RECAP: Warriors 105, Hawks 106 - I Know, It's Depressing

by Fantasy Junkie on Feb 11, 2007 9:50 PM PST in Recaps

Ellis soaring through the air. By the way, what's Biedrins doing?

"I know, it's depressing"
Those were the words of my girlfriend as I sat trying to think of what to write for this recap. Then I got confused, is she talking about the game we just lost or me just being a Warrior fan in general? Probably both.

"Man we just lost to the Hawks...again, this time at home."
"I know, it's depressing"
We had a chance to win it on a last second shot by Stephen Jackson at the buzzer but he came up short. I thought that when Matt Barnes brought the ball up the court, he had a lane to the bucket for a layup, but he decided to pass to Jackson. Then Jackson had his own lane to get to the rim, but decided to pull it out and settle for a 20 foot pull up. The game wasn't decided by this last sequence, but I really thought these two could have got a better shot. In fact, if Jackson hit that game winner, this recap would be much different.

Let's rewind though. The first quarter essentially is where the ballgame was lost. Giving up 34 points while only scoring 26 puts yourself in a bad hole. There's nothing like having to fight an uphill battle when you can't play any defense. The Warriors trailed the entire game and had to scratch and claw their way back into it.

"The injuries just keep piling up."
"I know, it's depressing"
In addition to our two stars, Baron and JRich, we're now missing another starter, Mickael Pietrus. He was out because of his twisted ankle from the Bulls game. Then, midway through the game Al "TMNT" Harrington gets injured and has to leave the game. He was able to make it back but his scoring was missed as he was only able to contribute 6 points. I know every team has to deal with injuries but seriously, how many teams consistently get injured like this and to this caliber of player?

"Dude, we're not making the playoffs"
"I know, it's depressing"
The Warriors are now 24-28, 1.5 games out of the last playoff spot and are 11th in the West. There are no "must win" games in February, but this was as close to a must win as you can get simply because the Warriors cannot win on the road and the Hawks are a beatable team. Look at the difference. With a win, we'd be 25-27 and just a half game out of the last playoff spot. If they managed to split the next two games before the All-Star break, the lineup would get a huge boost with Baron and JRich coming back. Instead, it's a bigger uphill battle to just get back to .500.

But there's still a chance! The Clippers, Nuggets, and the rest of the lower teams in the West just can't seem to pull away from the pack. Even though the Warriors are struggling to get back to .500, at least they're only 1.5 games out of it. Make no mistake about it though, we need to worry about getting back to .500 before worrying about the playoffs. I really can't see a team making the playoffs in the West while below .500. For me, I'm not really into tanking the season when we still have a chance. I know that having a better shot at a top draft pick is valuable, but there are no guarantees especially given the Warriors history with luck.

"So who's up next? Denver for the 2nd game of a back to back."
"I know, it's depressing"

Warrior Wonder: Andris Biedrins. Boy was all over the place tonight. 16 points, 16 boards, and 4 assists. He manned the middle again as the Warriors only other two "big men" Foyle and Powell combined for 6 minutes.

Big game tonight for AB

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Comments

you took the words

right out of my mouth.

the missed FTs by monta (didnt expect that) the missed LAYUP POINT BLANK by Biendrins (didnt expect that) sighh my heart is broken once again.

by djchuckdeez on Feb 11, 2007 9:52 PM PST reply actions

And watch out for

New Orleans

8-2 in the last 10

by Zig on Feb 11, 2007 10:03 PM PST reply actions

even the announcer

on nbatv was yelling at jax saying "what the hell are you doing?" and seeing the highlight, barnes had a dunk.

by the evil monkey on Feb 11, 2007 10:21 PM PST reply actions

in the first pic

Where you ask what Biedrins is doing. He's taking an elbow straight in to the back by Childress.

by Athletix Man on Feb 11, 2007 10:21 PM PST reply actions

was that the play where

ellis missed the dunk?

by the evil monkey on Feb 11, 2007 10:26 PM PST up reply actions

yeah :(

misleading pic.. looks as if ellis got a nice dunk

by chimp on Feb 11, 2007 11:04 PM PST up reply actions

bigger things to come?

Just read the Chronicle article on the game. I found one part of Nelson's postgame commentary interesting, specifically the part about getting bigger. Probably nothing, but could this mean another trade is in the works? Back to game, indeed "depressing" is the appropriate word to describe this game. At least we're not the Celtics, but then again they are working very hard to land a chance to pick up Oden or Durant.

From the SF Chron article:

"We're small and we're young. That's two pretty big issues in the game of basketball. We'll get better as we go along and we'll get bigger. I think the future looks brighter -- a lot brighter than it did a month ago.''

by xoverdribble on Feb 11, 2007 10:45 PM PST reply actions

we can't blame the loss

completely on Skeletor. The game was lost when it started, it just so happened that we lucked out that the ATL Hawks forgot how to shoot FTs in the last minute and we had a chance and it just didnt work out. There was sloppy play all night long and there were too many 2nd chance points converted by the Hawks. It was a very saddening game to watch and the ending was just a tease.

by ZombieWarrior on Feb 11, 2007 11:00 PM PST reply actions

good point

We shoulda never been in it at the end.

by GameSix on Feb 12, 2007 6:29 AM PST up reply actions

Its hard to be a Warriors fan....

I heard somewhere that the Warriors are like a girl you pick up when youre half drunk...

You think she looks good....youre getting kind of excited...

Then you wake up the next morning alone and your wallet and car keys are missing...

This one hurts.

by Da City1 on Feb 11, 2007 11:13 PM PST reply actions

this was

the worst defensive showing by the dubs all season, even if the stats dont show it. furthermore AB was the ONLY person chrashing the boards all game wheras alll 5 hawks were always in the paint for loose balls. we really need t get away from zone and bak 2 man. finishing the game was terrible, as usual. we need baron back to be our barometer in the 4th

the good/bad about being a warriors fan: bad: 13 years...nuff said good: there GSoM

by mydedgerbil555 on Feb 11, 2007 11:32 PM PST reply actions

Do any of you guys watch WWF?

This reminds me of an episode of WWF wrestling where they were at the Oakland Arena... and Edge & Christian were doing a promo in the ring when the Rock attacked them. Edge & Christian were "found in the back" by the interviewer and were asked what they thought about the attack. Edge said "Due to the heinousity of the Rock's actions, I will no longer be able to wrestle tonight. My back is in bad shape..." Christian said "Bad?" Edge replied "Yeah... Golden State Warriors bad!" It was said to try to get boos from the crowd... but instead the crowd cheered. It gave me a little laugh to help me cope with the "heinausity" that they played with tonight. I already spoke my peace in the game thread... I'm looking forward to tomorrow.

by mightymadskillz on Feb 11, 2007 11:33 PM PST reply actions

the Warriors only other two "big men"

" Foyle and Powell combined for 6 minutes."

well what's up wit that? After the way TheDonal and Powwell played last game they should have been in there more? I missed the first three quarters, Damn, I was planning to get home in time but I came across a little Salvadorian with a ripe Jicama, lemon and salt and got hung up. Last game it was a peruvian amazon with stew and champaigne, I gotta learn to leave the senoritas alone on game nights.

by Skeptic con Urquell on Feb 11, 2007 11:41 PM PST reply actions

this is what i don't like about nellie

he is just way too in love with the small ball. rebounding is a problem, and he knows it. but does he do anything to try and fix it? noooooooooooooo. i would run out a starting five looking like this against denver:

monta
azubuike/jackson
harrington
powell
biedrins

that would give biedrins a little help inside. if either powell or biedrins gets into foul trouble, just bring azubuike or jackson off the bench and that would be the lineup that he's been running with the whole time anyway.

by AJC3317 on Feb 12, 2007 12:15 PM PST up reply actions

ugh

this loss was more disgusting than the Phoenix and Indy home games.
ATL practically gift-wrapped the game for us in the final minute. It's not that we missed the last shot, it's that with EIGHT seconds we didn't even get off a QUALITY shot. To me there were 2 options: the pull-up 3 (with opportunity for an offensive board/putback or foul/ft's in the event of a miss) or a drive to the hoop. Somehow after 6 seconds of indecisiveness, he ends up with a fading jumper just inside the arc that barely hits the rim. FUGLY.
With that being said, i'm mildly impressed we can even sniff that 8th spot with the ridiculous amount of injuries to key players that we've had to endure. I can't wait to see this squad together healthy. I just hope it's not too late for it to happen this season.

by dirrty on Feb 12, 2007 12:38 AM PST reply actions

man jax and harrington

ahh these past two games showed why indiana just gave away those 2 to us. jackson is like dumbleavme but shoots more, and harrington ahh i know he got hurt today but wow a lay up to him is like shaw shooting a free throw and halfcourt shots with 2 seconds left is the best decision to him? dam i only think what would of happend if we had everyone playing. geez were sucking so much but were still 1.5 games back instead of 7 or 8 like all previous years. and i dont understand this zone its obviously not working, than when we go man to man like every shot for the oppossing team is hard, but what do they do when something is working they change it back to the broken thing. is it me but when the starting line up goes away the team does well and when they come back they are horrible again? oh well and why will the warriors bomb the season for? its not like they have not tried to do that before and all we get from those ping pong balls is a crappy draft pic that sucks for us gets traded and becomes a super star. ahh the life of a warrior fan!

by 24k state fan since 87 on Feb 12, 2007 12:50 AM PST reply actions

corrrection to previous post

i meant shaq not shaw sorry guys*

by 24k state fan since 87 on Feb 12, 2007 12:51 AM PST reply actions

End game decisions

Nellie needs to get these guys on the same page for last second shots and end of the game situations. Maybe he needs to teach them like 2 or 3 set plays that they will use on a last second situation if they don't have an obvious shot.

Al Harrington and Steven Jackson def need some help. First Harrington hucking up a running half court shot with 3 seconds to go against the Bulls.
And Steven Jackson taking the fast break to a stand still, and stand then huck up a fading jumper at the buzzer. Steven Jackson had the ball at the three with about 6.3 seconds to go and guys cutting, there was better options then that sadly enough.

by jpgarfunkle on Feb 12, 2007 7:11 AM PST reply actions

RE: end game decisions

What seems to be the big difference in these last couple games is not having Baron. Remember the Nets game? If Baron had the ball against Chicago, Al doesn't chuck up a 3 at halfcourt with 3 seconds to go. If Baron had the ball against Atlanta instead of Barnes, Baron takes that hard to the rack with Jax probably trailing.

come back Baron, please...

by Fantasy Junkie on Feb 12, 2007 10:01 AM PST up reply actions

man.

things ain't looking good.

by worldbfree on Feb 12, 2007 7:12 AM PST reply actions

Now that I think of it ..

If Monta knocked the dunk through, we woulda won .. because it led to an easy 2 for the Hawks on the other end.

But I'm not downing Monta, cause I love that guy.
We lacked that defensive pressure in the first half and on some plays, just couldnt get the defensive board.

by WarriorFanForLife on Feb 12, 2007 7:25 AM PST reply actions

its so depressing

by jrizzle on Feb 12, 2007 8:09 AM PST reply actions

call a timeout nellie

i love the fact that these guys can get out and run and make plays, but without Baron, we really should have stopped and made sure we got a good shot off. We were confused, they were able to get back on D, game over.

by tadams1080 on Feb 12, 2007 8:43 AM PST reply actions

Yeah.

They really didn't even have time to get back on d. Jax just made a boneheaded play. I was pissed off last night, but I'm cool with it now. I still think the trade was tasty.

If you take a look out of your windows, you can now see Dallas, TX. Quite the site, no?

by coma @ Golden State Of Mind on Feb 12, 2007 9:26 AM PST up reply actions

I was upset last night cause it was the 2nd time!

During regulation of the Bulls game, Al Harrington shot the ball too early. If Coach Nelson called a timeout when the Warriors grabbed the rebound, stuff like that probably wouldn't have happened. Al should've known how much time was left, but why leave it up to the fast break to win you games?

In contrast, Scott Skiles of the Bulls called a timeout during OT to set up a last play and he gave the Bulls a shot by Gordon to try and win it.

Last night was the same thing. The fast break was supposed to win this game. We're not that good a fast break team without Baron. Second, the ball wasn't in Monta Ellis' hands either. Matt Barnes ended bringing it up.

I'm getting fed up with Nelson publicly criticizing his players when he should be taking responsibility for his own mistakes.

Hey Fatso. Call a timeout!!!

by callahan on Feb 12, 2007 10:32 AM PST up reply actions

To those who blame Jackson and refer to the trade

You are all being exposed for your bias. Don't forget that Monta missed two free throws, and we missed a total of 4 free throws in the last few plays of the game. Furthermore, with MP2, JR, BD and Al, we really don't have anyone to hit a clutch shot other than Jax or Monta. Jax said he missed monta, which might not have been that bad b/c Monta missed his freethrows moments earlier. That last play didn't lose the game, neither did Jax or Harrington... can you imagine where we would be without those two guys? i absolutely can't stand when people on this site jump on here and complain about the trade.... in real life, outside the suburban tirades on gsom, (like at the oracle and at sports bars, etc.) people are THRILLLLLLED about the trade.

It ain't EASY, stoppin' TOO EASY

by gsdubz on Feb 12, 2007 9:45 AM PST reply actions

The night did wonders to cool off my temper

and despair. Maybe the Warriors will now come out and win a game we expect them to lose. Hold on Warriors - reinforcements are coming.

by racsan on Feb 12, 2007 9:50 AM PST reply actions

Chill on Jax

He made a mistake and I'm sure he feels bad. He's a competitor and a champion. He'll come out to play next time. Jax has heart. Don't forget Monta missed those two FT's too.

All in all this game shouldn't have been so close. These are the Atlanta HAWKS! The Warriors are supposed to be near dominant at home. This is a team issue. Don't pin it on one man.

And I'm sorry- anyone who thinks Dunleavy or Murphy would've been better in that situation or helped the Warriors get a better record since the trade hasn't paid attention to the Warriors for the past 3 years. Neither of those guys is clutch or plays with heart. They've missed their fair share of shots in the closing moments. Remember, it was Dunleavy who threw away the pass on an inbounds play in the loss to the Pacers earlier this season.

Did any of you really think we were going to get KG with Dunleavy and Murphy as trade bait? I'm just happy the Warriors were able to shake things up. The only thing I miss is Murph's defensive rebounding. I'll take Jax and Harrington's inconsistency over the Murphleavy nonexistency.

by Atma Brother ONE on Feb 12, 2007 10:12 AM PST reply actions

SLAM DUNK CHUMP...

is it me or does JOSH SMITH only have 1 dunk in his arsenal...the ONE-HAND WINDMILL! he won the 2005 SLAM DUNK CHAMPIONSHIP w/ that 1 dunk done 3 different ways! talk about SUCK! too bad J-RICH wasn't there to show him what a REAL CHAMP looks like!

oh yah and the game SUCKED too! once again we made bench players look like NBA STARTERS (i.e. JOSH CHILDRESS).

definitely poor decision making at the end! i thought that we should have taken a timeout until i saw BARNES and JAX running down court and thought they should have taken it to the rack! they still had time to go inside, obviously since JAX had enough time to do some math and calculate what a 3-pointer would give them if he made it, then had time to drive to the baseline and still pull off a shot before the clock expired. too bad it didn't get anywhere near the rim! as soon as i saw him release the ball i knew it was over!

make me a BELIEVER and WIN this tough one on the road and one back at home against the KNICKS before the ALL-STAR BREAK!!!

GO WARRIORS!!!

by scottiepimppen on Feb 12, 2007 11:17 AM PST reply actions

Childress

Childress may come off the bench, but he's played some pretty good ball this year. He's playing starter minutes and contributing on both ends of the floor. He's hitting more than 50% from the floor and scoring 12.9 a game while pulling down 6+ boards. In that light, his 13 on 5-10 from the floor to go with 8 boards is more or less his typical night.

It is not an accident that the Hawks made no attempt to keep Harrington and instead figured his minutes would be better used by guys like Childress and Josh Smith. They're much better players.

by jae on Feb 12, 2007 3:26 PM PST up reply actions

The Hawks are the Warriors

Of the East. In a sense. Talented backcourt carries the team when their shooting gets hot.

They smoked Phoenix. They don't suck any more than the Warriors do. Sorry to be so honest.

The W's are a weaker team with a reputation for being a doormat. ALL weak teams JACK UP to play the W's because they count on that as one of their 30 wins that year.

All strong teams take a night off against the W's.

So, when we get beat by a weak team and beat up San Antonio, it doesn't mean as much as you think. It really reflects on the other team's effort more than the W's roster. All weak to middle teams are going to go all out after the Warriors. Count on it. Those are probably the hardest fought games. Seriously.

by Gain on 10 on Feb 12, 2007 12:07 PM PST reply actions

Well

I think the depressing part is that the expectations have been too high. It's difficult to beat other teams when your two star players are out with injuries and another starter sidelined. It's sad that we have to go through so many injuries.
The Hawks are not a bad team either, they won 4 straight road games coming into the Oracle Arena (with the last one beating Phoenix w/o Nash).
I don't mean to make excuses for the Warriors, but seriously, w/o Baron and JRich, you can't count on them to win too many games. Sorry to be realistic.

by semarubaka on Feb 12, 2007 3:13 PM PST reply actions

I was gettin excited

Just when I was preparing myself for another Dubs lost, they got within one point of winning. I sat up and actually was getting excited that they might win. Psyched...they lost. What a bonehead play by Jackson.

by Funaddict on Feb 12, 2007 6:38 PM PST reply actions