Recap: Warriors 117, Pacers 125 - Back In Time.
by Hash on Jan 16, 2008 9:27 PM PST
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19 comments
Editor's Note: The last time I wrote on a loss I was criticized for writing a recap that was far too long. I fear I may have done the same this time. So for those of you who may feel this way, please see my specially condensed recap right after the jump.
We now return you to your regularly scheduled GSoM recap.
Everything was going according to plan! What the hell happened? Did we really just blow that game? What does Vegas know that we don't?! (Aside from how to make a @&!$load of money)
I bet that locker room Gatorade cooler didn't stand a chance.
From the ashes of tonight's ridiculously disappointing loss, however, burst the flame of discovery. For as a result of this tragedy, I've discovered that my car is in fact a time machine. Naturally, this comes as a surprise to me, because I distinctly remember telling my friendly Toyota salesperson that I didn't want the time machine option when I ordered my '97 Corolla (Oh, that's right ladies. You read that right!) from the dealership. I figured I could throw in an aftermarket one down the line. With a built-in DVD player. For the kids. That I don't have.
Clearly, my wishes were ignored. Allow me to explain. After the JUMP!
Special Condensed Recap: Indiana scored more points than us. D'oh.
Today, as you all know, was a Midwest game. Since the Midwest lives 3 hours in the future, the game started at 4pm here; placing me working hard behind my desk. But thanks to the good readers at GSoM (thanks allonyou!) I was able to find an audio stream to listen to the game as I pored over Excel spreadsheet after spreadsheet.
And I saw it was good.
In the first quarter, our boys came out and played clean while the Pacers fumbled the ball around like a quarterback begging for a tuck rule call. Incidentally, if you had to click on that last hyperlink to see what the tuck rule is, you probably haven't been in the Bay Area very long. But I digress.
By the end of an excellent 1st, Barnsie already had 10 in the bag, Baron had 8 with an extraordinary 6 jacks, and the Golden State Warriors were the new record holders for most steals in one quarter with 12. So next time you look in the history books under "Warriors", you may see that new entry in there! Y'know, if there's still room on the page after the entry for THE GREATEST UPSET IN NBA HISTORY!!
Honestly, you didn't think I'd actually write a whole recap without bringing that up did you? But let us continue.
As the game continued, we were treated to a bit of a scare in the second as the Warriors let the lead close to 3 points. Fortunately, I was able to blame my constant fist on my desk pounding on a particularly vexing pivot table I was building at the time. Even after they managed to get their heads under control, the half still closed with the Warriors up 4, and my blood pressure at an all time high.
Me at the half.
Ahhhh then the third quarter came around. Sweet sweet third quarter. I couldn't hear enough of Tim Roye yelling "It's gooooooooooood!" And fortunately, he didn't stop saying it. Harrington was on fire from deep after a very slow start to his game, Barnsie got in on the madness, and we ended the quarter with a quick score from Ellis and a 14 point lead!
It was at this point that I decided to leave work and listen the 4th quarter in the `Rolla. (By the way ladies, it's got 105 horses. Hell yea.) And that's when it got a little weird.
As I made my trek up 680, (dodging and swerving as usual to avoid the potholes and earthquake cracks that I get the privilege of paying 4 dollar bridge tolls for) the 4th quarter got underway. Clearing the last pothole, I came across an uncharacteristic clean stretch of highway which, after much flooring of my fine (read: crappy) automobile, allowed me to hit my maximum relax-while-I-listen-to-Warriors coasting speed. Eight eight miles per hour. (What?!) It was right around then that the lightning storm started.
What the hell was this thing doing in my trunk?!
Well when I got radio reception back, it was like I was listening to an entirely different game! I mean, we were hoisting up brick after brick after brick, throwing away our lead, and losing our heads! I mean what kind of team works their way through 3 quarters building up a sizeable lead and then gives up 46 points in the fourth?! What kind of team loses their cool by making a completely useless flagrant foul during a critical period in waning minutes of the game?! What kind of team...
And then it hit me. I wasn't watching the 2008 Warriors. I was watching the 2006 Warriors. I mean, all the major players were there. And they were behaving the exact same way. It all added up! The Warriors losing the game in the fourth. Frustration fouls. Dunleavy and Murphy looking like they were playing for the other team...
Damn you Toyota. Damn you and your small, compact, fuel efficient vehicles...
The Good:
- Hey we're in the record books again! 12 steals in a quarter? Not a ring, but hell, we'll take it!
- It was good to see Barnes continue the improvements that he started in Minnesota. More consistency from him can go a long way for us.
- Although most of their missed free throws came during critical times, our cap should be tipped to the Warriors for a fine outing from the charity stripe. Not quite as fine as Indy's stellar 36 of 38, but hopefully enough to shut that guy up in the back of section 109 during our home games. (Not likely though.)
The Bad: (May want to take a seat for this one)
- I know that we are a 3 shootin' team. And I'm not saying that we need to change that. But we might want to entertain the option of driving the ball when we have a decent lead! The long ball is a lower percentage shot. I'm fairly certain that's why it's worth 3 points! Get in there and get hacked if you must when you have a significant lead! It will lead to more fouls for them, more trips to the line for us, and less useless possessions that happen when...
- ...we get ACED on the glass! Man did we get killed on the glass. There were times tonight when Indy had two and three chances to get a score down low. With that many second chances, there's bound to be...
- ...a Warrior Killer born. Hey Danny Granger! Welcome to the few, the proud, the Warrior Killers. Please collect your gear and report to Sergeant Luther Head at 0800 for orientation.
- Allen Iverson has a signature (Killer Crossover). Ray Allen has a signature (Best shooting stroke). Michael Jordan has a signature (Fadeaway J.) Now Mickael Pietrus has one. Stepping out of bounds for no damn reason at all. Congrats Mp2. You're famous...
The Ugly:
A picture is worth 1000 words.
Just let it score dudes. Maybe then it will recede back into it's hole.
I was considering TMNT simply for the clutch 3's that he nailed (especially after such a slow start), but it's really hard to ignore what Baron did tonight. 6 boards, 7 dimes, 7 jacks, 2 swats, 24 points, and in the end; one Warrior Wonder. Boom. Dizzle.
(Photos by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images and Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images)
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Oh My
But nonetheless, props to the Pacers. They were CLUTCH in the 4th and the Warriors collapsed with a wide array of mental errors. Indy deserved this one. The Warriors didn't deserve this one at all.
Hopefully it's a wakeup call to the players, the coaching staff, and the front office. If you can't handle this Pacers team, you're going nowhere fast.
Most importantly, big ups to Hash for spinning a horrendous loss into a great recap. I can tell you from personal experience these are the hardest games to recap.
by Atma Brother ONE on Jan 16, 2008 9:39 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
I should add
by Atma Brother ONE on Jan 16, 2008 10:07 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
ATMA
F**K REFS!!!
by faetati on Jan 16, 2008 10:38 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Agree
by triplesix on Jan 17, 2008 8:13 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Amnesia?!
I have to say this season is like a dream to me. I keep waiting to wake up to the "old" Warriors. This was just the slap in the face I've been expecting!
Funny recap! The photo captions were priceless.
by RonG on Jan 17, 2008 8:55 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
No Sweat
I call it karma. Karma for Booleavy game that we gave our former #3 pick on Sunday. Was it his fault we picked him #3 and he sucked, no it was Garry St. Jean for drafting his inconsistant ass. Therefore let's blame him. Eff you Garry, this horrible loss here in Indiana in 2008 is all your fault.
by WilliamVanLandingham on Jan 16, 2008 10:11 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
one big reason
people are talking about pacers second and even third chance points -pacers had just 13 O rebs (3 more then warriors) -not a big number
warriors were shooting with no one in front of rim -result no 2nd chance pts and that became a problem in 4th Q
offensive rebounding is same important for team as steals
build a team & destroy the roof
by Lat We N Trash on Jan 16, 2008 10:20 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Horrible
by tangel29 on Jan 16, 2008 11:38 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Exactly
by triplesix on Jan 17, 2008 8:17 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
ughhhhhhhh
by jewniorballa on Jan 16, 2008 11:44 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
If I remember correctly
To see what this team is really made of, lets see how they finish off this road trip.
by racsan on Jan 17, 2008 12:50 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
I don't see...
by Zack Vank on Jan 17, 2008 1:39 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
with the warriors blowing out the lead
This game is just frustrating in so many levels. Be it the players from both teams or the officials.
by lightz0ut on Jan 17, 2008 2:10 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
Legs?
by Fantasy Junkie on Jan 17, 2008 8:20 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
legs? -brains!
-they were not controling tempo (as till 4thQ)
if this game was slower a bit Pacers didn't get a chance to W
just not smart game from Nellie
but OK -i'll take that (because nothing amazing) -you cannot be concentrated at every game for 100% if it is 82 games and you are in middle of season -even if it's pacers stuff
worse lose? -someone must be kidding
it hurts for sure but hurt is what makes you stronger
build a team & destroy the roof
by Lat We N Trash on Jan 17, 2008 10:30 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
the inconsistency!
by walkerp on Jan 17, 2008 8:44 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
omg
Hey the blazers lost, i guess that is good BUT CAPTAIN JACK WILL NOT PLAY FRIDAY DUE TO A CHIPPED TOE NAIL! OUCH!
by warrior510 on Jan 17, 2008 10:38 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
No surprises here
First, the continuing overplay of BD and Jack is obviously taking its toll -- especially in B2Bs. And it's only going to get worse if Nellie doesn't change his stubborn ways on this. (I just hope we don't see BD playing himself into another long-term injury -- though he's already starting to look a bit like Bonds with all that body "armor".) If these two guys keep playing 80 minutes a game we're doomed come April.
Second, Jack is actually getting worse on this "I need to shoot 20 times a game" nonsense. Though definitelt a clutch player, he's basically a weak shooter (the percentages don't lie) -- and throwing up those horrid and off-balance long twos and threes is reminiscent of the BD of two years ago. On offense, he should focus on catch and pass, and catch and shoot -- not dribble and shoot willy-nilly. And, to top it off, his defense is now starting to go South, and his silly banter with the refs (and not getting back on D) is becoming problematic again. He needs a wake up call, so why is Nellie so passive with him? (BTW, Nellie had already started looking like a pale ghost by the end of Q1 last night; even with all those steals, the O was not clicking, and Jack was -- as usual -- leading that horrific, unthinking bad shot brigade. Is Nellie afraid to get tough -- or at least chat -- with Jack?)
Third, fourth Q free throws aren't falling. Altho we're much better on FTs in general, we're tanking again at the end. (Last night: 24/26 in Qs 1-3, 4/11 in Q 4.) A sign of fatigue, at least.
Fourth, regardless of all the talk, Nellie still refuses to play BW, let alone give him 10-12 minutes a game. This might make sense if the team weren't playing so poorly -- at least in the sense that they are still caught in this game on, game off inconsistency and they STILL haven't put together 48 minutes of good BBall in any one game. Until Nellie starts using BW -- who can't be any worse than what we've been seeing at the 4 the past few weeks (though Barnes WAS very good last night until he went off the tracks with that assinine cheapie a la Tinsley, which BD mimicked in his cheap shot at Diener, reminiscent of that stupid MLK cowardly shot he took at Ridnour two years ago) -- we're going to see an endless parade of horribles at PF during crunch time. (Mercifully, Nellie played MP only a few minutes last night: he had nothing; MP can never put two good games together. BW might be light and raw, but he's a smart kid (cf. Pietrus), generally in good position, uses his long arms extremely well, and plays above the basket almost as well as AB. BTW, it'd be nice to see a bit of Marco, too, unless Nellie just is writing him off for the year.)
Finally, whatever Nellie is punishing AB for just doesn't make sense. Andris is the only guy who plays -- let alone plays tough -- down low (everyone else is busy releasing early), the only guy who fights for rebounds, gets tips, and is ALWAYS in position. Plus, he can play well in the running game. Getting him 35 minutes is crucial to any Warrior success story.
To be sure, on balance Nellie has made this team MUCH better, taken it to levels not seen since his initial tenure -- and running teams are ALWAYS more fun to watch (though they rarely get too far in the banging playoffs). But he's really limited by his inexplicable stubbornness -- even when (a la BD's minutes and BW's lack thereof) he KNOWS he's doing the wrong thing. He also needs to rein Jack in -- or sit him a lot more -- during Qs 1-3. Simply resting BD more (36 minutes should be the max), playing BW 10-12, restraining Jack from those excesses, and getting the most out of AB would -- within a week or two, I'd bet -- make this a noticeably better team.
Let's hope the ignominy of last night -- where Dun took his old teammates to task and thrashed them in Q4 (for the game, Dun and Murph outshot and out rebounded Jack and Al, and their shooting percentages were vastly superior) -- points Nellie in the direction of the obvious and appropriate changes. If not, to paraphrase Bette Davis: "It's going to be a bumpy ride."
Hey, Atma: where's that goofy shot of Dun you love to run so much? I guess, based on last night, maybe Jack should be your new poster boy. (Sorry. My bad -- as Manute would say. Just couldn't resist -- given that of all the major players on both teams, Mike's the only one who seems to have played well and kept a cool head over these two Warrior-Pacer games. We sure could have used a shot of Dun in Q4 last night.)
by johnl on Jan 17, 2008 11:43 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
I mean when you honestly look at this team
We have Baron who is a star
We have two 3rd tier guys in Al and Jax who are inconsistent and have obvious flaws
and a couple of young inconsistent players who may have room to grow in AB and Monta
by Zig on Jan 17, 2008 12:00 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
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