Facing the Nets

by muritqua on Dec 21, 2007 2:54 PM PST

Golden State Warriors (15-11) @ New Jersey Nets (11-15)
GSW (Road) 8-6: Nets (Home) 5-10
Standing: Golden State Warriors: 3rd Pacific; 7th West
New Jersey Nets : 3rd Atlantic; 9th East

Comparative Stats (raw numbers)

GSW - 26 games New Jersey Nets -26 games
Offense/Ranking
PPG: 108.8 (2nd) - 2,830 pts made 91.0 (30th) - 2,382 pts made
FG%: 45.1 (15th) - 1,053/2,337 42.9 (29th) - 849/1,972
3-pt%: 35.1 (15th) - 248/706 31.4 (29th) - 140/444
FT%: 72.7 (22nd) - 476/655 74.0 (21st) - 544/735
RPG: 12.8 (3rd) - 1,119 (O:333/D:786) 10.6 (19th) - 1,068 (O:286/D782)
Points in the paint: 46.0 (1,197 pts) 32.5 (846 pts)
TOPG: 13.53 16.23

Defense/Ranking
PPG: 107.0 (30th) - 2,782 pts allowed 96.8 (10th) 2,523 pts allowed
FG%: 46.4 (25th) - 1,019/2,198 44.7 (10th) - 890/1,987
3-pt%: 37.0 (24th) - 174/470 38.9 (30th) - 172/448
FT%: 74.6 (10th) - 570/764 76.7 (23rd) - 570/764
RPG: 30.2 (19th) - 1,239 (O: 340/D: 899) 30.1 (20th) - 1,031 (O: 252/D: 779)
TOPG: 17.26 14.46
Points inside the paints: 41.3 (1,074) 32.0 (834)

The Nets are 6/3 when they score 100+ and 4/8 when the opteams scores 100+ on them. On the other hand, the Dubs were 14/7 when they score 100+ (3rd in the league behind Phoenix 18/3 and Lakers 14/4) while 7/11 when opteams score over a century marks on them. In 26 games, they only scored below 100 in 5 games and only won 1. (Utah 117-96; Boston 105-82; Spurs 84-96; Portland 105-96 and Pistons 109-84)

The Nets are 5-10 at home while the Warriors are 8-6 on the road so far. This is a test for the resurging Road Warriors against the slumping Net who again besiege with internal problems, off court issues of some players and injuries.Last season, both clubs have protected their home turf, Warriors losing at the Continental Arena (97-105), while the Nets lost at the Oracle (110-109).

Although the last time the Warriors won in New Jersey was in Feb 28, 1997, I believe the Dubs will start a new page and win this one. Warriors by 8!

Go Dubs!

This FanPost is a submission from a member of the mighty Golden State of Mind community. While we're all here to throw up that W, these words do not necessarily reflect the views of the GSoM Crew. Still, chances are the preceding post is Unstoppable Baby!

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Comments

this is gonna be rough

Jason Kidd, 6'4
Vince Carter, 6'6
Richard Jefferson, 6'7

Who does Monta Ellis guard?

Neither he (head) nor Azubuike (knee) are necessarily 100%.

Belinelli is no solution.

Any of those guys would crush Ellis in the post and be willing to do it.

I suppose Ellis on Carter is the best bet, since Carter doesn't care anymore and might just mail it in. Posting up might just be too much effort for him.

A Golden state of mind Indeed.

AIM: Jetforze

by OptionZero @ Golden State Of Mind on Dec 21, 2007 3:01 PM PST reply actions

I still

think that Nellie will gamble on the speed and offense of Monta. His FG% was 61.2 (19/31) in the last 2 games. The trio of Kidd (11.2 ppg), Carter (21.2 ppg) and Jefferson (25.0 ppg) averages 57.4 ppg, while Davis (21.8 ppg), Jackson (20.7 ppg) and Ellis (16.4 ppg) are averaging 58.9 ppg. Although the Dubs' trio is slightly ahead they negates each other. If Cap'n Jack can limit Jefferson then that will be a big plus for the Warriors.

The contest will be at the paint where AB will be with Sean Williams and Harrington will be with Boone. I think the Warriors will have a big advantage.

by muritqua on Dec 21, 2007 5:31 PM PST up reply actions

I don't know how feasible this is...

but what if Ellis took Kidd and Baron was on Carter? It would still cause problems, but Kidd has an aversion to shooting and I think Baron could handle Carter considering his "injuries" and careless attitude.

by kinetic on Dec 21, 2007 8:16 PM PST up reply actions

meant to say

Kidd WOULD back Monta down...

by mikej @ Golden State Of Mind on Dec 21, 2007 9:50 PM PST up reply actions

why does a reply to my own post

end up replying to someone else's post? Sorry Kinetic, I have no idea how that happened.

by mikej @ Golden State Of Mind on Dec 21, 2007 9:51 PM PST up reply actions

easy

they'll play zone.

by the evil monkey on Dec 21, 2007 10:21 PM PST up reply actions

Maybe

Ellis comes off the bench and Bukie or Barnes starts. You never know with Don's mismatch matchups.

by highflya on Dec 21, 2007 4:39 PM PST reply actions

If Monta is able to play

he might guard Carter a la Al on Yao--front him and use his quickness to bother him if he tries to post up. Kidd back Monta down off the dribble; Baron's strength will prevent that.

Hope Monta's able to go.

by mikej @ Golden State Of Mind on Dec 21, 2007 9:47 PM PST reply actions

playing carter

Unlike Al Harrington, Ellis has virtualy no experience "fronting" in the post.

Also...having Jason Kidd deliver the ball is considerably different than having Mike James, Steve Francis, or Rafer Alston try to deliver it.

I don't have a solution, really. Azubuike gives up less size, but he isn't a lockdown defender either even when healthy, and surrenders raw speed to Ellis.

It'll probably again come down to how well we rotate in the post and if the other team is on fire. Remember when Utah shot a ridiculous 66% from 3P in like 17 attempts? You can't defend that.

A Golden state of mind Indeed.

AIM: Jetforze

by OptionZero @ Golden State Of Mind on Dec 21, 2007 10:00 PM PST up reply actions

I dunno...

...it is a thinker. On the other hand, though, it's not like New Jersey is a really hot team right now. Monta has been a little more inpressive on defense lately, presuming his head is okay. I also suspect defending Carter may be more about rising to challenge the three pointer than worrying about the post up. Seems to me Carter might be licking his chops to try and let it fly against us, which I'll take any day.

Also, while he hasn't played enough for me to get a really solid feel, I haven't been all that put off by Marco's defense. He makes the sorts of mistakes I'd expect somebody to make who doesn't get much game action, but he's been showing some nice footwork and spacing on D. If Carter gets at all apathetic about the game, I think Marco could D him for a while.

by Zack Vank on Dec 21, 2007 10:42 PM PST reply actions

New Jersey

Has lost 14 of 21 after a 4-1 start, including games against Miami, Memphis, Washington, the Clips, Sacramento, and the Knicks (twice). Their Pythagorean record is the fourth worst in the NBA -- better than only the Knicks, Minnesota, and Seattle.

Not saying victory is guaranteed -- it never is -- but I don't quite get the concern. The Nets are a bad team right now.

by Sleepy Freud on Dec 22, 2007 2:50 AM PST reply actions

I agree--this should be a good matchup for us

The Nets are a bad rebounding team and have no interior scoring, so they shouldn't be able to exploit our two big weaknesses. Also, they defend the 3 worse than anyone in the league in spite of all that size on the perimiter and tend to play better on the road than at home. #2 on "O" vs. #30= Dubs win by 7!

by kitoko on Dec 22, 2007 8:21 AM PST up reply actions

u never know

u never know man the warriors were about to go down to the timberwolves :(

by riceisnicee on Dec 22, 2007 12:51 PM PST up reply actions

Lineup changes

The Nets have inserted Sean Williams and Josh Boone into the starting lineup. Neither is Andrew Bynum, but they are athletic and mobile bigs...which are our worst nightmare.

A Golden state of mind Indeed.

AIM: Jetforze

by OptionZero @ Golden State Of Mind on Dec 22, 2007 1:09 PM PST up reply actions