Record: 15-62 (29th) • Point Differential: -9.3 (30th) • Pace: 96.1 (3rd)
Off. Efficiency: 101.6 (29th) • eFG: 47.7 (27th) • TO: 16.7 (28th) • OReb: 26.9 (13th) • FT/FG: 20.5 (27th)
Def. Efficiency: 111.2 (27th) • eFG: 52.2 (t-28th) • TO: 14.7 (22nd) • OReb: 26.2 (13th) • FT/FG: 21.9 (14th)
PreThoughts
So the Dubs pasted the Knicks in Oracle last week, and then kicked off their road trip in style, edging the Raptors in a sloppy popcorn thriller that got Don Nelson a share of the all-time wins mark. The stars were aligned for a record-breaking win in Washington yesterday. Nellie got some ink on ESPN.com, giving Marc Stein a long but characteristically blunt and charming interview. The Warriors even managed to get a tour of the White House, though not, as you might imagine, for their basketball exploits. In the nation's capital, against the franchise that drafted him, with three of his beloved D-Leaguers in the lineup... it sure seemed like Nellie's night.
Instead, the Warriors got throttled, in a game that served a reminder of just how small and clueless they currently are. A horrible Wizards team not only beat the Dubs at their own game, but embarrassed them at it, with castoff Cartier Martin serving witness. Instead of becoming the winningest NBA coach of all time, Don Nelson became the first NBA coach to give up a monster game to JaVale McGee. It doesn't matter how the stars align if you can't get a damn rebound.
Tonight, the Warriors play the honest-to-God worst team in the league, a team that sucks at almost everything. But the Timberwolves do not suck at rebounding. And if the Warriors get hammered on the boards, whether through shorthandedness or miscoaching, even these Wolves can make them pay. The Warriors do not fare well on the road, nor on the second half of back-to-backs.
Nellie deserves his record, but for reasons that have nothing to do with this Mickey Mouse outfit. Pray the waiting game ends tonight, but don't be shocked if it doesn't.
Warrior To Watch: Stephen Curry, who's wrapping up a likely silver-medal rookie performance. These Wolves passed on him twice, and he has yet to put in a signature performance against them to rub their noses in it.
Wolf To Watch: Jonny Flynn, a likeable guy who can't lace Curry's shoes.
PostThoughts -- Warriors 116, Wolves 107
A little diciness towards the end there, but a fine take-care-of-business win, and nice to see some smiles on the boys' faces.
The Warriors outrebounded the Wolves here, which was unsurprising for two reasons. The obvious one was Jefferson's absence; the subtler one was the alignment of talent that Nellie had on hand. When you dress three bigs and only one small guard, it's just about impossible to overdo smallball. On his record-breaking night, the big man was at least partially saved from himself.
This Stephen Curry is really starting to be somebody. Hootie hoo, what a game.
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