Golden State Warriors: Midseason Yearly Awards
By Jamie Faue
Sixth Man: Marreese Speights
January 7, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Marreese Speights (5) celebrates with guard Stephen Curry (30) against the Indiana Pacers during the third quarter at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Pacers 117-102. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Marreese Speights, or “Mo Buckets,” has been the Warriors’ biggest contributor off the bench this season, getting about 12 points, five rebounds, one assist and one block a game. Speights has a .516 shooting percentage this season, which is a career-high for him.
Speights seemed like he would be yet another bust for the Warriors last season, posting about six points and three rebounds per game. Speights lacked any sort of effective defense ability last year, as well. Speights still struggles with the defensive side of the ball, but is much more aggressive this time around.
That Speights, the inconsistent and not very good Speights, is gone. The 2014-2015 Speights is consistent in scoring and rebounding night in and night out. Not only is he consistent, he brings the team energy off the bench and fires up the crowd, as well as his teammates.
Speights may not be J.R. Smith, but he brings size and scoring off the bench, which is something the Warriors have been missing for a long time. Speights’ explosive season could not have come at a better time.
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