Showdown in Little Roar-acle

By ShavedAsian:

And here we are, more than 24 hours before the biggest game of the season… With four games left, this is a MUST MUST WIN for the Warriors. If they win this game, they’re in the driver’s seat.

The Dubs need to finish one game ahead of the Nuggets in the standings since the Nuggets hold the tie-breaker. If we win tomorrow, we are a game up on Denver.  And I expect them to win two of the last three games of the season, against the Clips and Sonics.  If the Warriors win two of three, then Denver will need to go 3-0 to get into the Playoffs.  Since the Nuggets play both the Rockets and the Jazz, this will be a tough task.  But, if the Warriors lose tomorrow, they would need to go 3-0 for the rest of the season (against the Clips, Suns, and Sonics) and pray that Denver goes 1-2 (Utah, Houston, Memphis). Now, that isn’t impossible but with the unpredictable play from both teams, you don’t want to count on a Denver loss.

The Warriors have lost all three of the previous Must Win games (Denver, Dallas, New Orleans) up to this point. However, what makes tomorrow’s game different is that this is a home game. This should make us the favorite, right? I mean, we are a great home team, have loud and intellectual fans(when they’re not doing The Wave during critical moments of a game), and Denver is a lousy away team… But being a Warriors fan for such a long time has naturally turned me into a pessimist. This is what bothers me:

1. Over their last ten games against the Top 8 teams in the Western Conference, the Warriors are 2-8, the only wins coming from the Gasol/Bynum-less Lakers, and the Dirk/Stackhouse-less Mavericks.


2. What genius scheduled a Western Conference game at 5PM?!?! This will certainly affect the home court advantage. Most people do not work 5-2, 6-3, or 7-4 shifts. I remember last year in the Western Conference Semi-Finals against the Jazz, Game 3 started at 6PM. For the first quarter, the lower bowl seats were about half to 2/3 full. And that was for a Playoff game! What makes our arena so valuable is that our team feeds from the energy of the fans. Will the Warriors feed off of a half-full stadium for much of, if not all, of first half? Heck, if this were a Laker game at Staples, fans would be filtering in until the game ended.


3. Our defense has been lousy. We allowed 132 points to the Kings last night, and this was without Brad Miller or Ron Artest playing. The only time we beat Denver this year was when we made an effort to play defense. The other games, where we tried to outrun/outscore them, ended in losses. Hopefully, the return of Pietrus should cause some problems for Carmelo, and Baron can bottle up AI.

I hope we win tomorrow, so I don’t have to make a “Scenario Generator” for the remaining three games. Some sort of makeshift flow chart on how the Warriors can get to the Playoffs (my God, I SO see this coming). But even if we lose tomorrow, and end up not making the Playoffs, I am satisfied with what has been a very entertaining season…. who am I kidding…they better WIN!!

The Number 8 spot: Who wants it less?

After watching, my beloved Bruins for the last time on Saturday, my mood quickly lightened when I found out that the Kings upset the Nuggets to tie them for the 8th and final Playoff spot with the Warriors.  When one of my teams fall, another rises to take its place!  Much like the Sith lords in Star Wars.

Early the next day, I was treated to a Sunday Matinee.  The Dubs were “fighting for their Playoff lives” against the number one team in the Western Conference, the New Orleans (yes, apparently, Louisiana is in the West) Hornets.  I had great expectations for this game, especially after Friday’s game against the Grizzlies, where Marco “Rambo” Belinelli had, what I thought, was a breakout game.  It was time for the Dubs to seize the 8th spot, and after 5 months of waiting, it was time for our first round draft pick to get some f’in PT!

The game started off the same way the Memphis game did.  Baron and Stack Jack made an effort to find Andris Biendrins inside, running the pick and roll to perfection, and Monta Ellis started attacking the rim, like any big-time player should in such a pivotal game.  Voila!  Up by twelve!  Finally, I thought.  They are showing a sense of urgency!  This game’s in the bag!  Time to run this team off the court and sweep the final 6 games of the season!!

Then, in the 2nd quarter, the shit hit the fan, and it hit it hard…enter the obvious Warrior killer, Jannero Pargo?!?!?!  Pargo put on his best Michael Jordan vs the Portland Trailblazers in Game 1 of the Finals impersonation, and scored 15 straight points without missing a shot.  As Pargo continues to chip away at the lead, Baron, fueled by the boos from the Hornets fans, decided to turn the game into a personal vendetta against the city of New Orleans.  Boy, did that backfire…he proceeded to chuck 3 pointer after 3 pointer, missing all of them.  No effort at all was made to attack the rim, where Tyson Chandler had been crippled by three fouls, and was hessitant to challenge any shots.  Actually I stand corrected… Al Harrington and Stephen Jackson attempted to post up, after Baron missed what seemed like his 7th straight three pointers.  But those of us who watch enough Warriors games know that whenever Al or Stack Jack post up, with the sole intent of getting to the rim, disaster is soon to follow.  Usually Al does an awkward spin move, and he either gets rejected at the rim or misses the lay-up.  Stack Jack will get stripped of the ball and complain to the ref, as the opposing team waltzes in for a lay-up on the other end.  If the Dubs were content with chucking up threes and turning the ball over, they should have might as well put their best three point threat (Rambo), in the game.  But Sly never got a look.  There was no “One more round” moment ala Rocky V.

With the combination of Pargo heating up, and Warriors’ selfishness on offense, the Warriors lead (along with my erection) soon evaporated, and the Hornets had an 8 point lead by halftime.  And to my amazement, thanks to the exclusive half time locker room footage that ABC provided, I saw Nellie assure his distraught team that they were sticking to the game plan, since it was working.  I guess the game plan was to attack the rim early to establish the lead.  Then, once you have the lead, keep taking three pointers until you make one, no matter how many it takes.

In the second half, the Warriors started to look inside again, and they cut into the lead.  But with awful games from just about everyone BUT Monta and Beans, they were unable to take control of the game.  Every time they got within striking distance it seemed like someone would either miss a contested jump-shot or turn the ball over.  I had to turn the TV off with three minutes left, where a lazy pass by Baron lead to a runaway dunk going the other way.

Now, call me bitter, but this game made me realize how much I dislike Chris Paul.  He has this facial expression on his face the whole time where he looks like he’s on the verge of tears.  And regarding that Wired segment they showed, where he was pleading to Byron Scott to play him the rest of the game… oh my God… has their ever been a more desperate attempt from an NBA player to brainwash the league into thinking he deserves the MVP trophy?  He knew he was mic’d, and this would probably be the only nationally televised game he would be on before the Playoffs… Way to ham it up, CP-3PO! I compare that to Kristie Lee Cook’s “Please Vote for Me” AI performance of Proud to be an American.

This loss was completely discouraging.  Almost as disappointing as the the Dallas game last week.  This past month, the Dubs have been playing sub .500 basketball.  What’s even more disheartening is that this same team went 9-1 last year on its way to the Playoffs. The general consensus is that the team is just tired, and once they are done with their back-to-back games, they’d return to form.  And, now that they’re actually behind in the standings, they will start playing with the same fire as they did last year.  But there is a huge difference between last year’s team and this years’ team.  The body language is completely different.  Al looks lost half the time, and it doesn’t look like Stack Jack and Baron have that same energy and hunger.  Last year’s team played its heart out, like every game was its last.  This year’s team is playing not to lose.  They play each game as if, they’re saving their A game for a later time.  Now, should be that time.

However, I can take solace in the fact that the Nuggets are playing just as lethargically.  Last night they lost to the Sonics in double overtime, so they are still tied with the Warriors.  They lost to a Sonics team, who’s second scoring option, at one point, was Damien Wilkins.  Wilkins is not the son of NBA great Dominique, but that of the self proclaimed

“Jordan stopper” Gerald Wilkins.

I still remember MJ shouting at the Cleveland bench “He can’t guard me… he can’t GUARD me!” every time he abused Wilkins.

It doesn’t really seem like either team is playing like they want to be or should be in the Playoffs.  But, hopefully the Warriors can beat the Nuggets this Thursday, and end the season winning one more game than the Nuggets.

Warriors Come Out And Play

Man, this is going to be a tight finish and it’s going to be hard for me to believe that they don’t make the playoffs, but it could happen. Maybe this will inspire them just a bit.

Where’s the Utah footage? No comment.

Lick my balls

By Albert:

after last night’s loss, the GSW fans this morning were a bit too happy. granted it was an exciting win, but three of our bigs were on the shelf and Phil keeps insisting on giving Luke Walton minutes. it was another win on a back to back night. something that’s been huge for the Lakes this year, a feat not accomplished much the last couple of years. still not attacking the zone with dives and cuts enough and Ronny is too passive when he does get the ball in the middle against the zone. that’ll change when La Bestia gets back. way to many minutes for Mamba and Lamar too. they should be taking nights off, but with the west so cutthroat lose a game here and there you’re suddenly out of the Dance. good game tonight, a playoff atmosphere sans a Jessica Alba sighting (did catch plenty of Stratton glimpses though). see you chaps in the playoffs, stop with the hate already GSW fans. can’t we just all get along?

the 88’ retro jerseys are tits, but those Golden State joints make me pine for a Xzibit, Ras Kass, and Saffir album to the end!

Chris Webber Is Set To Retire

In January I wrote that we had to love Chris Webber or leave him alone. And left him alone I did. And I bet he was thankful because he brought absolutely nothing to the team. He wasn’t even a shell of his former self. More like a toe nail.

But, I will give him one thing. He didn’t let his injury linger and give the Warriors fans false hope. According to ESPN.com’s Marc Stein, the former All Star is set to retire tomorrow. While I have hated the guy since he left, and left him alone when he signed with the Warriors, it’s time for me to be ok with him now. He can’t play ball anymore and thus, I can’t hate him anymore.

NBA All-Star Game ‘08: Where’s B-Diddy?

In the year after the Golden State Warriors shocked the basketball world and beat the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the playoffs, one would think that they would finally get their due, especially after winning 32 games in the first half of this year. But no. Not only do they have the third best record in all of basketball since getting Stephen Jackson back in the lineup, but they also have possibly the most exciting team in the league. They definitely have the most exciting back court duo. So when it’s Baron Davis’ turn to be on the All-Star team, he’s passed by. Maybe Baron will use the frustration to help him when the Warriors beat someone in the first round of the playoffs again. You know it’s happening.

Also, no Young Randall, no Eddy Zucko, no HJ, and no Luchadors. They were with me last year, but this year, it’s just little old me.

Predictions:

I think the West will win, Carmelo Anthony will win MVP, and Antawn Jamison will win the Tyrone Hill award for least minutes played in the game. Kobe could possibly win it, but I think he’ll play at least 10 minutes.

I’m not sure that the Western team’s b-boy pose after the introductions can be topped. The smile on Yao’s face was priceless. The NBA, where “what do I do with my arms?” happens.

And before we actually get to the game, we might as well show the best part of last night’s All-Star Saturday Night. Superman was in the house.

• Every All-Star game I’ve blogged, the West has won. So you can pretty much bet the house tonight on the West.
  
• I wonder if Jason Kidd will accidentally pass it to Dirk Nowitski, thinking that he’s supposed to be on the Mavs?
  
• The East scores the first six points and all on dunks. Let’s just say defense isn’t on the mind of the Western squad.
  
• Kobe only played the first three minutes and I’m not sure if he touched the ball.
  
• So far, the story of this game is that the West likes to settle for jumpers and the East likes to dunk. Guess who’s winning?
  
• Thanks to Melo and AI, the West is back in this thing.
  
• Rip Hamilton is so old school, he caught an alley-oop and instead of dunking it, he laid it in.
  
• TO is in the house, but I don’t see any tears. I guess no one made fun of Tony Romo.
  
• David West is in this game? Oh yah, he took B-Diddy’s spot.
  
• The youngsters Brandon Roy and Chris Paul are working it together. By the way, Roy and West are the two guys in this game I couldn’t pick out in a police lineup.
  
• There’s been a Chest Hair Boozer sighting. He just grabbed a rebound.
  
• The East just threw three alley-oops on one play. I think it was Joe Johnson to Jason Kidd to Lebron James to Dwight Howard.
  
• David Aldridge mentioned earlier that it looks like the Jason Kidd trade is on. All they have to do is convince Keith Van Horn to play again after not playing for over a year as he’s a part of the deal. While they’re at it, why don’t they get Jimmy Jackson and Jamal Mashburn to come out of retirement and trade them as well?

 

Bring This Guy Back So You Can Trade Him

• Rasheed just nailed a three pointer from the top of the key. No biggie right? But he shot it left handed.
  
• At the half, Lebron has the Magic Johnson All-Star game stat line with triple double definitely in sight.
  
• Looks like Kobe and his pinkie finger are done for the rest of the game.
  
• AI is trying his hardest to keep the West in this, but Lebron and company have other ideas.
  
• If Chest Hair Boozer would make his layups, this game might be closer.
  
• Has Byron Scott always had the porn stashe going? Dude needs to buy some little scissors to trim that dirty thing.

 

The Dirty Stashe

• Paul is bringing these guys back. Amare Stoudamire looks like the East Dwight Howard and Dirk is finally playing well. The West just took their first lead.
  
• Big Play Ray Allen is killing it and wearing the new Jordan’s at the same time.
  
• Brandon Roy is getting some definite crunch time play over AI, Melo, and Stevie Nash.
  
• Thanks to a Lebron dunk in traffic and a D-Wade layup where he hit the floor and got the foul (what’s new?), the East is back up by four with 30 seconds to go.
  
• Big Play Ray and LBJ put the game away, though the West made it fun in the end. Lebron is the MVP and he just missed a triple double. And my predictions were terrible.

Chris Webber’s First Game Back

I know what’s exciting for GS Warriors fans who are looking forward to Chris Webber’s return. It will be that no look pass or that trail dunk or maybe that rebound and snarl. But for me? I just want to see Webber go at it with Joe Smith in the battle of former highly touted Warriors rookies who lasted on the team 3 years or less.

Let’s just say that Joe Smith played like a former number one pick and Webber played like someone who hadn’t picked up a ball in a long time.

The Warriors played terribly for the about the first 20 minutes of the first half. But in the last 4 minutes of the half, they played brilliantly. I’ve definitely been keeping up with them this season but have only watched them on TV a handful of times. The one thing that stands out is Monta Ellis’ confidence. There were two plays where he took the ball right to the hole and dunked, where last year I’m not sure he doesn’t either pull up for a short jumper or pass. Maybe last year’s failures in the playoffs helped in his growing up. With the exception of Baron Davis, he looked like the best player on the court. The Bulls played without Kirk Heinrich, Ben Gordon, and Luol Deng and played above their heads, some in part due to the lack of Warriors defense. In the second half, the game was more stable, but the same things that plagued the Warriors in the first half (terrible at stopping penetration and not getting into defensive position), killed them in the second. They even had the lead for a short time, but played lazy on both ends and couldn’t come back. 

Superstar In The Making

As for Webber? He looked like a guy who hadn’t played in a long time. He looked achy. He looked like a guy who doesn’t want to run or jump. On offense, he can still pass from the post and get a blocked shot when you need it on defense. But the Warriors play so rag tag that Don Nelson is going to have to take Webber out when they need to change it up. And they always seem to need to change it up. Webber was a non-factor and I wonder how many times he’s going to be just that this year.

There was one telling play for Warriors fans that didn’t even mean anything in the game. Early in the first quarter, Joe Smith took a fade away sideline jumper that missed, but went to the free throw line because he was fouled by Webber. There were a lot of hopes and dreams involved in that play that seemingly went down the toilet when Webber forced his trade and when Smith turned out to be softer than toilet tissue.

In the end, the Bulls looked like the rested team, even though they were playing the second game on a back to back. Chris Duhon tried to be Michael Jordan and the Warriors didn’t do anything to stop him. The Warriors played defense like it didn’t matter. They had every chance to win it too. Every time they penetrated, it resulted in a great look or a layup chance. But for some reason, they wanted to shoot 25 footers all night. They’re going to give me a heart attack before this season is over.