Recap: Warriors 126, Kings 113 - Who needs Iverson?! (Wait! I didn't mean that! Come back Allen!!)

by Hash on Dec 12, 2006 10:57 PM PST in Recaps Comment 12 comments

Okay, let's get one thing out there from the get-go. I like the Kings. I've always liked the Kings. Not in the Warriors-Better-Win-Or-I'm-Going-To-Hurl-A-Brick kind of way, but lets just say that I've always had a certain level of respect for the team.

I think this stems back to when I was in school in San Diego. Everyone I met (for the most part) was either from Los Angeles or from the Bay Area. So when basketball season came around, people were either avidly cheering for the Lakers, or they were... well, they probably went out drinking or something when the Warriors were playing.

Enter the Kings.

Sure they weren't from the "Bay" exactly, but they were always there to annoy Kobe and Shaq in just the right way. They gave us Bay Area-ites a little something to cheer for while our favorite team was busy giving up Gilbert Arenas. For this, I'll always have a little respect for Sacramento.

So, how much do I respect the Kings? Well when they are playing the Warriors, I still wish bitter defeat on them, but I don't wish that they all come down with a case of explosive diarrhea on the trip home like I do with the rest of the NBA teams we play.

That's right. Feel the love, Kings. Feel the love.

Boxscore

It's a Bird! It's a Plane! It's... wait... Matt Barnes?! Screw it! It's MATT BARNES BABY!

If any of the Warriors were feeling the pressure about a possible Iverson trade, they certainly responded in the most positive way possible tonight. Any speculations that these trade talks would negatively affect how the Warriors would play can officially be laid to rest.

- AB came out with a (literally) perfect night. (Didn't miss a shot all game!)

- Matt Barnes damn sure ate his Wheaties before the game. (32 points with 6 from beyond?!)

- Pietrus himself had a strong offensive showing tonight. (21 with 4 of 6 from beyond.)

- Monta served his purpose well, creating some pretty impressive plays. (16 point, 5 dimes)

- Baron was a savage but missed his triple double AGAIN. (I suppose this time it was by a few more boards.)

- Dunleavy looked strong out there tonight!I saw some seriously aggressive fast breaks I'm not used to seeing from him. Additional props for his supporting stats! (7 dimes, 6 boards)

- Foyle... um... well did anyone see that rebound?! Hell yea!

The ironic thing is that tonight's Warriors looked like the Kings that I used to see during the ol' Lakers - Kings rivalry. Everyone on the team contributed, and very rarely did it happen that someone in the starting 5 (Bibby, Webber, Divac, Stojakovic, Christie) scored less than double digits. Yet aside from all of their offense, everyone always knew their role.

Tonight's Warriors were no different. Aside from the insane amount of fouling in the third, everyone on the court fought hard for the boards, cut into the paint for easy buckets, went strong to the iron regardless of getting smashed in the dome. (In Dun's case, twice!) Watching what this Richardson-less team was capable of tonight makes our previous loss to the Sonics that much more unacceptable. This is a squad that can make big things happen. The depth is there. The heart is there. The youth is there. All we need to do is to find that last missing piece. The consistency. If the Warriors played with this much heart every game, even the most elite of teams would leave The Oracle asking themselves, "What the hell just happened?"

And they wouldn't just be talking about their explosive diarrhea.

Gross...

Warrior Wonder : Matt Barnes, thy name is sniper. With a career high 32 points, comprised of an insane 6 3-pointers, he also piled on 11 boards, 3 dimes, and 3 jacks. That's one tasty Double Double!

Aside from Barnsie's nasty game tonight, I think it would be foolish not to acknowledge the efforts of the rest of the Warriors as well. Everyone came to play tonight. Nice rebound Foyle!

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I missed most of the first game

on TNT, but I did see Charles, Kenny and Magic railing on both teams. After watching tonight, I can't say I disagree with them. Its like watching an All Star game. These are some bad defensive teams here. There were some pitiful box outs. The jumpball tip, the sweet Biedrins block that bounced back to Rahim while Ellis and Dunleavy watched. The perimeter defense on both sides was nonexistent. But, it is great fun to watch. Its great to hit the three but also penetrate. I'm glad they fed Biedrins in the 4th. And, Dunleavy needs to jam on Bibby, not fadeaway, c'mon. I just don't know what this team is capable of. I like to see them in the 1-2-2 zone with their active hands. Steals are the most exciting part of the NBA. Space, and moving without the ball. I don't think we need AI, just keep getting better with the youth.

by eshock on Dec 12, 2006 11:09 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Great Offensive Showing

Foyle's rebound was pretty spectacular.

by racsan on Dec 12, 2006 11:10 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

So was his help defense when Rahim got stuffed

twice and had a sissy fit over it, then pushed our man Foyle for no reason in his upset Hulkomaniac lite fury.

I caught that in the highlights post-game on one of those FSN highlight clip shows, even if I didn't see it live.

by back2back51s on Dec 12, 2006 11:15 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

warriors need to

Petition the league to keep the new ball for all games against sac. They can't beat us with this ball and looks like they never will. Since it's gone in two weeks.

by Athletix Man on Dec 13, 2006 12:08 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Sweeeeeeeeeeet Game!!

Man this game was very entertaining. Not sure if people saw on TV but I was there and a fight almost broke out between Shareef and ... well anyone who argued with him. It was pretty crazy. Pietrus and Barnes stuffed him pretty badly which was probably a foul but no call and then Shareef went completely nuts. It was great!

by YaoButtaMing on Dec 13, 2006 12:21 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Barnes was the big story of the game

He dropped 32 and pulled down like 13 rebounds. The best part is that he ran the floor well the whole game, which you'd never see Murphy do.

Another note: B'Drins didn't miss a single basket tonight. He was even 6 for 6 from the freethrow line.

by Jeremy Belvins on Dec 13, 2006 12:37 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

can i get a .....

Uuuuhhhhhhhh for my boy matt barnes. he was crashing, splashing and whiplashing all night long. one other thing...the W's can't trade baron for AI. i just think he is THAT important to this team.

Let's Go Oakland! Gas, Brake, Dip.

by OaktownFunk on Dec 13, 2006 12:54 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Congrats GS! Great all around

Right on, Hash. The Kings are not even close to the team they were and it is going to take a lot of time for us to get back on track. Buuuuut, GS is RIGHT THERE on the verge of going for it. The tables have turned and I hope you guys have a turn at being the NorCal team to beat. No one can look at GS and not think they have something scary in the works.

Matt Barnes! Local boy goes off on his childhood team. That does it...his old house is SO toilet papered. As much as it stung - I loved seeing Matt have a career night.

Yao, who I think is the next MVP, is up next. You guys can win if the outside is still hot and the confidence carries over. Save some juice for the marathon with the Suns the next night!

by pyro on Dec 13, 2006 2:07 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Snaps to Matt...

sacbee.com post-game

by pyro on Dec 13, 2006 2:30 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

we can win!

on a night when our star player shoots 4-15. Thats 26% kids, and we won!!!! Given the Kings two best players shot 4-14, im sure that was a result of our stellar defense, we can win when baron doesnt make shots. Nothing but good news, props to mike dunleavy for the kind of night that made me think he wasnt a mistake.

Oh and
MATT BARNES FOR MIP!!!!

by FoyledAgain on Dec 13, 2006 2:46 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

It's All Good

Great game -- and great breaks -- all around. 15 for 27 on threes? 32 from Barnes? six straight FTs from AB? Bibby starts out one for 10? Whoa! Hard to ask for more.

But to me the key to the game was clearly BD, who played his best all-around game in two years (much better than the Seattle game where he got more points and rebounds). The key was those 13 assists -- and he was moving the ball around like a true point. He never forced his shot, he drove the lane when the team's long-range shooting briefly faltered, he rebounded at key points, and he just rans things when he was out there. Simply terrific.

And, what's even better for the future, it's becoming apparent he and Dunleavy are starting to develop a real feel for each other: both scored off the other's set ups; both look for the cutter; both know how to finish the drive (except for Dun's miss when SAR cheap shot him for the flagrant; perhaps Artest hadn't hit him hard enough earlier, because Dun finished that drive). When the ball moves like the W's were moving it last night, good things are bound to happen. I want more.

Both BD and Dun are also figuring out how to get the ball into AB at the low post. It's a process that will lead to early turnovers, but the more they do it, the better they'll get. And AB just has that wonderful ability to score at close range -- almost at will and regardless of conditions.

Finally, seeing Monta make several drives to his left -- even shooting left handed on at least one occasion -- was great: he's now learning how to expand his game when they close off his move to the right (tho the Kings STILL let him drive right and score several times last night). He's stepping up again after hitting a short wall.

(Barnes deserves kudos, of course, but he was almost too good to be true. Let's see if he can even approach this over the next few games. MP was about as effective as he can be -- which is good -- but keep the ball out of his hands as much as possible, please, I'll take his defense and rebounding and be happy to limit him to those corner threes -- at least until he learns how to finish on drives.)

by johnl on Dec 13, 2006 12:02 PM PST reply actions 0 recs