<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'><span id="mn_Global"><span id="mn_Article"> TORONTO - Captain Jack brought the scrap back.</p> Ever since training camp opened, Warriors captain Stephen Jackson has insisted the key to repeating the success of last season's 16-5 finishing kick was to bring the scrappy, hellacious defense that defined that run.</p> As if to prove his point, Jackson went out and showed what a motivated Warriors team can do on the defensive end. In his first game of the season after a seven-game suspension, he helped Golden State hold the Toronto Raptors to two points over a six-minute stretch of the fourth quarter to wrap up a 106-100 victory Sunday.</p> Jackson scored a team-high 17 points and added five assists, but his work at the other end of the floor was what made the difference, limiting Toronto star Chris Bosh to 11 points, six off his season average.</p> "Well, it's good to have Stephen Jackson back in our lineup," Warriors Coach Don Nelson said. "We sure missed him."</p> With 15 points or more from three other players - Kelenna Azubuike (16), Baron Davis (16) and Andris Biedrins (15) - the Warriors were able to withstand a 29-point, nine-assist, six-rebound game from Raptors point guard T.J. Ford.</p> Nelson joked about how "well-rested" Jackson was in discussing his 41 minutes on the floor, but Jackson's defense on Bosh was no laughing matter. It's doubtful any other Warrior could have stopped him in a similar way, forcing Bosh into a 4-for-12 performance.</p> "I'm not going to lie to you and say that<span id="mn_Global"><span id="mn_Article"> I wasn't (winded)," Jackson said. "I just fought through it and I really used all my energy on defense tonight. I wanted to give Chris Bosh the hardest time I could and I was able to do that."</div></span></span></p> <span id="mn_Global"><span id="mn_Article">Source: San Jose Mercury News</span></span></p> </span></span></p>
One game back and we've already seen Jack's impact in full effect. We were able to actually close out a game that we were trailing in (omg!) and on the road at that (omg!).</p> 1. Jax completely shut down Bosh, which is a big reason why they only scored 12 in the 4th Q. He helped start the break too with a steal and two blocks. Not to mention all the impact he has defensively that you can't see on the stat sheets. 2. Jack gave us a secondary initiator with 5 assists, Baron can't do it all by himself and we need more guys who move the ball well. 3. He got to the FT line 11 times and hit 8, this is going to be huge for us IMO. Drawing fouls is a highly underrated aspect of the game, Jack knows how to do this well and hits his FTs. 4. He played 41 minutes which allowed Baron to get some rest. Baron had a great 4th quarter and ended the night with 36 minuts played; he may not have been fresh enough to make those shots if he had to play 40+ again though. 5. Lets not forget he actually led the team in scoring, plus you can't measure the importance of getting back your second best player, a team captain, the defensive MVP, and the new heart and soul of the team (formerly J-Rich). Jax brings toughness, scrapiness, a team mentality, and passion 100% of the time and it gets contageous.</p> Other notes with our 2 game win streak; Cro helped to close out yesterday's win in Toronto. He hit some big shots and ended the night with 9 points, 6 rebs on 4-6 shooting in 17 minutes. If he can provide consistent productoin off the bench that will be huge for us. Right now our bench players are wild cards every night; Monta, BWright, POB, Barntrus, Belinelli, you just have no idea what these guys are going to give you. Cro is a crafty vet and if he can consistently rebound and hit the 3 that would be huge for us.</p> Also it seems like Nellie's been going with much more traditional lineups recently which has allowed us to win the rebound battle. With Al's new quickness he can play SF alongside Cro/Wright at PF and Beans/POB/Cro at C. We still have mismatches and we are still able to run, but on defense and rebounding we are now able to hold our own. Hopefully our frontline core will be able to continue to get it done by committee. Huge difference from last year when Andris was our only big and Al was fat and slow and had to play PF. Now we have some bodies to work with up front.</p>
How sweet are two victories? From the depths of 0-6 to a two game winning streak. Very nice.</p> Yesterday was totally unexpected; like found money.</p> Glad to see SJax back. Could definitely use more defensive intensity and better outside shooting.</p> The bench is going to be okay. POB will help in the long run; Monta is going to come around when he settles in to a 6th man role and does not need to produce as a starter. Croshere is better than what we had before. Barnes is going to help.</p> Hope the W's keep the roll going in the Garden.</p>
He's so right on about the chaotic defense being a big key to it. I hadn't been thinking about that aspect of it. Last year, the Warriors led the NBA in steals, this year they're 26th (not to mention forced shot clock violations, tips and deflections, 3-second calls, etc.). Generating confusion really helps the Warriors take other teams out of their comfort zones, and I think it's why they're often able to beat technically much better teams.</p>
What a great win. It seems like Sjax is providing something of what Clif Robinson did for us back when we had Dampier in 2003-2004 season. Not only does he provide lock down defense against the opposing team's best forward, but he also passes very well. He also initiates and sets up plays which is what we wanted Dunleavy Jr. to do in the first place and we hoped Pietrus would eventually be able to do with his quickness. He's a smart basketball player despite his turnovers and propensity to make risky plays and get all out of control with his emotions. I'm not a good basketball player, but I get pretty heated in the same way which is both a good and bad thing depending on how its used in the game. I'm hoping Sjax uses his emotions not get him or his team in trouble, but to get them aggressive and fire them up to play tougher and not get all soft or passive.</p> When the warriors got more aggressive, got more size, adapted a better defensive scheme that doesn't involve two defensive liabilities playing next to each other, I think we can definitely compete better than we did in the last few losses. Actually the 4-5th game was pretty decent in terms of small ball defense, but we lost because of free throws. Ugg... At least in the Raptors game Sjax was the one shooting the majority of shots (which he should be at least 77-80% at the foul line). I can't imagine Ellis or Pietrus or Baron taking 11 attempts and only making 5 or 6.</p>
