#47: GSW @ HOU 2/2/10

PreThoughts

The Warriors kick off their February slate in the hopes that this month will prove gentler than the two preceding it. For while their 6-10 showing through the end of November wasn't really anybody's idea of a good time, it was a damn picnic compared to the 3-12 and 4-11 records of December and January. With only four sub-.500 teams amongst their twelve February opponents, the team will have to show marked improvement to avoid another stinker of a month. And sadly, with Punxsutawney Phil's spotting of his own shadow, the Warriors' winter may be far from over.

Today certainly doesn't figure to signal the start of a turnaround... the Dubs have lost eleven of their last twelve road games and eight straight to the Rockets overall, including a pair of brutal losses earlier this season. Houston is no powerhouse -- they're exactly league-average in both offensive efficiency and defensive efficiency -- and they've been having problems of late, dropping four of five and losing Kyle Lowry to a knee sprain. But they're an intelligent and hardworking team, and that should be more than enough to get them past... whatever the Warriors currently are.

Corey Maggette's a game-time decision, thanks to a hip-pointer. If he doesn't play, it'll be only the second game he's missed all year. Keep that in mind, self-pitiers.

Warrior To Watch: Monta Ellis... the Rockets' lack of strong wing scoring should save him some energy on the defensive end. He's a decent bet to snap out of his funk here.

Rocket To Watch: Chuck Hayes, whose numbers are eerily similar to Biedrins's, considering how different their games are.

PostThoughts -- Rockets 119, Warriors 97

Smallball, incompetence, failure... there you have it. If Nellie's not going to put any effort into coaching a game, why put effort into recapping it?