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OPEN THREAD: Game #21-Spurs @ Warriors

Tiny by dj fuzzylogic on in Previews

warriors-spurs.jpg

Warriors (W-L): 11-9

Spurs (W-L): 17-3

Time: 7:30pm PST

TV:NBA TV, FSN

Radio: KNBR 680

What time is it???

GAME TIME!

Warriors take on Western Conference powerhouse, the San Antonio Spurs, possibly sans Tim Duncan.  This might be good news given that in the Tim Duncan era of Spurs basketball, the battle between these two is far from a rivalry.  Yahoo!'s preview of the game notes that the Spurs have historically owned them 33-5 since Duncan's debut.  

The methodical Spurs, coached by Greg Popovich, present match up problems against the seemingly "anti-methodical" methodical Warriors.  We've all attempted to figure out the mathematic formula to explain the rhythm of Warriors hot shooting.  Is it every other game?  Is it every two games?  Is the equation 1/(x^4) + x^2, where X represents how many shots Jackson and Monta take, combined?  At any rate, after a mediocre shooting night and defensive effort against the Lakeshow, the patterns show that the Warriors should be able to take this one.  

But before we get to the predictions, a battle that might be of intrigue is Tony Parker versus Monta Ellis.  Tony Parker has blossomed in the last few years, maximizing his talents to get maximum results.  Though I would hardly consider him a tier 1 point guard in the L, he's comes off as a smart player who takes tons of high percentage shots ala Steve Nash, hitting over %50 percent from the field.  Though average nearly 7 assists a game, I wouldn't necessarily call him a pure point either (nor a scoring point).  Ellis, like Parker, is a dude who's speed is rivaled by few in the league and is developing a nice mid range game to add to his accelerations to the rim.  Something I've seen in the last few games that I haven't seen much of earlier this year is some better reads of defenses with the ball, a little more hesitation and deliberation on his drives like a running back allowing for the holes to open, and a stronger attempt at distributing the ball (the behind the head dish to a parallel running Biedrins down the lane was absolutely beautiful in the last game).  Anyway, the point of comparison isn't to suggest that their games are similar, but perhaps to gauge what Ellis' worth might be. Also,Parker might serve as a template for a type of player that Ellis may mold himself into, but with more explosive drives.  Parker's development of more finesse, spins, and upfakes in the lane perhaps serves as models of how Monta can exploit his own speed more effectively rather than drawing charge calls (which he has definitely minimized as of late...).  Plus, how much is Tony Parker getting paid anyway?  Is Monta's worth equivalent to Tony Parker's?

On to the PREDICTIONS!

* Warriors by 7 (I'm feeling good tonight!)
* Monta (19-4-6) goes toe-to-toe with Tony P. (21-4-7)
* Since Trevor Ariza blew up last game, I give the Unsuspecting Warrior Killer title to Matt Bonner, who  will drop 5 3s.
* Jax rebounds from a poor shooting night to drop in game changing 3 pointers!

What are your predictions for tonight's game?  Drop your predictions in the comments!


Update (Atma Brother #1):
Warriors Win!! 96-84

Final Boxscore

Stay tuned for the Recap!

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matt bonner
i agree with that, he killed the warriors in a game last year. he'll most likely go off tonight

by AJC3317 on Dec 11, 2007 7:17 PM PST   0 recs

Ding ding ding
We have a winner! And on the first post!

by Sleepy Freud on Dec 12, 2007 3:47 AM PST to parent up   0 recs

Well, Hopefully no one made a trip to Vegas
before this game, because the nets have to be rippin on warrior 3's for the dubs to prevent a 2 game skid.
Best duo since...

by Tim N Chris Burger on Dec 11, 2007 7:24 PM PST   0 recs

Spurs by 15+
Although the W's seem to pull out one win a year due to the Spurs sleep-walking through the first part of the game, I always chalk up an L versus the Spurs.

This is one of those bad match-ups, with their perimeter size, interior defense and discipline. Hopefully they mail this one in and the Warriors can steal one.

I have no idea why the Warriors can't beat the Lakers. That's not a bad match-up, it's just strange . . .

by bloodsweatndonuts on Dec 11, 2007 7:28 PM PST   0 recs

well
my buddy's at the game, and texted me that Duncan is a no-go, so I say Warriors by 8.
WELCOME TO THE GUN SHOW!

by tadams1080 on Dec 11, 2007 7:29 PM PST   0 recs

joey crawford is reffing
hopefully he'll toss ginobili tonight

by AJC3317 on Dec 11, 2007 7:34 PM PST   0 recs

yep confirmed
no duncan... sigh of relief*

by saintdee on Dec 11, 2007 7:34 PM PST   0 recs

lol
shouldnt the nba have crawford like not ref all spurs games? he did get suspended during the end of the year for those funny techs on duncan. i think crawford shouldnt reff anymore spurs game.

by GSwarrior on Dec 11, 2007 7:41 PM PST   0 recs

bonner and elson?
c'mon, run em out of the house.  critical to defend the home court here.  shit bonner is killing us on the boards.

by eshock on Dec 11, 2007 7:44 PM PST   0 recs

Goodnight everyone
Great game tonight!! Hopefully we can steal a win tonight!! I say Warriors by 6!
Baron and Jackson explode tonight!!
F**K REFS!!!

by faetati on Dec 11, 2007 7:45 PM PST   0 recs

harrington should sit right now
he can't even box out matt bonner

by AJC3317 on Dec 11, 2007 7:45 PM PST   0 recs

Jeez!!
Bonner´s got 5 rebounds!!!
F**K REFS!!!

by faetati on Dec 11, 2007 7:48 PM PST   0 recs

We're too
perimeter right now. We gotta drive with Elson and Bonner in the Spur frontcourt.

by WarriorForLife on Dec 11, 2007 7:50 PM PST   0 recs

looks like 3s aren't
raining tonight.. hopefully they wont take too many.

by saintdee on Dec 11, 2007 7:52 PM PST   0 recs

Frenchy on Buki
THey should go to buki all game.  Hopefully BD or Jax don't let ego get in the way.
Best duo since...

by Tim N Chris Burger on Dec 11, 2007 7:52 PM PST   0 recs

Warriors???
Not taking at least 30 threes?? hahahaha
Not tonight... They live and die by the 3s
F**K REFS!!!

by faetati on Dec 11, 2007 7:53 PM PST   0 recs

barnes looks good
barnes triple doubles = warriors victory
Best duo since...

by Tim N Chris Burger on Dec 11, 2007 8:03 PM PST   0 recs

Just a question
Did Jim Barnett say lets trade a 2 for 1 here??
F**K REFS!!!

by faetati on Dec 11, 2007 8:06 PM PST   0 recs

First Quarter Thoughts
Defensively, this team still has a lot of work to do.  Monta Ellis for one needs to step up his effort.  He doesn't fight through screens that he can, and his teammates know it, so they'll call unnecessary switches that give the other team a mismatch when they don't think he'll follow his man.  Jackson, who's not a great weak-side defender, cannot leave Finley alone around the 3-pt. line, even when someone else gets beat, like he did early in the game.  I'm going to go ahead and state the obvious and say that this team could really use a guy that can run with the small unit and give this team a half-decent chance at grabbing a board (cough, Wright, cough).

Offensively, how hard is it to figure out that taking a 20-foot jumper with a hand in your face, a few seconds after receiving a pass in the halfcourt, does not give you your best chance to win the game?  Especially early in the shotclock.  That is not warrior ball.  Warrior ball is early, in rhythm, shots in the open court, or exploiting mismatches/Baron's defender.  I'm still waiting for Monta to figure out how good he is.  

Of course they're doing some things right too.  Gotta love Azuibuke finding Biedrins down low.  When Baron and Kelenna are in the backcourt, one of those guys should always be able to post up.  Biedrins is once again showing he's always in the right place at the right time, and he's got a free throw stroke too!  Barnes shouldn't be allowed to come higher than the elbow; he's twice the shooter on the wing.

by BingBluNT on Dec 11, 2007 8:07 PM PST   0 recs

also
gotta love the rebounding from Kelenna and Monta.  Those guys can absolutely fly!

by BingBluNT on Dec 11, 2007 8:08 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

great defense so far
also terrible call on monta's drive

by AJC3317 on Dec 11, 2007 8:18 PM PST   0 recs

lol pietrus
that may have been his worst move yet. back out a layup to take a 22 footer

by AJC3317 on Dec 11, 2007 8:27 PM PST   0 recs

wow.....
18 points.... really? am i seeing this?

by STIX on Dec 11, 2007 8:30 PM PST   0 recs

asdf
if the defense knees the ball on purpose is it considered kicking? wheres the cut off?

by STIX on Dec 11, 2007 8:31 PM PST   0 recs

wow
the defense is contagious tonight. That is the most impressive thing about this game so far. Hopefully we can learn how to keep the intensity up for the second half.
WELCOME TO THE GUN SHOW!

by tadams1080 on Dec 11, 2007 8:39 PM PST   0 recs

Slick pass by Capt Jack
Best duo since...

by Tim N Chris Burger on Dec 11, 2007 9:03 PM PST   0 recs

i am glad...
no thud experiment today...!!!

by saintdee on Dec 11, 2007 9:10 PM PST   0 recs

Lol
Line of the night. "Jackson is a weird player."

by WarriorForLife on Dec 11, 2007 9:11 PM PST   0 recs

Spurs not going away...
Go on an 8-2 run to end the 3rd. Cut Warriors lead from 21 to 15 heading into the final period. C'mon Dubs!!

by Epicurious Cowboy on Dec 11, 2007 9:18 PM PST   0 recs

beans
why is he sitting so long? he's been the best player for the dubs

by AJC3317 on Dec 11, 2007 9:22 PM PST   0 recs

Boy
was that scary. Seeing Baron on the floor like that.

by WarriorForLife on Dec 11, 2007 9:24 PM PST   0 recs

AB is back
build a team & destroy the roof

by Lat We N Trash on Dec 11, 2007 9:27 PM PST   0 recs

Letting emotions get to em
I hate to say it, we are getting outclassed in the 4th, losing our heads.

by eshock on Dec 11, 2007 9:35 PM PST   0 recs

Yes, but...
Spurs are still struggling from the field. Only a 14-10 edge in the quarter despite us going cold.

by Epicurious Cowboy on Dec 11, 2007 9:44 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

Is it just me
or has the last 4 min of this game been stomache wound painful to watch?
Best duo since...

by Tim N Chris Burger on Dec 11, 2007 9:35 PM PST   0 recs

Wow, good call on the unsuspecting Warrior killer
Bonner with 23 pts, 15 reb with five minutes to play

by Epicurious Cowboy on Dec 11, 2007 9:36 PM PST   0 recs

Question
Why does Latvia gel his hair for every game? And moreover, how does he keep it well groomed even after playing?!?

by WarriorForLife on Dec 11, 2007 9:41 PM PST   0 recs

Look at a picture of Andris from 2005
and you'll know why. He had Dumb and Dumber hair, whichever one Jim Carrey was.

by bloodsweatndonuts on Dec 11, 2007 9:42 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

the reason
why he changed hes hair probably is that he have a girlfriend now
build a team & destroy the roof

by Lat We N Trash on Dec 11, 2007 10:13 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

just
for not to be another white with bad hair (nash novitzky like)
build a team & destroy the roof

by Lat We N Trash on Dec 11, 2007 9:43 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

sweet
big shot bookie. sounds much better than big shot rob
WELCOME TO THE GUN SHOW!

by tadams1080 on Dec 11, 2007 9:42 PM PST   0 recs

Why the hell is Andris on the bench?
Free throws are the only reason but he's sat way too much.

by bloodsweatndonuts on Dec 11, 2007 9:44 PM PST   0 recs

MARCO!!!!!!!!
Hopefully he makes a jumper or two for confidence.

by WarriorForLife on Dec 11, 2007 9:47 PM PST   0 recs

aaaand
TrashTime
build a team & destroy the roof

by Lat We N Trash on Dec 11, 2007 9:48 PM PST   0 recs

Marco hits the 3
after the kick:)

by eshock on Dec 11, 2007 9:48 PM PST   0 recs

bonner
that was a great prediction by dj fuzzy logic about matt bonner. how come random people have career nights against us so often?

by T Baggey on Dec 11, 2007 9:48 PM PST   0 recs

Oh no!!!
Thud in the game!!! The Thud-Belineli backcourt!!!

by Epicurious Cowboy on Dec 11, 2007 9:48 PM PST   0 recs

Croshere is a ball hog, man
everyone wants to see Marco unload dude.

by eshock on Dec 11, 2007 9:50 PM PST   0 recs

HAHAHAHAHA
Awwww, poor Marco...:(

by WarriorForLife on Dec 11, 2007 9:50 PM PST   0 recs

OUCH!!!!
POOR MARCO!!!! WHAT A CLUNKER! Hit some rim kid.

by STIX on Dec 11, 2007 9:50 PM PST   0 recs

beans sat way too much
other than that it was a great game

by AJC3317 on Dec 11, 2007 9:51 PM PST   0 recs

it is oficial
a WIN against spurs again
build a team & destroy the roof

by Lat We N Trash on Dec 11, 2007 9:51 PM PST   0 recs

Great Call
On Matt Bonner becoming the Warrior Killer tonight
My pictures never show up here, so this is my new Signature

by sloth11 on Dec 11, 2007 9:53 PM PST   0 recs

good thing he didn't really kill us
he just wounded us very deeply

by saintdee on Dec 11, 2007 9:54 PM PST   0 recs

hahahaha
i love andris. Steimetz after the game talking about Jack passing to Beans. Biedrins "He just throw me the ball, and I just catch dat thing."
WELCOME TO THE GUN SHOW!

by tadams1080 on Dec 11, 2007 9:55 PM PST   0 recs

asdf
"My teamates does the passing well and you know, we just get the rebound and pass the ball and get the easy lay ups so ya it makes good fast break"

by STIX on Dec 11, 2007 9:58 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

Jack for all defense team
Dude he's lockin down some of the leagues best, night in night out.  Ginobli looked like trash tonight.  
Best duo since...

by Tim N Chris Burger on Dec 11, 2007 9:55 PM PST   0 recs

asdf
thats cause he got smacked up early in the game. that dude has a funkey set... all yellowish and what not. bleh

by STIX on Dec 11, 2007 9:59 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

Belinelli
First appearance in a while. I loved how everyone was yelling at him to shoot. Too bad he missed.

by curtischin on Dec 11, 2007 9:56 PM PST   0 recs

at least
he made the one that didn't count lol

by AJC3317 on Dec 11, 2007 9:57 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

hahah
yea... people were cheering when he made the one that didn't count. Beli needs more playing time. I would willingly sacrifice a few wins if we can get Beli to start hitting those 3s.

by saintdee on Dec 11, 2007 9:58 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

asdf
never. a win is a win.

by STIX on Dec 11, 2007 9:59 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

try some
self editing next time. this is by far the worst comment i've ever read. i'm sorry but wow...
straight g

by RC650 on Dec 11, 2007 10:02 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

yeesh
that firecrotch is a beast! good call

sure am glad duncan didn't play. good win

by disguy on Dec 11, 2007 9:57 PM PST   0 recs

FIRECROTCH!
This term definitely needs to be used more often.

by Dubs fan in Boston on Dec 11, 2007 11:39 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

YEEEESSSSS!!!!
To be honest, I wasn't very confident about this game

SO AWESOME!!!!!!

GO WARRIORS

by goGSW24 on Dec 11, 2007 9:58 PM PST   0 recs

too all the doubters:
one loss does not warrant "lets break up the team" talk. this squad can flat out BALL
straight g

by RC650 on Dec 11, 2007 10:04 PM PST   0 recs

And conversely
One win against the Duncan-less Spurs doesn't warrant calling out all the "doubters."

That said, yeah, this team can definitely ball...

by Sleepy Freud on Dec 11, 2007 11:41 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

Man, it feels good
...to beat the Spurs.

by Jeremy Belvins on Dec 11, 2007 10:32 PM PST   0 recs

u know what i want to seee more
is for us beating the only other teams we cant beat. aka lakers and utah. man we shut it down fourth quarter. maah boy buike was all over garbage time. whata way to do good in all my fantasys!!!

by GSwarrior on Dec 11, 2007 10:58 PM PST   0 recs

I love Nellie
First thing he says is "you aren't supposed to win when you shoot 30%" etc.  Ha.  Is he pushing Pop or the team with that one?  We have been shooting pretty low from three lately.  In the 20s?  How many games will the Ws win with 3% in the 20s.  But all of those steals, that is Warrior basketball.

by belli nellie on Dec 11, 2007 11:24 PM PST   0 recs

3pts 25,9%
TO 9 to 21
build a team & destroy the roof

by Lat We N Trash on Dec 11, 2007 11:36 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

Ya, seriously
This is what you get when Steve "No D" Nash is NOT Nellie's first line of defense.

by Dubs fan in Boston on Dec 11, 2007 11:41 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

my first game of the season!
sat in section 225. Pretty much the nose bleed.s
Warriors, Stupidest franchise in the league.

by kenntoe on Dec 11, 2007 11:58 PM PST   0 recs

Pouting Dubs
We were lucky to pull this one out.  They had a chance to pull within 6 in the 4th but the 3s didn't fall.  Monta was pouting out there on defense against Parker and the moving screens set by Oberto and Bonner.  Tonight, in the fourth even though it looked like we were getting hacked, it seemed we weren't.  The Spurs play awesome defense man.  They disrupt but not enough to force the refs to make a call.  The Lakers were good at that too.  So, we need to get better at tiptoeing the line, but I saw too many Dubs quit or foul in frustration.  At least when, KAZ did it under the hoop, he pointed at himself because he knew that Oberto punked him from point blank.  Also, Horry is just a hitman out there.  Pietrus' foul to end the 3rd was the worst decision I've seen from him in a long time.  

by eshock on Dec 12, 2007 12:21 AM PST   0 recs

Just found out Monta suffered a sprained thigh
and is questionable against the Blazers.  Well, that explains the "poutiness" I pointed out.  I thought he was just upset with himself, but I take it back, he seemed to still play hard with an injury.  Get better, Monta.

by eshock on Dec 12, 2007 7:26 AM PST to parent up   0 recs

Warriors
would have totally collapsed last year in a game like this, even without the other team's superstar. Warriors defense was great tonight.  Man, it feels good to have a winning home team!

by semarubaka on Dec 12, 2007 1:55 AM PST   0 recs

The first half was beautiful basketball
In the first quarter, we just kind of stumbled out of the gates.  Everybody just settled for contested jumpers, no ball movement.

Biedrins came in and really saved the offense in the first quarter though, his flashes to the basket really worked well and the Warriors made a commitment to finding him in the paint.  By the end of the first, we were back into the game.

In the second quarter, Nelly smallball flat out took over.  With Harrington at center on defense, we had the luxury of switching and sticking on every single pick-and-roll they tried without worrying about mismatches; every guy we had on the floor could guard anybody they had on the floor, for the most part.  They couldn't penetrate the perimeter defense or effectively deliver the ball into the post, and either turned the ball over alot or had to take contested jumpers.  And these things fueled our fastbreak and easy score opportunities.  If you limit any team to 12 points in a quarter, chances are you're going to win the game; regardless of how much our offense has struggled.

by jlagace on Dec 12, 2007 2:41 AM PST   0 recs

ok
FTW! lol
build a team & destroy the roof

by Lat We N Trash on Dec 12, 2007 3:00 AM PST to parent up   0 recs

What, what, what???
What the hell is a sprained thigh?  That can't exist.  Hope Monta is better for the game tonight.  I was at the game and the Dubs looked okay.  They couldn't make a shot to save their life, but that didn't matter.  What makes this team click is D. They get turnovers off D and as a result, the basketball Gods reward them with a fast break layup or open 3.  We have ZERO half court set up and just go one on one which will in the end be our inevitable death to us come playoff time.  We need more movment and better spacing so we can create shots away from the ball, not just one on one all the friggin time.  Good win without their best player, I'll take it any day!  Go Dub's!

by gabezgsw on Dec 12, 2007 9:17 AM PST   0 recs