager Larry Riley declined to give an assessment of Smart, saying only that they’ll evaluate after the season. The common speculation is that ownership will let go of Smart in favor of a bigger name with more experience.
“I don’t have any control over making anyone believe in what I’m doing,” Smart said. “They see it. They see the team. They know how the locker room had been. All I can do is focus on the job at hand, and I’ve done that.”
—Bay Area News Group learned the Warriors are planning to have Riley return for the 2011-12 season and hire Bob Myers as assistant G.M. Myers is an agent who represents Portland’s Brandon Roy, Sacramento’s Tyreke Evans and the Warriors’ Dorell Wright. He’d have to give up his practice to join an NBA front office.
—With 20 points Wednesday, Wright finished the season with 1,344 points. In his first six NBA seasons with Miami, he totaled 1,333 points.
— Story by Marcus Thompson II, Contra Costa Times
