Wow, Golden State up 102-76 with 7 minutes left in the 4th. I thought the Warriors would make it interesting, but I didn't think they'd destroy Dallas either.
<div class="quote_poster">Bobcats Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Wow, Golden State up 102-76 with 7 minutes left in the 4th. I thought the Warriors would make it interesting, but I didn't think they'd destroy Dallas either.</div> Yeah shooting around 60% for about the whole game and keeping the Mavs under 40% is quite some destruction. Strangely, it appears that the Warriors decide to play defense when Baron is around. Otherwise, they seem to forget about defense, such as in the game vs. the Blazers. Stephen Jackson seems to enjoy playing with Baron as well. His assist numbers and production seems to increase with that duo. The Mavs have 23 turnovers and the Warriors only 12. Biedrins only has two rebounds. This is an insane game for the Warriors. The task, after closing this game out, is to start winning on the road. There are many games left on the road, and the Warriors can't afford to stumble even once. As far as I see it, this Mavs game only covers last night's defeat. Now it's time for this team to keep it together and win on the road, and just win period.
Well, what can I say? We had to take a difficult way to split back-to-back game, didn't we? Or for this team, is this natural? We got crushed against worse opponent at the road, but we are able to beat Dallas and its 17 games winning streak... Is there something in Oakland? Once again, we are back to PO race...
Golden State is now 4-0 when Davis/Richardson/Jackson/Harrington/Biedrins are starting. Now 1 game back of the Clippers. And why all of a sudden when Baron plays do the Warriors play defense? It's rare you see Dirk and Howard combine to shoot 8-26 from the field.
Damn hella of a game..we got outrebounded 50-28 and we still came out with the win. We're so much better with Baron playing. He just brings in this vibe and tenacity that we need to be a better team.
The reason why GS is a different team with Baron is simple: he's a leader. He's VERY vocal, VERY confident, VERY enthusiastic, and frankly he hates to be shown up. He hates to lose. When he's on the floor, it's obvious who the captain is. He gets the crowd into it, he slaps his teammates and scowls at the opponent. He's constantly talking to the refs, the opponents, and even the coaches. He wears a smile half the game, and a scowl the other half. Without Baron, this team searches for their identity. They look to eachother instead of looking within themselves. Don't get me wrong; I love the cast of teammates here. But it's obvious since JRich's injury, he's not ready to be a vocal leader, and Monta is too young. SJax is too new, and Foyle is too... nice. So, while sure -- he's a great player -- the main reason Baron impacts this team SO MUCH is simply because he is the leader and he shows them, reminds them, who they are. When he's on the floor, they think -- they believe -- they should win. It makes it fun, too, when the spotlight isn't on you to be the hero. Guys like Barnes, Pietrus, and Beans don't want to have to be asked to think too much. When you don't rely on them as playmakers, but rather just let them put their heads down and go to work, they're so much better.
<div class="quote_poster">Voodoo Child Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">What?!?! He threw a punch? I turn away from the tv for two minutes to read JBB, and that's what I miss? </div> No, Harris turned, stopped and turned to call a timeout and Barnes went for a steal like a lot of players do when they know the opponent is going to call a TO. Harris kind of bent over and tucked the ball in and Barnes went low for the steal and his arm/shoulder nailed harris in the face and he flew to the floor. Barnes walked off like nothing happened, didn't even look back and Harris got up and kind of stared him down while Terry was holding him. It was pretty funny at the time, especially with Harris flopping all over the place. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Well, Golden State is 3-0 with a lineup of Davis/Richardson/Jackson/Harrington/Biedrins. I think they could beat almost anybody in the league if they beat Detroit on the road. EDIT: BTW, this is exactly why I want the Warriors to get the 8th seed. Not only would it be great to see them in the playoffs for the first time in a million years, they also give Dallas a tough time. 64-51 Golden State as I write this.</div> FYI to all you non-Warrior fans, the Warriors are 5-1 in the last 6 against Dallas, including 4 (maybe 5 now, I can't remember exactly) in a row, they beat Dallas twice in Dallas last season and once in Dallas this season. This wan't some freak occurence that no GS fans expected. Theres something about Dallas... we just own them. Even when Montgomery was coach and Dunleavy and Murphy were here, we just own them. I'd much rather play them in the POs than San Antonio or Phoenix who completely own us. Playing them in the POs would be a great matchup and tons of storylines: Nellie former coach of Dallas, he and Cuban have major beef, Avery was his student, Warriors probably the only team to be dominating the Mavs in the Avery era, Damp former C of GS.
<div class="quote_poster">Bobcats Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Golden State is now 4-0 when Davis/Richardson/Jackson/Harrington/Biedrins are starting. Now 1 game back of the Clippers. And why all of a sudden when Baron plays do the Warriors play defense? It's rare you see Dirk and Howard combine to shoot 8-26 from the field.</div> Like Alley Oop said, Baron is the leader on both sides of the ball, he brings the swagger, toughness, leadership, clutchness, fearlessness. Sometimes it bites us in the ass but it seems like now that Baron has competent teammates who can hit open shots hes been much better and more willing to distribute rather than force it. Although he plays with a lot of style hes still got a good A/TO ratio, the guy never loses the ball. His defense is also underrated. The guy applies a ton of pressure on ballhandlers, even guys hes not even guarding. Hes averaging 2 steals per game and 0.5 blocks per game, which is pretty impressive for a PG (1 block every other game), hes above Jason Kidd in both categories. His man defense is still very good though, even on bigger players because hes often stronger than many 2's and 3's and he gives the player plenty of space to coax them to shoot it and right when they pick up the dribble he swipes the ball. He goes for steals too often but his defense this year is much better than previous years.
<div class="quote_poster">iLL PiLL Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Damn hella of a game..we got outrebounded 50-28 and we still came out with the win. We're so much better with Baron playing. He just brings in this vibe and tenacity that we need to be a better team.</div> Baron's the Boss, simple as that. Last season his main goal was to make JRich a top scorer in the league and he did that. Right now I think it's to make the playoffs. Just hope his legs hold up, that is the main question and whether this team can win on the road. Otherwise the rebounding is better since JRich is back and the defense steps up when Baron is on the court (at least in causing turnovers, getting steals, and blocking shots). Man a game is worth so much right now. I mean give the Warriors one win, and they are right with the Clippers for the 8th seed. Give them two wins and they are up there with the Nuggets for the 7th spot. It's going to be crazy. Yet if the Warriors continue to fall on their faces on the road it's going to be frustrating. And if the Warriors finish a game out of the playoffs it may be even more frustrating...
I've said it so many times to my wife when watching the Ws this year - when they play with high defensive intensity, they're really, really hard to beat. It just needs to happen consistently
Wow. Get slaughtered by Portland yesterday (a team that probably won't make the playoffs in a year or two), and then the next night beat Dallas who is probably the best regular season team in the Western Conference. Baron + home court advantage + former mavs coach Nelson definitely are huge factors. But maybe it's something where Dallas or other good teams won't play us all the way. Maybe they look down on us and that it's not even worth it to give us respect and try to play hard? It's really weird how we beat teams we have no business beating, and we lose to teams that even warriors fans disrespect (in terms of current skill level). I think Portland and Charlotte are going to be be kickass someday. But we should be beating them every single time.
Hey -- I called it -- GS beats Dallas, and for the first time in like 10 years, they are on the front page of ESPN.com's NBA section -- a shot of Baron wearing a big smile: http://sports-ak.espn.go.com/nba/index Plus, the story includes the hook "Golden State may be Dallas' first-round opponent in the playoffs." http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=270312009 Playoffs!? Since when did ESPN ever mention GS and playoffs in the same breath, lol?
<div class="quote_poster">custodianrules2 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">But maybe it's something where Dallas or other good teams won't play us all the way. Maybe they look down on us and that it's not even worth it to give us respect and try to play hard?</div> I don't think so. This is the NBA. You can bet Dallas wanted to CRUSH Golden State tonight. <div class="quote_poster">custodianrules2 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">It's really weird how we beat teams we have no business beating, and we lose to teams that even warriors fans disrespect (in terms of current skill level). I think Portland and Charlotte are going to be be kickass someday. But we should be beating them every single time.</div> Well, more than winning/losing against good/bad teams, it's really that they win at home and lose on the road. But personally, I don't disrespect ANY team in the NBA. Nobody is a roll-over, CR2. You look at even Memphis, and how Mike Miller went NUTS on us and Pao almost won that game, that team could be dominant on any given night. Honestly, any team can beat any team in the NBA, and to me I'm not astonished when Dallas loses to a team like Memphis or a team like Portland whoops GS. You can blow out anyone on any given night, and you can lay an egg just as easily.
True, but we seem to lay a bunch of eggs every single season. I bet the guy betting on the warriors trying to cover the spread is going nuts. We figure first loss and a second night of a back to back game against a top tier opponent would have us lose again. I guess, anything can happen... hopefully playoffs can happen... because it's a little bit too late to fall short and get a 12-15th pick. Who wants that one unless some good guy falls.
Man it is killing me not seeing these games. Cox cable sucks Was Baron's minutes down because it was a blow out? or did he.... um re - injure? uh i shouldnt have said that.
He barely played because it was a blowout. At one point we were up by 31 so there was no need to play him extensive minutes. Our defensive was just on point today. Everytime Dirk shot the ball atleast two warriors crowded him. I repeatedly saw Jrich and Barnes both contesting Dirk's shot at the same time. Our D was pesty and it sure pissed off the Mavs. If we can do this on a continious basis then I think we should be able to gain ahead of the other teams that are either in the playoffs are pushing to get in
<div class="quote_poster">custodianrules2 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">True, but we seem to lay a bunch of eggs every single season. I bet the guy betting on the warriors trying to cover the spread is going nuts. We figure first loss and a second night of a back to back game against a top tier opponent would have us lose again. I guess, anything can happen... hopefully playoffs can happen... because it's a little bit too late to fall short and get a 12-15th pick. Who wants that one unless some good guy falls.</div> You described how I feel about this CR2. I just don't know what to think. On one hand, the team after the big trade plays better with Baron. It's been proven. But the team doesn't play as well without Baron. That's been demonstrated, too. I couldn't see the game and was listening to Damon Bruce and he said Baron has to play even for a few minutes each game. It's like he's the energizer bunny for the team when he's in the game.
