a veteran move by a veteran trainer

I think we were all a bit surprised that NO manhandled us so easily last night.  Not a good portent.  But, there are answers -- and some are being instituted now.

First, good move by Nellie to start BW, who wasn't great but was good enough to show he needs to keep playing.  Nellie says he will.  If Coach sticks to his guns here, it'll all pan out for the better.  My guess is that after BW starts developing the confidence that comes with playing regularly, we're going to see something special -- perhaps even this year.

Second, two games in a row now that BD has absolutely lost it (and the W's the game) at the start of the 4th Q.  Not his fault: Nellie's GOT to get him off the floor.  BD said after that it was tough chasing CP around for "48 minutes" -- and, indeed, BD played 46 minutes (again, Ugggh!).  But Paul, who was terrific in the 4th Q, played only 35 minutes.  (And BD, who's a lot "older" than CP, needs more rest, whether Nellie -- and we -- like it or not.)  Now, if BD had had to play only 35 minutes, do you think he might have had more (anything, really) in the tank at crunch time?  Two games in a row that BD's died at the end.  If this continues, we're dead.

What's the answer: GET A GOOD BACK UP POINT.  How?  Trade MP and/or POB and the trade exception for just about anyone -- except Smush.  Stoudamire's probably the best option, but Nellie and Mully need to put their heads together and get this done now.  Monta isn't there (see below) and Jack can only do it in short spots.  We need someone to play 10-12 minutes EVERY game (5-6 minutes spanning Qs 1-2 and 3-4, it's that simple).

Third, Jack is now starting to wear down, too.  Tho he conserves energy more effectively than BD, he's still playing far too many minutes.  (4-15 last night is less and less an aberation; he's still a good passer, but we need his shooting, too.)  More BW play should help out here, since BW can be expected to play some 3, at least until he bulks up in a year or two.  So Jack's minutes must be cut, too.  And I'm not just talking about long-term, next year: these guys won't make it to April at this rate and the competition has never been better.

Fourth, Monta needs coaching.  He's back to playing in streaks.  When he's on, he's terrific.  But when (as in the past week) he's off, he just disappears.  Nellie properly pulls him early, but maybe Monta is not handling that well.  Keith Smart should be living inside Monta's pants, keeping him properly focused and training him how to play when the opponent puts a really good point on the floor (speaking of points, good oner on this issue, Atma).  And while we're talking twos, what's up with KAZ lately?  Smart should be focusing in on him too.

Fifth, you can't carp on AB for last night, just because Chandler went off (and got 22 rebounds).  AB was 10-11, pulled down 9 boards, himself, and was the only W (not unusual) down low on defense working against three guys.  If Nellie is going to allow his Center to play defense alone down low, he's got to get Mbenga into the game more often.  Tho he slows down the offense, Mbenga is a wide body who is effective on defense and can give AB a break from having to carry the defense on his back.  As good as BD and Jack have been this year, I shudder to think where we'd be without Andris: he's the ONLY W down low, taking a beating night after night, his great hands are back, he and Jack have perfected that PNR, he leads the league in shooting percentage, he's always in good position on offense AND defense, and his attitude is uniformly terrific.

Finally, let's note that, like the Mavs, NO played very well last night.  They were hitting their shots and they out-quicked us in the end.  I'd like to think that with a longer bench we'll ultimately prevail.  But I'm sure that if we keep playing seven, and larding 40-45 minutes a night on BD and Jack, we'll all be watching other teams in the playoffs this Spring.  Nellie seems to finally have grasped this; now Mully's just got to get his a good back up point.  Let's see what happens.

biedrins is not soley at fault for chandler going off like he did. most of the time biedrins was trying to cover someone other than his man because the defense on the perimiter was non existant. of course this leaves chandler open to dominate the glass. biedrins deserved warrior wonder

...that the recap is too hard on Biedrins. Who beside Baron was better last night than Andris? Given how much hard work he has to do with little to no help, I think to blame him for Chandler's great night is a little hasty. I would say overall the front page articles over the start to this season have been a little hard on Biedrins, from mentions of Andris having an "ugly" game, to saying he shouldn't be extended, to referring to the Warriors interior D as "Charmin soft," which while it doesn't specifically mention him can be viewed as an indictment of AB.

Also, I don't know what wouldn't impress about Wright's start, seeing as he only played five minutes. Rather, I understand if it isn't scintillating, but I can't see what about his start wouldmake somebody nervous. 3 points, 3 rebounds, 5 minutes. Missed a perimeter jumper, got in on a fast break. Pretty decent all told.

I disagree completely with all the hate on our bigs.

The focus of our offense has always been Baron and Jackson, who take the largest chunk of our shots. The offense gives them this freedom and is designed to give them those opportunities- not to mention Nellie insists on running them into the ground with regular 40+ minute stints.

Harrington CAN create his own shot- low block, midrange, elbow extended. We just don't make a concerted effort to give him the ball.

Last night Biedrins got 20 and 9 in a mere 32 minutes, only missing one shot. I thought he played pretty solid defense when asked to step out on the quicker David West, as well. Really, how do you defend against that blind Paul-Chandler lob? Only if you smother Paul and deny him that pass or have a telepathic weakside defender to come interrupt Chandler's cut, it's damn near impossible.

Even Brandan Wright was ridiculously productive- 5 and 4 in 7 minutes.

That you're complaining about the quality of our bigs only underscores your faulty motives and analysis. They are not the problem- the team's use of the bigs is the problem.

Chandler doesn't have many offensive moves; West does. Both, however combined for 42 points because their team was geared at forcefeeding them the ball in a position where they could do something with hit.

While you're bitching about needing a stalwart defensive big man, check out West and Chandler's dominating defensive stats: 1 block in 74 minutes.

Yeah, hand out the defensive player of the year award to one of them.

David West got 4 boards. Yippie, I guess he sucks?

Those who paid attention will tell you that AB/Al did not spend nearly enough time on the court together, and very often AB is the only guy trying to rebound. Everyone else stands around.

The real solution is to keep Harrington at power forward NEXT to Biedrins, play them TOGETHER, and use Brandan Wright, Croshere when he's healthy, Mbenga, or POB...two bigs on the floor at the same time.

Harrington and Biedrins played 33 and 32 minutes respectively; West and Chandler played 33 and 41. Harrington and Biedrins outscored West and Chandler despite fewer minutes (44 to 42); Chandler's rebounding advantage is easily explained by more minutes and getting to crash the glass against Barnes and Pietrus, since the Warriors went small as usual and leaked out on the break before securing the rebound.

Chandler had the game of his life, but it wasn't like our bigs are crap. They just didn't get a chance.

You know who Stojakovic was dropping those points on? Not AB, not Wright, not Harrington...but Stephen Jackson, Matt Barnes, Mickael Pietrus. Yet our glorious leader doesn't have the stones to call them out in his glorious recap.

Asking Barnes and Pietrus to play PF and defend that position is just trouble.

Offensively, playing Barnes and Pietrus at PF just means we're even more perimeter oriented and stagnant. Unless they're on fire from 3p, they're useless.

Seriously, it's SO MUCH easier to whine about how the Warriors suck just like you "predicted" (obviously, we suck because we're not pushing the luxury tax), how the front office f-ed up this offseason, how our big men are horrible because you don't like them

Questioning Biedrins despite a fantastic night only demonstrates your bias against him for whatever reason. He drops 20 and 9 and OMG he can't beat Chandler? Remember when people thought he sucked because Kaman was dominating? Turns out Kaman dominated the whole freakin' league (who was it that said Kaman wasn't so bad? i think his initials were o.z.)

Brings some useful analysis instead of pushing your agenda. Your customers...er...fans...wait...readers deserve more. This is supposed to be a blog about the Golden State Warriors, yet it's becoming a blog about Golden State of Mind. If you want people to rock  your gear like the privilege you think it is for them, then give them something to actually be proud to rep and post worthwhile material.

The thing about this loss, is that it does glaringly show our teams limitations.  We have clearly not been able to hang with the teams that can bully us and dominate us inside, and wear out our key player, our point guard.  Teams that can match up with us in this way have a clear advantage because they can continually get higher percentage shots than us.
They outrebounded us by 10.  That's not too surprising.  But, what the heck, they had 10 steals to our 3.  That is not acceptable, if we're going to be an upper echelon team.

In my opinion, they fix the issues by fixing the 2 worst problems that we have as a team.  

The number 2 problem we have is to find a point guard to spell Baron.  A bonafide 1.  I have a hard time saying that getting a good backup 1 is our biggest problem, when we've got such a good starting point guard.  We are so deep in 2's and 3's, and even 5's that don't fit.  We should be able to make a trade and get what we need to fill that spot.  This should be a doable fix.  I'm pretty sure Ellis or Bellinelli can't do this, although Ellis sure would be good if he made the mental commitment to do that.

I think the number 1 thing we have to fix is to get a 4/5 player who is a bruiser, wants to rebound, wants to play inside, do all the dirty work.  A Dennis Rodman type, we don't need his scoring, we need him to win the rebounding battle, defend any big man, and do all the little things.  This person would rotate in with Biedrins and Harrington, but be the enforcer of our team.  I think we have one possibility  in DJ Mbenga.  We should lock him in a video room and make him watch 48 hours of Dennis Rodmans career when he was with the Pistons and the Bulls.  DJ is such a physical specimen, and since he never played until he was 19, he is still learning.    I don't think we've tried him at the 4 at all, and I think Nellie should give that a shot now and then and see if he can dominate the boards and shut down a power forward or two.  Wright isn't ready for the bruiser role yet.  

oh, did y'all catch tyson after his alleyoop dunk with all the starters off the floor in garbage time?  barnett was none too amused.  in a way, i think its great he's so proud of himself.  refs can't like it, and he depends on their mercy since he camps in the lane.

the dubs just need to get win 20.  they'll be okay.  we have the will to win.

was weird. The Warriors completely went away from what was working for them in the first half - in the first half, they led the Hornets in points in the paint AND fast break points. They weren't taking many three-pointers (for them, at least) and really just were playing smart basketball.

Then, all of a sudden, they started taking those god-awfule pull-up threes in the third. I was sitting next to Marcus Thompson II of the BANG and he called it the worst shot in basketball. At least in the first half, the Dubs were shooting threes with some rhythm and within the offense.

As to why Monta didn't play well, I wrote about it in my Courtside Blog for the postgame .. he was ill.

http://www.hoopsworld.com/Blogs/CourtsideBlog.asp?GAME_ID=21474&LEAGUE_CODE=NBA

You know .. Tim Kawakami and I had an interesting conversation about the Warriors' shooting coach .. 15/27 from the free-throw line is completely unacceptable. I know December went well from the line, but I don't understand how a home team did so poorly form the line last night.

Two of our strengths are a dynamite point guard and a center who, though rarely a big force on offense, rarely misses shots and pulls in more than his share of rebounds.  The Hornets have a better, younger point guard and a better, stronger center of the same variety.  

When Baron was regularly playing 40+ minutes/game in November, I predicted he'd be hurt by mid December.  I'm happy that I was wrong about this, but he's clearly tired and I suspect strongly that we're going to see him miss some games soon.

gosh raining 3 days; thunder storm.
i havent seen this in a long time