Posts tagged ‘Sonics’

Your Warriors bolstered Kevin Durant’s case for rookie of the year.

Box Score

Man I’m glad I didn’t end up grabbing tickets at the last minute for this one.

Fan appreciation night you say? We can all appreciate seeing the rise of Kevin Durant (Kid Delicious), but I certainly would appreciate it more if it hadn’t been at the Warriors’ expense. What a baffling loss to end a baffling month.

Due to the TV blackout I split my time between listening to the radio while making dinner and watching the box score updating on my laptop. I noticed what seemed like a fairly inspired comeback attempt in the fourth, and a whole lotta uncontested buckets from the Supersonics.

First quarter collapse, stifled by the zone, no D, no big runs from BD. That’s as much as I can really speak to. Kevin Durant obviously went off hard, finishing the game with career highs in scoring, 42, and rebounds, 13, that’s superb. Monta was the leading scorer for the Dubs with 24 (11-17!), Andris was a stud with 20 points and 17 boards, Marco Belinelli was a sharpshooter, nailing 5-6 threes, wish I could have seen that. 

After benching Baron for the entire second half against the Suns, Nellie went ahead and played him 39 minutes last night. Adam reports in his recap that it wasn’t a pretty sight:

But the veterans that were supposed to lead this team to playoff glory — Davis, Jackson, Harrington — looked defeated and disinterested. They shot a combined 12-40 from the field and managed 7 rebounds between them (6 from Davis). As bad as the stats look, the body language was even more offensive.

Baron’s numbers back up that visual. Our leader’s final outing of the season netted him 36% fg rate on 8-22 shooting. He hit 5-12 threes, that’s chucking.

I have no personal insight into the swamp of motivations that drive Don Nelson and Baron Davis. They are both larger-than-life figures with a history of bridge burning, chip-on-the-shoulder cultivating, and dogged stubbornness. As a dedicated follower of the team for equal personality, and play reasons I can only hope that this end will be a catalyst for reevaluation and rebuilding, rather than mistrust and disintegration.     

The postseason is upon us, let the speculation run wild and free.  

After another lazy start, your Warriors put on their second half hard hats, listened to their Uncle Austin, and went to work.

Box Score

The Warriors gave another first half away to another sub-par team. They came out looking stiff and scattered, allowing the Sonics to get up 13-4 before getting their heads into the game after back to back steals from Baron, and Brandan Wright. The Sonics feasted on dunks and lay ups, and Kevin Durant was a highlight reel. The Sonics’ lead shrank and grew but was never erased. Baron and Monta did all of the work on offense for the Dubs. Both guards were aggressively driving the ball and they kept the Warriors in the game while Al and Jack struggled.

Uncle Austin Croshere was in the starting line-up for the second half, and was the difference for the Warriors in this game. He’s a smart, grizzled veteran and does all of the basic things that the rest of the squad can’t seem to. Mainly, he boxes out, rebounds, and consistently is in the right place at the right time.

With Cro leading the charge, the Warriors steamed back into the game in the third. Earl Watson was out for Seattle due to a respiratory infection, so the Sonics’ only real point guard was Luke Ridnour. Whenever PJ rested Ridnour, the 6-7 forward Mickael Gelabale handled the point…poorly. The Warriors robbed the Sonics blind in the second half. Everyone harrassed their assignments and slapped the ball loose whenever it came near them. Steals for the Warriors is like blood in the water for sharks, it gets them very excited. The fast breaks started flowing and the lead changed hands for good with a little over 3 minutes left in the third. Jack, Al, and Peety got into the spirit of things in the fourth, poured on a few threes and sealed the win.

Defense drove this Warriors’ win. When they got into their opponents’ faces and start challenging every possession the game opened up and they were able to get running on offense. The young, undermanned Sonics were low hanging fruit for this type of game plan.

Austin Croshere: Plays hard and smart. His back is beyond wonky and we won’t be able to depend on him, but just like he did in Minnesota earlier in the season, he was able to infuse the team with confidence after making some good, tough plays against an inexperienced team.

Monta Ellis: Was back after a rough (for him) game against the Hawks. Before the Cro show started he and Baron were the only Warriors scoring consistently. His nutty FG line is back too, 14-22.

Baron Davis: Went for the throat on steals, picking up 7 against the clumsy Sonics. He also scored 20 and dished 10.

Brandan Wright: Appeared to have some rookie jitters early in the first but played within himself and contributed a bit in his short minutes. His face-to-face block on Durant in the second was possibly the lankiest thing I’ve ever witnessed. Nellie rewarded his good play from the Hawks game with minutes, hopefully he earned some more this time around. I like how he looks in the line up.

Chris Webber: Is doing what all the coaches said he wouldn’t, slowing the Dubs down. He kills the team’s energy when he’s on the floor. His lack of movement completely negates the scramble that fires up the Warriors D and he gets burned consistently. He might be able to help here and there as a sub, but he’s only hurting at this point.

Stephen Jackson: Had a pretty off night offensively, and his ankle doesn’t look good, but he’s still an anchor for the team and they need him on the court to bring a bit of order and execution.

Al & Peety: Al had a bad shooting night. Pietrus was bouncing off the walls as usual. He got some points and steals, he got a lot of fouls, and he almost took some poor woman’s head off with his crotch while diving out of bounds for a ball that had just slipped out of his hands (after making a clean steal!). I think that pretty much sums up his game: occasionally-thrilling-and-useful-dumb-out-of-controlness.

We’re right on the inside of the bubble, sitting at 8th, 1 game up on Denver. See you on Friday for some Philly Soul staring Iggy and the Sixers.

exclusive postgame audio

Don Nelson

Monta Ellis

Austin Croshere

Baron Davis