#41: NJN @ GSW 1/22/10

PreThoughts

The season's longest homestand ends tonight with what is, on paper, the season's easiest game. We'd found these Nets a tad threatening last time around, as they'd just won two of three after dropping their first eighteen; they lost that game to us, however, and eighteen of the nineteen games since. They have the league's worst offense and the league's third-worst defense... even we outdefend them, albeit barely. They're on pace for both the worst record in league history and the worst point differential in league history. They've lost each of their last five games by at least eleven points. And if they lose to us tonight, this will be their third ten-game losing streak in 42 games. These guys just aren't having a fun year.

Tonight, we have to shelve all the woe-is-us/walking-wounded/look-at-all-these-D-Leaguers excuses. We are the happier, better, luckier team in this game, and if it's still a game by halftime, we'll have only ourselves to blame. In truth, we should probably win this one by twenty or more, as our injuries would prevent us from playing a full garbage-time lineup even if we wanted to. And while we do create dysfunction where you'd think none could exist, I'm expecting a lot of dunks and smiles tonight. The players deserve a laugher heading into the season's second half.

Since the scoreboard probably won't bear close watching tonight, let's Watch two players from each side...

GSW @ NJN 12/9/09: PostThoughts

1) We Won That Basketball Game!

2) Mikki Moore, you heard us call you out, and you responded with your finest game of the year. Well done, sir. We promise to keep you on your toes. It was also very satisfying to see another team's big man continually forced to defend cutters, opening up dunks for his man. Now you know how we feel all the time, Netsssss.

3) Mikki was, of course, only our second-best center on the night. Anthony Randolph was unbelievable, completely changing the tenor of the game with his length, passing better than he ever has before, and playing with consistency and intelligence. We outscored the Nets by fifteen in Randolph's twenty minutes of court time, and that was no coincidence - tonight, he was the best player on the floor. I have officially lost interest in the "bring him along slowly" meme. Warriors, start this man.

4) Two other strong performances tonight: C.J. played a crafty little game, despite disappearing for stretches, and Maggette had an excellent dirty-work outing. He even had a nifty pass to Mikki for a dunk, a play which most of us would've had trouble even imagining beforehand.

5) Curry had a great first half and a middling second half. The expression on his face when he disagrees with a foul is very reminiscent of '06-vintage Biedrins. Ain't no cure for the rookie-call blues.

6) After a thoroughly assy first half, Monta actually ended up having a credible game. Still driving when he shouldn't at times, and some of those misses were real gross, but he passed well and kept his composure. He's had worse performances of late.

7) I'm sick of Vlad slapping at the ball. Just grab it, you ape! You can't complain about nine rebounds in nineteen minutes, but he has not taken to our track-meet offense as much as I would've expected. Just as well, as making him a key piece is not a good idea.

8) Probably the worst game I can remember Anthony Morrow ever playing, as he was just a step off in every aspect. Chalk it up to some crazy travel and tough emotions. He shall return.

9) Good job by Smart tonight. Beating a road-weary 2-19 team is not parade-worthy, but he made good adjustments, pulled back from true smallball insanity and brought the plane in fine. No beef here.

10) CJ's mohawk is so adorably dorky. It's like someone pulled a prank on him while he was asleep at summer camp.

GSW @ NJN 12/9/09: MidThoughts

1) Neither the Nets broadcasters nor whoever controls ESPN's "GameCast" can tell Ellis from Curry. Also, it bugs me when I hear Monta pronounced MONT-uh, in this case by the Izod Center's announcer.

2) Morrow and Ellis have been execrable, with seven turnovers to two made baskets between them.

3) Randolph and Watson have been remarkable, though Randolph has had serious trouble defending Lopez, who will probably win this game for New Jersey if he plays 38 minutes. Curry has also been great.

4) That second quarter was some fun basketball. 12 assists in the first half for the Warriors after 12 in the whole game against Oklahoma City.

5) Only three 3-pointers for the Warriors, and none for the Nets. The Nets have the worst 3-point shooting percentage in the league, so don't expect their approach to change in the second half.

GSW @ NJN 12/9/09: PreThoughts

1) Randolph flew home to Arkansas yesterday for a family emergency, but is back with the team in New Jersey. MT2 speculates that Keith Smart may give him the night off, as AR may still be torn up about whatever happened; given the speed with which he rejoined the team, though, I'm guessing he wants to play. And I hope he does, because...

2) ...I think we'll lose if Randolph doesn't play. There, I said it. The Nets are nowhere near as bad as their record -- Brook Lopez and Devin Harris is a pretty salty top two when healthy, and Courtney Lee and CDR are useful guys. They have nothing in the frontcourt beyond Lopez, especially with Yi sitting, but against us, that might not be a problem. Mikki is not going to stop Lopez, and Vlad might not even be able to stop Josh Boone. We need a Frontcourt Grownup™ tonight. Randolph and Hunter are the only possibilities, and Hunter is unlikely to see sustained minutes, and far from a sure thing, to boot.

3) Really nice to have Morrow back... our offense only really functions properly when he's on the floor. Interestingly, we've also defended much better with him on the floor thus far. That may not hold up, but he's certainly not the defensive liability he was a year ago. The case for Anthony Morrow being our best player, while still weak, gets stronger by the month. And with apologies to Li'l Monta, Morrow definitely feels like our heart and soul, as Keith Smart indicated yesterday. There's nothing like the A-Mo fist-pump tiny-mouthed yelp.

4) Yikes, I forgot the Nets signed Eduardo Najera through 2012... that's a long time, considering he already looked like a corpse when we had him five years ago. Just the prospect of seeing that pallid face every day should be enough to keep LeBron in Cleveland.

5) Monta, I am not as down on you as some. I think you're trying very hard to help us, and given that fans were ragging on you just three weeks ago for not caring enough, I can't be angry at you for caring too much. But, friend, it is time to settle down a little. Let's don't drive into double-teams, let's don't forget to look for Anthony Morrow, and let's don't complain if Keith Smart is actually sane enough to want to rest you at some point. Thanks, buddy.

Warriors Player To Watch: Randolph. Will he play? Will he play well? Is he okay?

Nets Player To Watch: Chris Douglas-Roberts... I really like this guy. Unheralded, not afraid to shoot, fun personality, horrible defensive results. He is a Warrior in the making, without question.