RECAP: Warriors 110, Jazz 133- The Good, The Bad, The Ugly and Oh the FUGLY

by Atma Brother ONE on Nov 3, 2007 10:58 PM PDT in Recaps

You ever played NBA 2k or NBA Live or some other video game and you were up by so many that you were just fooling around to see how many players you could hook up with nice statlines? Well that's what the Jazz did to the Warriors tonight.

Preview/ Open Thread (90+ comments)

The Warriors have no solution for the Jazz energy in the home of the thugs.

Final Box Score

The Good:

Al Harrington was simply phenomenal tonight. Nellie gave him the starting nod tonight and he had a career game. Al basically dominated his match up against Warrior-killer Carlos Boozer. Harrington proved to be too quick and crafty for Boozer on defense and was raining game from outside with 6 treys and 75% shooting on the night. If you remember back to last year Al's defense in the post against the likes of Yao Ming, Carlos Boozer, and Pau Gasol was a big, big reason the Warriors were able to end the curse. Y'all will probably think I'm crazy, but I believe Al is the Warriors' best one-on-one post defender. He has a knack for denying the entry pass into the post and his hands and feet are very active. Harrington is a smart defender down there who knows how to make up for his size and bulk disadvantage against bigger players with his agility. Hopefully Nellie takes advantage of his increased speed and mobility from his great offseason training on D in the near future. When he's on Al is a walking match up problem for the opposing team when Nellie starts him at the 4 or 5 like he did late last regular season.
Aside from a few careless decisions with the ball, Kelenna was very solid tonight. When the Dubs went on that amazing 16-5 run including 9-1 to finish off the season they went with BD, Monta, JRich, Jax, and Al. I hate to play what if's but, if the Warriors didn't trade JR this past off season I think BD, JRich, Kaz, Jax, and Al might've been even better, but that's probably jumping the gun. It's also way too early for player comparisons, but Kaz might be a poor man's Ron Artest this season for the Dubs. If he can keep his intensity high throughout the entire season sky's the limit. I don't have a good grasp on whether he's a really fast player or if can be aggressive for long stretches yet, but he's very strong and wise beyond his little time in the association would suggest. Kelenna looks like he's going to be the prototype of what time in the DLeague can do for young undrafted players.
Believe it or not, but the Warriors actually won the points in the paint scoring 44 to the Jazz 42.
A little Kool-Aid: Brandan Wright, Stephane Lasme, and Kosta Perovic have yet to miss a shot in the NBA! The Warriors were only down by 1 to the Jazz after the 1st quarter! The Warriors outscored the Jazz in the 3rd quarter 35-29! The Warriors only have to play the Jazz one more time this season!

After 3 straight losses, it's so refreshing and thirst quenching!

The Bad:

Baron Davis really struggled tonight and I can't help but think he's just simply fatigued from having to play all these heavy minutes. His woes from 3-point line unfortunately continued tonight. It was one of those rare off nights from Boom Dizzle. I don't think it's worth making much out of especially since he played so well against the Jazz all through last season's playoffs and in the season opener.
If Andris Biedrins and Monta Ellis are the future, well the future doesn't look so bright in Warriors land. They both looked lost many times out there on the court and made very little impact on both sides of the ball. Biedrins missed a few layups that he's usually money for and his weakside and help D left a lot to be desired. Given that Nellie took him off his worst nightmare Carlos Boozer tonight, I really expected and wanted him to do much more on the defensive end. I give Biedrins and new Warrior shooting coach and former Milwaukee Buck great Sidney Moncrief credit though. The young big man's free throw form is starting to look infinitely better.
Whatever happened to that high percentage shooting Monta? Tonight's Monta oddly played to his weakness and took a few shots that were simply out of his range. Deron Williams pretty much abused him tonight.
If Biedrins and Ellis stepped up these past 3 games like they were supposed to this season, the Warriors wouldn't be 0-3. With 4 rookies these two young men are veterans on this team. The Dubs are really counting on them to produce and they unfortunately haven't.

The Ugly:

Nellie elected to make Troy Hudson inactive for tonight's game. I liked T-Hud on Minny that one season where the TWolves lost to the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals, but I have yet to see any evidence that he is anywhere near the player he was back then. I really would've liked to see the Warriors sign Stanford product Brevin Knight this offseason, but they didn't seem to interested. My next brilliant idea: Bright back Earl! Seriously, Mullin get on the phones and call Earl Boykins' agent or better yet have Earl's people talk to my people. We'll get something done ASAP.
POB averaged a foul every 3 minutes of play.
Even though it's his 5th year in the league there's still about a 25% Pietrus will travel every time he touches the ball. It's a real head-scratcher why he still has such a problem with this. Hey at least he's always hustling and just stroking it from beyond the arc this season.

The Fugly:

The first week of the season is (finally!) over for the Warriors and I can't remember a time in the entire decade plus that I've been a Warriors junkie where I've seen them play such pitiful defense for three consecutive games (although I'm sure if I think hard enough I can remember, haha). Tonight the Warriors let the Jazz shoot 63% from the field and 75% from the field. It's like the Jazz were on fire in NBA Jam for 48 minutes. That's not supposed to happen in the NBA... ever. After 3 games the Warriors are surrendering a whopping 118.5 points per game- 118.5! Mike Fratello must be sitting back in the TNT offices just wishing he could coach against this Warriors D. Even his "offenses" could hit triple digits.
Even when Stephen Jackson walks through that door this roster is still deeply flawed. Jax is not going to miraculously fix the defensive problems of this team, especially down low. Action Jackson is a very, very good player on both D and offense, but he's not going to help this team's rebounding woes one bit. However his old friend who currently plays in Sacrapmento and is also serving a suspension would be a good start and fit for this team...

Through all the fugliness of tonight's blowout loss in the SLC one man stood out.

Al Harrington: 38 points (15-20 FG and 6-8 3pt), 7 boards, 3 dimes, and 2 steals plus some stellar D on Boozer.

Al my man- you've earned the starting spot for the upcoming home games against the Cleveland LeBrons and Dallas My Little Ponies in my book. I'm sure both Nellie and Master Splinter are pleased with your unstoppableness tonight as well my friend.

Throw it down Al. THROW IT DOWN!
(AP Photo/Steve C. Wilson)

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Comments

Harrington

He is indeed our best post defender. The mobility, quick feet, and general smarts...now he has the motor to use it more. He showed flashes last year.

Fortunately he can't relinquish his starting gig after that, no way Nelson pulls him with this performance.

Regarding our defense...there were lapses all around, but I honestly have no idea how to stop a Jazz team when they're shooting 12/16 from 3P range. This was the worst 3P shooting team from last year, and they were shooting like the Suns on a great day.

It's just our horrible luck the nite we destroy Boozer they find a golden stroke from the arc. They would have beaten the Dream Team if they played like this tonight!

Questions? Complaints?

(AIM: JetForze; email: Jon.d.ma@gmail.com)

by OptionZero @ Golden State Of Mind on Nov 3, 2007 10:13 PM PDT reply actions

I guess we need to go to plan B

Nellie put him into the bench hoping he can come in and be a beast but it didn't work. Now, maybe we keep this lineup and put Sjax on the bench. I want to try that.

Why do I insist??? I don't care if you really hate Pietrus, we can maybe put Barnes in there but my point is, we got owned in the 2nd quarter big time. We don't have anybody on the bench to light it up. It didn't work with Al, maybe Sjax can be our super 6th-man.

by lightz0ut on Nov 4, 2007 1:00 AM PDT reply actions

they're giving up 123.3 ppg

but i'm still optimistic, kaz has been as good as we'd thought he'd be, al looks much better than last yr, marco's shown some playmaking, pob doesn't look completely lost.

once sjax comes back & baron, monta, & beans start playing some defense, the team'll be fine.

by the evil monkey on Nov 4, 2007 1:48 AM PDT reply actions

0-3

I am really looking forward to the dubs getting a couple days of rest. Nellie is gonna tinker with things, and hopefully he works on defense during pratice before Cleveland. Baron has looked like a shoot first guard recently, and he's never been successful that way. He needs to drive and kick. Please no more pull up threes with 20 seconds on the clock!

Can I kick it?

by tadams1080 on Nov 4, 2007 5:30 AM PDT reply actions

The bright side

Despite the foul trouble, I thought POB looked pretty competent out there. His length is enough for him to replace Dad on the Fantastic 4. He looks a little bulkier than last season too.

You are too nice letting Baron off the hook like that. The team played better when he was on the bench! He needs a kick in the pants, not consolation that he is playing too many minutes. It was the third game of the season!

by RonG on Nov 4, 2007 9:18 AM PST reply actions

I agree 100%

I never thought I'd say this, but I thought baron looked like he was tanking it out there. He looked like the person putting out the least amount of effort and I was hoping they wouldn't put him back in.

When the warriors pulled within single digits, the "scrub" squad was out there and of course as Don Nelson always does, forgets about the people who were playing well in the first half... in this game Bookie. He sat on the bench for extended minutes for no reason seeing how they don't have a game until tuesday, plus Kelenna is built like a machine.

As much of a Belinelli fan that I am, I am pretty sick of him driving to the basket and getting sent away. I know its good that he's not afraid to take it to the basket, but he needs to work on drawing contact. It also sucks that when he's in, nobody passes him the ball, hopefully that changes when the warriors start running.

Al was a savage tonight and he proved that he can get it done at the 4 spot in my opinion. Boozer is one of the better real PFs in the western conference and I was happy with his defensive performance. I could careless what he did on the offensive end, but he got it done there as well.

Ellis, sigh... I was watching the highlights after I watched the full game. He was getting burned by literally everyone. Williams, Brewer, Gordon (i can't spell his last name). Hell, I bet if Boozer spotted up he could take him off the dribble. Ellis needs to stop trying to take offensive fouls and flopping and actually try to stay in front of his man. He's hurting the team big time from his unforced turnovers to his unwillingness to do anything but do fast spin moves into brick walls. I hope he picks his game up when the warriors start playing some different teams.

Patrick O'Bryant looked good last night. I expect nothing from him and the fact that he didn't do anything bad was a big plus. He got called for a couple of really bad calls, he changed shots and worked hard... can't ask for anything more than that. It probably helped that there were so many other players on the team doing so many bad things, that his spot in tonight's game looked even brighter.

by david240z on Nov 4, 2007 9:33 AM PST up reply actions

Holy crap

Is that really what the effing Jazz call their home stadium? Looks more suited to a failed dotcom on the 280 than a professional sports team. The architect responsible for that façade and the graphic designer responsible for that "signage" should both be killed. Especially since they're probably both Jazz fans.

Sigh. Just a depressing thread all around. But yeah, only three games...

by Sleepy Freud on Nov 4, 2007 10:46 AM PST reply actions

Jazz home stadium

Actually it's a pic from when they first changed the name so the sign's much better now. Still, a random arena name.

by Atma Brother ONE on Nov 4, 2007 10:56 AM PST up reply actions

And an even more random team name

They should be forced to give that name back to New Orleans and change theirs to the Polygamists.

Man, I hate that team with the same fire you reserve for the Boston teams. ;-) I may have to YouTube a few highlights of Jordan ripping out their hearts to cheer me up...

by Sleepy Freud on Nov 4, 2007 11:07 AM PST up reply actions

Keep Up the Hope

Yeah the Warriors have not done what we hoped coming out of the gate. But the Jazz are a premier team, and one of the worst match ups for the W's. What was disheartening was the loss to the Clips. But that was on the road and the W's have only played one home game.

Let's hope they can take advantage of a tired and very flawed Cavs team tomorrow night and build on that. If the W's can keep the Cavs off the glass I think the W's will get their first win.

SJax will be back next week and hopefully that will be a big boost. Right now, everyone is trying to make up for his lost and that puts a little more pressure on everyone.

Nothing better than "The City".