GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NBA: LA CLIPPERS (5-2) at GOLDEN STATE (0-6)

NBA: LA CLIPPERS (5-2) at GOLDEN STATE (0-6)

<h3>Warriors search for first win against Clippers</h3>

LA Clippers (5-2) at Golden State (0-6) 10:30 pm EST

OAKLAND, California (Ticker) -- The Golden State Warriors lookto record their first win of the season Friday when they hostthe Los Angeles Clippers.


The Warriors nearly got their first victory in their last gameon Wednesday. After scoring a season-high 40 points in thefirst quarter, they squandered a 22-point lead in the finalframe, suffering a 111-104 loss to the Detroit Pistons.

Golden State made the playoffs as the No. 8 seed in the WesternConference last season and pulled off perhaps the greatest upsetin NBA history, beating the top-seeded Dallas Mavericks in sixgames in the opening round.


But the Warriors are off to their second 0-6 start in threeseasons. Golden State has not lost its first seven games tostart a season since posting a franchise-worst 0-9 start tobegin the 1997-98 campaign.


The Clippers, meanwhile, are off to a hot start this seasondespite being without All-Star forward Elton Brand, who has beensidelined with a torn Achilles tendon.


Center Chris Kaman has done an outstanding job filling in forBrand, averaging 18.1 points and 14.3 rebounds.


Kaman collected 14 points and 18 rebounds Wednesday as theClippers held on for an 84-81 victory over the New York Knicks.

Corey Maggette and Sam Cassell each added 13 points for LosAngeles, which snapped a two-game skid.


The Clippers opened their season with a 120-114 victory over theWarriors but have dropped 13 of their last 16 contests atGolden State.

 

Re: NBA: LA CLIPPERS (5-2) at GOLDEN STATE (0-6)

Man... I don't even know if I want to watch this game... Sure, it is the beginning of the season but Nelly has coached like crap and he doesn't really have to worry about contracts and playing people to up their values. This should be the prime time to give rooks a lot more burn, but yet he doesn't do it. He's overplaying guys with severe weaknesses in defense, catch and shoot, passing off the drive, rebounding, and inside scoring.</p>

I only partly blame Nelly for why this franchise won't become better in the future where it counts, but history has been with the fact the Warriors never really concentrated on playing defense or properly selected and developed talented big men. It's not even so much nba experience or chemistry that concerns me (although this is very important once you got the talent to build around) but what counts is in the size department. This is the aspect of the team that results in more competitive and consistent rebounding and defensive ability. It gives us our ability to look inside for better shot attempts or uncontested perimeter twos on the kickout. We just can't establish any good deep position on the blocks.</p>

We need talented and strong big men and real two guards in the lineup capable of D and Nelly is pulling Monty when it comes to rookies and closing out games. He's playing rockhead small forwards and overplaying guys who don't solve our problems down the stretch. He's basically ignore the most important aspect of the game to close out games which is defense and "playing to win" type of ball movement. I feel like we need more options inside until Biedrins returns to normal state because he's such a wuss now with that physical development. Guys like Baron Davis are essential when our guys don't like to move off the ball and we need an iso guy. But... we can't rely on that because it turns into 1 on 5... We need bigs so that there are options to go inside to rather than float around the perimeter doing nothing but stand still watching one guy rock the ball back and forth. That's not good teamwork especially if other guys aren't ready or getting open for the passer.</p>

And yeah I know, Biedrins is left open sometimes, but he's so soft... He doesn't have a mismatch drawing contact unless he plays a natural position which I think, for him, is power forward. Him being asked to play center is difficult as Ellis being asked to play shooting guard. It just doesn't work all the time and we need that consistency in all the quarters. He's just not as tough defensively and he can't power his way inside against most nba centers, especially when he's paired up with shooting guards or small forwards at the power forward position. Plus, if get strong bigs to seal the deal inside, Baron Davis is going to want to drive in and dump the ball off to them. He's probably going to rely on less threes off the dribble as well or find a reliable 3 point shooter off the catch. There's really no point in deploying Ellis as a two guard if he can't catch and shoot and he's got tunnel vision on the drive when it comes to handing it off to bigs. Ellis is like using Biedrins as a center if he's got no power inside, why play him there? He doesn't support Baron's game if he's not establishing position inside and Ellis is basically taking the ball out of Baron's hands and not making others better when he has it. If we just put Biedrins in as a power forward, I think he'll make it tough for 6'10 or 6'9 240 pound guys to compete with him and he's quick enough to keep up. If we can put Belinelli and Monta in at the same time, then I think we got at least one guy who can look for plays and shoot and Ellis can even kick the ball back to him on the penetration for a deep two or deep three.

I'm just sick of this small ball. Don't get me wrong either, I think Biedrins is a good solid big man, but he needs help next to him. I think Baron Davis needs help. We can't overplay our guys to the point of exhaustation either.</p>

 

NBA: LA CLIPPERS at GOLDEN STATE

<div class="pre">LA CLIPPERS AT GOLDEN STATE - PROBABLE STARTING LINEUPS


LA CLIPPERS GOLDEN STATE

F Tim Thomas F Al Harrington
F Corey Maggette F Matt Barnes
C Chris Kaman C Andris Biedrins
G Ruben Patterson G Kelenna Azubuike
G Sam Cassell G Baron Davis

OFFICIALS: Bennett Salvatore
Sean Corbin
Mark Lindsey</div>

 

NBA: LA CLIPPERS at GOLDEN STATE

<div class="pre">LA CLIPPERS VS GOLDEN STATE - INACTIVES

LA CLIPPERS GOLDEN STATE

PLAYER NAME REASON PLAYER NAME REASON
E BRAND LEFT ACHILLES TENDON T HUDSON HIP
J POWELL COACH'S DECISION S JACKSON SUSPENDED BY LEAGUE
S LIVINGSTON LEFT KNEE INJURY M PIETRUS PERSONAL REASONS</div>

 

NBA: LA CLIPPERS at GOLDEN STATE

<div class="pre">NBA LA CLIPPERS 2
GOLDEN STATE 8 9:00 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: LA CLIPPERS at GOLDEN STATE

<div class="pre">NBA LA CLIPPERS 13
GOLDEN STATE 14 5:53 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: LA CLIPPERS at GOLDEN STATE

<div class="pre">NBA LA CLIPPERS 21
GOLDEN STATE 22 2:56 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: LA CLIPPERS at GOLDEN STATE

<div class="pre">NBA LA CLIPPERS 26
GOLDEN STATE 34 END, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: LA CLIPPERS at GOLDEN STATE

<div class="pre">NBA END 1ST QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
LA CLIPPERS 26 26
GOLDEN STATE 34 34 END 1ST QTR

HIGH SCORERS AFTER 1ST QUARTER

LAC - COREY MAGGETTE 13, SAM CASSELL 5, TIM
THOMAS 4
GSW - AL HARRINGTON 13, MATT BARNES 9, ANDRIS
BIEDRINS 6</div>

 

NBA: LA CLIPPERS at GOLDEN STATE

<div class="pre">NBA LA CLIPPERS 32
GOLDEN STATE 44 9:00 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: LA CLIPPERS at GOLDEN STATE

<div class="pre">NBA LA CLIPPERS 38
GOLDEN STATE 49 5:56 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: LA CLIPPERS at GOLDEN STATE

<div class="pre">NBA LA CLIPPERS 47
GOLDEN STATE 56 2:53 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: LA CLIPPERS at GOLDEN STATE

<div class="pre">NBA LA CLIPPERS 55
GOLDEN STATE 64 HALFTIME</div>

 

NBA: LA CLIPPERS at GOLDEN STATE

<div class="pre">NBA HALFTIME 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
LA CLIPPERS 26 29 55
GOLDEN STATE 34 30 64 HALFTIME

HIGH SCORERS AT HALFTIME

LAC - COREY MAGGETTE 17, CHRIS KAMAN 11, TIM
THOMAS 10
GSW - ANDRIS BIEDRINS 18, AL HARRINGTON 15,
MATT BARNES 14</div>

 

NBA: LA CLIPPERS at GOLDEN STATE

<div class="pre">NBA LA CLIPPERS 70
GOLDEN STATE 75 6:03 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: LA CLIPPERS at GOLDEN STATE

<div class="pre">NBA LA CLIPPERS 76
GOLDEN STATE 88 2:57 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: LA CLIPPERS at GOLDEN STATE

<div class="pre">NBA LA CLIPPERS 87
GOLDEN STATE 96 END, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: LA CLIPPERS at GOLDEN STATE

<div class="pre">NBA END 3RD QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
LA CLIPPERS 26 29 32 87
GOLDEN STATE 34 30 32 96 END 3RD QTR

HIGH SCORERS AFTER 3RD QUARTER

LAC - TIM THOMAS 22, COREY MAGGETTE 19, CHRIS
KAMAN 18
GSW - AL HARRINGTON 23, ANDRIS BIEDRINS 18,
MATT BARNES 17</div>

 

Re: NBA: LA CLIPPERS (5-2) at GOLDEN STATE (0-6)

What happened to Biedrins? Is he injured? I'm unable to watch the game. Looks like he had a great first half with 18 pts and 12 boards but barely played at all in the 3rd quarter.</p>

 

NBA: LA CLIPPERS at GOLDEN STATE

<div class="pre">NBA LA CLIPPERS 90
GOLDEN STATE 101 8:55 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>