Rockets' Jason Terry Looking To Haunt Warriors In Western Conference Finals
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- Historically, the Warriors have filled opposing NBA rosters with all-star players.
Their bad trades were comically bad. Robert Parrish stands front and center, along with the draft pick that became Kevin McHale, who just happens to be the Rockets head coach.
Alas, another ghost will take the court in the Western Conference Finals hoping to haunt Golden State into an earlier-than-expected postseason grave.
His name is Jason Terry and he's been playing since last century. Back then, the Warriors were horrible and in dire need of a point guard. They traded their 10th overall pick to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for Mookie Blaylock.
The Hawks used their pick on Jason Terry, the 1999 Pac-10 Player of the Year out of Arizona. With Blaylock, the Warriors finished 19-63 and Mookie was out of basketball two years later.
Jason Terry? 16 years and counting and a 2011 ring bling to rub in Dub Nation's face. But despite his lone NBA Championship with Dallas, it could have been two. Terry has a score to settle with the Warriors dating back to 2007 when his top-seeded Mavericks were sent to their own earlier-than-expected post-season grave. The demons of Roaracle remain fresh in his mind.
"I have prior history (in Oakland)," Terry said. "When I had a chance to win a championship there, they knocked us out in the first round. I know how hostile their crowd is. I know it's going to be hard.
So devastated were the Mavericks that their floor general inflicted damage to the visitors quarters.
"Every time I go in that locker room, I look up and see the hole in the wall that Dirk (Novitski) put up in the ceiling. It's a constant reminder of how tough that place is to play."
Terry, winner of the NBA Sixth Man of the Year in 2009, has been a heavy favorite and now he's an underdog. But one advantage he has over the Warriors is experience in the ultimate NBA spectacle, game seven.
"My biggest advantage is I've been in two Game 7s and I'm undefeated," Terry said. "I'm very confident going in. I understand what it takes to come out with a victory, how I have to approach it and hopefully my teammates will feed off of that."
What if the Warriors had drafted Terry instead of trading for Mookie Blaylock? That question is better left to rest in peace.
