RECAP: Warriors 105, Nets 89 - Mikki Moore's tenacious dunks and post-dunk celebration rallies the youngins'
by dj fuzzylogic on Dec 9, 2009 10:38 PM PST
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Originally posted Dec 9, 2009 9:22 PM PST
(Floyd Mayweather looks excited about the opportunity to sit courtside. He probably didn't get the memo who he was watching, though)
Professional sports, particularly Warriors basketball, have a huge toll on my emotional well-being. Watching the Warriors self-destruct night-in-night-out against the NBA's worst ruins my evenings a majority of the time. I curse at the television. Make groaning sounds, in the most unerotic possible way. I usually have to have a beer by halftime just to calm down the nerves of watching turnover after turnover.
Well, lucky for me the Warriors played, arguably, the worst team in the league tonight. Meaning? Maybe I can fall asleep easily without replaying all the blunders that I was witness to.
Anyway, tonight's recap retells the story that was the clash of the anti-titans of the NBA. However, it will be told through the emotional highs and lows that the Warriors put me through. Instead of focusing on the game, we're going to analyze the game through my feelings...
Preview/ Game Thread: Please don't be Nets win #3
Warriors Web Links: Should have won, and we did
Pregame: Apathy.
It's 58 degrees in my apartment and I refuse to turn on the heater. Why is the bay so cold?
Watching the pre-game show, the Izod arena looks as empty as school on a Sunday. I think I've seen WNBA games more packed than this (barely). You would think that all the business deals going on in the Nets' background could spice things up a bit. Heck, you got Jay-z bankrollin'? How can a team with so much extra-basketball influence have so little to offer? Hey Jay, how about pulling some of your star power and getting Memphis Bleek to rap the national album? Or why not perform "Empire state of Mind" at half-time...y'all will be in Brooklyn in no-time right?
I wonder if there are more Warrior fans watching this game on TV then there are fans in the Izod arena.
First quarter: GROAN.
Less than a minute in, Monta's first turnover. 92 down, 264 to go to break Artis Gilmore's record. C'mon Monta, give us Warrior fans something to believe in!
One minute later - heavier and louder GROAN. Monta dribbles into a crowded paint and attempts to pass through Boone and Brooke Lopez. Unless Monta is Superman, he's not going be able to push this ball though 500 lbs of flesh.
One of the great things of watching two bad really bad teams is how quick they get up and down the court. You would think it was the ABA with all the run outs each team is doing with each missed shot. The worst thing(s) about watching two really bad teams is how many missed shots, ill-advised passes, and guys flopping around on the floor there is. How many more passes are we going to see bounce off someone's back tonight?
Brook Lopez is deceptively skilled, but also full of contradictions. He got picked 3 times in the first 6 minutes. But he recovers and has the grace to move around the Warriors bigs, EASILY. I'm thinking he might be the end of the Stanford big man "bust" that includes a long line of gentle giants, Tim Young, the Collins twins, and Curtis Borchardt. Brook Lopez has game.
The non-existent ball movement makes me think the Warriors are playing hot potato. They are chucking the ball wrecklessly and Monta and Stephen Curry are both missing wide open jumpers as if they're shooting jumpers with blindfolds. Hmm, I wonder if I can catch the end of Rachel Ray's 30 minute meals right now... Man, Warriors are this bad that I'm considering watching the super annoying Rachel Ray.
Third GROAN of the quarter. Great heads up move by Anthony Randolph to save CJ Watson's blocked shot. Here we go.... WHAT!? CHARGE?? Oh Monta, why are you reverting back to your old ways of trying to run everyone over? I can't believe I'm watching this game right now.
(Harris: "C'mon coach, I know the 'pull-my-finger' trick...)
2nd quarter: Elated...
Hmm, the Warriors end the quarter on a short run. Maybe the Warriors won't lose after all?
Is it me or did Trenton Hassell gain some weight since his Timberwolves days? Looks like Trenton Hassell's been hitting up the Shawn Kemp School of weight "training" in the off-season.
Anthony Randolph is looking good on defense. Good to see him active but not falling on people to get a block. Maybe Keith Smart slipped a sedative into his Gatorade before the game?
Alright, here we go. The Warriors are starting to run and CJ Watson is getting into the passing lanes easy.
Andris Biedrins is sitting with Fitz and Barnett for some color commentary. Biedrins looks good in his suit but that weird hoop earring doesn't quite fit. May it's a European thing.
The Warriors are racking up steals like they're Ricky Henderson. The boom and bust of the Warriors offense depends on these steals.
Wow, what's up with Randolph playing so even -keeled? Usually after a few excellent plays, Randolph is jumping around making dumb fouls. Hmm, I wonder what's going on in his head when he gets the ball.
OOOH!! Randolph is hustling! Great to see him giving the Warriors the energy they need on both sides of the floor. He and Radmanovic are doing the intangible things that the Warriors need: grabbing boards, running the floor, some nice weakside defense and, most importantly, covering the mistakes of Monta Ellis. Wow, still no yelps or facial expressions. What's happened to him? I'm beginning to think Keith Smart is better at getting to his players than Nellie.
(The only way the Warriors could stop Brook Lopez)
Biedrins is still talking to Fitz and Barnett on the sidelines. He is discussing his friendship with Ronny Turiaf (France) and Radmanovic. The "European Union club" as he calls it. Can we expect to see this on a t-shirt? Maybe the next Tony.psd? Wink wink? Just playin' Tony.
Randolph is everywhere!!! Plus the Nets look like the Warriors on their bad nights. The lazy passes getting picked off and wide open driving lanes are making me realize why they were 0-18. They're not getting back on defense in typical Warriors fashion. Too bad the Warriors are picking up ticky tack fouls, which is keeping the Nets in the game.
Question: Are the Warriors better when Monta ISN'T shooting all the time? At this point in the game, Monta has been a non-factor, scoring-wise. The ball is moving a lot more and the other Warriors are getting involved ... and hey! They're actually winning, right now? I'm not suggesting the Warriors are better without Monta. That would be completely ridiculous. But its nice to see the other Warriors trusting in each other when Monta isn't trying to mimic Stephen Jackson in his shot selection and his complaining to the refs.
OK, I've had enough of watching Randolph fouling Lopez. It's clearly not Randolph's fault that there is a bad matchup. Where's Chris Hunter?
The Nets are blocking out as "well" as the Warriors as Randolph gets a follow-up dunk to a missed jumper. I am feeling at ease now...
CJ Watson is definitely the front runner for Warrior Wonder by the way he is getting steals and converting layups at the other end. His anticipation in the passing lanes is beautiful.
Wow, that last play of the half was beautiful. Heck, it was SEXY. I'm surprised that Monta gave up the ball to Curry and let him thread that pass to Watson for the open reverse under the hoop. Now THAT was the best closing of a quarter/half I have ever seen from the Warriors. Can we see the ball NOT in Monta's hands at the end of the half?
(Curry and Moore are both impressed by the dunk. What kind of shoes are those?)
3rd Quarter: Hungry
Early on , we see a power move by Mikki Moore dunking over Brook Lopez! I love the post-dunk intensity ala Kevin Garnett, but is it really necessary or kosher for Moore to throw signs when they're playing, arguably, the worst team in the league? That would be equivalent to bragging that you got Susan Boyle's digits.
Looks like the Warriors are finally hitting the offensive boards. Why are the Warriors so afraid to grab rebounds? I miss Biedrins.
My girlfriend: "That guy (Radmanovic) looks like Wolverine. But uglier."
Wow, an Ill-advised shot by Monta, again. Nice move slashing to the middle and trying to lay it up over Lopez, except way off target. Sigh. I ask again, do the Warriors score better when Monta has the ball in his hands LESS? There's seems to be a lot more scoring this game when he isn't trying to score on every single possession.
I am still waiting for dinner to finish cooking... hungry. I wonder what NBA players eat before games?
Towards the end of this quarter, the Warriors frustrating play is finally getting to Fitz. He sounds like he's about to yell at Morrow post-game after seeing him commit his bazillionth turnover of the game. That's what I love about the Warriors color commentary; they never gloss over the Warrior blunders.
Damnit. The Warriors are starting to look complacent out there and there are still 6 minutes left in the quarter. It's like Cinderella and the clock struck twelve. The Warriors' chariot of marvelous game play has transformed back into the pumpkin of bad shots, dribbling into crowds, and porous defense. Are the Warriors trying to lose? Are they trying to throw games like Tim Donaghy?
Whew thank goodness for players like Josh Boone. Boone shoots freethrows like he doesn't want to be there. It's almost like he can't wait to get over with by how rushed his shots are.
(Mayweather: "Damn, I thought the Nets gave me the gift of a superstar..." Mayweather's friend: "Dude, I though we got tickets for Madison Square Garden...")
4th Quarter: Satisfied
Great feed by Cj Watson to Maggette (no look) to start this quarter. Watson is definitely the Warrior Wonder for tonight...either Watson or the Net's terrible defense. Whereas Ellis and Morrow are looking like the Warrior ‘blunders' with the turnovers they are accumulating together. Can't complain though that Keith Smart lets his players work through these problems in the flow of the game.
Commercial break: "Give the gift...of a super... star... this holiday.. season" ...whew, I never get tired of that commercial. How many takes do you think that took for Monta to say that? Also, does anyone else think its weird that Monta is basically trying to sell tickets to see Kobe and Lebron? Do you think opposing teams run the same commercials and say that about Monta when the Warriors are about to come to town?
Ball movement! Thank goodness, the Net were within 7 but the crisis has been averted. Monta is finally scoring, but not forcing the issue. I'm more pleased that he's using his speed to benefit his teammates by hitting them with open shots.
Thank goodness the Nets cannot shoot threes. Can the Nets poor three-point shooting be the Warrior Wonder for tonight?
Question of the night, why is Sean Williams getting more playing time than Terrence Williams? Every shot of Sean Williams face as he checks in, gets fouled, or fouled someone is look of "........." or "What am I doing here?"
Mikki Moore TRULY has the best dunks. AND best post-game dunk celebrations. After two great passes from Monta, he's cheering like the game was on the line as opposed to being up 13 against the worst team in the league.Gotta love that intensity though.
I have to give it up to CJ Watson. Watson's 15 points in the second quarter, half of those off great anticipation on defense, really jumpstarted a sluggish Warriors team.
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Great win on the road
Thank God the dubs didn’t lose this one. I know we may be a bad team at times but we’re not THAT bad.:)
Thanks for the interesting post.
Rachel Ray is actually very hot if you watch her with the mute on. It’s amazing how repulsive she becomes when the volume goes up.
If Bochy coached the Warriors Bengie Molina would start every game at PG.
It's hard to read too much into a win over the Nets
But it wasn’t one of those sloppy, we-stumbled-into-a-win type of wins. It was based on playing the right way, trying to pass the ball, looking for the open guy. Who’d have thought that after driving into the paint, Maggette (of all people) would do an unexpected inside dish to a cutting Moore for the jam??? The only thing missing was another “Oh Yeah!” from Moore on one of those dunks. And upon watching the orangino highlights, Moore DID do an “Oh yeah!” dunk in the 3rd qtr.
The big thing I will take from this game was mentioned by Garry St Jean in the post game, and that’s about Randolph’s demeanor. His demeanor was all business. He didn’t get emotionally out of control, particularly after that alley oop from Monta. The old Randolph would have screamed and pumped his chest or threw his arms in the air something after a dunk like that. But the Randolph of today flushed it, then calmly jogged right back to defense. All concentration, all business, no overemotional showboating. That’s a sign of maturity.
The Warriors certainly looked good as a team against the Nets. We’ll see how much of a team they still are when they play against a good team again that will challenge the Warrior’s trust in each other.
Awww
But thats what I love about Randolph!
by randolphforpresident on Dec 9, 2009 10:48 PM PST up reply actions
He can sprinkle that back in when he's got his foundation and consistency defined.
Until then, he’s got to concentrate and focus on the game and his play and get his experience on the things that help the team win games.
by IQofaWarrior on Dec 9, 2009 10:56 PM PST up reply actions
Monta being Sjax
Is why we need to get an experienced PG to help him out. He’s trying too hard.
So who do we have a chance at landing? Portland seems to be having PG problems.
Why do we have to ship in what will inevitably be an overpaid PG? We already have Watson and Curry who should be handling more than Monta.
by Badly Browned on Dec 9, 2009 10:34 PM PST up reply actions
Should being the word
The warriors tend to get sloppy and having a vet control the ball would help. I also see the argument of letting the young ones play and learn as they go though.
Ellis played best when it counted
And that’s all that matters.
Rookie: "Why did you bench me?"
Nellie: "You're a rookie"
Nice to see an organized recap with insights...
not taking away any props from IQ.
by Cpt. Jack in the Box on Dec 9, 2009 11:42 PM PST reply actions
Oh, no worries
the post-game post I compose isn’t intended to be an in depth recap. It was intended to bring in post-game recaps, news and videos from OTHER sources, to fill in the stuff we may have missed during the game, or to fill in news and information that the writers learned after the game.
by IQofaWarrior on Dec 10, 2009 7:10 AM PST up reply actions
OHH YEAAHHH
Formally known as PFortyy.
http://www.youtube.com/user/XeroEnt
Watch my Warriors vids and subscribe!
Re: Monta
We need him to look for his shot, and try to score. that’s what he does best. But, eventually he needs to realize that when he beats his defender, one of two things will happen:
1) He’ll have an open shot
2) Another defender will slide over to help
If it’s the first, by all means, shoot. Monta is one of the best finishers in the game, and has one of the sweetest mid-range jump shots (though it’s still coming back to him).
What he doesn’t realize though, is that it’s not a good idea to shoot when option 2 happens (especially when that help defender is Brook Lopez). When option 2 happens, so does an open teammate.
Monta’s biggest problem is that once he beats his man, he almost always shoots. If he looks to score, always, he’ll keep beating his man, but if he realizes not to shoot when the help D is sufficient, he’ll start being a better playmaker.
In other words, we need him to be our version of Dwyane Wade: look for your shot, shoot a lot, but still make the passes whenever they are there. I don’t think Monta will ever be a great creator in the sense that he can dribble around aimlessly, a la Nash or Paul, and then make a great pass. But he can kill the defense with the intent of scoring, realize that the best shot is not his, and then make the great pass.
by bradyk2 on Dec 9, 2009 11:57 PM PST reply actions 2 recs
rec'd
31 Y 6.5 ft 250 lbs 0 IQ
Fire Nellie! Fire Cohan! Fire Gregory! Fire David Stern! No need for explanations, just fire em all!
by Missing Barry
by Lat We N Trash on Dec 10, 2009 1:26 AM PST up reply actions
definitely agree. He needs to almost be thinking pass first when he beats his man. Kind of seemed like he was doing that at the end of the game which was good to see. Lopez’s face after every Mikki Moore dunk was classic. If he ever went to help, no one ever rotated over to Mikki. A look of frustration Andris and Turiaf were all too familiar last season as Fitz and Barnett pointed out.
That’s the Monta I want to see happen. Especially since he hasn’t been getting any calls recently, he needs to look to pass. He only had 20 shots last night, and the shot distribution was much better 2nd qtr on. I want to see the Dubs build on that.
by Badly Browned on Dec 10, 2009 7:06 AM PST up reply actions
He took just about how many shots he should be taking. With how efficient he normally is shooting, he should average ~10 shots a game on ~20 attempts and get to the free-throw line a handful of times. The only fault in his game yesterday was taking a few too many jumpshots without really having it going. Other than that, he played great.
by samuraaaaiiiiiii on Dec 10, 2009 1:05 PM PST up reply actions
furthermore, it’s worth noting that Monta led the W’s starters in +/- (ironically our three bench players were our three leaders in +/-). This is huge. Despite shooting a paltry 35% from the floor, Monta was still effective, still our best starter, still led our team to victory. That’s what stars, and more importantly, leaders do.
I gotta give the WW to Corey Maggette. When he puts his mind to it he really is a very good rebounder. CJ’s steals in the 2nd were cool, but it warms my heart to see a guy like Maggs doing what we really need him to do. WW 1a and 1b go to Randolph and Moore (hey ONLXN, write something about Nellie now, maybe he’ll have a really good coaching game). No turnovers between the two of them tonight, and AR was a beast down low. On the flipside, the Warrior Donkey award goes to Anthony Morrow. 6 points, 2 Rebs, 5 TO’s in 40 minutes? Daaaaamn kid. Get it together. Nice to see Monta step up when the game got tight. That’s all I’ve got.
Sittin in my scraper watchin Oakland goin wild, ta-dow!
well, he missed a couple of games
So he was off I guess
Congrats to Corey Maggette...
I have to give a huge shout out to Corey Maggette whs’s game I have been bashing for the last few weeks (justifiably so). He had a great all around game and did the little things it takes to win games. As a verteran player I expect Maggs to play like this every night!
Hell even Mikki Moore stepped his game up last night…LOL…Now if we could do that against a half decent team we would be going in the right direction
God Willing...
Finally, someone mentions Monta's commercial
His cue card reading sooo bad, then you add that accent.
That man needs some college learnin.
Anyone else think his inability to communicate well on tv is part of why he is not an All Star yet?
If he had Shane Battier’s personaliy on camera, he would probably be all over tv and a perennial All Star just fr being more likeable than some of his competition
Deron Williams has not been an All Star yet either.
It has more to do with the fact that in the conference there are better guards than him.
by homer simpson on Dec 10, 2009 10:11 AM PST up reply actions
I think he would be much better off if he dropped all pretense of trying to communicate the way “learned folks” do and just embraced his full-on southern comfort drawl. No one would understand him but he’d be way more endearing.
Sittin in my scraper watchin Oakland goin wild, ta-dow!
That's what he did his rookie season
I loved Barnett’s post game interviews that year with Monta. It was amazing to see Jim trying to figure out what Monta was talking about. Jim isn’t the brightest about that sort of thing. Monta was incredibly endearing that year.
Thoughts from the game
Izod center was half empty and fairly quiet, which made it more fun being a Dubs fan there. I counted less than 10 wearing Nets Jerseys, and bumped into plenty of Warriors fans. We were very close to the Warriors bench, and it was great. Turiaf and Biedrins were goin CRAZY when Mikki Moore was doin his thing. It was great to see the team enjoying themselves, and playing unselfish basketball.
Key to the Game
I think sometimes coaches (or their backups) have too much trust in their starters and not enough from the backups. They assume the starter will snap out of it because they have seen so much from certain players. Last night, it was ridiculously clear that Monta just didn’t have it. His drives were out of control, his jumpers were clanging off the rim, some a foot off the target, and his D was sub-par. I was screaming for Smart to take him out of the game, not because I think starters should be sat if they are playing poorly but rather to give Monta some much needed rest (48 Min/game is not acceptable) and to give him some much needed perspective (slow down and watch your teammates for a few minutes, Monta, because they are all playing well).
It is not surprising that the Warriors played great in the 2nd quarter. The lineup of Curry, Watson, Morrow, Maggette, and Randolph played very well together. Anthony Randolph was spectacular in that quarter, and the sequence that started with a blocked shot and ended in his offensive rebound and drive+1 was a sight for sore eyes. CJ was excellent in the passing lanes. Curry was very good in the first half, hitting jumpers and dishing the ball. He is particularly adept at getting Maggette the ball in good position. I feel like if Corey gets off to a good start in the game, he tends to play well, and when he starts slowly, he is god-awful and better on the bench. But in this game, he got off to a good start, and he used his athleticism to his advantage against a weaker team.
That game last night was decided in that 38-21 2nd quarter, and it was spurred by Keith Smart’s decision to yank a struggling Monta. It is also unsurprising that, after sitting for much of that quarter, Monta was better in the 2nd half than the 1st.
I wonder if Nellie would have sat him…
That game last night was decided in that 38-21 2nd quarter, and it was spurred by Keith Smart’s decision to yank a struggling Monta. It is also unsurprising that, after sitting for much of that quarter, Monta was better in the 2nd half than the 1st.
Couldn’t agree more – letting Monta watch his teammates from the bench helped him immeasurably. BTW – I think Nellie would have sat him in the first quarter when he was like 0-8 w/3 TO’s and we were down double digits.
John 8:44 -Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do.
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