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Young Guns in Oakland

How can you not get excited about the Golden State Warriors this year? This is a young up and coming team that is ready to make a serious playoff run. Will they finally be able to do it this year, or will the ghosts of years past will return to haunt the team once again. Watching the Warriors play against the Spurs on Thursday night I couldn?t help but be impressed with their core of young players.

Mickael Pietrus is healthy again and seems to have gotten his game legs back. His defensive energy off the bench has proven to be infectious in the past, and if Golden State is going to get back in this thing, they are going to do it with defense. Although Andris Biedrins still stuggles with foul trouble, he has shown in the last few games that he can be relatively effective on offense, and by that I mean he doesn?t play offense with his eyes closed and allow passes to just bounce off his hands.

Biedrins has really impressed with his rebounding as well, especially on the offensive glass. Monta Ellis? speed and ability to move without the ball can be used as an effective weapon on offense, but his real value might end up being on the defensive end of the court. Monta?s quickness and work ethic make him the perfect ball hawk. If used correctly, Ellis should be able to harass the opposing point guards and maybe create a few turnovers, but more importantly, throw the opposing offense out of rhythm.