Recap: Warriors 126, Kings 113 - Who needs Iverson?! (Wait! I didn't mean that! Come back Allen!!)
by Hash on Dec 12, 2006 10:57 PM PST
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Okay, let's get one thing out there from the get-go. I like the Kings. I've always liked the Kings. Not in the Warriors-Better-Win-Or-I'm-Going-To-Hurl-A-Brick kind of way, but lets just say that I've always had a certain level of respect for the team.
I think this stems back to when I was in school in San Diego. Everyone I met (for the most part) was either from Los Angeles or from the Bay Area. So when basketball season came around, people were either avidly cheering for the Lakers, or they were... well, they probably went out drinking or something when the Warriors were playing.
Enter the Kings.
Sure they weren't from the "Bay" exactly, but they were always there to annoy Kobe and Shaq in just the right way. They gave us Bay Area-ites a little something to cheer for while our favorite team was busy giving up Gilbert Arenas. For this, I'll always have a little respect for Sacramento.
So, how much do I respect the Kings? Well when they are playing the Warriors, I still wish bitter defeat on them, but I don't wish that they all come down with a case of explosive diarrhea on the trip home like I do with the rest of the NBA teams we play.
That's right. Feel the love, Kings. Feel the love.
It's a Bird! It's a Plane! It's... wait... Matt Barnes?! Screw it! It's MATT BARNES BABY!
If any of the Warriors were feeling the pressure about a possible Iverson trade, they certainly responded in the most positive way possible tonight. Any speculations that these trade talks would negatively affect how the Warriors would play can officially be laid to rest.
- AB came out with a (literally) perfect night. (Didn't miss a shot all game!)
- Matt Barnes damn sure ate his Wheaties before the game. (32 points with 6 from beyond?!)
- Pietrus himself had a strong offensive showing tonight. (21 with 4 of 6 from beyond.)
- Monta served his purpose well, creating some pretty impressive plays. (16 point, 5 dimes)
- Baron was a savage but missed his triple double AGAIN. (I suppose this time it was by a few more boards.)
- Dunleavy looked strong out there tonight!I saw some seriously aggressive fast breaks I'm not used to seeing from him. Additional props for his supporting stats! (7 dimes, 6 boards)
- Foyle... um... well did anyone see that rebound?! Hell yea!
The ironic thing is that tonight's Warriors looked like the Kings that I used to see during the ol' Lakers - Kings rivalry. Everyone on the team contributed, and very rarely did it happen that someone in the starting 5 (Bibby, Webber, Divac, Stojakovic, Christie) scored less than double digits. Yet aside from all of their offense, everyone always knew their role.
Tonight's Warriors were no different. Aside from the insane amount of fouling in the third, everyone on the court fought hard for the boards, cut into the paint for easy buckets, went strong to the iron regardless of getting smashed in the dome. (In Dun's case, twice!) Watching what this Richardson-less team was capable of tonight makes our previous loss to the Sonics that much more unacceptable. This is a squad that can make big things happen. The depth is there. The heart is there. The youth is there. All we need to do is to find that last missing piece. The consistency. If the Warriors played with this much heart every game, even the most elite of teams would leave The Oracle asking themselves, "What the hell just happened?"
And they wouldn't just be talking about their explosive diarrhea.
Gross...
Warrior Wonder : Matt Barnes, thy name is sniper. With a career high 32 points, comprised of an insane 6 3-pointers, he also piled on 11 boards, 3 dimes, and 3 jacks. That's one tasty Double Double!
Aside from Barnsie's nasty game tonight, I think it would be foolish not to acknowledge the efforts of the rest of the Warriors as well. Everyone came to play tonight. Nice rebound Foyle!
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I missed most of the first game
by eshock on Dec 12, 2006 11:09 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Great Offensive Showing
by racsan on Dec 12, 2006 11:10 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
So was his help defense when Rahim got stuffed
I caught that in the highlights post-game on one of those FSN highlight clip shows, even if I didn't see it live.
by back2back51s on Dec 12, 2006 11:15 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
warriors need to
by Athletix Man on Dec 13, 2006 12:08 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
Sweeeeeeeeeeet Game!!
by YaoButtaMing on Dec 13, 2006 12:21 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
Barnes was the big story of the game
Another note: B'Drins didn't miss a single basket tonight. He was even 6 for 6 from the freethrow line.
by Jeremy Belvins on Dec 13, 2006 12:37 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
can i get a .....
Let's Go Oakland! Gas, Brake, Dip.
by OaktownFunk on Dec 13, 2006 12:54 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
Congrats GS! Great all around
Matt Barnes! Local boy goes off on his childhood team. That does it...his old house is SO toilet papered. As much as it stung - I loved seeing Matt have a career night.
Yao, who I think is the next MVP, is up next. You guys can win if the outside is still hot and the confidence carries over. Save some juice for the marathon with the Suns the next night!
by pyro on Dec 13, 2006 2:07 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
we can win!
Oh and
MATT BARNES FOR MIP!!!!
by FoyledAgain on Dec 13, 2006 2:46 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
It's All Good
But to me the key to the game was clearly BD, who played his best all-around game in two years (much better than the Seattle game where he got more points and rebounds). The key was those 13 assists -- and he was moving the ball around like a true point. He never forced his shot, he drove the lane when the team's long-range shooting briefly faltered, he rebounded at key points, and he just rans things when he was out there. Simply terrific.
And, what's even better for the future, it's becoming apparent he and Dunleavy are starting to develop a real feel for each other: both scored off the other's set ups; both look for the cutter; both know how to finish the drive (except for Dun's miss when SAR cheap shot him for the flagrant; perhaps Artest hadn't hit him hard enough earlier, because Dun finished that drive). When the ball moves like the W's were moving it last night, good things are bound to happen. I want more.
Both BD and Dun are also figuring out how to get the ball into AB at the low post. It's a process that will lead to early turnovers, but the more they do it, the better they'll get. And AB just has that wonderful ability to score at close range -- almost at will and regardless of conditions.
Finally, seeing Monta make several drives to his left -- even shooting left handed on at least one occasion -- was great: he's now learning how to expand his game when they close off his move to the right (tho the Kings STILL let him drive right and score several times last night). He's stepping up again after hitting a short wall.
(Barnes deserves kudos, of course, but he was almost too good to be true. Let's see if he can even approach this over the next few games. MP was about as effective as he can be -- which is good -- but keep the ball out of his hands as much as possible, please, I'll take his defense and rebounding and be happy to limit him to those corner threes -- at least until he learns how to finish on drives.)
by johnl on Dec 13, 2006 12:02 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
one of the most consistant games
by AJC3317 on Dec 13, 2006 6:02 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
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