Kings (20-7) @ Warriors (13-13): PREVIEW Kings (20-7) @ Warriors (13-13) When: Friday, December 26, 2003 Where: The New Arena, Oakland, CA Time: 7:00PM Probable Starters Nick Van Exel/Mike Bibby J-Rich/Doug Christie Mike Dunleavy/Peja Stojakovic Clifford Robinson/Brad Miller Erick Dampier/Vlade Divac Key Matchup Dampier should have a monster game and should own Divac. Vlade is a crafty veteran and will try to flop and draw fouls to get Dampier in foul trouble. Damp should own this matchup. [QUOTERIGHT]<font size="5">?We definitely need to forget about this game and come out with the same enthusiasm against Sacramento and play hard.? </font><font size="3">-Speedy Claxton</font>[/QUOTERIGHT] Key Player off the bench These are the players that bring the energy off the bench. Jackson does it with his scoring, Claxton mainly with his aggressive Defense. What a matchup this will be. Warriors Keys to the Game The Warriors must come out with the same amount of energy that they displayed against LA at home. The bench must also provide some much needed offense agaisnt this great Kings team. The Warriors must limit the Kings points in transition, they MUST get back on defense to have a chance in this one. The Kings play great team ball and the Warriors must make them shoot contested shots from the outside; keep a hand in Peja's face the WHOLE night. Kings Keys to the Game The Kings are a quicker, more athletic team. They must get out on the break and knock the Warriors out early. The Warriors try to get it close until they end and they have veterans who can knock big shots down. They must keep Dampier off the boards and make the others rebound. Get the ball to Vlade and let the offense run through him. <font color="Blue">Rudeezy's</font> Prediction The Kings will be too much. The Warriors have not beaten the Kings in ages. Who knows, there is a first for everything and the Warriors are riding high after their defeat over the Lakers. The Warriors lost by 2 points earlier this season in Arco. This game could go either way but the Warriors will get over the hump against the Kings and win this one. Thanks for the confidence allnet. Warriors by 6.
Have more faith in your team Rudy Kings as great as they are aren't the same team that plays in Arco.GS are a good home team and could get the win here.The backcourts from both teams will decide this one.
Great preview. After the Mavericks loss, they will be out with vengence. Christie vs. Jrich is a good matchup. But, I think the Kings are just too much for the Warriors, even after the big win. Kings by 4
I'm gonna go with the KIngs here, simply because I feel they have too many guys who produce consistently. Sure the Warriors have a lot of weapons, but I don't feel they contribute as regularly as the Kings. Losing Peja's 25 and 6 hurt them dearly against Dallas, his return will get them the W for me. Kings by 8.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting allnet:</div><div class="quote_post">Have more faith in your team Rudy Kings as great as they are aren't the same team that plays in Arco.GS are a good home team and could get the win here.The backcourts from both teams will decide this one.</div>Once they begin playing more consistent, I will. I really do think we could beat them at home though. We were so close to beating them at Arco but missed our last attempt and lost by 2. That is why I gave it a tossup, it depends which teams show up. Ok...I'm changing my prediction to a Warriors W just for you.
With Peja back I don't think Warriors stand a chance. Kings are just too good of a team to lose against the Warriors, with Peja back. Not takin anythin away from the Warriors, they are a great team and beat the Lakers, but I think Sac is a real team. I understand why you think Warriors would win, after the Lakers game, nothin against that.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting MVPlaya:</div><div class="quote_post">I understand why you think Warriors would win, after the Lakers game, nothin against that.</div> That's not the only reason. The Warriors are playing great ball, and they also almost beat the Kings earlier in the season. They would have definitely won that game had they just made their free throws- they missed about 10 or 15 of them. In the end, a missed J.Rich layup decided the Warriors' fate, and you know that they're going to be hungry to prove that they can beat the Kings.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting kobeonfire:</div><div class="quote_post">That's not the only reason. The Warriors are playing great ball, and they also almost beat the Kings earlier in the season. They would have definitely won that game had they just made their free throws- they missed about 10 or 15 of them. In the end, a missed J.Rich layup decided the Warriors' fate, and you know that they're going to be hungry to prove that they can beat the Kings.</div>Exactly. Like I said MVPlaya, the Warriors took them down to the wire and probably should have won IN ARCO. Everyone is entitled to their opinion though. Who knows, the Kings might end up blowing the Warriors out of the water. Very unlikely though.
i'd like to see brad miller contain cliff/murphy/cardinal all game. i think that combo is really going to be to our advantage. this game should be fun.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Rudeezy:</div><div class="quote_post">Exactly. Like I said MVPlaya, the Warriors took them down to the wire and probably should have won IN ARCO. Everyone is entitled to their opinion though. Who knows, the Kings might end up blowing the Warriors out of the water. Very unlikely though.</div> True, can't argue against that. I like the Warriors, they got a nice team but I just think the Kings are too good. Peja will be hungry in his first game back, and the Kings can play as a team so well. If the Warriors want to win, they must play flawlessly (word?), make FT's, make lay-ups, no forced shots, good D, and high FG%.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting thePHentity:</div><div class="quote_post">i'd like to see brad miller contain cliff/murphy/cardinal all game. i think that combo is really going to be to our advantage. this game should be fun.</div>That match-up really is in our favor. Miller is good, but that tandom might wear him out. We should own the glass in this one.
Warriors are a different team on their home court.They have struggled lately but that was on the road.Beating the Lakers proved that they can beat the top teams in this league.
<u>Kings update</u> The Kings, who have beaten the Warriors 15 consecutive times, are coming off a 111-103 loss to Dallas on Thursday. Sacramento led by 16 at halftime but let the Mavericks back in the game in the second half. Earlier this season, Sacramento beat the Warriors 106-104 at Arco Arena. In that game, Jason Richardson had an opportunity to win it with a driving scoop shot but missed in the final seconds. <u>Warriors update</u> Golden State should carry some momentum into the game after a 107-98 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday. C Erick Dampier had a big night for the Warriors with a double-double, scoring 17 points and pulling down 11 rebounds. The Warriors were able to contain C Shaquille O'Neal, holding him to 21 points and five rebounds. <u>Kings injuries</u> F Lawrence Funderburke (Achilles') F Chris Webber (knee) <u>Warriors injuries</u> C Adonal Foyle (leg) F Popeye Jones (knee) C Evan Eschmeyer (knees) Full Report
Warriors WIN!!!! What a performancce, especially defensively! Why did the Warriors acquire NVE? For clutch performances and clutch shots like the one he had tonight to seal this win over the Kings. It was teh first Warriors win over the Kings in 15 tries. What a 2 game homestand: first we beat the Lakers and then the other best iteam in the League, the Kings! The Warriors may have just made their biggest step towards teh Playoffs!
J-Rich played great basketball. He shut down the leagues MVP thus far; Peja. He played great D and carried the offensive load...what a game for J-Rich. Dunleavy had a great first half. He was scoring, slashing to the basket, and finding the open guys. What can I say about Claxton? He did it all once again, with his defense. This team is finally coming along.
