Posts tagged ‘Blazers’

Your Warriors took care of the baby Blazers.

Box Score

You know you’re a Warriors fan when you get nervous if a fourth quarter lead dips below twenty points.

Baron looked like he was ready to hurl from the flu, but Nellie still put him in for 27 minutes. Boom and the team had a horrendous 22 point first quarter. They got down by as much as 14 and were dominated by Portland’s active young big man LaMarcus Aldridge. The Dubs woke up in the second with Al hitting his threes, Monta and Kaz scoring inside, and Jack running the show. Warriors down by 1 at the half.

The warm Warriors fuzzies started kicking in in the third quarter. The defensive intensity picked up, Monta, Baron, and Jack started getting hot, and our old friend Matt Barnes finally came home to the fans that love him.

I was at the horrible loss against the Hawks in February and something stuck in my mind from that game. Matt Barnes had a miserable outing, one of many from this season. The guys sitting behind me were moaning about him the entire game, busting out “brain-dead Barnes”, and just plain hating. I’m not adverse to calling out struggling players (ahem…pre-trade deadline Peety), but to submarine Matt after his from out of nowhere contribution last year, and his devastating personal loss this year was low. Matt Barnes pulled himself up from NBA obscurity last season and has come to really embody the general Warriors identity. He’s grimy, not a little bit dirty now and again, unpredictable, and straight up hungry.

Welcome back Matt.

Barnsey had what I hope was his comeback game. He put up 8 points and grabbed 8 boards to the delight of the proud Oracle crowd. It was awesome to hear the fans scream in unison for him when he hit his first three. The standing ovation he got as he went to the bench more than made up for the hateration I suffered through at that Hawks game.

The steamroller was gassed up and ready to roll for the fourth. The Warriors were up 19 and Nellie felt confident enough to completely empty the bench. Barnes led CJ, Kaz, Brandan, Uncle Austin, Marco, and Kosta to the easy win.

Denver came back to beat Dallas earlier, cutting our cushion to a 1/2 game ahead of them. The back to back against both of them on Saturday and Sunday is going to be massive. Go Warriors!

PS: Fascinating, fairly cathartic insight on the Delaney call from Monday’s Laker game from Marcus Thompson’s blog. Not that we’re bitter or anything:

The league does, however, share its findings on controversial calls when a member of the media asks. So I asked. And Stu Jackson answered.
“We did review,” he said Tuesday. “The call was incorrect.”

exclusive postgame audio

Baron Davis

Stephen Jackson

Nate McMillan

LaMarcus Aldridge

It’s a special Western conference playoff race edition on TNT tonight. Dallas at Denver is the early game, followed by your Warriors vs. Portland.

Who to root for in the Mavs/Nugs clash? Do you want to see Dallas win and keep Denver at bay, or do you want to revel in yet another Dallas collapse, watching them struggle to get into the playoffs that they seem to consider their birthright? AI & Melo failing to live up to their potential, or Avery Johnson sweating teeny, uptight bullets? No matter who you’re rooting for, it’s some must see TV.

The Dubs caught a break on Tuesday when one of the Blazers’ conerstones went down. Jason Quick details the injury:

Brandon Roy says he wants to play again this season, but in all likelihood, the Trail Blazers guard said he will miss at least the next two weeks, and possibly the final 10 games of the season because of injuries suffered Tuesday night to his hip and groin.

There’s been a plague of groin injuries, Cro, Peety, and now the bug has moved North. You gotta stretch suckas! 

Forget about the West you may say, what’s up with Milwaukee?

Andrew “No Mates” Bogut is living a lonely public life as a Buck. Check out this impressive lack of chemistry.

Your Warriors held it down at home against the upstart Blazers - keeping themselves relevant before heading out on a busy road trip.

Box Score

It was a good weekend for the Dubs. They calmly dispatched the Sixers on Friday , and earned an excellent win against the Blazers tonight.

Portland has been problematic for the Warriors this season, dominating their first two match ups. This game was different. The Dubs ran wave after wave of different looks at the Blazers, consistently out hustling them and keeping one step ahead all four quarters.

Brandan Wright started his second game in a row and he made an immediate impact. He was a jolt of energy for a team that has looked sluggish at the beginning of games for most of the season. Jughead was everywhere on the court, grabbing 6 rebounds (3 offensive) and pouring in 8 points before being subbed out. He didn’t look jittery at all and did everything we need him to with Andris recovering. Captain Jack also started off in fine style, hitting 3 threes and adding 11 points total in the first.

The Blazers kept it close for entire game and even got up by 2 early in the fourth, but the Warriors were able to impose their chaotic style and pull back ahead each time their lead was threatened. They kept the energy high on defense and challenged almost every possession, racking up fast break points and keeping Portland back on their heels.

Monta had yet another gloriously efficient night, going 9-16 for 22 points, dishing 6 and grabbing 10 big boards. Captain Jack was on fire, ending the game with 29 points (6 threes) and 9 rebounds. Baron struggled for his second game in a row, but his teammates made sure he didn’t have to try and play the hero.

The Dubs started and ended the game strong. They got big plays from everyone and look hot heading into an important week of road games. It’s a back-to-back with Atlanta and Charlotte on Tuesday and Wednesday, Thursday off, and then Miami and Orlando on Friday and Saturday.

Denver lost to the streaking Rockets tonight, giving us a small bit of breathing room in the standings, but things are still tighter than gnat booty in the West.