Game 67: Los Angeles 16-50 VS Golden State (23-43)

[mkwest]

Los Angeles Clippers VS Golden State Warriors
Where: Oracle Arena in Oakland, CA
When: Tuesday, March 17th, 2009 @ 7:30 PM (PST)
TV: FSNPT
Radio: 710 ESPN


Clippers Starting 5
]
Davis - Gordon - Thornton - Camby - Kaman

Reserves

Taylor - Jones - Novak - Randolph - Jordan


Warriors Starting 5

Ellis - Belinelli - Azubuike - Wright -Turiaf

Reserves

Watson - Morrow - Maggette - Randolph - Davidson


Injury Report:
Los Angeles Clippers

Brian Skinner (sore Achilles) and Ricky Davis (knee tendonitis) are out.

Golden State Warriors

Andris Biedrins (sprained left ankle) and Stephen Jackson are out.

So what is it going to be: booed off the floor or standing ovation?

Baron Davis makes his first Oracle Arena appearance tonight since signing a free-agent contract with the Los Angeles Clippers last summer. It remains to be seen how the Warriors fan base will greet its former star.

Davis signed a five-year, $65 million dollar contract with Los Angeles, in the process setting back the Warriors in their hopes of becoming a consistent contender in the Western Conference.

"I think he'll get a good (reaction)," Warriors forward Kelenna Azubuike said. "He had a lot of good years here and did a lot for this team. I would hope that they would appreciate that and give him a good ovation."

Davis is averaging 15.3 points and ranks seventh in the NBA with 7.9 assists per game. He's also missed 15 games with three injuries.

One of the games he missed was the Clippers' only other visit to Oakland this season, on Jan. 25. The Warriors scored a 107-92 victory, but Davis didn't make the trip because of a bruised tailbone.

Davis played against the Warriors in two games this season at Staples Center and is averaging 25 points and 10.5 assists against them. In the Clippers' 118-105 win on Feb. 23, Davis nearly recorded a triple-double with 25 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds (he also had four steals).

"I love to watch him play," Warriors coach Don Nelson said. "I love to see him. He's playing a lot better right now, so good for him."

Jonathan Okanes, InsideBayArea.com





Here's a look back at a DeAndre Jordan workout session last spring as he prepared for the 2008 NBA draft.




The NBA.com Dance Team Bracket is back and the Los Angeles Clippers Spirit Dance Team are the defending Western Conference Champs and look to take it a step further this year after falling to Miami in the finals last season. The Spirit have a first round bye and will matchup against the winner of Memphis & Denver. You can start voting in the other first round matchups now.

[JJ LoDuca]

Stephen Jackson will sit out this one, he's been suspended for one game for getting his 16th technical foul of the season.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3986186

[WarFan]

Jackson is suspended, Nelson announced that Crawford will be benched for the next two games and Belinelli will start. I'd guess that Azubuike starts at the 3 for Jack.

[mkwest]

Good looking out you guys. LOL These are the two hardest teams in the league to try to guess their starting lineups night-in and night-out.

[mj_shoefanatic]

I want BD to put up Lebron numbers on his former team

[cinnamon]

It will be interesting to see how Baron reacts to playing at Oracle again --- it's bound to carry an emotional wallop for him. I wish him well.

[cinnamon]

Articles on Hoopshype today suggest that there is a lot of under-the-surface strife, and considerable resentment that is showing, between Nelson and Warriors management, and between Nelson and certain players. It would be a shame for their team if this starts to affect their games.

[PlinkingPanda]

Hey~ You stopped using Taylor's high school picture. About time.

[thanumba2clippersfan]

I'm surprised that Nelson is benching Crawford, I dunno if there's bad blood between the two. What also helps us is that Jackson will be out, although I have him on both my fantasy teams. We've been playing well over our past few games except for the fourth quarter. We got lucky on Sunday night and we need to keep up our strong play the entire game.

[J-Rich-]

I'm surprised that Nelson is benching Crawford, I dunno if there's bad blood between the two. What also helps us is that Jackson will be out, although I have him on both my fantasy teams. We've been playing well over our past few games except for the fourth quarter. We got lucky on Sunday night and we need to keep up our strong play the entire game.

you shouldnt be suprised if you knew what kind of player crawful is

[mattfish]

Should be a good game, the last meet up between these two teams was great. I think the Warriors just recently got blown out by the Suns and let them score like 200 points or something so they might have some motivation at home. I think Azuibuike is going to have a good game for the W's though.

[JJ LoDuca]

Don't forget, it's St. Patty's Day...look out for Dunleavy's shamrock tie!

[illastrate]

Can't wait for Dumbleavy to not exploit GSW's lack of size and pulll some crap like putting Freddy on Brendan Wright.

[thanumba2clippersfan]

Penn State just had a big win against George Mason in the NIT. I got one of my teams to win and now I need the Clippers to win. Don't let me down Clipps

[thanumba2clippersfan]

I don't understand why we're shooting so bad to start

[PlinkingPanda]

I don't understand why we're shooting so bad to start

I still don't understand why Kaman gets the start.

[mkwest]

Clippers lead 27-25 at the end of the first quarter. Baron and Ellis both lead their teams in scoring with 11 a piece. Baron has been flawless shooting so far. 2-2 from the field and 7-7 from the line. Our guys are going to have to watch driving into the paint. We've already been blocked 7 times.

[cinnamon]

Pretty sloppy first quarter for both teams, but BD and Camby made big contributions for us.
It's good to end the quarter ahead, anyway.
I think we can win this one.
(But maybe I won't actually put money on it at this point, based on past experience this year.)

[mkwest]

Nice drive and slam by Thornton over Randoplh.

[mkwest]

Things went from bad to worse in the final minute and a half. We went from down 4 to down 11. Thankfully Davis hit a 3 to put it back into single digits. Golden State is playing with more intensity. They contesting our shots, outrebounding us, outshooting us, outrunning us. We're good to be as close as we are. We need to come out in the 2nd half and get either some high percentage shots or find a rhythm early.