Category: Golden State Warriors

hypetrak.com file photo: Former Oklahoma City Thunder Kevin Durant signed on with the Golden State Warriors on the Fourth of July

On the Warriors podcast with David, Kevin Durant has agreed to come on board at Golden State for a cool $54.3 million for two years the second year being an option year. This is the biggest deal since LeBron James going to Miami and since that’s all past LeBron is staying Cleveland and he’s not going anywhere. This move means a change in the roster there will and has already been a lot of turnovers for the Warriors.

The Warriors starting five will now be Steph Curry, Andre Iguodala, Draymond Green, Klay Thompson and Durant. The amount of All-Star appearances amongst this group is almost record setting. There’s three MVPs amongst them, three MVP trophies, and everyone of those guys have been an All-Star at some point.

Davie Zizmor does the Warriors podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

AP photo: Former Cal Bears Jaylen Brown sits down for radio interview after being selected third in the Celtics overall draft

On the NBA/Golden State Warriors podcast with David first former Cal Bears Jaylen Brown wasn’t the one you heard being booed by some of the crowd at the NBA draft when he was selected first pick to the Boston Celtics. It wasn’t Jaylen Brown it the Celtics brass including Celts GM Danny Ainge. Ainge want to got out in the seats and ask them what was wrong with picking Brown at Thursday’s draft.

The fans were looking like the Celts would be more interested in another draft pick someone that they’ve heard of like Kris Dunn from Providence. The Celts fans were looking for the Celts to trade away eight draft picks for an established NBA star.

Listen below as David runs down the Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings picks on the podcast at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

by Charlie O and Jerry Feitelberg (NBA beat reporters)

photo by district5diary.blogspot.ca: Golden State Warriors proposed new arena at Mission Bay

SAN FRANCISCO–It’s going down to the neighborhoods versus the Golden State Warriors in an attempt to build a new arena at Mission Bay. San Francisco Superior Court Judge Garrett Wong listened to both sides of the argument regarding the new arena, from the opponents Mission Bay Alliance and Save Muni and Jennifer Wade mother of a six year old son with rare cardiac issues who just recently joined the plaintiffs vs. the Golden State Warriors who also have their allies from San Francisco City Hall.

Judge Wong ruled that he will render a decision on July 18th. If the court rules against the Alliance or the Warriors rest assured this case won’t settle there more than likely there will be appeals. The Warriors are under pressure to beat this case and begin construction in Mission Bay as they are on a timeline to move out of Oakland and have the new arena ready. The team purchased the land at Mission Bay from Sales Dream Force where they plan not only to have the new arena but also retail and condos which would add value to the Warriors brand.

The Alliance and Save Muni say that traffic conditions and access to UCSF Hospital right next door will be impossible on game and event days at the arena. A study shows on the rare occasions that the San Francisco Giants or an AT&T event and a Warriors new Arena event (Chase Bank Arena) would double the traffic conditions let alone just a Warriors event.

Save Muni shares the same argument with the Mission Bay Alliance when it comes to traffic conditions they say that it would vastly alter public transportation in the South of Market particularly when traffic conditions are at it’s peak around 4:00 to 5:00 PM on week night games during afternoon rush hours. That in spite of increased Muni buses coming to and from the arena there will be traffic tie ups and it would impact Muni lines not only serving the arena itself but South of Market and lines going inbound to South of Market.

The Alliance and Wade added their concerns on traffic access to UCSF Hospital and emergency lanes as proposed by the City would not be the solution to getting to the hospital during an emergency. Wade for example has a six year son who from time to time has cardiac emergencies and needs quick access to the emergency room and if there is a back up to the arena Wade would have to wait in traffic to get to the ER for care for her son.

“He has emergencies from time to time” Wade said after last Friday’s hearing to Fox 2, “and I need to get him to UCSF in a timely matter. I’m just going to picture what’s going to happen if that’s the lead up to a Warriors game or a Beyonce’ concert or some other event especially if it’s happening at the same time as an event at AT&T Park, traffic is already bad over there.” Wade should know she lives only two blocks from the proposed arena site.

For Wade it’s the only hospital that specializes in treating her son’s rare cardiac condition “that’s the only hospital I can take my son to in an emergency other hospitals don’t understand his condition they dont’ have the pediatric cardiologists on staff at other children’s emergency hospitals. It’s a pretty rare condition that he has” said Wade.

Jerry Cauthen spokesman for Save Muni who represents transit activists, environmentalists, citizens concerned about Muni traffic impact of the Warriors new arena, and community activists said “it’s critically important” that the judge consider traffic conditions that a new Warriors arena would cause for rerouting and delaying Muni during rush hour and game night events.

Warriors spokesman PJ Johnston said it’s just shameful that the plaintiffs are going to such great lengths to try and stop the team from building the arena at Mission Bay, “it’s disappointing, it’s wasteful, to the workers and small businesses and neighbors in Mission Bay who are counting on this venue” said Johnston. The Warriors are hoping that the court will settle in their favor as the team plans to open the arena by the fall of 2019.

Jerry Feitelberg and Charlie O cover the NBA during the regular season for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

by Michael Martinez

One of the greatest games I have witnessed in my life. And although I’m young, I have watched basketball for as long as I can remember.

So much was on the line before tonight’s tip off. For the Warriors, a chance to bring back to back championships to a city that ponder what winning was not that long ago. Steph Curry’s legacy was on the chopping block as well.

For the Cavaliers, it would be the first pro championship in the city of Cleveland since the Browns won the NFL championship back in 1964. That was before the Super Bowl era, which the Browns have never been to. LeBron James’ legacy was also on the line.

With two mega stars getting ready to battle it out, the anticipation was incredible. And the game did not disappoint.

The contest was back and forth for the entire game and the first half was dominated by Draymond Green.

Green who took blame for his suspension in Game 5, showed up huge for the Warriors when the league MVP did not. Green knocked down all five of his shots from three point range and went eight of ten from the field totaling 22 first half points. He also dished out five assists and grabbed five boards, playing more like himself as opposed to his lackluster Game 6 performance.

James finished the half with 12 points, a team high. Green’s performance allowed the Warriors to hold a 49-42 lead at the break.

Both teams struggled offensively in the first half, but in the third quarter each team showed up. Both teams were knocking down shots and the whole Warriors team got their shots in.

For the Cavs, Kyrie Irving helped ease the load off James with 12 third quarter points. And Golden State still had a one point lead going into the final quarter.

And as Curry became non-existent, James got the job done. James scored 11 points in the fourth and made some excellent defensive plays. He came up huge when his team needed it the most. Both teams found themselves struggling, but Cleveland’s ability to stop Golden State on the offensive end proved to be the difference.

Down three games to one in the best of seven series, the Cavs somehow found a way to be the first team to come back by that margin in Finals history. Cleveland defeated the Warriors, 93-89, to win the NBA’s most coveted prize.

Unfortunately, the Warriors got beat because they were unable to do what they do best, shoot the ball efficiently.

The home team shot 38.6 percent from the field and under 37 percent from beyond the arc. Curry and splash brother Klay Thompson combined for six of 24 from three point range. Two of the best three point shooters in the NBA shot 25 percent in the most important game of their careers.

Curry finished with 17 points and Green almost notched a triple double with a game high 32 points, adding 15 boards and nine assists.

James on the other hand did finish the game with a triple double. James had 27 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists and quite frankly did not even have one of his better games. James joins Jerry West and James Worthy as the only players to get triple doubles in Game 7 of a NBA Finals.

Irving surely helped James get the victory with his 26 points and clutch shooting.

To no surprise, James won the MVP as he averaged 29.7 points, 8.9 assists and 11.3 rebounds in the series. After much scrutiny, James cemented himself as one of the greatest players ever and brought back a championship to the city of Cleveland for the first time in over 50 years.

Credit to the Cavs and James for playing great basketball, but the Warriors tremendous run comes to a disheartening close. The team who set the record for most wins in the regular season and came back from a 3-1 deficit of their own, watched a second championship slip away from the palms of their hands.

Curry was disappointing and did not have the best game of his career as he mentioned he would need to. And as Golden State found themselves with some injuries to key players, they allowed the Cavs to hold on to some life and it cost them a second championship trophy.

After all this team was able to accomplish, the Warriors appeared to get a little complacent. It will be interesting to see what players say in the next few days, but Golden State has a lot of things to hold their heads up high. Of course coming up short is truly discouraging, but the Warriors have the highest odds to win the championship next year.

Thank you for sticking with Sports Radio Service throughout this season and congratulations to the Cleveland Cavaliers, your 2016 NBA champions.

USA Today: Cleveland Cavaliers LeBron James fans out to defend the Golden State Warriors Draymond Green in the NBA Finals

On the NBA podcast with Daniel Dullum previews game seven just hours before tip off at Oracle Arena in Oakland. With a Cleveland Cavaliers come back in Games Five and Six the Warriors are looking to put the final touches on Game seven and end the Finals on their home floor. The Warriors Stephen Curry is coming off his first career ejection after accumulating six fouls in game six and receiving a fine for $25,000 for throwing his mouth guard after receiving his sixth foul.

The Warriors after getting beat in two straight if their reputation proves them out will attack early and their a club that if they take a early lead they often win ball games.  Also in the 19 game sevens in NBA history only two visiting teams have won a game seven. LeBron is lying in wait to beat the odds and his dreams of clutching the NBA Championship Trophy for the first time in his career.

Listen further as Daniel talks a little baseball right after the NBA Finals podcast regarding the Los Angeles Angels Tim Lincecum’s strong comeback with a 8-1 win over the Oakland A’s. Lincecum who pitched for the first time in the show since over a year and half said pitching in Oakland was almost like pitching in front of the home fans.

Daniel Dullum covered the Warriors and Sacramento Kings during the regular season for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

AFP photo: Game Six Golden State’s Stephen Curry and Cleveland Cav’s LeBron James in the NBA Finals go for the ball under the net

On the Warriors podcast with David the Warriors were just flat in Game Six and Stephen Curry included. He did come back from that lousy start but he started that game down in the first quarter. The Warriors dug themselves a big hole maybe they could pull off a ten or 15 points surge against some other teams in the league when your in the NBA Finals you need a magic trick to pull off such a deficit. The Warriors weren’t able to do it.

Sunday it’s do or die at Oracle Arena for the Warriors the adrenaline will definitely be flowing their going to be flying up and down the court emotions will be high hopefully the refs will give Golden State a little bit more leeway let them play fair but don’t call these little pieces of contact fouls. Simply because you don’t want a Game Seven to be decided based on who has to sit on the bench due to foul trouble.

David Zizmor did the weekly Warriors podcasts for http://www.sportsradioservice.com for the 2015-16 season

 

 

By Matthew T.F. Harrington

nbcsports.com photo: Golden State Warriors Stephen Curry is restrained by Klay Thompson after throwing his mouth guard at a fan in Game Six at Quicken Loans Arena on Thursday night

And so one game will cement the Golden State Warriors place in history. The Cleveland Cavaliers turned a 3-1 series deficit into a decisive game 7, besting the Warriors 115-101 to avoid a Warriors repeat for the second consecutive contest. LeBron James scored a game-high 41 points to set up Sunday’s match-up at Oracle Arena. Stephen Curry scored 30 for Golden State but found himself in the locker room early after fouling out with just over 4 minutes left in regulation.

The Cavaliers never trailed, opening the game on an 8-0 run, leading 31-11 after one quarter. The Cavs lead by as much as 59-43 heading into the half, then managed to stave off any Warriors charges in the second half. The closest Golden State got to the Cavs in the 4^th quarter was when they were down by 9 points with 6:22 left to play.

The Warriors, already down a man with Andrew Bogut nursing an injury, played with a number of players in foul trouble. Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Shaun Livingston all had 3 fouls by the end of the 1^st half. Each team committed 25 fouls, with Cleveland hitting 25 of 32 free throws while The Warriors hit 20 of 29.

While Curry stepped up in many ways, his foul trouble made him ineffective on the defensive end. In his return from a suspension, Draymond Green scuffled with only 8 points and 6 assists, though he did pick up 10 rebounds. Klay Thompson scored 25 but only 4 of 7 free throws with a number of critical misses. In total, the Warriors were 33 for 82 from the field.

The Cavs, meanwhile feasted with their backs against the wall. The Cavs shot 51 % from the field, led by LeBron’s 41 points on 16 of 27 shooting. Kyrie Irving cooled off after his scorching game 5 in Oakland, netting only 23 points. Kevin Love scored 7 points, playing just 12 minutes. Tristan Thompson dominated the boards with 16 rebounds, scoring the double-double with 15 points.

For the second consecutive series, the Warriors will head to a game 7 on home court. In an opposite situation, the Warriors were down 3-1 to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference finals but rattled off three-straight wins including a 96-88 win at home to face Cleveland. The Cavs are the first team in NBA history to force a game 7 after falling behind 3-1 in the Finals. They managed to avoid repeating history, with Golden State hoisting the Larry O’Brien trophy at Quicken Loans arena on this day last season. Game 7 is Sunday.

 

sfgate.com photo: Golden State Warriors Festus Ezlei (31) vs. Cleveland Cavaliers in Game Six tonight preview podcast

On the NBA Finals podcast with Tony Renteria the Warriors want to finish this off tonight in Game Six in Cleveland there is also the anger on the other side with the Cleveland Cavaliers with LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Love too. Can the Cavs force a game seven? Can the Cavs be the team that their supposed to be? Will LeBron stack up and be the best player on the planet pound for pound and say “you will not win this game on my home turf.”

LeBron couldn’t do it last season as the Warriors clinched the NBA Championship at Quickens Loan Arena. We’ll see if the Warriors can do it this year.

Tony Renteria covers the Sacramento Kings during the regular season and is doing analyst work for the NBA Finals for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

by Charlie O Mallonee and Jerry Feitelberg (Sportstalk Radio staff reporters)

animated design of Warriors arena Chase Center at Mission Bay by the Golden State Warriors

SAN FRANCISCO–The Golden State Warriors have big dreams of grandeur that they will get their new arena built at Mission Bay in the City located by UCSF Hospital. The Warriors who play the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals on Thursday for Game Six at Quicken Loans Arena could be celebrating their second straight season championship if they win, ironically the Warriors legal staff will be in San Francisco Superior Court on Friday the very next day.

The Warriors spokesman PJ Johnston is confident that Golden State will prevail and that team lawyers will be able to convince the court that they can build the new arena in spite of what arena opponents Mission Bay Alliance have presented to the court environmental regulations regarding parking, noise, traffic, possible endangered species in and around Mission Bay. The other argument that could be of issue is how emergency vehicles are going to have access to UCSF on event days at the Mission Bay arena and that could be compounded if the San Francisco Giants are hosting a ball game at neighboring AT&T Park on the same night.

“The Warriors expect to be every bit as successful in a court of law as they have been on the basketball court” Johnston told the San Francisco Chronicle this week. An Environmental Impact Report (EIR) presentation from the Alliance could have the court ask the Warriors to do some redesigns to their project which could impact their blue print design for their 18,000 seat arena or even real concerns expressed by the surrounding neighborhoods being traffic being the top issue could be considered by the court that could very well hold up any ground breaking. The Warriors are hoping to go ahead with the project as early as the end of this year.

A poll taken by Mission Bay Alliance shows that 60 percent of San Francisco residents are against a new arena at Mission Bay. Johnston regardless of the poll or what Mission Bay Alliance is prepared to present in court on Friday says the Warriors feel good about getting approval to move ahead with construction at Mission Bay, “we believe we have a very strong case and hope the courts see the merits of the argument.”

Mission Bay Alliance says that the Warriors flunked the EIR in traffic and congestion test, UCSF medical professionals who work the front lines at the hospital are concerned about traffic conditions for not only emergency vehicles but access to the hospital, medical personal who need access to the hospital to relieve staff who worked all day and access patients. The EIR is a 1,000 page report that demonstrates access to the hospital street intersections would be clogged on game days and how slow the pace of traffic would be at the new Warriors arena.

Mission Bay Alliance spokesman Sam Singer  says that they have facts and data on their side going into court on Friday, “we believe we have a very strong case, and hope the courts see the merits of our argument” said Singer. The EIR study also includes all considerations of mass transit and traffic situations and still results show traffic and clogged parking congestion issues. The Alliance also said that the Warriors plans have skirted city rules and state environmental regulations.

The Warriors argue that they have the political and regulatory votes to get an arena approved by the court and that they can commence construction on Mission Bay. The Warriors have hired contractor Gensler architects to work on the arena interior. Johnston said on the Warriors chances in court “we believe we have a very strong case, and hope the courts see the merits of the argument” and “we are feeling very good going into court.”

Charlie O Mallonee covers the NBA and the Sacramento Kings and Jerry Feitelberg covered Warriors basketball during the regular season  for http://www.sportsradioservice.com