Posts tagged ‘stephen jackson’

Just when we thought the drama of the Warriors’ offseason was over, we get news that makes our stomachs turn. Monta Ellis will be out for at least three months after suffering a torn ankle ligament while training near his Jackson, Mississippi home.

Ellis is coming off a season that put him in elite company, joining Kevin Johnson, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and David Thompson as a 22 year old guard (or younger), who averaged 20 points per game and 50 percent shooting for the season.

Now the Warriors will have to rely on newly acquired Marcus Williams to run the point. Expect Stephen Jackson and Marco Belinelli to also have a major hand in running Nellie’s squad until Monta gets back.

Ellis was expected to take over the point guard spot vacated by Los Angeleno Baron Davis. More news on how this will effect Nellie’s game plan this year to come.

Your Warriors are out.

Box Score

What the heck was that?

Baron Davis played 17 minutes, Kosta Perovic played 13. The nuttiest thing about that information is that it seems like the correct move. Baron was dismal in his limited play. He ended up 2-13 and looked more like he was messing around one-on-one with his buddy Steve Nash than trying to help his team win their very last chance to stay in playoff contention. Nellie benched him the entire second half, one of many strange occurrences last night.

The Dubs came out all thumbs, just missing layups and bricking jumpers. The Suns took the lead after three minutes behind fat Shaq post points, and a deadly Nash/Amare pick and roll connection.

The Warriors’ game in the first half was an oddity of freak show proportions. We got to see line ups including Kosta P, Andris, and Uncle Austin at the same time. The strangest thing about the geek squad getting time was that they looked a lot more active and driven than the much touted heart and soul of the team. Kosta was a bit clumsy, but not inept. He didn’t back down from Shaq contact, fought hard for offensive rebounds, and ran the best he could. It was obvious he was sucking wind after a few minutes of real time game, but didn’t quit.

It’s tempting to get very gloomy about the fact that Nellie sat Baron for the entire half. There were no damage control quotes post game to put any kind of speculation speed bumps up either. Nellie merely said that he gave Baron some much needed rest, and BD left without speaking to reporters. If you want to delve into far reaching, pot stirring speculation head over to Tim Kawakami’s blog for his take on Boomgate.

The second half featured a new Dubs squad, and a new spark. Jack finally came alive, pouring in 16 points in the third - including 3 threes. The off brand Dubs managed to not only get out of the first half pit, they actually got up by as much as 8 behind solid play from Kaz, Austin, and their default point guard, Monta Ellis. Two things went right, Jack started bombing with accuracy, and they actually played some gosh dern defense.

Monta and the B-Team managed to push the lead up to 11 in the first few minutes of the fourth before the Suns got down to business and began waxing their playoff mustaches. Amare started getting to the line with a vengeance, while Bell and Barbosa hit some key three pointers. 

The Suns got back on top with 4 minutes left to play as the Dubs went cold. Jack was able to nail a very clutch three to tie it up once more, but the game was over when Monta missed his next jumper and the Suns put up 5 unanswered points.

Andris deserves more of a mention. He put up yet another double double, and had his old stickum grip back, catching Jack’s spitball passes on pick and rolls. Watching him and Kosta on the court together was entertaining, not in the look at the bizarre foreign giants way, more in the hey, those dudes can kinda get after it way.

The final game against Seattle is at home on Wednesday. I’ll be watching with a little tear in my eye. It won’t be a tear of shame, I’m just going to miss the guys, ya digg? 

Peace out 2007-2008 season, I’m not mad at ya. 48 or 49 wins is nothing to be ashamed of and there is plenty of hope for the future.

Your Warriors can still fly, and stumble….and fly.

Box Score

With a gratifyingly optimistic crowd at their back, the Dubs shook off a mental hangover from Thursday’s loss, and stormed the court in the first - tying their highest scoring quarter of the season at 42. Jack put up 10 - including 2 threes, and Al put up 13 - shooting well from the outside as well as driving strong. The Warriors’ lead blossomed to 20 points with a minute left in the quarter, and the Clippers appeared to be comfortable in their role as the evening’s tomato can .

Nellie was relaxed enough to leave Baron on the bench to start the second quarter - and was promptly reminded via 3 straight Clipper three pointers, and some sketchy Dubs’ possesions that nothing in life is certain, and that BD is the only man who can make this hoopty run.

The news that Denver had lost to the the Jazz was announced half way through the game, injecting the crowd with yet more hope juice. On the court the Warriors were running and flying, with Baron and Jack finding Monta, and even Patrick O’Bryant for alley-oops. Nellie got into a light hearted mood and faked a drive past Monta after finding the ball in his lap.

Meanwhile, the Clippers’ Cuttino Mobley was decimating the Warriors’ lead with quick turnaround jumpers. Al Thorton (aka the rookie Al Thorton) was ball hawking his way towards a double-double, and Corey Maggette the male model was perpetually getting to the line via throwing his body into whatever Dub was defending him.

The happy-go-lucky feel in the building was suddenly reversed when everyone noticed that the lead had shrunk to 5 points with just under 2 minutes left to play. Monta converted a drive, Jack hit a jumper and hit 5 free throws to keep the Dubs on top for the ugly win.

The final hope lies in the Nuggets dropping one of their two remaining games against Houston or Memphis, as well as the Warriors running the table against the Suns and Seattle.

Burnt out and broken down.

Box Score

In what was most likely the last relevent roller coaster ride of the season our Dubs got us high, low, and everywhere in between.

I’m not going to kick the corpse too much. The keys to defeat were glaringly obvious if you watched the game. Missed threes, missed free-throws, missed lay-ups, JR Smith, Allen Iverson, and most importantly, a dead in the water captain trio of Boom, Jack, and Barnes.

I know it’s a stretch to call a BD dead in the water when he put up a triple double, but he failed to rescue his squad with multiple chances at the end of the game.

Jack had the same type of night we’ve seen from him too often these last few weeks. He couldn’t get into the flow of the game and couldn’t hit any big threes.

Barnes again failed to get out of whatever personal pit he’s stuck in and was more of a sad memory than a contributor.

The Nuggets won this game with smart coaching, deadly shooting from their superstars and a vicious three point shooting bench squad. After watching his team get completely run to the tune of 37 points in the first quarter, George Karl moved into a zone defense and watched the Warriors shoot themselves in the foot with missed jump shots and lack of problem solving skills. Carmelo Anthony got unconscious, Allen Iverson made all the big shots, and JR Smith mercilessly pounded the Dubs with threes and dunks.

Monta and Andris were the bright spots in this thing. They are two pieces that are getting better by the game and the front office needs to figure out how to lock them up for the future.

That’s probably the end of the season for the Warriors. I don’t think it’s a cop out at all to call it a great one. The record will speak for itself, and watching Monta take his rightful place center stage was glorious. Don’t hang your head too much Dubs fans.

Right now I’m going to enjoy a sunny Friday off of work and start dreaming about next year.

exclusive postgame audio

Don Nelson

Baron Davis

Stephen Jackson

Relive the Jack magic from last year and get geeked for the showdown tonight.

Chris Paul runs his city.

Box Score

Chris Paul, Peja Stojakovic, David West, and Jannero Pargo made their rekindled fan base proud - and demonstrated that they belong in the top spot in the West.

The Dubs played a solid game with several strong contributions, but demonstrated why they’re scratching and clawing their way between 8th and 9th.

Monta and Andris were the go-to guys for the Warriors for the second game in row. Monta completely dominated on offense, driving and shooting his way to a game high 35 points, grabbing 10 rebounds, and snatching 4 steals. Beans was incredibly active beneath the basket and on the glass, putting up 17 points and grabbing 15 rebounds.

It was a good, competitive match. The Warriors lead for most of the first two quarters thanks to Monta and Beans. The Dubs’ defensive plan of aggressively fronting Tyson Chandler in the post was very effective, until the Hornets’ back-up point guard Jannero Pargo decided to become an assassin. Pargo piled on 16 points in 6 minutes in the heart of the second quarter, bringing NO back from the brink and kick-starting their offense.

Paul vs. Davis was the featured match up, unfortunately for us it ended up being very one sided.

Baron was booed soundly every time he touched the ball due to the messy end to his Hornets’ career. He shut up the boo-birds with big plays occasionally, but not for good.

The real star of the show was Chris Paul. Paul ran his team like the MVP he deserves to be, going off for a triple double with 16 points, 10 rebounds, 13 assists and 5 steals. The most telling shot of the night came from CP3 with 7:43 left in the game. The Warriors had just muscled their way back to a 90-90 tie, and looked hungry to go on a run when Paul took the game into his own hands and nailed a cold blooded three - triggering a 12-2 Hornets’ run, sealing the game.

In a perfect reflection of the game, Baron attempted his own three to answer Paul’s that fell short - triggering a small collapse by the Dubs and sealing the loss.

Al Harrington finally got a decent game under his belt, he and Monta carried the Dubs in the second half. The two provided 30 of the Warriors’ 45 third and fourth quarter points. Monta was unstoppable and was the toast of the ABC commentators.

The Hornets’ ultimately victorious answer was a deadly trio of Paul, West, and Stojakovic - those three calmly picked apart the Warriors’ defense and nailed all the open shots they needed to.  

Baron and Jack couldn’t come up with any magic. They each individually tried to make big plays but fell short. Baron went 8-22 from the field while Jack put in another weak performance, going 3-11 in 43 minutes. For a couple of guys who supposedly thrive under pressure and live for competition they sure look like they’re wilting after a gruelling season and have come up empty for the final run.

Jackson and Baron are struggling, and there is no one to fill that big of a gap. They’re the heart of the team, no young up-and-comers or bench player combo can cover for a disintegrating heart.

The Warriors aren’t the only ones scuffling; Denver dropped a double overtime loss against the rookie phenom Kevin Durant and his Sonics. We’re still tied for 8th with a head to head against them Thursday.  

Your Warriors ain’t dead yet.

Box Score

With some smart early play by Jack and Baron, and not a little bit of help from a dismal looking Griz squad, the Dubs’ youth movement got its most extended run of the season.

It’s all about perspective. If you were as down as I was on the team after the turrable Texas trouncings, this game should help. If we end up just outside of the playoffs this season at least we’ll have Monta, Brandan, Andris, and some combination of Marco, CJ, and Kaz to look forward to in the future. Grizzlies fans will have Rudy Gay, Mike Miller, draft picks and…..fantasizing about getting Darko off of their team. Pecking order you see, it’s all about finding someone worse off than you and making yourself feel better about your lot at their expense.

All Warriors all game.

Andris had 14 points and 12 rebounds by the end of the second quarter and BoomJack had already combined for 11 assists. The greybeards were obviously focused on moving the ball and Beans was the focal point on offense early on, running tight pick-and-rolls and boarding like mad. Andris finished the game with 21 points & 17 rebounds.

Kaz got another start, and his 40 minutes was the longest stretch on the team. He quietly went about his business, grabbing 10 boards and draining 3-5 threes. With Matt Barnes’ game on life support, Kelenna has really done well to fill the dirty work gap.

Marco Belinelli unexpectedly entered the game for Monta with a minute and a half left in the first, and stayed in for another 21 exciting minutes. In his post game interview he mentioned that Nellie told him to be ready to guard Juan Carlos Navarro, meaning that coach planned this whole circus out. It’s a bit frustrating to see Nelson start gambling with young player development this late in the season, but the results were hard to second guess. After floundering into two turnovers on his first two possessions, Marco shook off the jitters and got his summer league on. He was darting to open spots on the floor off of screens and blasting away with off balance jumpers from all over the court. 13 points on 6-11 shooting with 1 three.

CJ Watson also got a chance to get some licks in, running the point for the last six and a half minutes of the game. He racked up his 9 points in four minutes, going 4-4 with one three.

Brandan Wright’s go-go-gadget arms got 20 minutes of action and excelled against the unmotivated, soft Grizzlies front court. He looked smooth and silly skinny, getting two blocks.

Al looked like junk. He repeatedly tried to force his own shot in the paint, only to get rejected or brick it off the front of the rim. His thumb is wrapped and it seems to be completely throwing him off of his game.

Barnes once again made his presence felt via pain. He blatently shoved Kyle Lowry off of him during an out-of-bounds play in the fourth, earning yet another flagrant - and a suspension for the NO game on Sunday due to cumulative flagrant foul points. Frustration and pain are ruining Matt’s game, it’s a really sad turn of events for a player most of us want to see stick around and do well with the Warriors.

Oh yeah, Monta. The kid cruised through the game, looking like he was playing in high school again. He was a bit sloppy with the ball, picking up 4 turnovers, but was also opportunistic against the sloppy Grizzlies, picking up 4 steals. Mellow 19 points for All Day.

Conventional wisdom tells us that the extended rest for Baron and Jack is a positive sign for the Dubs’ chances against the Hornets on Sunday. The problem is that the Warriors repeatedly tell conventional wisdom to shove it. It’s an early one, 10 am local time on ABC so turn on, tune in and hold on.

PS: Dallas lost to the Lakers…damn I hate being happy about a Lakers’ win.

Your Warriors embarrassed themselves.

Box Score

Even I, the most silver-lining Warriors apologist to be found, have no spin for tonight’s collapse. The Dubs lost their identity. It was the Mavs making the hustle plays, the Mavs creating the turnovers and running the break, the Mavs hitting the back breaking shots, and the Mavs raising their fists in victory.

Outscored and outplayed each quarter, the Warriors never held the lead. Monta and Baron were the only discern-able offense, combining for 47 of the anemic 86 point total. Monta resurrected his jumper, and added a couple of rare threes on his way to a team high 27 points. No such dedication to defense could be found from either of our guards. Monta was conspicuously absent in transition, and Baron was thoroughly picked apart by Josh Howard or whomever he found himself guarding on a switch.

The Dubs’ combined assist total from the last two games is 18, 17 less than the Mavs put up tonight. The dribble, pass, dribble, chuck offensive set was occasionally supplemented by the dribble….dribble……chuck tactic.    

Jason Kidd has his way with the absent defense, dishing 17 dimes. Josh Howard was once again unstoppable against a team that didn’t bother to try and stop him. Jason Terry was feeling himself like he was checking for frostbite, he bombed away for 31 points. 

It was gut check time and the Warriors had nothing. Where was our ice cold killer, Stephen Jackson? Jack and Al combined for an epically hideous 2-20 shooting night. Al was sloppy and off, but Stephen Jackson was bizarrely absent. The Dubs couldn’t win games without Jack at the beginning of the season, and they can’t seem to win games with this checked out version during the final push. The ESPN play-by-play team had this observation after watching him get the ball cleanly picked by Eddie Jones, “Stephen Jackson is looking around the court like he doesn’t know where he is”, I had no idea where he was either.

It may be all the huge minutes on Baron and Stephen adding up. Their bodies may be collapsing due to the style of play and grind they’ve been through so far this season and simply too out of gas for the home stretch.

Seeing a team that is all heart show such a lack of resolve was a bit heartbreaking. I’m thinking about blowing the lid off of the Santa conspiracy to my 3 year old nephew, just to have someone to share my disillusionment with.

“It’s just like last year — it’s just that we have a better record this year, but we’re still fighting to get in the playoffs like last year,” said Stephen Jackson.

Jack knows it, as do Nellie, Baron and the whole crew. The Warriors are in for a fight to the end and losses like this one will not help their cause. The Spurs played as they typically do against the Dubs, and thus for 20th straight time in San Antonio, the Warriors walked out with a loss.

Baron had 19 to pace the Warriors, but Jack and Monta were off and that spelled doom for GSW’s hope for a sweep of the Texas two-step. With eight games to play in what has been a terrific season, the Warriors are still on the outside looking in - ninth place in the Western Conference.

While the Warriors’ big three were held in check, the same could not be said of the Spurs’ big dogs. Tony Parker dropped home 26 points, Timmmmy added 17 & 12 rebounds, while Manu the Flopper scored 16.

Adding insult to injury, the Spurs stifled GSW’s streak of having scored 100 or more points in 37 straight games. A stinging loss at a crucial time. We’ll see if the boys can fight back against Dallas in what could be labeled as the biggest game of the year.

Adam Lauridsen of the San Jose Mercury News and I break down the recent stretch of games, including this one, and look to the final eight regular season contests in our latest podcast.

Also, we have some breaking news regarding Marco Belinelli, as you’ll read here.

Or maybe not.

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