Originally posted 12:15 PM PST
I'm very happy to be writing a Warriors game preview right after a 2 game winning streak against the Sunny Delightand Boston-McHale hookup. Ecstatic even. Something this good hasn't happened to this franchise since... well my memory escapes me.
Anyhow these back-to-back wins were so great that they vaulted/ launched/ sky-rocketed the Warriors to 26th place in this week's edition of the SB Nation NBA Power Rankings which are hot off the presses (or mouse clicks- what's the digital equivalent?).
Sure the Warriors are in the "Dregs of the League" category, but at least they're not in the "Worse than the Dregs of the League" category (that would be the Rock-a-fella Nets). Progress fellas. That's what I like to see. At this rate we'll miss the playoffs with 48 wins in no time!
Ron ain't the only one sippin' gin and juice at halftime!
Golden State Warriors (9-21) @ LA Lakers (24-6)
TV: CSN Bay Area | Radio: KNBR 650 (7:30pm PST)
Blog Buddy: Silver Screen and Roll
SB Nation: Warriors vs Lakers coverage
Around the Association: Big Brother, Little Brother
Roll down I-5 from the Bay to LA with your boy AB1 by making the... JUMP!
Thoughts about Last Night
Monta "J" Ellis
The most impressive part about Monta's 37 points last night was how his jumper was just sailing into the basket. It's like the clock was turned back to February 2008. He was stopping on a dime and knocking down midrange J's at will. Smooth. Real smoove.
C-Jay- it's yo birthday! It's yo birthday! It's yo birthday!
I questioned the C.J. Watson re-upping this past summer. He is not a point guard by any definition and is one of the worst defensive players in the league. His ceiling seems to have already been reached.
But last night- man oh man. C.J. was the man. He was an absolute thief with SEVEN steals and a block last night. He was picking the Celtics out on the perimeter and taking it to the house like Deion Sanders back in 1994. +20 for the game ain't no joke.
C.J. last night.
via www2.yk.psu.edu
I can't believe I'm saying this, but Watson is a much better player than Stephen Curry right now. He should be starting over Curry till that changes- which I believe it will, but just reward the man already. Nellie's meritocracy is how we do things around these parts.
Andris Biedrins is Not Ready
God good Biedrins was awful last night. That was quite possibly the worst matchup for him to come back to from such a long absence too. Kendrick Perkins in particular ate him up for lunch and spit him out. Tonight isn't going to be any easier against the Lakers big and bigger. I'd bench the man to avoid killing his confidence. He's going to need a few games to get back to being an elite rebounder and tonight's just not the night.
Anthony Morrow passes to... Corey Maggette for 3?!
(See Warriors Web Links for the 411)
Thank goodness the Warriors didn't lose that one. Chocolate Rain, Ammo- SHOOT IT my good man. SHOOT and ask questions later.
Allow me to introduce you too... Ammo + Chocolate Rain
Puh-leaze do not let that happen again... ever!
But props on the diversified scoring and hustle last night.
Thoughts about Tonight
Holly-
I could go on and on about Ebok, but I've already done that.
Ebok... Ebok... Ebok...
The Lakers are in town and that means the reigning NBA Finals MVP will be in town. Say what you want about Ebok, but this guy works extremely hard and is supremely gifted. Putting aside Eagle Rock, how can you not respect game?
Respect Game.
Let me direct you to these must-read insights from the good folks at Silver Screen and Roll on his Kobe-ness:
- Pay the Critics No Mind: Kobe Bryant Has Been "Amazing"
- Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, and the Internet
- Why do advanced statistics hate Kobe Bryant? Part 1
- Why do advanced statistics hate Kobe Bryant? Part 2
I've met by fair share of dumb Laker fans over the years, but these cats are refreshingly sharp. Keeping rolling off those screens fellas.
I could go on and on about Ron-Ron, but I've already done that.
Rumor: Warriors Making a Run for Ron Artest Rumor: Warriors Interested in Ron Artest
- Chad Ford on the Warriors (1/26/06)
- Getting (ar)Testy
- Ready for Artest Baggage
- Ron-Ron Info
- Move Youth?
- Pacers Want Ike
- Warier Warriors
- Be Classy About Trade Rumors
- Baron Boys with Artest
- Rumors Not Helping
- Artest Rumors-- Shhhh!
- Murphy Package for Artest?
- Dunleavy Package for Artest?
- Artest+Johnson for Murphy+Dunleavy
- Artest? "$@#% yeah!"
- Foyle + Dunleavy for Artest? Free Artest!
I could go on and on about Pau, but I've already done that.
(Except for this one time)
I'll just put it like this. This game is going to be like this classic movie minus Michael Jordan.
So I'll leave you with this Hip Hop classic:
Predictions
- Lakers OWN the glass and win the battle of the boards by 10
- +/- on Derek Fisher flops = 4
- Anthony Morrow doesn't pass up a wide open trey to get the rock to Corey Maggette for a three point attempt.
- Ron-Ron runs into the stands to beat up some annoying Faker fans, but then trips, falls, and hurts his other elbow.
- Warriors by 1 (Mean Team wins- unless MJ comes to save the Dubs to net a 3 game win streak!)
Poll
Who will get the W tonight?
This poll is closed
-
67%
Warriors aka Looney Hoops
-
32%
Lakers aka Mean Team