RECAP: Warriors 96, Celtics 95

by Fantasy Junkie on Dec 21, 2006 9:05 AM PST in Recaps

Finally. A win. On the road.

It looked like it was going to be another near 4th quarter collapse, but Baron and the D stepped it up this time. In the final couple minutes, the Celtics cut the lead to 1 three times, but Baron was there to knock down a jumper or hit a couple free throws. Then on the last play, Paul Pierce had the ball, drove the lane, and here's what happened...

SWARMED

I guess Pierce thought that he could take on the entire Warriors defense. There are 5 guys surrounding Pierce. It was a weird play actually. He drove the lane, got swarmed and there might have been a foul, but the refs ruled a jump ball with 0.1 seconds to go. Nothing the Celtics could do to win. The Warriors caught a break. The Celtics fans complained about a foul, and I'm sure I'd complain too if I was a Celtics fan. But in that situation, you have to get hammered to get a foul call and if you go 1 on 5, you don't get any sympathy.

Here's what Nellie had to say:

"He drove in the middle of our zone and we just had a lot of active hands. And the ball was available and there were about twelve hands in there trying to get it."

As far as the D stepping it up, what I like to see is that Paul Pierce had just 2 points in the 4th quarter. The Warriors made sure that the Celtics' best player was not going to beat them. If the Warriors were going to lose, somebody else would have to step up and make a shot. With Wally out it was going to have to be one of the young guys, Jefferson, Green, Allen, Gomes, etc.

Pietrus knew what needed to be done on D.

"We had a lot of energy tonight. That is what it takes if you want to win on the road. It takes a lot of hustle and that is what we need."

"We really tried to play good defense in the final five minutes of the fourth quarter. I think we did a good job of getting the ball out of his (Paul Pierce) hand."

Honestly, this is not a game we should have won. JRich shot 4-19, Monta had 3 turnovers in 5 minutes, got out-rebounded, shot a lower percentage, and had less free throws. But this is how we won:

Baron!

Seriously, where would we be without Baron? He's playing out of his mind right now. 31 points on 11-16 from the field, 7-9 from the line, 8 assists, and big big clutch shots. All-Star. The guy is carrying the team right now. He ran out of gas the last few games in the 4th quarter because he's not getting as much help as earlier in the season due in part to Monta and Biedrins coming back to Earth. But tonight, he wasn't going to let the Dubs lose again. He's not going to shoot 11-16 often, nor can we afford to have him play 44 minutes every night, so looking forward, someone else has to step up. He needs some help fellas!

Nellie on Baron

Baron just carried us again. I didn't give him much rest, but we have a day off tomorrow. He just again wouldn't let us lose tonight. The guy was a horse, a warrior."

The upcoming games against Orlando and Miami will be real tough games. The win is great, but the Warriors will have to play better to beat those two teams and avoid a 1-5 trip. The Warriors can beat both teams, so that 3-3 road trip is still a possibility. They'll need some better games out of everyone else to do it, but I still think we'll go 3-3 on the trip.

Check out Tim K's recap too.

Also, here are some of the Celtics blog recaps:
Celticsstuff Live Recap
Loy's Place

Warrior Wonder: Baron Davis.

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I honestly have no idea how the Warriors won this game. It was U-G-L-Y, but then again neither of these teams is any good right now.

Baron Davis was brilliant. He was hitting some big shots including a crazy step-back, fadeaway jumper.
Monta should've sat the night out. It was admirable he tried to play through the pain, but he helped the Celtics out more than the Warriors last night.
It felt like the Warriors went with a zone almost exclusively the whole night (correct me if I'm wrong).
This is the first time I've questioned Nellie's coaching decisions all season: Dunleavy was having an awful second half including 2 completely unforced turnovers. That was some serious bonehead play and his yelling at Barnes (he might not have ran the right play) after Dunleavy lost the ball unforced (his fault) was just dumb. Ike should've got some major minutes in the 2nd half over Dunleavy. The Celtics didn't have any answer for Ike in the 1st half. He went off for 9 points and 5 boards in 11 minutes of play. Play who's playing well and bench the rest. Nellie knows this better than anyone, but he slipped last night.
Credit the Warriors for stepping up on the glass. I thought they were going to get absolutely killed, but they were only outrebounded by 1.
JRich is really, really struggling. There's no other way to put it. This could end up being the worst season of his NBA career.
MP2 had a very nice, efficient night. I know he's shooting a hot percentage from trifecta land this season, but it's nice to see him do other things offensively this year.
Amazing stat of the night: The Celtics attempted more 3's (21) that the Warriors (16).
Let's make no mistake though. The Warriors lost the is game because Paul Pierce who's usually pretty clutch reacted too slow to the Warriors swarming zone. If he kicked it out a few seconds earlier, this game probably goes to the Celtics. Nothing to be proud of. Just move on and be happy about the undeserved win on the road no less.

by Atma Brother ONE on Dec 21, 2006 10:15 AM PST reply actions

hey the Ws have lost games

they deserved to win...that's just the way it rolls my friend.

by SorrynessMarciulionis on Dec 21, 2006 12:38 PM PST reply actions

well my friends...

Monta will no longer be a starter. I am anxious to see if he feels like this is a step backwards, or if he steps up and relishes his role off the bench. Talk about a 6th man of the year!

by tadams1080 on Dec 21, 2006 1:32 PM PST reply actions

YAY!

No more crunchtime minutes!!!!

by Zorgon on Dec 21, 2006 2:51 PM PST up reply actions

HOOOORAY

boy al jefferson is something special

by chimp on Dec 21, 2006 5:05 PM PST up reply actions

Baron needs help

- or the Ws tank will be on empty sooner than we can sing jingle bells. Nellie has to play him less, but he can't afford to particularly against teams we "should" beat (well, "should" if we want to have any hope to hang on to the 8th seed anyway). Despite the AI trade is over I hope Mull-Higgi are still working the phones

by hardcore on Dec 21, 2006 1:59 PM PST reply actions