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For their final act of the 2014 year, the Warriors made an eastern conference road team disappear. In a game shockingly reminiscent of the previous 76ers at Warriors game on February 10, Marreese Speights and the Warriors crush the Sixers. Then, it was 123-80 (behind a game-high 32 from Mo’ Buckets). This time, 126-86 behind a game-high 23 from Mo’.
In a development that will surprise no one, the now 25-5 Warriors eighty-sixed the 4-26 Philadelphia 76ers like nobody’s business. After the first half, the 76ers were already on the ropes: they trailed 61-34, were out-shot 54.3% to 33.3%, and were simply embarrassed in the assist column, 20-6. Of course, Philly only made 13 field goals all half, so…
Like so many other times this season, Draymond Green and Marreese Speights delivered. The former had yet another 3 block-3 steal performance, en route to a game high +30 plus-minus. The latter paced the Warriors with 23 points on a tidy 13 shots from the field. Leandro Barbosa also looked sharp, earning a season-high 17 points--one of seven Warriors to reach double-digit scoring on the night.
As an added bonus, the Warriors decided this one early enough for viewers to sneak a peek over at the Fosters Farm Bowl at Levi Stadium in Santa Clara, featuring the University of Maryland and Stanford football teams (and for Stanford fans, the Cardinal were likewise generous enough to decide their bowl game in the second quarter, giving those fans ample time to catch the Dubs).
At least for a few days, concern over Andrus Bogzeli’s indefinite absence and worries about David Lee’s integration into the lineup can rest. It’s practically New Year’s Eve, after all…time to celebrate the best year of Golden State basketball in a very, very long time. Let’s just hope that the Warriors don’t wake up Friday with a hangover as they face off against a very talented Toronto Raptors squad. Wild guess: that game will be closer than tonight’s contest.
Happy New Year’s to all of you. Be merry and be safe!