Facing the Lakers

by muritqua on Dec 8, 2007 1:02 PM PST

Comparative Stats (raw numbers)

Golden State Warriors Los Angeles Lakers
Offense/Ranking
PPG: 109.7 (2nd) 106.3 (5th)
FG%: 43.5 (21st) 46.9 (6th)
3-point %: 35.5 (16th) 35.8 (13th)
FT%: 70.1 (28th) 77.2 (8th)
RPG: 12.3 (8th) 10.9 (17th)

Defense/Ranking
PPG: 107.1 (30th) 101.9 (22nd)
FG%: 46.0 (21st) 44.0 (5th)
3-pt%: 37.2 (24th) 33.0 (3rd)
FT%: 74.3 (9th) 73.4 (6th)
RPG%: 30.8 (17th) 33.6 (4th)

Again, this game is a reality check for the Dubs; a battle for supremacy of California's basketball. Last season, the Lakers were 4-0 with the Warriors and also swept them in 2005-2006. They were 13-1 over the Warriors and they have yet to lose a season series since the 1993-94 season. At this point, it is safe to say that the Warriors helped the Lakers into playoffs in the past few seasons by their domination over them.

The Lakers will be resting for three days after winning over Denver 111-107 and erasing the season high of 51 pts by AI. The Warriors will play at the Staples Center with only a day rest after the inspiring win over the Heat last night. So far, the Lakers are 5-4 among the Western frontrunners; Denver 2-0; Suns 1-1; Utah 1-1; Houston 1-1; San Antonio 0-1 and Hornets 0-1. They have yet to meet GSW and Dallas.

After playing 19 games apiece, the Warriors have the same standing in both division and conference level with 11-8 each. Statistically, they are almost even. The Dubs protect more the ball per game than the Lakers, having less TO; 13.6/17.3; and they force more TO to opteams 17.9/15.2 with more points in the paint 48.7/46.4. Collectively, Dubs starters Davis/Ellis/Jackson/Harrington/Biedrins have an aggregate points of 100 ppg, compared to DFish/Kobe/Odom/Walton/Bynum nets only 90.8 ppg. Will the high scoring trio (Davis, Jackson and Ellis) can outscored the Kobe-led Lakers? Can the Warriors continue their resiliency in never giving up even trailing most of the time? Will they continue to play in their resolute ways to turn the game over in their favor through stifling defense and will to win? They have done it with the 76ers, Kings and Heat although fell short with the Magic. It is also a battle of wits for the two of the best bench tacticians in the league? Will the "small ball" of Nellie prevails over the proven triangle offense of Phil? Will find out on Sunday.

Having said that, the Lakers lost their last 2 preseason games to the Warriors in Hawaii. If that could be an indication, then, the Warriors had a fighting chance to even up the score with the Lakers and end their domination over them. I say Warriors by 3.

Go Dubs!

Pre-season game highlights 10/11/07 - Warriors 111-Lakers 110
http://broadband.nba.com/cc/playa.php?content=video&url=http://boss.streamos.com/wmedia/nba/nbac om/recaps/recap08_per012_gswlal.asx&video=blank&nbasite=nba

THud winning basket
http://broadband.nba.com/cc/playa.php?content=video&url=http://boss.streamos.com/wmedia/nba/nbac om/pod/pod_071009.asx&video=blank&nbasite=nba

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

lucky Jax

from Dwade to Kobe - y'd have to relish the challenge to survive guarding those quality players consistently

by hardcore on Dec 8, 2007 1:29 PM PST reply actions

Yeah

and be an All Star and DPOY. C'mon Cap'n Jack, give em' hell!

Go Dubs!

by muritqua on Dec 8, 2007 1:37 PM PST up reply actions

well actually baron was more successful on wade

last night.

by saintdee on Dec 8, 2007 1:41 PM PST reply actions

y'r right

and it was great to see our #1 guy rise to the challenge of guarding the other team's #1 guy in the heat of battle. Still, who else but Jax can match up with the pin-ball-wizzard that is the Kobe scoring machine?

by hardcore on Dec 9, 2007 11:08 AM PST up reply actions

huge game

the warriors need to win these games against the lakers to maintain the tiebreaker advantage in case they both yield the same record at the end of season. and i got a dollar on the game, so it'd be nice to get an ice cream at mcdonalds or something. haha

by lowchi on Dec 8, 2007 3:42 PM PST reply actions

Should be a good game

We are on an 11-2 run while the Lakers are 8-5 in their last 13 games. They have had some much-needed rest since Wednesday's close win in Denver - a tough team to beat on the road. Our record against them in recent years is bad although we are a better team now than we were and we did beat them twice in the preseason (albeit in 'meaningless' games).

I think we will take an early lead with Monta scoring 15 in the first half but they'll come back in the third quarter and will lead going into the fourth. Baron, who will have been jacking up threes all game up to that point trying to impress everyone in LA will go on a 7-0 run after seeing Kobe drain consecutive shots and we will win by 3 or 4 points after Jackson hits two key free-throws late on. That's just my prediction though ...

by zaki on Dec 8, 2007 5:14 PM PST reply actions