OPEN THREAD: Game #29 - Warriors vs Nuggets

Warriors (W-L): 17-12
Nuggets (W-L): 17-11
Time: 7:30pm PST
TV:FSN Plus (FSN after Sharks game, around 8p)
Radio: KNBR 680
The Warriors face off against the Nuggets tonight in what is the first game of the Denver double dip. The Warriors head to Denver on Sunday. This is a stretch in the schedule where the Warriors will get a serious test. In the next 7 games, they face Denver twice, Houston (13-15), Dallas (19-11), New Orleans (18-10), San Antonio (20-7), and then Portland (16-12). Coming out of this 7 game stretch with a 4-3 record would be expected, and anything better, a nice surprise. Anything's possible and the Warriors will have to be consistent night in and night out to be successful during this stretch. Hit the jump for the preview.
Update: Warriors lose 120-124

With the Nuggets coming to town and both teams at full strength this will be an excellent test to see how they stack up against another top team in the West. They have nearly identical records although the Nuggets are at the top of their division and the Warriors are third in the Pacific.
Expect some fireworks tonight because both teams score like crazy. The Warriors are the 2nd highest scoring team at 108.1 ppg and Denver is the 3rd highest scoring team at 106.8 ppg. Both teams score a lot but they do it in different ways. Denver relies on their two superstars, Allen Iverson (26.3 ppg) and Carmelo Anthony (25.5 ppg) to put up the bulk of the points while everyone else fills in the rest. Only two other players average double figure on the team and they barely reach it, Linas Kleiza (10.5 ppg) and JR Smith (10.1 ppg). Contrast that with the Warriors who have 6 guys in double figures and spread the ball around evenly.

One of the big differences is the points per game allowed. The Warriors give up 106.2ppg and the Nuggets give up 102.9. Defensively the two teams play a little different. Both teams go for steals but do it differently, the Warriors swarm the opposing players and get in the passing lanes to get steals. On the other hand, Denver takes more chances on reach ins and can afford to get beat because Marcus Camby waits for anyone penetrating the paint. He averages 3.6 blocks per game changes countless amounts of shots. He also cleans the glass to the tune of 14 boards per game. When you have the reigning defensive player of the year in the middle, you can take more chances.
No doubt about it, tonight's game is going to be a lot of fun to watch with the scorekeeper having a busy night keeping up with all the points.
Predictions:
- Warriors win by 4
- Total points scored = 240 or more
- Al Harrington drops 25
- Baron goes bananas and has a monster game
- Camby gobbles up 18 rebounds
0 recs |
72
comments
Comments
The Vegas Over
by Hash on Dec 28, 2007 2:48 PM PST 0 recs
Watch out for K-mart
by Elcold on Dec 28, 2007 3:14 PM PST 0 recs
Three point shooting
Their offense rests almost entirely on Iverson/Carmelo wrecking havoc in the midrange area. Last year we put Jackson on Iverson, and Jack's length had an effect. The problem this year...who guards Carmelo? Asking Baron to do it is alot, since Melo has the size advantage and is skilled in the low block. On the other hand, asking Baron to chase Iverson all night throughs screens would subject our best player to physical abuse AND fatigue, since Iverson has a limitless motor and uses picks ridiculously well.
Alternatively, you could ask Monta Ellis to chase Allen Iverson matching speed for speed. Iverson's not stupid though, he moves off the ball at a crazy pace, never stopping, and changes directions laterally better than anyone in the league still. Tall task for Ellis.
I suppose we open Ellis on Iverson, Jackson on 'Melo. Since neither guy is a 3P shooter, we have both sag off and force them to become volume jumpshooters.
Crash the glass and run JR Smith and Kleiza off the 3P line.
Offensively, Iverson can be abused physically if he tries to matchup to Baron. Last year the "Reigning defensive player of the year" was a nice doormat for Biedrins' monster game. While Camby is a dominating shotblocker and rebounder, he's a poor positional defender. Force him to move and chase Biedrins on high pick and rolls, and the baseline becomes open for more penetration.
A Golden state of mind Indeed.
AIM: Jetforze
by OptionZero on Dec 28, 2007 3:18 PM PST 0 recs
almost must win?
by MoreHeartThanBrains on Dec 28, 2007 3:46 PM PST 0 recs
ORACLE
by warrior510 on Dec 28, 2007 4:19 PM PST 0 recs
Starting lineup
by Zenmasta on Dec 28, 2007 4:25 PM PST 0 recs
Energy
by warrior510 on Dec 28, 2007 4:42 PM PST 0 recs
Playoff preview
If fact if you look at their next seven games (DEN, @DEN, @HOU, @DAL, N.O., S.A., @ POR) that this stretch is even more important than the road trip following the 1-6 start. We all believe that Warriors are solid team with a good chance at sneaking back into the playoffs. If they stink this stretch up like they did with the start of the season (perhaps only other tough stretch to the season), then we'd be seriously behind the 8-ball in getting back to the playoffs. The way I see it, 4-3 would be solid effort..

by mcwalter44 on Dec 28, 2007 5:00 PM PST 0 recs
this year has been really nice
The warriors are playing inspired basketball!
predictions:
20+ for Monta
5 3's for SJax
and a triple double for our all-star PG!
" Sleepy Floyd is Superman!!!"
by CoachBarry on Dec 28, 2007 5:58 PM PST 0 recs
EERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
by warrior510 on Dec 28, 2007 6:15 PM PST 0 recs
Ain't even on FSN+
by Dactyllic on
Dec 28, 2007 7:48 PM PST
up
0 recs
Wooooo!
by WarriorForLife on Dec 28, 2007 7:59 PM PST 0 recs
argh...
by saintdee on Dec 28, 2007 8:14 PM PST 0 recs
Stream
http://forum.myp2p.eu/viewtopic.php?id=24160&p=60
by zaki on Dec 28, 2007 8:22 PM PST 0 recs
we are taking
build a team & destroy the roof
by Lat We N Trash on
Dec 28, 2007 8:44 PM PST
up
0 recs
gogo barnes..
by saintdee on Dec 28, 2007 8:28 PM PST 0 recs
Commercials
by warriorgirl on Dec 28, 2007 8:29 PM PST 0 recs
Iverson
by warrior510 on Dec 28, 2007 8:36 PM PST 0 recs
@least
FT & FG % became better then in 1.Q
FTW!
build a team & destroy the roof
by Lat We N Trash on Dec 28, 2007 8:48 PM PST 0 recs
jackson
by GSwarrior on Dec 28, 2007 9:08 PM PST 0 recs
i hate pietrus
by AJC3317 on Dec 28, 2007 9:19 PM PST 0 recs
When was the last time
by BingBluNT on Dec 28, 2007 9:26 PM PST 0 recs
OK Jim Barnett
by WarriorForLife on Dec 28, 2007 9:33 PM PST 0 recs
hmmm
by AJC3317 on Dec 28, 2007 9:34 PM PST 0 recs
RELAX
never forget...
by torma510 on
Dec 29, 2007 2:00 AM PST
up
0 recs
Dude
And that people like to blow off steam here when they're pissed?
And that Harrington, for the most part, did indeed SUCK tonight?
While we're talking about sucking, how much does it suck to call out another poster's Warrior fandom when your webpin is an eight-sizes-too-big photo of a Charlotte Bobcat?
Calling out a fan's loyalty in a game-thread should be a bannable offense. JRich webpins are borderline. ;-P
by Sleepy Freud on
Dec 29, 2007 3:03 AM PST
up
0 recs
thanx man
by AJC3317 on
Dec 29, 2007 12:57 PM PST
up
0 recs
Defense
by warrior510 on Dec 28, 2007 9:46 PM PST 0 recs
ok we better not screw this up...
by saintdee on Dec 28, 2007 9:53 PM PST 0 recs
doh...
by saintdee on Dec 28, 2007 9:56 PM PST 0 recs
warriors lose!!!
by saintdee on Dec 28, 2007 9:57 PM PST 0 recs
AND I SHOUT
by warrior510 on Dec 28, 2007 9:58 PM PST 0 recs
now
build a team & destroy the roof
by Lat We N Trash on Dec 28, 2007 9:59 PM PST 0 recs
man
by GSwarrior on Dec 28, 2007 10:00 PM PST 0 recs
yeh part of it though is they really don't
by Zig on
Dec 28, 2007 10:01 PM PST
up
0 recs
my goodness JAX
Really though it came down to the Defense and the lack of any sort of inside scoring
by Zig on Dec 28, 2007 10:00 PM PST 0 recs
42%
by AJC3317 on Dec 28, 2007 10:03 PM PST 0 recs
team of shooters?
We have mostly high volume streaky guys
by Zig on
Dec 28, 2007 10:05 PM PST
up
0 recs
it's a shooting team
by AJC3317 on
Dec 28, 2007 10:07 PM PST
up
0 recs
But
Playoffs!!??
by PAWarrior on
Dec 29, 2007 12:28 AM PST
up
0 recs
Which is why
by kenntoe on
Dec 29, 2007 11:08 AM PST
up
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i would too
by AJC3317 on
Dec 29, 2007 12:59 PM PST
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I love Steven Jackson but this shouldn't be
He is a steak shooter who is close to a 40% guy his whole career and he is being asked this year to do more than he ever has
He could easily be sub 40% this year from the field and around 30% on 3's
All in all you take the good with the bad and they are much much better with him and much thinner than they seemed at the start of the year
by Zig on Dec 28, 2007 10:04 PM PST 0 recs
Streaky team
Personally I'd like to see a little more of AB and some minutes for Brandon Wright but all and all they overachieve
by Zig on Dec 28, 2007 10:07 PM PST 0 recs
TOs
most could have been easily prevented
but pretty much everyone scored.
Pietrus & Az had 5 points each
everyone else that played had 10 or more
by gby822 on Dec 28, 2007 10:17 PM PST 0 recs
Barnes' forced passing killed us
by eshock on
Dec 28, 2007 10:24 PM PST
up
0 recs
For everyone bashing on Jack
by WarriorForLife on Dec 28, 2007 10:18 PM PST 0 recs
The 3
Everytime the score is close and we're about to take the lead, we end up settling for a 3 point shot rather than working for a good 2 pointer. It seems like these Warriors want to drop the bomb and get everyone excited by nailing a 3.
What happens next? A missed 3 and it leads up to a Nugget basket. Again we're down and have to crawl our way up again.
It seems like the players know the score in the back of their mind and when they're tied or down 1 or 2, it's like they have to shoot a 3. 36 attempts!
by AntiLaker on Dec 28, 2007 10:46 PM PST 0 recs
well...
The worst part is this game would have had a better chance being won in overtime... melo had 5 fouls!! we coulda fouled him out and won in OT.
by saintdee on
Dec 29, 2007 12:45 AM PST
up
0 recs
comcast
art by jnazaire 07
by disguy on Dec 28, 2007 11:30 PM PST 0 recs
um
What you thought that I only played basketball? I AM A Golden State WARRIOR!
by 24k state fan since 87 on
Dec 29, 2007 12:28 AM PST
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0 recs
On top
by jtoj on Dec 29, 2007 4:02 AM PST 0 recs
Man that hurts
Maybe they were going for the dagger because the Nuggets were in control 99% of the game. Warriors seemed timid settling for eight thousand (8000) jumpers. Either way my body was shaking after that game from all the adrenaline! The Laker game didn't even do that to me.
I gotta get over to yardbarker and talk Shot selection with The Baron.
by Golden Gate Warrior on Dec 29, 2007 9:24 AM PST 0 recs
Denver
by triplesix on Dec 29, 2007 10:56 AM PST 0 recs
DEFENSE!
Sunday will be tough. I was hoping that we could at least split this home and home. The next couple of weeks will tell a LOT about this team.
by Manute4Three on Dec 29, 2007 11:02 AM PST 0 recs



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