Warriors (W-L): 13-11
Memphis Grizzlies (W-L): 7-16
TV: FSN Bay Area
Radio: KNBR 680
Time: 5:00pm PST
The Warriors just keep giving this holiday season!
Aside from the holiday mini-plans, the Warriors nation has been blessed with a flurry of games (17 this month to be exact) to watch on TV. Despite the fact that the Warriors got worked on television yesterday morning, what better way to start your lazy Sunday with some Warriors basketball to ease you into your late morning, mid afternoon, and then late evening football viewing activities? For the sports enthusiasts, that’s equivalent to getting a Sudoku book, a PS3 with Rockband, and a sweater with Christmas tress on them all for Christmas
The fun continues today as the Warriors take on the Memphis Grizzlies this afternoon. It is the perfect solution for the Monday doldrums to set you into your evening primetime programming (re-runs of Heroes anyone?). The Warriors look to rebound tonight harder than heartbroken single men who just got dumped by their girlfriends. After getting abused in front of a crowd of maybe 1000 people (that including the staff at the game) at Auburn Hills, the Warriors continue their Midwest section of the tour -- perhaps the unhealthiest food-wise I’m sure -- with a stop in Memphis against a talented but inexperienced team. Pau Gasol is out indefinitely, but having an absent superstar does seem to stop mediocre teams from keeping up with one of the most exciting teams in the NBA (I’m talking about the Warriors…). The Warrior’s wings got their hands full with Rudy Gay and Mike Miller. Look for Mike Miller to get hot early; last season he scored 78 points in two games with one 45 point outburst in a 118-115 loss on February 21st, 2007. Which other unsuspecting, slumping player do you think will get out of their funk and instead become "funkdified"?
More interesting though is that before yesterday morning’s loss, the Warriors were in-fact above .500 on the road (6-5). In attempting to see the glass as high full as my therapist has suggested, that statistic is usually a healthy indicator of a somewhat solid team. Perhaps we can blame the blizzard that struck the Warriors and jet-lag as "unnatural" disasters that prevented them from playing their best…
Getting his most extensive burn of the season, lets hope that we get to see more of Brandan Wright tonight against an equally not-so-physical Memphis squad. He showed some hustle and when in the flow of the game, made things happen on the offensive end with a few nice easy buckets. It’s clear that he’s quite unpolished offensively as I’ve seen the same move from him anytime he touches the ball once in the game, which ends in a awkwardly floating fadeaway jumper from 15 feet next to the baseline. I’m not talking Jim Jones fadeaway jumpshots either. Ya’ll know what I’m talking about.
Predictions:
• Warriors by 9
• Baron goes off for 20+ points, 7 boards, and 9 assists.
• Biedrins gets 14 and 10, but the other eastern European on the floor, Darko Milicic nets 19-12 with 5 blocks
• Stromile Swift has 2 highlight worthy dunks
Also see what the Grizzlies' fans are saying half way across the country! [3 Shades of Blue]
Plus, see Tim Kawakami's thoughts on tonights game [Talking Points with Tim Kawakami]
Be sure to drop your comments and predictions before, during, and after the game! Who do you think will have a career night versus the Warriors?
Update (Fantasy Junkie): Boxscore