Opposing NBA Scout Rips Warriors on Sports Illustrated

Oct 22, 2012; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan (6) dunks the ball as Golden State Warriors center Festus Ezeli (31) and forward David Lee (10) watch at the Staples Center. The Clippers defeated the Warriors 88-71. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE

Sports Ilustrated published a preview of the Golden State Warriors’ upcoming season last Thursday, and it consisted of some amusing criticisms from an opposing NBA scout.

The scout essentially criticized every single main player on the Warriors with the exception of Klay Thompson, who he said could “change a game with his jumpshot” and was liked by everyone around the league.

That was the one of the only positives in the scout’s review, as he went on to blast the Warriors. Here are some excerpts from his tirade:

• The Warriors are making Andrew Bogut out to be the face of the franchise along with Curry, but I don’t see it. Bogut is nothing special. There would be nights with Bogut when you’d say this guy is an All-Star, but there would also be way too many nights when he didn’t show up.
• I think Richard Jefferson is going to cause headaches. He’s getting older [Jefferson is 32], he’s paid way too much money [two years and $21.2 million left on his contract] and he thinks he’s better than he is.
• Everyone says David Lee is a great guy, but talk about overrated. He’s looking for his own numbers big-time. He has turned himself into a 20-and-10 guy — an accomplishment, for sure. But he’s never been a guy who is constantly helping on defense. The story you hear from the Knicks is that his teammates used to call him FEMA, because he’s never there when you need him.
• I don’t have faith in Jackson’s becoming a good coach. I don’t know what he does for that team. Everybody says he was a coach on the floor when he played, but I don’t think he has a good feel for the game. I don’t know why a team would hire someone who played but has never coached.
• Jarrett Jack is another guy who might make things tough for Jackson if they aren’t establishing a solid system. On a team with leadership and discipline, Jack can be a great third guard. Let’s put it this way: I think he’s one of those guys who can make a good team better and he can also make a bad team worse.
• I used to love Andris Biedrins. But no one has seen him perform for years now, and it’s not like it’s Jackson’s fault. He’s the worst free-throw shooter in the NBA, so he doesn’t want to get fouled.

Wow, some strong words.

Warriors’ fans: what do you have to say about this? Is the scout correct, or is he just rubbing in the Warriors’ recent failures?