(Photo: Mike Lawrie/Getty Images North America)
Marreese Speights has had a rocky start to his time with the Golden State Warriors.
In the offseason, the Warriors signed Speights to a three-year deal in the hopes that he would replace Carl Landry‘s production from last season. Unfortunately, that hasn’t quite happened…yet.
Last season, Landry, along with Jarrett Jack, was one of the most important players off the bench for the Warriors. In 81 games with the Warriors last season, he averaged 10.8 points and 6.0 rebounds in 23.2 minutes per game, and he shot 54 percent from the field.
In 37 games this season, Speights is only averaging 5.4 points and 3.5 rebounds on 38.7 percent shooting and in only 12.2 minutes per game.
To be fair, Speights and Landry have completely different skillsets. Speights is more of a mid-range jump shooter than Landry was, and Landry has more success with post-ups than Speights does. Although neither one is known for their superior defensive ability, Landry held his own in that department last season.
With that being said, Speights has recently started to play more like the player the Warriors hoped they would get when they signed him in the offseason. He’s playing with more energy, and he appears more confident out on the court.
Ever since Jermaine O’Neal had surgery for a torn ligament in his right wrist, the Warriors have relied upon Speights more to make an impact off the bench, and he’s responded.
In the month of December, Speights averaged 7.1 points and 3.6 rebounds on 45.8 percent shooting. Those numbers might not show significant improvement, but it shows that Speights is starting to find his niche on this Warriors team. He looks more and more comfortable with each game, and he’s showing steady improvement.
Mark Jackson spoke of Speights’s resurgence to Matt Schwab of the Bay Area News Group.
“He’s working extra hard, putting in the time, coming in early, leaving late, and he’s getting results because of it,” Jackson said. “So, I’m very pleased with the way he’s playing right now. With the absence of Jermaine we needed him to step up his game, and to his credit he has.”
In addition to Jackson’s recognition of Speights’ recent play, Speights showed appreciation for Jackson’s coaching style in a recent interview with Brian Murphy on <a href="KNBR.
Speights: Oh, it’s really fun playing for Mark Jackson. He’s a players’ coach. He played the game before, so he is always going to give you a chance to play. When I was struggling, and I wasn’t really ready to play, he still gave me a chance, so that’s why I respect him the most. He still gave me a chance; he never gave up on me. Coach Jackson is a really good coach.
Speights is enjoying his time playing for Coach Jackson and the Warriors. One thing he brings to the Warriors that the Warriors appreciate is his toughness. He never gives up on plays, and he fights to keep possessions alive.
Andre Iguodala, who previously played with Speights during his time with the Philadelphia 76ers, told Schwab that the team also appreciates his focus since O’Neal has been out.
“He’s done a really good job of focusing in the last couple of games,” swingman Andre Iguodala said of Speights. “Just putting his hard hat on and understanding that he has to pick up some of the areas that Jermaine was really impactful for us, especially with rebounding the ball and sprinting down the floor.
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“Defensively, he’s getting better. We know he has a world of talent, and he’s getting ready to go out there and show it.”
In the eyes of some Warriors fans, Speights might not be as effective as Landry was last season for the Warriors. However, Speights is working hard to contribute in any way he can, and he has improved.
With the Warriors’ bench struggling the way it has been recently, Speights could become a valuable piece off the bench for the Warriors if he continues his resurgence.
The Warriors appreciate his work ethic, and Speights greatly appreciates the opportunity he has here with the Warriors.
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