Golden State Of Mind: An SB Nation Community

Navigation: Jump to content areas:



Around SBN: Race to the BCS: rankings, in-game scores & blogs Bar-right-arrows



Playoff Open Thread - Game #2: Warriors @ Jazz - A Change in Fluidity

Warriors: 0-1 (4-3 for the playoffs)

Jazz: 1-0 (5-3 for the playoffs)

Time: 6:00 PST

TV: TNT

Radio: KNBR 680

Okay! Here we go!

I think it's safe to say, despite our loss, Game 1 was a pretty good game. Keep in mind had we won, that "pretty good" would have been promoted to "unbelievably incredible", but adjectives aside, the game was entertaining. (Damn. That was another adjective. Sorry.)

Tonight the Warriors are looking to contain the Run n' Gun Jazz (did I just say that?), slowing their tempo down and hopefully stealing home court advantage for the rest of this series. That's a good thing. I've heard we're pretty good at home.

IMG_6371

"We're waiting..."

Throughout the Warriors playoff run, the National Press has constantly reminded the public that the Warriors have an unorthodox style of play. Yet in the end, every single one of them goes on to remind the audience that,

"...this is the style of play that got them this far and they aren't going to change it!"

Technically, this is true. This fast paced, three point shooting crew has been firing on all cylinders for quite some time and they are showing no signs of slowing down. But a championship team is not a championship team because they commit to one style of play. They are champs because they are able to subtly vary their style of play in a manner that hinders their opponent. Not to give Utah too much credit here, but I think we can all agree that what we saw in Game 1 was not traditionally how the Jazz plays. They varied up their strategy to run with us. And it worked.

What are the things that we can do for the rest of this series to stymie Utah? CLEAN THE DAMN GLASS!

Windex

I wanna be able to eat off that backboard!

In our run during the regular season, we only out-rebounded the Jazz in one game. Overall in the regular season they pulled 192 boards to our 161. I know. That's a stupid stat. But you get the point.

We cannot allow Utah to get the same level of second chance buckets that they got on us in Game 1. Yes we have an amazing fluidity in our current style, but tonight the Warriors are going to have to make a concentrated effort to gain position under the glass and be ready to clean up those missed shots.

It's not going to be easy. But then again, neither was getting here. Let's get this show on the road.

TAKE `EM TO THE GLASS DUBS!!!

Make sure to give us your predictions in the comments before tip off and post any comments you have during the game right here.


UPDATE: Warriors lose in OT 117-127.

Final Box Score

Stay tuned for the recap...

0 recs | Comment 539 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Display:

WIN
We're gonna throw everything including the kitchen sink at Boozer.  Baron, pissed off, is gonna show Deron what-for on both ends of the court.  This game will be all out war.  Jax gets at least one T and knocks down five from downtown.  Harrington has an even better game than Monday.  Ellis' breakout game will be TONIGHT.  JRich scores 25 and nabs 10 boards.  Barnes is the unsung hero once again and keeps Boozer in check.  Warriors take it in the late 4th to win 114-111.

by Don III on May 9, 2007 9:38 AM PDT   0 recs

Throw the....
....Kitchen Book at the Jazz tonight, Baby!
"The more scotch I drink, the better the game plan gets."

by CNote on May 9, 2007 11:50 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Yes.
If all the crap you mention happens, there's no way they're just winning by 3 points. I don't care if we're in Utah or not.

"I make love to pressure." -Stephen Jackson

by coma on May 9, 2007 12:16 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Playoffs
Being from Utah obviously I'm a huge Jazz fan.  But I do find enjoyment in reading the sites and newspapers from the other teams.  I will tell you there is a different between Warriors fans and Houston fans.  Infact I would say both Utah and the Warriors have one of the best.  Nothing like going to a game and unable to hear anything but screaming.  I think this is going to be one of the best series in the playoffs.  Both teams have strength the others dont.  I feel tonights game will be another close one.  They both have areas they want to improve in and I think what will make the difference.  Is finding out what the other team has planned and beating them at it.  Dont think this one will be as high of a scoring game.  But I look for Boozer to have a really good game.  To try and take him out of the shot and off the boards you cant do both.  And if you mix it up your just going to confuse yourself.  Do one or the other otherwise neither one I feel will work.  Go Jazz

by wolfbait74 on May 9, 2007 9:44 AM PDT   0 recs

west high alum
im from utah too. go jazz

by chug2k on May 9, 2007 10:27 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

game strategy
the W's don't need to tinker too much in their strategy. They very well could have won game 1, but for their mishandling the ball on too many ocassions. They also came out tentative and the Jazz took advantage early, which forced the W's to expend energy playing catch up. That won't happen tonight.

The W's have a distinct disadvantage on the boards, but if they can just narrow the gap, particularly on the defensive side they can win this game.

Despite what happened in Game 1, the Jazz don't want to run for 7 games. The W's need to make them.

Left hand, right hand, it doesn't matter. I'm amphibious.

by Kobe on May 9, 2007 9:49 AM PDT   0 recs

RECOVERY
HEY B-Diddy, Barnes and the rest of that locker room did all that on Monday with chest colds. I think today they will be feeling much betta.. and are going to try and push the pace even harder. I don't think any team is athlethic enough to change their game to the Nellie style and keep up with us... Dallas proved that.
Aside for that just bust out the windex and push Booze around and GS will take away home court. I think they will take this one running away.
Sala me!

by Hydro on May 9, 2007 9:52 AM PDT   0 recs

SALA?!!!!!
I KNOW YOU!!

by Hash on May 9, 2007 9:58 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Motivation
The key factor for the Warriors is motivation.  Both teams are evenly matched but Utah simply wanted game 1 more.  You could argue that Jax and Barnes were busting their asses but we were missing that spark from our leader, Baron Davis. We need Baron to play some D and not let D Williams get around him.  Although the stats shows that he played 39 minutes and was the leading scorer on the team, he really only played the second quarter and wow did he dominate.  I think he just wanted to keep the game close and let the team handle the rest.  Rest up Baron! We can't afford to have him under the weather.  Baron is the leader of the team not Jax.  Jax needs to stop complaining about calls, get back on defense and accept the fact that the refs don't like you!  

Tonight will be different.  Warriors will win! Baron Davis will not let the Warriors go down or let the press praise Deron Williams for his work against him .  We lost Game 1 because we were complacent.  What other team celebrates a first round victory like the warriors did?  The celebrations are well justified but we must not do that again after being slapped around in the first quarter.

Tonight will be a quiet night in Utah.  
Let's hope Baron took the flu shot this year!

by bongzai on May 9, 2007 10:33 AM PDT   0 recs

Quiet in utah
Regardless if the Jazz are winning or behind I have never seen the crowed quiet.  And one thing this Jazz team does is never give up.  I have seen them come from behind throughout the whole year.  I understand this is a GS website and thus going to be in favor of GS.  I have heard alot about how the Jazz gave everything and the GS wasn't playing at 100%.  I can tell you from what I have seen the Jazz could of done a lot better in a few areas themselves.  I will say that if the warriors who live by the 3 pointer.  If they have an on game its almost impossible to beat them.  But I can tell you that if the Jazz as a team are in sync and working together.  They too can be unstoppable to beat.  I think both teams are confident they can beat the other.  And it just might come down to another last second shot by someone to win the game.

by wolfbait74 on May 9, 2007 10:45 AM PDT   0 recs

108-97 Warriors
The Dubs come out shooting off the hook in the first quarter, while Utah gets a little flustered: 32-23 after one.  Utah refocuses in the second quarter, slows the tempo, and cuts the lead to 53-49 at the half.  Dubs explode in the 3rd, with Baron going for 14 with two big threes: 84-71.  The 4th quarter grinds down to a much slower, half-court pace; but the Jazz are unable to make any serious dent in the lead.

I look for the Warriors to continue their fronting defense on Boozer, allowing him rebounds but not points.  I think this will help us stay out of foul trouble against him.  He'll get his 15 boards: the key will be limiting Okur's impact on the glass, and chasing down long rebounds.  Also, I'd like to see Harrington in the game more, to force Boozer to guard him out of the paint, allowing us more chances to clean the offensive glass.  Harrington isn't really a factor on the boaards anyway, so the best he can do is try to get Utah's big men out of position on the offensive side.  

GO WARRIORS!!!!!!

by WorldBMe on May 9, 2007 11:02 AM PDT   0 recs

Get them in foul trouble and then go to the rim
  Run into kirilenko instead of beside him, draw the fouls! They better monitor the TV and listen to Reggie!
 Finish them off when you get the chance BOYS! Daamn..I'm tired of yelling at my TV.  I HATE losing games we had won.

by Skeptic con Urquell on May 9, 2007 11:13 AM PDT   0 recs

Dubs need to move the ball on offense
We cannot have any more consecutive possessions where Baron tries to back down Williams and ends up settling for a 3-point turnaround.  If it's not working, we need to move the ball around the half-court and move off the ball.  Hopefully, our transition game will be better tonight (especially the transition D; blame it on the flu?) and we won't be running so many half-court sets.  Let's step it up, Dubs!!

WE BELIEVE!

by walkerp on May 9, 2007 12:01 PM PDT   0 recs

hmm....
Cleaning the glass against the Utah frontline?? easier said than done.
Marv Albert: "I ain't trippin'!"

by ZombieWarrior on May 9, 2007 1:09 PM PDT   0 recs

In our April win against them
we did just that, and dropped 126pts on 'em.  That is NOT just a coincidence...

In March, the jazz beat us by only 4 despite a marked edge in rebounding.  Sound familiar?

A win on the glass = 20 point massacre

by GameSix on May 9, 2007 1:53 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Key to the game...
in my opinion, is how Baron's knee and hamstring are feeling.  His lateral movement looked bad in Game 1.  He had trouble sliding on defense and he never really even tried to attack off of the dribble.  When he's right, he controls the game and is basically unstoppable.  That, along with hot shooting, is what allowed us to beat Dallas.  

We can focus more on trying to stop Williams as a team, but that could end up costing us even more on the glass.  Either Baron has to contain him better or someone else does.  Baron is a great defender so he definitely has it in him, but if the knee is sore, I'd matchup Jax or Pietrus on him.

by Carney04 on May 9, 2007 1:41 PM PDT   0 recs

not a must win
but it would definitely be nice to get it tonight to take a little pressure off going back to oakland. we need to play the same type of game we did on monday but cut way back on the mental mistakes.

by AJC3317 on May 9, 2007 1:56 PM PDT   0 recs

media interviews from earlier today
you can clearly hear in his interview that baron still has a cold. other tidbits includes coach's philosophy on monta's playtime and that derek fisher will not be in game 2.

http://www.nba.com/warriors/news/2007_Playoffs_Multimedia.html

by stedanko on May 9, 2007 2:59 PM PDT   0 recs

analysis, comments and truehoops link
thumbnail analysis:
BD healthy = Dubs win; no doubt about it.
Fish plays = Monta busts out.
Fewer turnovers = Dubs win.
That's it; even if we get outrebounded by 10-12 boards.  Had  chance to win last time wtih a lot of TOs and -20 boards.

Dubs by 7 tonight and Utah will be grippin' about coming to a hostile Oracle!

Here are some comments from truehoops, including mine (OriginalDon):

http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/0-24-43/Warrior-Fans--Undaunted.html

Why would Dubs fans be daunted? Really. I've been a Dubs fan since they were the SF Warriors (yeah, no typo), and I love to watch this team play so much that I'm hoping it goes 6-7 games before the Dubs win. If Boom Dizzle is healthy, Dubs win in 6, even though the Jazz are very good and much bigger.

Here's the thing: the Dubs make mistakes, like any other team, but they just keep playing. Hard.

The Dubs are volatile, fragile, hostile, agile...use whatever adjective you want, but the Dubs are the most evocative team the NBA has seen in years. If you love hoops, you absolutely must watch them play - win or lose.

GO WARRIORS! WE BELIEVE!

by OscarSucks on May 9, 2007 3:43 PM PDT   0 recs

Adonal in spot situtations?.....
We're paying the man anyways...but seriously, maybe using him in certain moments could provide dividends in the paint.  It'd be up to Nelson, but I'll trust coach Nellie with whatever his decisions are.

GO WARRIORS!!!!!

by warriorsfan4life on May 9, 2007 3:45 PM PDT   0 recs

let's do this
Steal one here. We played most of Game 1 with colds at our tempo, so we can push it even more tonight. Go Warriors!

by Caught Backcourt on May 9, 2007 3:59 PM PDT   0 recs

lets cut down turnovers
not even getting a shot up is straight up frustrating after making a great defensive stop (like getting Kirilenko to chuck 20 footers).

by dj fuzzylogic on May 9, 2007 4:03 PM PDT   0 recs

Lets
Winxors.
With his past behind him, Adonal looks toward the future, wherever it may be....

by Zorgon on May 9, 2007 4:31 PM PDT   0 recs

haha nice preview
I dunno if anyone has noticed but Hash's previews are getting better, that one was short, to the point, humurous, and enough to get me a little more pumped.  Good job son.

If War brings peace Dubz wit' it den!

by gsdubz on May 9, 2007 5:16 PM PDT   0 recs

Baron Holds The Key
This game begins and ends with Baron Davis. How he attacks will determine the outcome. No one knows forsure how he's really feeling, but if he can replicate that 2nd quarter from last game, Dubz win.

by montasboy on May 9, 2007 5:26 PM PDT   0 recs

Cmon Warrior antibodies!!!
Beat that cold virus into submission!

by racsan on May 9, 2007 5:46 PM PDT   0 recs

2 quick fouls on D Williams
that's huge
Left hand, right hand, it doesn't matter. I'm amphibious.

by Kobe on May 9, 2007 6:05 PM PDT   0 recs

omg
stockton just said "biedrish". someone shoot him please

by AJC3317 on May 9, 2007 6:06 PM PDT   0 recs

that's how they pronounce it for some reason
i also hear "bee-drinch" sometimes.  do we have an official latvian pronunciation expert in the house?

by OaktownWarrior on May 9, 2007 6:32 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Harrington wasn't in the half circle
bs call
Left hand, right hand, it doesn't matter. I'm amphibious.

by Kobe on May 9, 2007 6:13 PM PDT   0 recs

OUCH!!1
Okur just flat landed on Dee Brown. That's gotta hurt. and with D Williams on the bench with 2 fouls and Fisher out, they're really short in the backcourt.
Left hand, right hand, it doesn't matter. I'm amphibious.

by Kobe on May 9, 2007 6:17 PM PDT   0 recs

why call a foul?
it has nothing to do with the play and it takes away a basket. that's such a stupid call

by AJC3317 on May 9, 2007 6:21 PM PDT   0 recs

J-Rich
Looks to be HOT tonight.  YEEEE!!!  2nd 3!!
"The more scotch I drink, the better the game plan gets."

by CNote on May 9, 2007 6:22 PM PDT   0 recs

Point AK47
the Warriors should try to get this guy next year.
Left hand, right hand, it doesn't matter. I'm amphibious.

by Kobe on May 9, 2007 6:23 PM PDT   0 recs

Hope Dee Brown
will be okay.  Didn't look good walking into the locker room.  Even though I want the Warriors to win I hope he isn't seriously hurt and will be able to return if not in this game then later in the series.

by MP2Fan on May 9, 2007 6:25 PM PDT   0 recs

Dee wasn't walking...
....he was being wheeled off.  Ouch.  You don't want to see anyone go out like that.
"The more scotch I drink, the better the game plan gets."

by CNote on May 9, 2007 6:30 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

every shot the Jazz
get is in the paint

They really need to figure this out

It isn't just the rebounding situation

by Zig on May 9, 2007 6:28 PM PDT   0 recs

word..
i also find troubling is when 4 people collapse on the person driving and no one is left to box out.  i'm all about half defense, but damn, someone's gotta grab the rebound.

by dj fuzzylogic on May 9, 2007 6:30 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

damnit...
we know boozer and williams are gonna get their points, but we gotta limit milsap and other role players from getting hot..

by dj fuzzylogic on May 9, 2007 6:29 PM PDT   0 recs

we he is catching the
ball in the key.  

by Zig on May 9, 2007 6:29 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

monta's
gotta come down with that loose ball!!! He jsut looks a step slow

by machinecog on May 9, 2007 6:29 PM PDT   0 recs

Giricek
Took like 4 steps :/
With his past behind him, Adonal looks toward the future, wherever it may be....

by Zorgon on May 9, 2007 6:30 PM PDT   0 recs

monta
just had gircek on him and pulled up for a jumper, then made a bad pass. he is just not playing well at all

by AJC3317 on May 9, 2007 6:30 PM PDT   0 recs

keep talking
he already proved all the haters wrong

by chimp on May 9, 2007 6:32 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Harrington is the worst
inside finisher I have ever seen

by Zig on May 9, 2007 6:31 PM PDT   0 recs

he really is
remarkably bad, I kind of cringe when he goes in for a lay up in traffic.  At least he isn't Troy Murphy though.

by machinecog on May 9, 2007 6:34 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Remember when
the warriors were the ones diving on the court and getting the loose balls at all costs?  That was cool...

by machinecog on May 9, 2007 6:32 PM PDT   0 recs

Yep
I would bet a lot of people wouldn't vote for Monta anymore just like people wouldn't have voted for Dirk for MVP.

by MP2Fan on May 9, 2007 6:32 PM PDT   0 recs

Honestly
We should be up by more than 3.  Keep feeding J-Rich.  Dude is on fire:  5/5 from the Field.  2/2 from 3.

Time for the rest of the Dubs to STEP UP.

"The more scotch I drink, the better the game plan gets."

by CNote on May 9, 2007 6:32 PM PDT   0 recs

we're still winning though
on the road, AK47 is on fire.  any lead is a good lead.

by OaktownWarrior on May 9, 2007 6:34 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Utah has
hardly even taken a jumper in this game

by Zig on May 9, 2007 6:34 PM PDT   0 recs

that's why...
...they're shooting 54% from the field.
Left hand, right hand, it doesn't matter. I'm amphibious.

by Kobe on May 9, 2007 6:41 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

2nd chance points
killing us....is it just a problem of timing the jumps?

by dj fuzzylogic on May 9, 2007 6:36 PM PDT   0 recs

timing?
Its the type of defense that we have to play and the size difference

The Mavs couldn't expoit it the the Jazz are going to grind us into the ground

by Zig on May 9, 2007 6:40 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

how is that pietrus jumped up...
and came down before the ball even came off the rim??

by dj fuzzylogic on May 9, 2007 6:36 PM PDT   0 recs

lol
i thought the exact same thing

by AJC3317 on May 9, 2007 6:37 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

millsap killing us
how does he pick barnes at the 3 point line?

by AJC3317 on May 9, 2007 6:37 PM PDT   0 recs

timeout
needed, thank you

by machinecog on May 9, 2007 6:37 PM PDT   0 recs

man!!!!!!!!!!!!!
it looks like thier just out hussling the dubs today...GEEEEEZ!!!!!

by RubberDubDubs on May 9, 2007 6:38 PM PDT   0 recs

Holly crap
the offensive postion the Warriors are giving up in this game is ridiculous.  They can't win if they don't keep people from catching the ball in the paint every time down

by Zig on May 9, 2007 6:38 PM PDT   0 recs

Offensive boards
Utah already has 8. they have a total rebounding edge of 18-7.

yikes.

Left hand, right hand, it doesn't matter. I'm amphibious.

by Kobe on May 9, 2007 6:40 PM PDT   0 recs

Thank god
for JRich, it would be real ugly right now

by machinecog on May 9, 2007 6:40 PM PDT   0 recs

Dick Stockton
is single-handedly bringing back the radio.

by justin on May 9, 2007 6:42 PM PDT   0 recs

jackson way off
has he even made a shot yet? besides that layup

by AJC3317 on May 9, 2007 6:42 PM PDT   0 recs

jax
tough

by machinecog on May 9, 2007 6:43 PM PDT   0 recs

wow
dubs just look lazy right now

by AJC3317 on May 9, 2007 6:43 PM PDT   0 recs

i don't understand
how milsap is killin' em..

by dj fuzzylogic on May 9, 2007 6:45 PM PDT   0 recs

perhaps some analysts
had it right, maybe its just matchups?

by dj fuzzylogic on May 9, 2007 6:45 PM PDT   0 recs

lane wide open
as if the jazz were playin the Mavs. c'mon Dubs...

oh geezus... how is there no one boxing out??

by dj fuzzylogic on May 9, 2007 6:47 PM PDT   0 recs

Millsap
Killing the Dubs right now with his intensity. We need to key on that kid and slow him down.  12 pts 7 boards for him already....IN NINE MINUTES!
"The more scotch I drink, the better the game plan gets."

by CNote on May 9, 2007 6:47 PM PDT   0 recs

Correction
I mixed Brewer up with Milsap.  Still, Milsap had 10 pts and 6 boards in nine minutes of relief before Boozehound replaced him.
"The more scotch I drink, the better the game plan gets."

by CNote on May 9, 2007 6:59 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Pretty Simple
Jazz are active and moving the ball well. Creating lanes and space down low, running everything through the post or Deron Williams.

by budgerock on May 9, 2007 6:47 PM PDT   0 recs

they are chopping up our zone
but we can't physically play them man to man

I am starting to doubt that the Warriors can win this series.  Maybe a few games at home but the Jazz are going to grind them down with their size and execution

by Zig on May 9, 2007 6:49 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

okay.. thats
a really dumb foul by pietrus..

by dj fuzzylogic on May 9, 2007 6:47 PM PDT   0 recs

i cant stand this

by twelve years on May 9, 2007 6:48 PM PDT   0 recs

Warriors
Still getting killed on the inside....
With his past behind him, Adonal looks toward the future, wherever it may be....

by Zorgon on May 9, 2007 6:48 PM PDT   0 recs

every single shot in the paint
we are getting killed

by Zig on May 9, 2007 6:48 PM PDT   0 recs

how about
laying off some of the perimeter d and focus on rebounding

by T Baggey on May 9, 2007 6:49 PM PDT   0 recs

If We Can't Hit Open looks
Get on the plane, this one is over.

by budgerock on May 9, 2007 6:49 PM PDT   0 recs

this game will be all but over soon
if the dubs don't change something quickly. the jazz are simply walking into the paint for layups and dunks and the dubs offense is non existant

by AJC3317 on May 9, 2007 6:49 PM PDT   0 recs

Powder Blue Shirts?
LAME.  They're totally biting our idea.

Or we're all just biting the Heat's idea when they handed out white shirts in the playoffs last year.....to those horrible Miami fans who barely cheered when their team won home games in the finals.

Sorry, back to the DUBS

"The more scotch I drink, the better the game plan gets."

by CNote on May 9, 2007 6:50 PM PDT   0 recs

Need to go bigger
Nellie has to go a little bigger.  You can't win if you can't grab defensive rebounds.  You also can't win if you can't defend the paint.  Warriors can neither against this Jazz lineup.

by MP2Fan on May 9, 2007 6:50 PM PDT   0 recs

I hate to say this
but all the match-up advantages the Warriros had on the Mavs don't exist here

I think they can get hot and win a few games but they are to small for this team

by Zig on May 9, 2007 6:51 PM PDT   0 recs

Hey
everyones talking about defense, how about a DEFENSIVE SPECIALIST.

I wish we had one....

With his past behind him, Adonal looks toward the future, wherever it may be....

by Zorgon on May 9, 2007 6:52 PM PDT   0 recs

could be Pietrus
if he had half a brain

by Zig on May 9, 2007 6:59 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

that's a terrible call
williams just lowered his shoulder right into davis

by AJC3317 on May 9, 2007 6:55 PM PDT