The Obligatory

by BiedrinsORBust on Dec 22, 2007 10:40 PM PST

10 + point deficit in the first half is starting to get extremely frustrating. And, it's not just on the road but also at home. The Don spoke, before the game, that the team was going to falter if they kept playing like this in the first half. And, of course, there is another nearly career game from somebody on the other team. The Warriors are supposed to be, not necessarily an elite team, but at least a good team (with two days road rest) against a leastern confrenece team with an under .500 record total and at under .500 record at home. Is the obligatory 10+ point deficit getting to you? How can it be fixed?

This FanPost is a submission from a member of the mighty Golden State of Mind community. While we're all here to throw up that W, these words do not necessarily reflect the views of the GSoM Crew. Still, chances are the preceding post is Unstoppable Baby!

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Mental

It's all mental. We rely so much on emotion that when it comes time to "get up" to play in an empty building against a crappy team, we got nothing to inspire us. Good teams have discipline to fall back on- something that we're obviously lacking.

Baron, Jack, Harrington failing to shoot even 40%; the collective turnover problem, the failure of anyone to block out (other than Biedrins, the only guy who consistently crashes the glass), the virtual disdain for putting a body on defense...

It's as if we think we're SO GOOD now we don't NEED to play hard. Yet the fact is we simply aren't good enough to flip the switch on and off; we aren't nearly as efficient as the Suns and Spurs without trying.

Until our team grows up and shows enough maturity to bring the same energy and effort we show when we face the Suns and Mavs, we will always been at a huge risk of coming out flat. We've seen it happen this entire road trip.

A Golden state of mind Indeed.

AIM: Jetforze

by OptionZero @ Golden State Of Mind on Dec 22, 2007 10:54 PM PST reply actions

definately agreed

when the team isn't inspired or playing off of the crowd or emotions or they just haven't gotten into the game yet, energy is definitely lacking. Offensively they stand around and defensively they don't scrap and force turnovers. when they get into it, and play with some energy you start seeing the scrappy defense, the hustle plays, and guys flying up and down the court and some good ball movement.

by Proof on Dec 24, 2007 2:41 AM PST up reply actions

pre- or post-Cavs game comment?

anyone who watched the Cavs game knows Don's boys finally attacked the basket, forcing the Cavs to respect the drive & opening the outside shots better. Granted the Cavs are in disarray but the dubz do not need their home crowd to inspire them (see their road record & compare to NBA avg) they simply need to play smart, aggressive ball - the key is not emotion over 82 games, the key is taking the game to the opponent ...

by hardcore on Dec 24, 2007 10:22 AM PST up reply actions

i was saying

when they come out slow. before the cavs, after the cavs whatever.

by Proof on Dec 25, 2007 7:51 AM PST up reply actions

agreed

like i said in my comment.. the warriors aren't turning it on till the second half and by that time we're always fighting a huge deficit. It works against Minnesota.. but not against decent teams. Hopefully this is a wakeup call.. I though Detroit would be a wakeup call but I guess it was too early in the morning.

by saintdee on Dec 23, 2007 12:59 AM PST reply actions

it's not that simple

while the sense of urgency is lacking there is more to the first half deficits - namely opponents are preparing better for us & seeing the benefits of going "big" against Don's small ball - Boone's play only underscores that other coaches are following Jackson's strategy of exploit'n GS inside. The other factor is our own creation - we gotta drive more. It's as old as dust but it's true that if we don't have an inside game our outside game isn't enough. We don't have a post-up game, so we have to create opportunities to move the defense, get to the rim, drive & kick, get to the FT line, and get to the Oboards. We fall into the habit of hoisting too many 3s too early in games and too early in the shot clock, and the cycle reverses - opponents break on us rather than the reverse. This is more evidence of why we do not need a backup PG as much as we need an inside presence. Because that will take time (another season?) to acquire, we need to adjust to the opponents' big lineups by attacking with the dribble.

in Nelson we trust

by hardcore on Dec 23, 2007 1:03 PM PST reply actions

I don't agree..

if thats the case then we would be dominated the whole game and not just the first half. One problem is it seems like Jackson is too individualistic. He tries to create his own shot too much instead of kicking it out.

by saintdee on Dec 23, 2007 1:17 PM PST reply actions

Jax

does look for his own, but he also is looking to dish - early in the Nets game he drove baseline and tried to shovel a 7,000 mph pass to AB 3 feet away. After the ball went haplessly out of bounds, Nelly pulled AB for Harrington. Look, Jax aint perfect (I particularly hate how he whines for calls and doesn't get back on def) but he is playing a critical role for us - he's at least penetrating, he's our backup PG which allows us to maximize Monta's scoring ability, and he guards one of the opponent's best players every night.

in Nelson we trust

by hardcore on Dec 23, 2007 1:26 PM PST up reply actions

being captain

means stephen jack has to set the tone defensively right off the bat. he's the captain, and by playing intense D early on he'll help the Warriors set the pace both offensively and defensively. They all look a little tired right now, which might explain the slow starts. They just need to keep their heads above water through this rough stretch of frequent road games.

My girlfriend hates that I'm into basketball again, and that I yell at the TV during games.

by sfwarriorcvg on Dec 23, 2007 1:33 PM PST up reply actions

i don't doubt jax's importance

but often time whenever he gets the all the other team knows hes going to drive to the basket. He should change it up a bit more to confound the defenders.

by saintdee on Dec 23, 2007 1:32 PM PST reply actions

bigs?

What will adding a big do for us?

Baron and Jack take the most shots- they were 11 for 37 combined. Baron had FIVE turnovers.

If you want to fix the team, fix those guys' heads, because they were horrible.

A hustling big man to bring energy would be a nice piece, but unless that guy can hypnotize Jack and Baron into being more efficient, this team will still rise and fall on how well Baron and Jack play.

There is no "big" that's going to change this team.

A Golden state of mind Indeed.

AIM: Jetforze

by OptionZero @ Golden State Of Mind on Dec 23, 2007 2:46 PM PST reply actions

what about Oden

read the post about Oden and see if we can him for Xmas along with a good backup PG. Oh well, Happy Holidays OZ.

You call me ancient, I say "oldguysrule"

by commish on Dec 23, 2007 9:40 PM PST up reply actions

Balance and Rebounding

Adding a big, the right big to agree 100% with you, is the only way to bring offensive balance to this roster and address our rebounding needs at both ends of the floor. That's why I said it may need to wait. And I agree that until that happens we need Baron et al to moderate their approach and drive more

in Nelson we trust

by hardcore on Dec 23, 2007 3:14 PM PST reply actions