This game highlighted a lot of the things that the Warriors are currently lacking. The Warriors lack, quite obviously, a long wing defender who could have been used to guard Kevin Durant. No Stephen Jackson, no Kelenna Azubuike, not even a Cartier Martin. Durant went for an effortless 45 and 11. The Warriors lack, at least at the moment, a starting center who can rebound and defend the paint. The Thunder out-rebounded the Warriors by 14, and Russell Westbrook went to the line for 17 free throws, making 14 on the way to a 28 point 8 assist performance. The Warriors lack a power forward who is capable of matching up against the Jeff Greens of the league. Like, perhaps, Anthony Randolph. The Warriors were forced to give Anthony Tolliver help on Green, which exacerbated their problems on the boards.
And the Warriors lack Monta Ellis, superstar. Monta is back, but he has not been the star of any of the three games he has played since his return.
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Posted in Game Recaps, Golden State Warriors
Tagged Andris Biedrins, CJ Watson, Coby Karl, corey maggette, Don Nelson, Golden State Warriors, Monta Ellis, Rony Turiaf, stephen jackson, Vladimir Radmanovich
Steven Jackson showed his love for coach Don Nelson and his former teammates with hugs and smiles before tipoff last night, right before burying them with a dominant performance before the booing ignorant in Oracle arena. That’s who Stephen Jackson is, and that’s what he does on the basketball court.
In his comments both before and after the game, Jackson stressed that his actions in forcing a trade from the Warriors had absolutely nothing to do with Don Nelson or his teammates. About Nelson, he said “I have a lot of respect and love for Don Nelson.” And he was equally effusive in his praise and affection for his teammates. The reason why Jackson wanted off the Warriors was because of the ownership. He wants to play for ownership that wants to win, and he doesn’t believe that’s the case with the Warriors’ owner. I think he’s right about that, and I don’t blame him one bit.
Go in peace, Stephen Jackson.
I just got around to watching the game on tape, and was again depressed by the let down in effort that the Warriors are currently going through. It appears to be contagious, because my energy level is suffering along with the Warriors, particularly after a long hard night battling over the green felt. So if you’re looking for an insightful recap, I’m going to pass the ball to the consistently excellent Mike Massa at the Examiner. He hit this nail on the head.
Stephen Jackson is returning to the Oracle with the Charlotte Bobcats. No doubt the Warriors faithful will be letting him have it. But I would not boo him myself if I were at this game. I have a very strong admiration for Jackson as a basketball player, that was not diminished by the actions he took to separate himself from the Warriors. Continue reading →
Chris Paul and the Hornets at the Oracle tonight. They’ve gone 10-4 so far in January to get their record up to 24-20, and I have no idea how they’ve done it. This is not a great basketball team. I wrote after the last time the Warriors played them that the Warriors had surpassed them in talent, and I stand by that assessment. Chris Paul is carrying them.
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Posted in Golden State Warriors, Pre-Game Jitters, Previews
Tagged Andris Biedrins, Anthony Tolliver, corey maggette, Don Nelson, Golden State Warriors, Monta Ellis, Rony Turiaf, stephen jackson, Vladimir Radmanovich
The Warriors are -7.5 point favorites, dressing only 4 1/2 NBA players. Huh? This can mean only two things. One, those 4 1/2 players are pretty good. And two, its the New Jersey Nets. Continue reading →
Was this a basketball game or a football game? Pound, Dribble… Pound, Dribble… Pound, Dribble. The Cavs attacked the Warriors interior relentlessly with their gargantuan front line of Shaquille O’Neill, Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Anderson Varejao. Pound, Dribble… Pound, Dribble… Pound dribble. The Warriors made goal line stand after goal line stand. One by one, their big men were carried off the field of play. Rony Turiaf with an ankle sprain, Andris Biedrins with 5 fouls and a sprain to his pride.
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Posted in Game Recaps, Golden State Warriors
Tagged Andris Biedrins, Anthony Morrow, CJ Watson, corey maggette, Don Nelson, Golden State Warriors, Monta Ellis, Rony Turiaf, stephen jackson, Vladimir Radmanovich
The wind chill in Chicago tonight was 12 degrees. It appeared that the Warriors felt it: they shot 38% in this game. I’m guessing in the second half it was a lot closer to 25%. Its pretty tough to win on the road when you are that cold. And yet, the Warriors looked like the better team for most of this game, and despite all their struggles, had a tie score and the ball with 24 seconds left. They ran an isolation for Monta Ellis at the top of the key, he drove the lane, ignored Anthony Morrow standing wide open in the corner, and flung up a contested airball. The Warrior’s frigid shooting continued in overtime, and that was the ballgame. Continue reading →
Posted in Game Recaps, Golden State Warriors
Tagged Anthony Morrow, anthony randolph, CJ Watson, corey maggette, Don Nelson, Golden State Warriors, Keith Smart, Monta Ellis, stephen jackson, Vladimir Radmanovich
The Warriors are +1.5 dogs at the 2-19 New Jersey Nets. Now that’s embarrassing! The Warriors are now riding a 4 game losing streak of their own, and have lost 6 out of their last 7. I expect them to be a little bit hot about that, and bring everything they’ve got tonight. And by everything, I mean all 7 men. That’s right, Anthony Morrow is back, and so far as we know, no one injured themselves getting off the bus.
(Update: Mike Massa at the Examiner is reporting that Anthony Randolph may miss this game due to a family situation. There you go, Warriors fans. Adjust your handicapping accordingly.)
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Welcome back Don Nelson! The Warriors’ capo is returning to the bench tonight after his bout with pneumonia.
The Warriors are +2 home dogs against Houston tonight. The Warriors lost by 1 to Houston at home in a heartbreaker on opening night, but they will not be taking the floor with the same team tonight. How about no Biedrins, no Randolph, no Jackson, no Azubuike, and possibly no Turiaf? In their place, Vlad Rad and Chris Hunter. And maybe Devean George. In the Warriors favor, the Rockets are playing the back end of a back-to-back (they demolished the Gordon-less Clippers last night in LA).
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The Charlotte Bobcats blew out the Wizards in Washington in their last game 92-76. Nick Young, the Wizards promising young shooting guard, had averaged 20 pts. in his previous two games. Jackson got him out of the game quickly, by posting him up and drawing two quick fouls. Young finished 4-11 for 10 pts. The Bobcats now have a four game winning streak, that includes a win against the Cavs. They are now 6-1 ATS since the Jackson trade, 5-1 ATS since I began the Bobcats Bet.
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