While you were watching the Lakers withstand that test from the Mavs, were preoccupied with AI torching the Kings, or were simply nuzzling with your teddy bear in bed, you missed the Warriors finally figure out how to play some defense.
After giving up some ridiculously easy buckets to Minny in the early-going - it almost looked like the T-Wolves were having an easier time than Duke was last night against Georgia Southern - they locked up and held the Wolves to 2 points in the final 6:35 of the game. During that stretch, Randy Foye went 0-2, Ryan Gomes went 0-2, Rashad McCants went 0-3, Craig Smith went 1-3, and Mike Miller went 0-1.
That brings up a pretty good question: had Al Jefferson fouled out? Remarkably, no. But he still went without attempting a single shot in the last eight minutes of the game. And then when the game went to OT, it was more of the same. I’m sure that both Big Al and Randy Wittman deserve some blame for that. But it was also Golden State’s zone D that swarmed him whenever he got a touch.
And while Minnesota couldn’t figure out Nellie’s scheme, he turned things over to Stephen Jackson and Kelenna Azubuike on the other end to take care of business. Without Corey Maggette or Al Harrington in the lineup, you would have thought it was a nonstop green light for SJack. But he was in control throughout the game, holding back on his insatiable desire to take H-O-R-S-E shots in game.
Jackson finished with 30 (11-21 FG), and his burden was offset by 22 from Azubuike, who is so physically gifted it’s ridiculous. Plus, rookie Anthony Randolph looked a whole lot better than the guy we remembered playing under John Brady at LSU. I guess there’s good reason that he looks better now - he’s not playing under Brady anymore. Randolph hit the glass hard and was super quick getting the ball up the floor for a 6-10 dude.
But the rook wasn’t on the floor when Golden State stormed back. They closed regulation on an 11-2 because their entire unit cleaned the glass down the stretch, and they got a clutch driving lay-in from Jackson with 0:22 to play. Another 48 minutes of burn for SJack, who also went on a personal 5-1 run to start the OT.
“We’re going to keep playing him until he cries,” Nelson said.
Source: SF Gate
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November 12th, 2008 at 8:43 am
E$ says:
Captain Jack is the man, I hate he plays on the WestCoast. It’s hard to watch those games & make it to the Job “Bright & Early”
G.Green was giving the lakers hell, he gets upset when the coach takes him out the game. It’s not good when they still don’t know his name in D-Town….”Darrell Green?” after the halftime alley-oop
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMC33rXeDBw
November 12th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
doc says:
OJ Mayo woulda scored,but Mchale traded him.