Archive for the ‘ Preview ’ Category

5
7
Dec

Preview: Warriors at Mavericks

Golden State
Warriors

@

Dallas
Mavericks

American Airlines Center
5:30pm | CSNBA

Official Game Preview

2010-11 Meetings
December 7, 2010 • Recap
Warriors 100
Mavericks 105
 
March 16, 2011 • Recap
Mavericks 112
Warriors 106
 
March 20, 2011 • Recap
Warriors 73
Mavericks 101
 
April 2, 2011 • Recap
Mavericks 92
Warriors 99
 

The Warriors famously owned this matchup early on in Don Nelson’s return to the franchise, but it’s been pretty ugly of late. Can’t expect things to get much better tonight as the Mavericks have been red hot, so I’ll just be hoping that the Warriors can stay close, pay an entertaining game, and have an opportunity to steal a win late.

12
5
Dec

Preview: Warriors at Thunder

Golden State
Warriors

@

Oklahoma City
Thunder

Ford Center
4:00pm | CSNBA

Official Game Preview

2010-11 Meetings
December 5, 2010 • Recap
Warriors 109
Thunder 114
 
February 13, 2011 • Recap
Thunder 94
Warriors 100
 
March 29, 2011 • Recap
Warriors 114
Thunder 115
 

Can’t say I’m optimistic about this one, but hopefully the Warriors will surprise me! Will be interesting to watch Durant in this one, as he’s been struggling this year but will likely be looking to find his offense against the lowly Warriors. I assume Wright will guard Durant, so we’ll likely be reminded yet again that while he’s a solid defender, he’s not a stopper. Oh, and Westbrook will likely destroy the W’s backcourt tonight. FUN!

0
2
Dec

Preview: Suns at Warriors

Phoenix
Suns

@

Golden State
Warriors

Oracle Arena
7:30pm | TNT

Official Game Preview

2010-11 Meetings
December 2, 2010 • Recap
Suns 107
Warriors 101
 
February 7, 2011 • Recap
Suns 104
Warriors 92
 
February 10, 2011 • Recap
Warriors 88
Suns 112
 
March 18, 2011 • Recap
Warriors 97
Suns 108
 

Another game where I don’t have the time to write a proper preview, but I’d have to imagine that the Warriors will be happy to see the Suns instead of the Spurs tonight. This is one of their best chances for a win over the tough stretch that started on Tuesday, so let’s hope they show up tonight (and that this Cleveland-Miami game EVER ends).

0
30
Nov

Preview: Spurs at Warriors

San Antonio
Spurs

@

Golden State
Warriors

Oracle Arena
7:30pm | CSNBA

Official Game Preview

2010-11 Meetings
November 30, 2010 • Recap
Spurs 118
Warriors 98
 
December 8, 2010 • Recap
Warriors 94
Spurs 111
 
January 24, 2011 • Recap
Spurs 113
Warriors 102
 
March 21, 2011 • Recap
Warriors 96
Spurs 111
 

No time to write a proper preview, but that’s okay as there’s just one key to the game for the Warriors: play out of your minds. Probably the best chance they have to beat a team that’s completely owned us since Duncan came to town.

21
27
Nov

Preview: Warriors at Timberwolves

Golden State
Warriors

@

Minnesota
Timberwolves

Target Center
5:00pm | CSNBA

Official Game Preview

2010-11 Meetings
November 27, 2010 • Recap
Warriors 104
Timberwolves 94
 
December 14, 2010 • Recap
Timberwolves 99
Warriors 108
 
February 27, 2011 • Recap
Warriors 123
Timberwolves 126
 
March 13, 2011 • Recap
Timberwolves 77
Warriors 100
 

The (potential) savior arrives tonight as David Lee makes his triumphant return to the team. The Warriors will need a boost after the loss in Memphis, and the late start last night won’t be doing them any favors. What to watch for tonight:

  • Beef Injection. With a few notable exceptions (such as last night), the Warriors have been getting destroyed inside since Lee went out with his elbow injury. How much of an impact will he have tonight, considering that he couldn’t even get his heart rate up for a week and a half? At the very least, his enthusiasm, defensive communication, and great hands on the boards have to be an improvement over what we’ve seen the past two weeks. The question is whether it will be enough to spur a win on a road back-to-back.
  • No Love. WP48 credits Kevin Love with 4.1 wins — and no other Timberwolf (sp?) has generated even one (Anthony Tolliver, of all people, is second on the team with .7). Keep him relatively quiet and the Warriors should have an excellent chance to win the game. We’ve already seen what Love can do this year, so this will be quite the matchup for Lee on his return. I’d like to see Adrien work on Love a bit as well, as his bodying up on Zach Randolph slowed the Grizzlies’ biggest post-presence last night.
  • Day Old Beans. Biedrins looks like a completely different player last night, with great energy, smooth moves, and soft hands. Can’t expect him to be similarly dominant on the back end of a back-to-back (especially since he played over 40 minutes last night), but it would be great to see him build on last night and at least show similar energy in spurts tonight.
8
26
Nov

Preview: Warriors at Grizzlies

Golden State
Warriors

@

Memphis
Grizzlies

FedEx Forum
6:30pm | CSNBA/ESPN 2

Official Game Preview

2010-11 Meetings
November 3, 2010 • Recap
Grizzlies 109
Warriors 115
 
November 26, 2010 • Recap
Warriors 111
Grizzlies 116
 
March 30, 2011 • Recap
Warriors 91
Grizzlies 110
 

[Enjoy the new database-driven game header above]

The Warriors got some good news before tonight’s game, as David Lee has been cleared to play and is flying out to Minnesota to meet the team for the final game of the road trip. But he won’t be available tonight, so the team will try once again to get that elusive second victory without their big offseason acquisition. The Warriors won the first meeting between these two, though the Grizzlies were without Zach Randolph and he’s back and expected to play. What to watch for tonight:

  • Home Cookin’. Memphis is Monta’s offseason home, and he had the team over for Thanksgiving dinner last night at his “compound.” Monta’s been struggling since banging his hip, and is mired in his worst shooting slump of the season. Here’s hoping a couple nights in his own bed have recharged him a bit.
  • Inside, inside, inside. It’s been a broken record since Lee’s been out, but this game will once again hinge on whether the team of Andris, Gadzuric, Adrien, and, yes, Radmanavic can hold off Randolph and Marc Gasol inside.
  • Hold the Mayo. Regular Monta trade rumor partner O.J. Mayo has been struggling this year, and he was recently demoted to the bench for the first time in his NBA career. So he’ll be motivated to have a big game, and lord knows the Warriors are a good target for those sorts of attempts. I’ll probably watch the ESPN 2 feed, but for those of you watching CSN I hope you don’t have to hear Fitz ranting about the amazingly poor luck that would cause Mayo to go off against the Warriors of all teams — since defense of course can’t be blamed.
1
24
Nov

Preview: Warriors at Rockets

Golden State
Warriors

@

Houston
Rockets

Toyota Center
5:30pm | CSNBA

Official Game Preview

2010-11 Meetings
October 27, 2010 • Recap
Rockets 128
Warriors 132
 
November 24, 2010 • Recap
Warriors 101
Rockets 111
 
December 20, 2010 • Recap
Rockets 121
Warriors 112
 
March 23, 2011 • Recap
Warriors 112
Rockets 131
 

The Warriors face a Rockets team that is reeling in the early season, will be missing Aaron Brooks and Yao Ming tonight, but has likely circled this game as the ideal opportunity to get back on track. What to watch for tonight:

  • Shoot the damn ball. The shooting percentages have been brutal over the past few games (and, really, all year), and until they get some bodies back inside that’s the number one thing that needs to change for them to have a shot. With Monta regularly being doubled, the other shooters need to step up and hit the open shots they’re going to get (and have been getting — and missing). Until that happens, hard to give this team a chance.
  • Da Bench. Want to get depressed about our bench? Read this item from Owen. The one bright spot was actually the last game, when Carney and Williams dropped in 16 each. Let’s hope they can make it a trend.
  • Inside D. Even with a health Lee, Luis Scola had a monster game on the inside in the season opener. I’d love to see Adrien get a chance to put a body on him tonight, and either way interior defense will need to be a team effort to slow him down.
7
22
Nov

Preview: Nuggets at Warriors

Denver
Nuggets

@

Golden State
Warriors

Oracle Arena
7:30pm | CSNBA

Official Game Preview

2010-11 Meetings
November 22, 2010 • Recap
Nuggets 106
Warriors 89
 
February 9, 2011 • Recap
Nuggets 114
Warriors 116
 
April 11, 2011 • Recap
Warriors 111
Nuggets 134
 

The Warriors get a chance to wipe out their dreadful L.A. memories with a game against Denver tonight in Oakland. The Nuggets match the Warriors with a 7-6 record, and will be a bit more rested as they last played on Saturday (beating the Nets 107-103 at home). What to watch for tonight:

  • Showing up when you need to. The Warriors head out on a geographically long 3-game roadtrip to Houston, Memphis, and Minnesota after tonight, so it would be great to bag a home game before they go. The Warriors got off to a nice start to the season by winning the games they needed to in order to have a chance for the playoffs, and I think tonight qualifies. But they missed a similar opportunity last Friday against the Knicks, and Denver is better than the Knicks.
  • Frontcourt bench, again. Carmelo and Nene offer another big challenge upfront, and Lee and Brandon Wright remain out. Adrien was better last night against the Lakers, so he could be the key guy there.
  • Shoot the rock. For the Warriors to win tonight against the Nuggets, they’re going to need to score. And with Lee out, their best hope to score big is to shoot well from outside. I’d love to see Dorell Wright get back on the bandwagon by getting hot from deep for the first time in a while.
5
21
Nov

Preview: Warriors at Lakers

Golden State
Warriors

@

Los Angeles
Lakers

Staples Center
6:30pm | CSNBA

Official Game Preview

2010-11 Meetings
October 31, 2010 • Recap
Warriors 83
Lakers 107
 
November 21, 2010 • Recap
Warriors 89
Lakers 117
 
January 12, 2011 • Recap
Lakers 115
Warriors 110
 
April 6, 2011 • Recap
Lakers 87
Warriors 95
 

Can’t say I’m optimistic about this one — I fully expect the Warriors to complete a hat trick of awfulness for the Bay Area sports scene today. With Denver coming to Oakland tomorrow night, I’m all for pulling the rip cord at the earliest sign of trouble to get the starters some rest. What to watch for tonight:

  • Monta’s attitude. It’s been a trying pair of games for Monta, as he carried the team both games only to be largely kept out of the offense in the fourth quarter. I don’t really expect him to have a let down against the Lakers (and the only player he considers better than himself), but if he is once again the only player who can hit a first-half shot it will be interesting to see if he starts to dog it a bit,
  • Inside hope. Lee remains out and Brandon Wright stayed in Oakland with his bad back, leaving it up to the same cast of characters that got massacred on the boards against the Knicks. I don’t expect them to win the battle tonight, but it would nice to get a glimmer of hope that the Warriors have a chance until they get their big guys back.
  • Curry’s funk. Curry had a good stat line against the Knicks, but it just didn’t feel right. He was ugly in the first half, and his second half surge came at the expense of chances for Monta. For the Warriors to have any chance tonight, Curry needs to have a great *point guard* game tonight.
0
19
Nov

Preview: Knicks at Warriors

New York
Knicks

@

Golden State
Warriors

Oracle Arena
7:30pm | CSNBA

Official Game Preview

2010-11 Meetings
November 10, 2010 • Recap
Warriors 122
Knicks 117
 
November 19, 2010 • Recap
Knicks 125
Warriors 119
 

Like the Pistons game on Monday, today the Warriors face a team they saw on the road just the week before. But in this case, the Warriors are playing for a sweep after sacrificing David Lee’s left elbow for the win at Madison Square Garden. The Warriors will be well rested, but so will the Knicks, as they just broke a 6-game losing streak by beating the Kings in Sacramento on Wednesday. Here’s what to look for tonight:

  • Slowing Stoudamire. He was a beast in New York, scoring 33 (14 of those from the line) and snagging 10 boards. With Lee out tonight, the Warriors will need to play interior defense by committee. Hopefully we get a chance to see if Jeff Adrien can do anything to slow a quick big like Stoudamire.
  • Avoid the whistles. The Warriors set their season high in steals fouls in the previous game against the Knicks, and all told there were 58 fouls and 75 free throws taken in the game. With Lee out, I think the Warriors would love a more free-flowing game so they don’t get stuck in a half-court grinder with Stoudamire drawing inside fouls the whole night.
  • Get Curry going. Curry was solid on Monday against Detroit, but he hasn’t really looked himself since…the Knicks game last week when he scored 25. More concerning are his assist totals, where he’s broken 6 just once since opening night. Tonight would be a great night to post his second double-double of the year.

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