<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'><span style="font-weight: bold;">SAN FRANCISCO</span> (Map, News) - It took precisely one game for Stephen Jackson to show his value to the Warriors. After serving a seven-game suspension, Jackson played his first game of the season for the Warriors on Sunday against the Toronto</p> Raptors.</p> On display again in that game was just how much the Warriors need Jackson. He had 17 points and five assists in the Warriors’ 106-100 win over Toronto, but as often is the case with Jackson, numbers are only a small part of the story.</p> Point guard Baron Davis might be the team’s MVP, but the Warriors aren’t going anywhere without</p> Jackson.</p> The most obvious contribution made was on the defensive end. He was largely responsible for shutting down Chris Bosh, an All-Star and the Raptors’ best player. Bosh went just 4-for-12 from the field and committed six turnovers.</p> But Jackson also took a turn on point guard T.J. Ford, who was wreaking havoc with penetration. Jackson helped slow down Ford, which went a long way toward the Raptors going 4-of-22 from the field in the fourth quarter.</p> At the offensive end, Jackson gave coach Don Nelson another option. Without Jackson, Baron Davis had been forced to handle the ball virtually every trip down the floor. But Jackson can provide that service, too, and when he does, it gives Davis relief from the grind of constantly bringing the ball upcourt.</p> After Davis, Jackson is the Warriors’ best playmaker and creator and capable of doing those things from either the low post or out on the perimeter.</p> Often during Sunday’s game, Jackson went down to the box, got double-teamed and as a result the Warriors got open shots.</p> And then there are the intangibles. Jackson is the most passionate and fiery Warrior and it is clear teammates feed off that. Jackson’s hounding and talking on defense can’t help but bring up the defensive play of the rest of the team — and it did just that in the fourth quarter against Toronto.</p> He is unselfish and thrives on defensive challenges.</p> Is Jackson a perfect player? Of course not. He sometimes tries to force the action and is prone to turning the ball over. He is one of the worst 6-foot-8 rebounders in the league, averaging all of three per game last season. And as we all know, his emotions can sometimes get the best of him ... to the detriment of the team.</div></p> Source: SF Examiner</p>
"Jackson Gives Warriors Reminder of Who They Are..."</p> That they're a team that really sucks without him?</p> Our team is built on guards, but I swear only Baron and Sjax really make plays for other guys. Azu ain't doing it, Pietrus is a lunkhead, Harrington is a blackhole, Matt Barnes is inconsistent, and Ellis is a streaky decision-maker.</p> Don't get me wrong Azu is a good guy, but if we really want to swing the ball, we just need that 3rd guy that can make plays. Then it will be a bit more like Run TMC. It also helps to have big guys who can finish plays. I'm puzzled to why DJ Benga benga gets in the game sooner than POB or Brandan Wright. WTF?</p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (custodianrules2)</div><div class='quotemain'></p> I'm puzzled to why DJ Benga benga gets in the game sooner than POB or Brandan Wright. WTF?</p> </div></p> Seriously, Wright had 9 rebounds in 12 minutes! Sure it was essentially garbage time, sure he probably can't do that every night or extend those numbers into long minutes, but when's the last time ANY Warrior did that? Isn't that a hint that you MIGHT want to give the guy a little more look? Like maybe more than a guy who, in 9 total minutes of play (I'm talking about Mbenga here) has four points and three rebounds, a missed dunk and a missed layup?</p> You tell me which of these three guys should be getting more minutes:</p> <table width="403" height="87" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="1"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="background-color: rgb(192, 192, 192);">Player</td> <td style="background-color: rgb(192, 192, 192);">Minutes</td> <td style="background-color: rgb(192, 192, 192);">PPG</td> <td style="background-color: rgb(192, 192, 192);">RPG</td> <td style="background-color: rgb(192, 192, 192);">FG%</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Mbenga</td> <td>4.7</td> <td>1.4</td> <td>1.0</td> <td>33.3</td> </tr> <tr> <td>O'Bryant</td> <td>7.0</td> <td>1.8</td> <td>1.4</td> <td>39.5</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Wright</td> <td>6.7</td> <td>3.2</td> <td>3.4</td> <td>50.0</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </p>
