OPEN THREAD - GAME #42: Warriors @ Bucks

Warriors (W-L): 24-17
Bucks (W-L): 16-23
TV: FSN Bay Area
Radio: KNBR 680
Time: 5:30 pm
The road trip against sub .500 teams continues. There's some good stuff after the jump- and you don't even have to pay big bucks!
The last time these two teams squared off back in early December the Warriors were recovering from their 0-6 start with a hot streak and the Bucks were flirting with the .500 mark. It was an Yi-sy 30 point win for the Warriors and you'd hope this edition of Saturday night hoops would be over fast as well. Since that game the Warriors have been flirting with .600 and the Bucks are simply wondering "What the buck is going on?" They've even been rumored to be willing to take Zach Randolph of Isiah's hands (ouch!).
The Bucks are a bad team and their record doesn't reflect that accurately enough. If they were in the West they'd be in 10 win territory, but alas the East is still the Least. There's no reason why this Warriors cast should lose to the Bucks team on any given night.
Well except for fatigue. In getting last night's nice W against the Bulls Nellie had to play Baron Davis, Monta Ellis, and Stephen Jackson well over 44 minutes each. Al Harrington and Matt Barnes also played over 32 minutes each, so it's not like they're well rested either. The Warriors best players are understandably going to be very tired and sore for tonight's brewery battle.
I can't blame Nellie one bit though. He did what he had to do to get a road win. Seeing what I've seen so far from the deepest depths of his bench crew I'd be hesitant to play them as well. I think it's a cry for help from Nellie for a roster shakeup before the February trading deadline. Hopefully something can get done. It's near the 2k7-2k8 season's midpoint and the Warriors are in the odd situation of being 4.5 games out of the #1 spot in the West and 1 game out of being gone fishing early and counting Super Lotto Balls for the 13th time in 14 years. The Warriors don't exactly hold the tie-breaker with the current 9th seed either.
We of course can't forget tonight's possible Warrior Killers. My nominees are Michael Redd, Yi Jianlian, and Andrew Bogut.
I'm not convinced Redd is a great ball handler, so I'd jam him as soon as touches the rock and force him to create and drive to the basket. Let's hope he doesn't make me look too foolish for suggesting that.
Redd's Warrior Killer chances: 75-25
To tell you the truth I'd be surprised if Yi even gets to attempt more than 7 or 8 shots playing alongside the ball hog guards on the Bucks. After the Warriors squashed the Bucks into pennies in Oakland, Al Harrington joked that he was leaving Yi wide open and the Bucks still weren't getting him the ball. I'm guessing the Bucks' coaches checked out the video tape of that game and won't make the same mistake this time around.
Yi's Warrior Killer chances: 50-50
Bogut is an interesting player (+hater- if you read his comments this past summer). At 7 feet 245 pounds he has the size and natural skillset with his passing to be worth his #1 overall status (ahead of guys like Chris Paul and Deron Williams- oops!), but he seems a little slow. His lack of footspeed might actually not be that big of a liability against the Warriors on the second night of a back to back on the road though. Will the Dubs have their legs for this one? If they do, Bogut will be rendered useless in a such a high paced game. If they don't, watch out.
Bogut's Warrior Killer chances: 25-75
For the most bang for your buck peep Brew Hoop: Warriors/Bucks: Preview | Q&A: Frank from Brew Hoop. Milwaukee's finest posted this in their preview:
The season is far too young to fairly judge rookies. Many are barely out of their teens, and many more haven't played significant minutes. Three years later, the jury is still out on Andrew Bogut and Marvin Williams, as Wednesday's game showed. Certainly though, no one in Milwaukee is complaining about the Bucks' sixth overall pick, Yi Jianlian. Brandan Wright, chosen two spots later by the Warriors, was a big-time prospect on draft night and an attractive option to many in Bucks Nation. Wright could still be a special player, but Yi Jianlian is already a solid pro. Wright is averaging 2.9 points and 2.4 rebounds in 7.4 minutes in 14 games this year.
If there's one thing I can guarantee you it's that The Movement and The Wright Thing will not be having an epic battle against one another tonight. Think it'll ever happen someday?
Predictions:
- Warriors by 5.
- Monta drops 25+ points as he continues to collect gaudy stats against bad teams.
- Yi Jianlian gets a double-double in points and rebounds and sprinkles in a few blocks.
- Al Harrington recovers from last night's dismal shooting performance to drop 17+ points.
- Michael Redd drops 30+ points.
- Nellie finds a way to make Marco Belinelli, Brandan Wright, and Patrick O'Bryant earn their paychecks tonight.
- You want a ton of links about The Yi Movement (below).
The Yi Movement Anthology:
- 2007 NBA Draft: We want Yi Jian Lian!
- The Yi Movement Continues...
- Yi's Got Yao Ming and the Ladies Running!
- Yi Dropping Double Doubles
- Spanish Fly vs Yi Fly
- China vs USA- It's Yi Time!
- RECAP: Team USA 119, China 73
- Yi is FIBA's Interview of the (Long)Week
- Yi's a Sure Thing + Coast II Coast Bust
- Yi at FIBA and 2k7 Draft
- Yi in 2k7
- Yi's Sweeter than Mango Mochi Ice Cream
- Nellie Loves Chinese Ballas
- Yi Chat with Chad Ford
- Scouts LOVE Yi
- Is The Yi Movement Over?
- Rumor: Warriors are Yi "Approved"
- Rumor: Warriors and Bulls Want Yi
- Dwight Howard Endorses The Movement
- Yi's "a sight to behold"
- Rumor: Yi Could Pull a Fran Vazquez
- The Yi Movement Gets Junkdafied
- Rumor: Jason Richardson for 5th Pick (Yi Jianlian), Theo Ratliff, and Sebastian Telfair
- Rumor: Jason Richardson + #18 pick to Grizzlies, Celtics or Bobcats
- Project O'Bust vs Yi Jianlian
- Yi in Town
- Rumor: Jason Richardson + #18 Pick for Bucks' #6 Pick (Yi Jianlian)
- Chris Mullin Talks about The Yi Movement
- Yi Jianlian Takes Over ESPN.com
- Yi Blogs like an American!
- Rumor: Warriors Trying Hard for Yi Jianlian
- Rumor: Andris Biedrins + #18 Pick for Bucks' #6 (Yi Jianlian)
- Rumor: Warriors Willing to Move Monta Ellis for Bobcats' #8 Pick if Yi's Available
- In the 2007 NBA Draft the Warriors will select...
- With the 6th pick in the 2k7 Draft, the Milwaukee Bucks take...
- Draft Day Reflection
- The Global Economic Logic to Yi's NBA Destination
- Friday Night Hoops- Yao vs Yi
- Do You Believe in Yi?

It ain't Yi-sy being Yi!
(Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE/Getty Images)
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Comments
Dang
I hate to be a negative-nelly but this could be one of those games that we should win that we just don't. The guys have got to be a little worn out at this point, so if the Bucks start out hot we could see heavy doses of the Quiet Storm and Buke.
Lets hope that the boys still have enough left in the tank for one more road game. Soon enough they will be spending nearly an entire month at home catching up on their rest.
.
bad feeling
Milwaukee had some success with a Royal Ivy-Mo Williams backcourt when Redd was out, I don't know what his status is or how the rotation will sort out.
Ordinarily we just slap Jack on Redd and Baron on Mo and that's the end of that...but it's stupid to expect our top two defenders to be able to chase those guys all night after logging over 40minutes a piece.
That means we'll probably have to see Ellis try to guard Maurice Williams, and Pietrus or Barnes or Azubuike guard Redd. I don't like any of those matchups.
We really should, once again, make better use of our bigs. Harrington against the still-developing-strength Yi and Biedrins against the slower Bogut. Drop Al into the post (not the arc), run Biedrins from the high pick and roll all day.
Hopefully we don't screw around in the first (we will, of course), put jump out enough so grandpa nellie can throw Wright, Watson, and Buike out there for extended burn and rest Baron Jack and Ellis.
We really need Croshere back, because he keeps Pietrus off the floor.
SB Nation Quality Control
AIM: Jetforze
by OptionZero @ Golden State Of Mind on Jan 19, 2008 2:35 PM PST reply actions
huuuuuhmm
whatever it is. go W A R R I O R S!!!!!!
andrew bogut
vegas agrees with most of you
by MoreHeartThanBrains on Jan 19, 2008 4:33 PM PST reply actions
low bball iq
what happened to matt and pietrus?
what happened
i predict
heres me hoping
I know
wow
man with biedrins andpob
i
maybe put some Azubuike on?
Bogut is killer and here something must be done
build a team & destroy the roof
man
qwert
by UKgswfan on Jan 19, 2008 6:19 PM PST reply actions
as much as I'd love for them to win this game ...
kosta for another2
now i see
Kosta Perovic
Wow, never expect to see POB and Kosta playing in the same game so soon.
Kosta
nooooo
by UKgswfan on Jan 19, 2008 6:30 PM PST reply actions
baron
if we werent tired and short handed
holding my breath
lol
i saw this lol
hes team was playing in a good level (he is pro from 16y o)
build a team & destroy the roof
by Lat We N Trash on Jan 19, 2008 6:43 PM PST up reply actions
something's wrong with BD wrist
kosta
by UKgswfan on Jan 19, 2008 6:43 PM PST reply actions
kosta isnt too bad
You know
He´s got 4 pts, 4 reb, 0 FOULS!, 1 block, 2-2FG and he´s not trying to do what he cant.
He has destroyed Bogut rythem, but playing tough defense, blocking his shot... I really liked what I saw and I say that if he can keep this up he deserves more playing time to backup Andris. Hopefully he can keep this up in the second half!
Good luck to him and to everyone!
F**K REFS!!!
i predict
BTW i never saw warriors using 3 ! centers
build a team & destroy the roof
by Lat We N Trash on Jan 19, 2008 6:53 PM PST up reply actions
Sidney Moncrif...
They even had bucks cheerleaders next to the jerseys......
.....
I have new found appreciation for our Warrior Girls.

Through thinNthinN?
HOLY CRUD!
LOLLICOPTER
First, a note to Nellie:
thankyou
thankyou
thankyou
For resting your starters and using not your undersized, flawed SF's as frontcourt solutions, but your LOTTERY BIG MAN (one of them, at least) and D-league legends as bench.
You expected them to miss shots, commit fouls, perhaps even blow a defensive assignment.
Guess what?
You were right.
Yet you were also wrong- because that's not all they did.
Watson and Buike were competent enough on defense that the Bucks did not run away; POB and Perovic were effective on both ends of the court.
None of the above were perfect- but then, neither are your starters all the time. The kids will make the mistakes you thought they'd make; they will make plays you thought they couldn't make. In the end, the balance is not nearly as unfavorable as you feared, and the starters' rest will pay dividends in the future. So will the confidence gained by our youth.
Thank you.
Thank whoever f-d up the lineup card or infected Pietrus.
Next...shoutout to Stephen Jackson. When you shoot like crap, you deserve criticism. When you show restraint and distribute, you deserve all the praise. Tonight was the latter, and thank you for dishing the rock and not chucking like u have lately.
Kosta Perovic.
Welcome to the NBA.
SB Nation Quality Control
AIM: Jetforze
by OptionZero @ Golden State Of Mind on Jan 19, 2008 6:54 PM PST reply actions
totally agree oz
I think he may have been planning this
In any case, agreed.
Tony.psd = Da Man
http://adonalobsessed.blogspot.com/
oh yeah
SB Nation Quality Control
AIM: Jetforze
by OptionZero @ Golden State Of Mind on Jan 19, 2008 6:55 PM PST reply actions
ouch
uh oh
freakin nelson.
I remember that happened in the playoffs last year
Now that's what I call
from up 1 at the half.. to UP 20!!!
now.. lets not blow it like the Pacers game....
harrington
harrington
harrington
by buchikik on Jan 19, 2008 8:00 PM PST up reply actions
that was all ball..
time
by UKgswfan on Jan 19, 2008 7:39 PM PST reply actions
play..
Hahahahaha
Tony.psd = Da Man
http://adonalobsessed.blogspot.com/
ahah
hahah
by jwkicks on Jan 19, 2008 8:05 PM PST reply actions
I get so into games
Barnes didnt play because
it's not late
build a team & destroy the roof
by Lat We N Trash on Jan 19, 2008 9:03 PM PST up reply actions
yi
in my opinion, yi is not as bad as dunleavy but not gonna be as good as dirk...
but i think he was really hyped more because of his nationality versus his accomplishments.
Yi=Chinese Dungleavy
yi = dunleavy? lol?
Stupid comparison..
But hey, stick to your Dunleavy analogy, he'll just continue to prove you wrong.
by ThermoElectro on Jan 19, 2008 9:22 PM PST up reply actions
dont hate..
Great win Dubs!
Thank You
bounce back
Good work young man.Keep it up!(as if he reads or will read this)

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