Throughout the 2013-2014 season the Golden State Warriors bench has struggled to play consistent basketball and reports are that general manager Bob Myers made a move to strengthen the bench.
Golden State has acquired guards Jordan Crawford and MarShon Brooks from the Boston Celtics, guard Toney Douglas is now a member of the Miami Heat and center Joel Anthony is now a Celtic. Boston also will receive a projected first-round pick and a protected second-round pick.
Douglas known for his gritty defense didn’t get much of an opportunity to showcase that ability after suffering a stress reaction in his left tibia and missing nearly a month of action. As a Warrior he averaged 11 minutes per game while scoring 3.7 points and shooting 37.2 percent from the field, 32.2 percent from beyond the arc and 62.5 percent from the free throw line. In Anthony the Celtics get a big man who barely saw action with Miami as he has played in just 12 games this season and seen a total of 37 minutes.
With the Warriors vying for the Pacific division title with the Los Angeles Clippers. Crawford and Brooks allows for Mark Jackson to give Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. Crawford started 35 of Boston’s 39 games and is averaging 13.7 points, 5.7 assists, 3.1 rebounds and has shot 41.4 percent, 31.8 percent from the three-point line and 87.3 percent from the free throw line. Brooks has played in only 10 games this season and did showcase that he can score the basketball as a rookie with the then New Jersey Nets he averaged 12.6 points per game and averaged just over 29 minute per game.
Now Jackson has a bench rotation of Crawford, Harrison Barnes, Draymond Green and Marreese Speights, which is a definite upgrade.