#45: CHA @ GSW 1/29/10

PreThoughts

It's been over two months since Stephen Jackson left town, and I, for one, am looking forward to seeing him. As overrated as he was and is, as excruciating to watch as he could often be, and as interminable as his last days seemed, I can't say that I still harbor any ill feelings. He got traded to our Mickey Mouse franchise, he bilked it for three extra years of big money, and then procured himself a ticket out of town. More power to the guy, I say.

What's funnier, the one bitter consolation for Warriors fans in his removal -- that he'd still be missing the postseason -- is now looking pretty wrong-headed. Even after losing three of their last four, Jack's 'Cats stand at an even .500, which has them three games up on Milwaukee for the eighth spot in the East. (Cue Bob Fitzgerald pointlessly complaining about the disparity between the conferences, as though there were some alignment that could get the Warriors some love.) Charlotte's path to decency has been exceedingly simple: they're the second-best defensive team in the game, rating in the league's top third in each of the Four Factors. They stink on the other end, but they do get to the line a good bit, a trait that should serve them very well against the NBA's second-most foul-happy team.

To win, the Warriors will need to crack the first strong defense they've encountered in weeks, and they'll need to avoid whistles a bit more often than usual. They'll also need to slow down Gerald Wallace, and it's not immediately obvious how they'll do that with the talent at hand. Nellie's starting lineup is normal-sized tonight, a heartening early sign -- Anthony Tolliver will get first crack at Wallace-wrangling. He's rebounded well and avoided foul trouble thus far, so maybe he can hold the line for a bit, with Maggette shadowing the less-threatening Boris Diaw and Monta, inevitably, covering Jack. If Tolliver scuffles, it'd be a good night to play Ronny alongside Biedrins. Don't hold your breath on that front, though.

Warrior To Watch: Corey Maggette, whose metronomically high production has fallen off this week, and who'll be facing off against a fearsome defender in Wallace. Can he get it going again?

Bobcat To Watch: Jack will be hard to forget about, but keep an eye on Nazr Mohammed, a guy who's having one of the strangest late-career renaissances in years.

PostThoughts -- Bobcats 121, Warriors 110

Crap. This was crap. Crappity crap crap crap.

Curry had a nice game... not quite as nice as his line reads, as he got lit up on D and came real close to several turnovers, but still nice. Tolliver had a solid game, too, and should really be kept around, even if it means dumping Devean (who's become a guilty pleasure of mine). A bunch of other guys played presentably. This was mainly just an execrable coaching job by Nellie. How execrable?

Vladimir Radmanovic - 18 minutes

Andris Biedrins - 17 minutes

No FAIL has ever been more clearly delineated. What a clown this great man has become.