RECAP #25: Minnesota Timberwolves 99, Golden State Warriors 108 – It’s About Time
by Fantasy Junkie on Dec 15, 2010 10:44 AM PST
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Well it's about time!
A win.
The Warriors won a game. It's been so long since the last win that I almost forgot what it was like.
So, here's what the Warriors have established in their last 14 games. They're better than the Timberwolves, not better than a bunch of other teams. But the Warriors don't get to play the Timberwolves every game for the rest of the season so they're going to figure out how to beat someone else other than the Timberwolves.
But first, a win is a win is a win is a win. I'll take it.
Game Thoughts
- First and foremost, Monta is amazing. First, he played every single minute on the 2nd game of a back to back. Not only that, but he had an amazing game. 34 points on 13-24 shooting, 3 of 4 from 3, 4 rebounds and 6 assists. He made big shot after big shot. It was as if he and Keith Smart knew this was their best shot a win so they made sure they were going to get it.
- I believe we've finally found our backup point guard, Acie Law! I fought the Law and the Law won. The lineup with Monta, Reggie Williams and Law played very well in the 4th to push the lead bigger and bigger. He was diving on the floor, getting to the bucket, and shutting down the opposing point guard. Charlie Bell and Jeremy Lin won't be playing much when Stephen Curry comes back.
- Reggie Williams continues his brilliance with Steph out. He's really taking advantage of his time as a starter. Tonight was perhaps his best game so far - 26 points on 8-13 shooting, 4-7 from 3 with 5 boards. When Curry returns if Reggie can keep this up off the bench, the Warriors will finally some confidence that their bench will give them production.
- The Warriors hung with the best rebounding team in the league, with a 43-47 rebound deficit. The 11 boards from David Lee and 12 boards from Andris Biedrins were huge towards keeping the possessions alive and keeping the Twolves off the offensive glass. I'm still waiting for Lou Amundson to hit the boards a little more. He had just 3 rebounds in 26 minutes.
- Free throw shooting is a problem. Even though they got to the line 31 times (24 for the Twolves), the Warriors shot an awful 61.3%. They're one of the worst free throw shooting teams. They can't give away free points and hope to continue to win. They'll need to convert them at a higher percentage to compete with better teams.
- I have to give props to Darko Milicic. He's finally providing the Twolves with some production after having so the hype from many years ago. He's still been a bust, but tonight he looked great with 25 points (12-19 FG's) and 11 rebounds.
- Lastly, I don't know if Joe Lacob and the new owners will bring us a championship, but I love having an owner who is passionate about winning and seems to be a good leader at the top. He's always in his courtside seat facing the Warriors bench and you can tell he's emotionally invested in the outcome of the game. Only time will tell if he succeeds but so far he's saying and doing all the right things.
Monta, of course!
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I watched most of the 1st quarter, but that’s it. Just looking at the box score, I’m going with Reggie as my Warrior Wonder. Ridiculous efficiency, and only 1 TO…
Should have kept watching till at least the half
Monta took over in the 2nd quarter. I think he scored 19. He gave the team the much needed momentum going into the second half by draining a 3 at the buzzer for the lead.
This is Kristin Kreuk, now zip it. - GTTM
I watched most of the 1st quarter, but that’s it.
Haha, just watching the 1st quarter you’d think the Twolves woulda won. I think the tight ref’ing crimped their style though, hard to play defense when the ref’s won’t give you a place to stand.
Lights please, lights please, turn off the lights.
by Skeptic con Urquell on Dec 15, 2010 11:35 AM PST up reply actions
yeah, this was the first full game I've watched in a while
mostly because I expected the win.
Monta really got to me last night. I know it’s against the T Wolves, and I know a bunch of his shots were ill-advised, but damn…the boy can ball
dominant on the offensive end
Reggie did have a great game too, but just watching Monta do his thing time and time again was incredible
"I cannot believe the depth of "Smart's" ineptitude…it goes deeper than David Lee’s elbow wound"
by Duby Dub Dubs on Dec 15, 2010 12:58 PM PST up reply actions
just watching Monta do his thing time and time again was incredible
Well, yeah, if he always played like he did last night, he’d be one of the best players in the league. Unfortunately, he doesn’t always play like he did last night.
My favorite thing about his game last night was not just the fabulous finishes and the efficient 34 points, but also the way he deferred and found open teammates. He only had 6 dimes but would have had a half dozen more had it not been for dropped passes and missed wide open Js.
The fourth quarter in particular was a revelation. Given his lack of rest entering the quarter, I had nervous premonitions of one of his patented fourth quarter collapses, wherein he would try to take over the game and shoot the Ws out of the game with a barrage of tired-legged jumpers. Instead, he deferred to Acie and fed the microwave-hot Mr. Potatohead, not even attempting a shot till there was 4:30 left in the quarter. And even then, instead of pulling up for a J, he drove, drew contact, and — whaddayaknow — actually drained both of his FTs, helping to nudge the game out of reach.
Bravo. Keep it up!
There will be no extra point!
by Sleepy Freud on Dec 15, 2010 1:20 PM PST up reply actions
yeah!
but while keeping it up, practice those free throws!!!!!!!!
"I cannot believe the depth of "Smart's" ineptitude…it goes deeper than David Lee’s elbow wound"
by Duby Dub Dubs on Dec 15, 2010 2:32 PM PST up reply actions
I LOL’ed at Mr. Potatohead. It’s funny because it’s true.
No relation to Matt Cain...
by Caine Black Knife on Dec 15, 2010 9:35 PM PST up reply actions
Best thing about Acie Law was that he was a freebie.
Look what I found sez Larry Riley. Good job, Larry! It pushes Lin to D-league when Curry comes back and Reggie can become the sixth man again.
As for free throw shooting, what happened to assistant coach Mark Price? The players should be getting better. Not worse. We still need guys to get to the line and make them. Please no hire Rick Barry comments :p.
AB still needs to play better defense and crash the boards. He’s not going all out! Maybe feed him the ball early in the game to get his mojo going.
Yeah, I agree about passion. It’s all about passion.
"Go ahead. Make my day."
Passion
I think thats 70% of the game in the NBA. Every athlete is accomplished. I was at the Warriors @ Jazz game and was disspointed with the lack of hustle on defense. My wife, who doesn’t know anything about basketball, said,“Are the Jazz incredible, or do we just suck at defense?” We give up WAY too many easy buckets each game, atleast 10.
It was good to see Monta and D Will get in small fights in the 4th quarter. Monta plays with passion. The Warriors last year played with passion in the last month. Why? they were 80% D-Leaguers. All of them were fighting for their lives. I think dumping 6 guys on our bench for D-leaguers would improve our team (plus, maybe we would find another Reggie).
D Will had a 2 on 1 fast break off a missed free throw.
That is miserable.
When we beat the Jazz, I attributed that to good defense, largely coming from D. Wright. When that guy is active on defense, he is effective but it also is contagious. He needs to be a leader on defense more often.
And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who would attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know my name is Monta Ellis when I lay my vengeance upon thee.
Lou gets props for his game from me. It doesn’t show in his rebounding stats, but I clearly remember a few times where he was flat out manhandling Kevin Love to keep him away from the ball.
by samuraaaaiiiiiii on Dec 15, 2010 12:44 PM PST reply actions
yeah, I am loving (haha, see what I did there) our front line
we can FINALLY contest reliably on the boards
"I cannot believe the depth of "Smart's" ineptitude…it goes deeper than David Lee’s elbow wound"
by Duby Dub Dubs on Dec 15, 2010 1:02 PM PST up reply actions
he was trying to get offensive boards quite a lot
Didn’t have as much success, but he’s rusty.
Monta won it for us in the 2nd, that's when we took the momentum and seized the game
I’d like to see Ekpe get 10-15 minutes from here on. Darko went to town on Beans and Louis, I would have liked to see Udoh guard him
"There is nothing like a wise phrase or quote to help convince others that your decision makes sense." - Anon
"If you're ever in a fair fight, then your tactics suck." ಠ_ಠ
Monta won it for us in the 2nd, that’s when we took the momentum and seized the game
That’s more when we dug out of our pathetic hole. We still trailed at a couple of points in the third quarter, and only led by 1 with 9:34 left, 81-80.
If there was any moment that “seized the game,” it was Reggie’s two consecutive threes (one assisted by Monta, one by Beans) that pushed us from 81-80 to 87-80 with 8 minutes left. The Wolves never got within 5 after that point.
There will be no extra point!
by Sleepy Freud on Dec 15, 2010 1:28 PM PST up reply actions
if Monta didn't have like 4 and 1's in 2nd quarter
we would be down by 20 by half and if he didn’t hit that 3 we wouldn’t have the momentum
Well, sure. If Monta had scored 0 instead of 34, we would have lost by 25. If Reggie hadn’t scored, we would have the lost the game by 17 … etc.
The point is that the second quarter really wasn’t when we “seized the game.”
The three at the end of the first half looks kinda like a momentous moment ‘cos we won we the game. SInce we fell behind a couple of times after that point, it’s hard to grant it too much significance (beyond the three points).
It’s also worth noting also that a 26-foot bomb by Monta at that point, when we had had 10 seconds to set up a shot, was a pretty low-percentage play. But hey, if it goes down, it’s all good…
There will be no extra point!
by Sleepy Freud on Dec 15, 2010 3:31 PM PST up reply actions
a 26-foot bomb by Monta at that point, when we had had 10 seconds to set up a shot, was a pretty low-percentage play.
In a vacuum, yes. But Monta was flat out feeling it. I knew that shot was good before it left his hands.
No relation to Matt Cain...
by Caine Black Knife on Dec 15, 2010 9:38 PM PST up reply actions
Ah yes, I love a good dose of outcome bias in the morning. :)
by Missing Barry on Dec 16, 2010 7:26 AM PST up reply actions
… it smells like … victory …
There will be no extra point!
by Sleepy Freud on Dec 16, 2010 9:30 AM PST up reply actions
...
Also, FWIW: the Ws were -8 in the 4 minutes Udoh played and +13 in the 32 minutes Biedrins played.
There will be no extra point!
by Sleepy Freud on Dec 15, 2010 1:31 PM PST up reply actions
Well Ekpe did only play 4 minutes...
And Beans had a good game , mainly cause he didn’t post up at all but he was man handled on defense
"There is nothing like a wise phrase or quote to help convince others that your decision makes sense." - Anon
"If you're ever in a fair fight, then your tactics suck." ಠ_ಠ
Well Ekpe did only play 4 minutes…
Funny, I could have sworn you were using those four minutes to build a case that he’s a better defender than Biedrins or Amundson and should be getting 10-15 minutes a game.
There will be no extra point!
by Sleepy Freud on Dec 15, 2010 2:06 PM PST up reply actions
I’m curious why you think Udoh is going to be a good on ball defender? I can see reason to think he’ll be good off the ball, but I’m less sure about his on ball D….
by Missing Barry on Dec 15, 2010 2:14 PM PST up reply actions
Aggressiveness
He looks more aggressive with his body than Beans, it’s more about the potential
"There is nothing like a wise phrase or quote to help convince others that your decision makes sense." - Anon
"If you're ever in a fair fight, then your tactics suck." ಠ_ಠ
What do you mean he looks...he's played 6 minutes...lets just say you have a case of confirmation bias.
You think Udoh will be good so anything you can possibly take that would suggest that you do, but when you can’t really support it…you ignore it.
by GovernorStephCurry on Dec 15, 2010 3:07 PM PST up reply actions
You can tell if someone is aggressiveness or not in small time
Find a quote that I said that proves that I think Udoh is going to be a great player like you think I do. I’m hopeful but not saying he will be something great guaranteed
"There is nothing like a wise phrase or quote to help convince others that your decision makes sense." - Anon
"If you're ever in a fair fight, then your tactics suck." ಠ_ಠ
There’s that word again. “Aggressive”….
by Missing Barry on Dec 15, 2010 3:12 PM PST up reply actions
Udoh
Seemed to be trying hard not to do the Rookie foul-athon straight off but it was a bit “hard” watching Love blow past him toward the basket. So he needs some minutes/experience but at least he does not have that Rookie totally lost look out there.
by Only In Fairfax on Dec 15, 2010 1:07 PM PST reply actions
Lacaob’s girlfriend looks like a woman that you would not want p**s off. Ha!
by Only In Fairfax on Dec 15, 2010 1:10 PM PST reply actions
and she also has freakish Madonna arms
that doesn’t make you look any younger
just like an older lady who works out
(because I’m pretty sure she reads this)
"I cannot believe the depth of "Smart's" ineptitude…it goes deeper than David Lee’s elbow wound"
by Duby Dub Dubs on Dec 15, 2010 2:34 PM PST up reply actions
(because I’m pretty sure she reads this)
If she does,… Let me apologize for the boys, they don’t yet know what love is all about.
Lights please, lights please, turn off the lights.
by Skeptic con Urquell on Dec 15, 2010 7:21 PM PST up reply actions
Correction
Let me apologize for the boys, they don’t yet know whatlovegold-digging is all about.
I am not a testicle.
by bloodsweatndonuts on Dec 15, 2010 11:49 PM PST up reply actions
see what I mean?
they got no idea how the sexy thing works.
Lights please, lights please, turn off the lights.
by Skeptic con Urquell on Dec 16, 2010 11:28 AM PST up reply actions
see what I mean?
Yes I do.
I am not a testicle.
by bloodsweatndonuts on Dec 16, 2010 9:34 PM PST up reply actions
Yes I do.
haha, you’ve just shown you don’t.
First rule is never tell a woman what she don’t want to hear.
Lights please, lights please, turn off the lights.
by Skeptic con Urquell on Dec 16, 2010 11:40 PM PST up reply actions
You need to keep up with the latest research amigo. . .
Remember that a neg-hit is a remark, sometimes humorous, used to point out a woman’s flaws.
a) A neg-hit IS used to penetrate a woman’s shield.
b) A neg-hit IS used to bring a woman down off her self-imposed pedestal.
c) A neg-hit is SINCERE. Women can spot phony a mile away.
d) And most importantly, a neg-hit IS used to bring a woman’s self perception more into line with reality.
I am not a testicle.
by bloodsweatndonuts on Dec 17, 2010 7:21 AM PST up reply actions
You need to keep up with the latest research
like stats perception is not always reality.
Lights please, lights please, turn off the lights.
by Skeptic con Urquell on Dec 17, 2010 9:25 AM PST up reply actions
reggie williams
now thats the guy we want as our 6th man. now when curry get’s back, I hope Reggie will keep up his double digit scoring.
by I.Eat.Sleep.Warriors on Dec 15, 2010 1:12 PM PST reply actions
Problem is
Reggie didn’t play too well off the bench. Hopefully now he’s able to get into rhythm right away without needing the start.
This is Kristin Kreuk, now zip it. - GTTM
Gotta give it to Amundson
Had a +22!!! This alone shows his efficiency when in the game
Shut up, just shut up. You had me at "cure for Cohan".
Well, it at least means the team as a whole did well during the period he was on the floor….
by Missing Barry on Dec 15, 2010 2:02 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Would have been more if he could catch a pass
The San Francisco 49ers, inventing new ways to lose every week!
Mike Singletary: Doing the same thing week in and week out expecting a different result.
by Badly Browned on Dec 15, 2010 2:40 PM PST up reply actions
Reggie Williams has been disappointing until lately
Thank goodness he’s starting to improve on last year’s Reggie Will.
I really think this David Lee injury derailed this team, and its going to be that much harder to comeback now that we are 9-16.
David Lee has completely lost his jumpshot. What a shame that this would happen to us. I think the wrist injury put a damper to it and just as it started coming back the bite happened. Absolute bad luck for us.
I still have a little faith in this team. Law, Lou, and Udoh give us some actual depth. I hate being optimistic when nothing but bad things happen to us, but perhaps we can claw our way back to .500 in the next month or two. Stay healthy Warriors…
It's the timberwolves, folks.
you guys make it seem as if they beat the lakers in LA.
Excuse me?
Who here is proclaiming the Warriors the Champs after this game?
A win is still a win.
The San Francisco 49ers, inventing new ways to lose every week!
Mike Singletary: Doing the same thing week in and week out expecting a different result.
by Badly Browned on Dec 15, 2010 3:16 PM PST up reply actions
*Furiously raises hand*
WARRIORS NOT LOSING ANOTHER GAME THIS YEAR!
Bochy & Co. -- Your 2010 World Series Champions
by GrayDilla on Dec 15, 2010 8:46 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
So, here’s what the Warriors have established in their last 14 games. They’re better than the Timberwolves, not better than a bunch of other teams. But the Warriors don’t get to play the Timberwolves every game for the rest of the season so they’re going to figure out how to beat someone else other than the Timberwolves.
But first, a win is a win is a win is a win. I’ll take it.
Huh? I’m not seeing where that impression is coming from at all…
by Missing Barry on Dec 15, 2010 3:20 PM PST up reply actions
Did anyone else get annoyed when Fitz kept referring to the Suns as one of the seven ‘elite’ teams in a row that we played?
No relation to Matt Cain...
by Caine Black Knife on Dec 15, 2010 9:42 PM PST reply actions
Yeah because it's just propaganda.
All i want is to watch the game, not PR crap.
by GovernorStephCurry on Dec 15, 2010 10:22 PM PST up reply actions
Meh
Maybe they arn’t elite, but I would never call a team with Nash on the same level as the T’Wolves/Kings/etc
The San Francisco 49ers, inventing new ways to lose every week!
Mike Singletary: Doing the same thing week in and week out expecting a different result.
by Badly Browned on Dec 16, 2010 6:09 AM PST up reply actions
Fitz annoys me but...
the Suns are absolutely one of the elite franchises, definitely. Obviously their team isn’t killing it right at the minute but they’ve been to 3 Conference Finals in the last 6 seasons, including last year. They’ve changed a little bit but they’re not going to plummet, and if we beat the Suns (like we did last year @ Oracle) I’d rejoice big time.
by eastbayallday on Dec 16, 2010 9:51 AM PST up reply actions
If you want to talk about the recent past, I agree. However, Nash is only getting older, and Amare is gone…in the present, I don’t think it’s nearly as clear how good they are.
by Missing Barry on Dec 16, 2010 11:13 AM PST up reply actions
Nash really isn't declining at all.
It’s mainly they have done a crappy job surrounding him after Amar’e left (which was a good move, if they replaced him adequately). They acquired Hedo Turkoglu, Childress, resigned Frye, and signed Hakim Warrick. Considering the prices they paid, the only good move was for Childress and maybe Warrick. They have no big man depth or quality. Robin Lopez is their only decent big, and he’s not even good. Sad really.
Adding Simmons to a booth with Mark Jackson?
Are they trying to create a work of real-time historical fiction?
-bloodsweatndonuts
by GovernorStephCurry on Dec 16, 2010 2:10 PM PST up reply actions
We’ll see. And while those new replacements might not make them a better team, they are still decent offensive guys around Nash. Like Turkoglu for example – ridiculously overpaid player whose defense and rebounding are serious liabilities, but the dude has offensive skills you have to respect. Good IQ, can shoot, pass, dribble….
by Missing Barry on Dec 16, 2010 2:39 PM PST up reply actions
the brat?
Did I see phil helmuth in that pic with Lacob?
You last Lacob comment kind of threw me off.
Lastly, I don’t know if Joe Lacob and the new owners will bring us a championship, but I love having an owner who is passionate about winning and seems to be a good leader at the top.
Why do you think he’s a good leader? Because he hired his son or because he made Larry Riley use a roster spot on Jeremy Lin?
He’s always in his courtside seat facing the Warriors bench and you can tell he’s emotionally invested in the outcome of the game.
Since when does being emotional about something an advantage when it comes time to make a rational decision? Since he already said he’s not going into the luxury tax, how does his passion help the fans? Mark Cuban is passionate and spends like it. Imagine what people would say about Mark Cuban if he had the Warriors payroll.
Only time will tell if he succeeds but so far he’s saying and doing all the right things.
What has he done that was right?
I am not a testicle.
by bloodsweatndonuts on Dec 15, 2010 11:41 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
Wait a second, when did he say he’s not going into the luxury tax? I’m pretty sure I’ve read him say with the right team he is willing to go into the luxury tax (and it’s something I would do as owner, too, avoid the luxury tax unless I had a really strong title contender, something we do not have currently)?
And he’s been not Chris Cohan. If that’s not right, I don’t know what is. ;)
by Missing Barry on Dec 16, 2010 7:29 AM PST up reply actions
Fair enough, but he needs to get them to that point where they are in a position to make that financial leap. He has done nothing so far that’s been any better or worse than Cohan, mostly because it’s only been a couple of months. My point is, a meddling owner that doesn’t spend or win like Mark Cuban is going to get really old really fast.
Let’s give him a year or two before we start heaping credit on him for his “enthusiasm”. That’s like praising a player for his “aggressiveness”.
I am not a testicle.
by bloodsweatndonuts on Dec 16, 2010 7:51 PM PST up reply actions
The Lakers and Mavericks were interested in Lin, too. He did take John Wall to school in summer league. I don’t think Riley was forced to sign him. Lin could easily have been picked in the 2nd round somewhere.
And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who would attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know my name is Monta Ellis when I lay my vengeance upon thee.
Lacob said of signing Lin "That was my call".
I ‘m not saying it’s a horrid move, I’m just saying it’s not the best use of roster space, certainly not the “right” move for a team lacking a backup PG so obviously in the preseason.
I am not a testicle.
by bloodsweatndonuts on Dec 16, 2010 7:47 PM PST up reply actions
It's better than Pargo....
which was Riley’s solution.
Adding Simmons to a booth with Mark Jackson?
Are they trying to create a work of real-time historical fiction?
-bloodsweatndonuts
by GovernorStephCurry on Dec 16, 2010 9:06 PM PST up reply actions
Allegedly . . .
I wonder who’s idea it was to sign Carney.
I am not a testicle.
by bloodsweatndonuts on Dec 16, 2010 9:32 PM PST up reply actions
No idea.
Probably Riley. There’s nothing attractive for Lacob to have done that.
Adding Simmons to a booth with Mark Jackson?
Are they trying to create a work of real-time historical fiction?
-bloodsweatndonuts
by GovernorStephCurry on Dec 16, 2010 9:57 PM PST up reply actions
Fans on the internet were asking for him.
Just like fans on the internet freaked out about the Pargo rumors.
I am not a testicle.
by bloodsweatndonuts on Dec 16, 2010 10:35 PM PST up reply actions
Monta was good , not amazing
Monta seems to be consumed by pouring in the points to keep hi ppg avg up – wish he would distribute the ball more. i see his tendencies of shooting the ill advised 3 coming back. There was no reason for him to playing till the last minute of the game with the Ws leading by 10 – was that a ‘Smart’ decision or Monta’s insistence to get a chance to get more points.?
Hes a good player who could be great if he plays more team ball.
What?
He did a great job distributing, he needed to score cause we had no Curry , he’s been playing “team ball” this year
"There is nothing like a wise phrase or quote to help convince others that your decision makes sense." - Anon
"If you're ever in a fair fight, then your tactics suck." ಠ_ಠ
Relatively more team ball.
Monta was disgusting last year for playing half the year at point. Question: how many times did Monta pass on the pick and roll? He never does.
How many plays did he call other than isolation? Probably none.
We are 11th in the league in assists. I would argue that most of those assists come off of dishing to a guy who shoots a three. We have no attempts to set up our big guys. They just get put back buckets.
Case point: all the Warriors need to play team ball, including Smart. When is he gonna draw up some plays. We don’t have a “system” of any kind.
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