Golden State Warriors: Stop The David Lee Criticism

As the saying goes “if you don’t have anything good to say, don’t say anything at all”  fits with regards to Golden State Warriors forward David Lee. Only good things should roll off the tongue. Unfortunately he’s been the source of criticism and finger pointing for the Warriors. It’s time for Lee’s naysayers to take a hike.

First and foremost, Lee was signed by the Warriors to be a 20 points and 10 rebounds starting power forward. Last season, Lee averaged 18.2 points and 9.3 rebounds in 33.2 minutes per game in 67 contests. He’s never averaged less than 18 points and nine rebounds in a Warriors uniform.

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To knock him, you can take a stab at his health. However player injuries are an uncontrollable factor of the game, and although the Warriors would rather pay Lee a salary $2 million to $3 million lighter, he’s contributed exactly what’s been expected of him.

Since when are players crucified for doing their job? The overwhelming amount of criticism Lee receives is misguided. This summer’s situation with Kevin Love did nothing for Lee but to amplify his criticisms. The swap that could’ve been of Love for Lee, Klay Thompson and Harrison Barnes, never was to the Warriors benefit.

I digress, let’s not push old news back into the limelight any further. Spoiled milk should receive zero attention heading into what will be the Warriors most talented training camp in years. It’s the start of a new era for the Warriors, and they’re well fit to define it the best way possible.

If you look at the majority of the Warriors big games last season, David Lee was typically responsible for a large part of those successes. He dropped 32 in a regular season win against the Miami Heat, and even had an 18-rebound performance against the Milwaukee Bucks.

The All-Star that was is still there, he’s just been hobbled and beaten down. Prior to injury, Lee was the Warriors most consistent player on a nightly basis. However injured or not, when he’s on the floor the effort he makes is unquestionable. As such the Warriors have received the best of Lee in his nine-year career.

In the 2013-14 regular season the Warriors dropped 7.7 more points per 100 possessions with Lee on the floor. When healthy he’s been the second-best player on the Warriors squad, behind Curry. According to Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports, not only Lee but Andrew Bogut is healthy too, currently running 5-on-5 workouts and will head into training camp 100 percent. Good news for Steve Kerr.

The question remains if Lee will be a good fit for Kerr’s hybrid triangle system that will need a perimeter shooting power forward. Last season Lee shot around 38 percent from the free throw line extended. He’ll need to raise that percentage to better than 40 percent to be a bigger threat in Kerr’s offensive scheme.

Then there’s the debate as to whether Draymond Green should start over Lee. Nah. Although Green had a coming out party last season and in the 2014 playoffs, Lee is still the better starting option due to more height and more size.

Green is better at spacing the floor and is a bit more mobile playing the stretch-4, however the Warriors will need his energy and spark off the bench to create a formidable second unit with Shaun Livingston, Harrison Barnes and Marreese Speights.

Lee will have the opportunity to finally silence his critics this upcoming season. He’ll have to assert himself in crucial game moments. rather than fading into the background as he has the last two seasons.

It’s definitely Stephen Curry‘s team, however there’s enough room for Lee to shine. One hundred percent healthy and playing with a chip on his shoulder, the limelight on Lee will be bright — and he’ll show why he’s still the deserving of the positive attention.