Warriors: 5th Hardest Schedule to this point...

KR4 · Post #1 » by **KR4** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 10:30 pm

Warriors have had the 5th hardest schedule in the NBA up until now and have played more away games than home games. At this point we are 22-16 and have a very easy schedule for the next month and a half. I am gettign worried with our play the last 2 weeks mainly because we aren't sharp and still playing around with a ton of different lineups. I know this has been said before, but this next month and a half are critical. Utah and Houston are playing much better, Portland doesn't look like they are going anywhere, and the only team that is slowing down in the West race is possibly LAL because of Bynum.

At this point, I would say that our odds to get into the playoffs are OK, not great. And that scares me.

Sid the Squid · Post #2 » by **Sid the Squid** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 10:40 pm

I don't care if we go from 8th seed in 07...to 9th or 7th seed in 08..Doesnt matter at all...I want to see improvement...I want to see our young *BIGS* develop...If we're planning on just riding out our great gaurds to a 6th , 7th or 8th seed for the next couple years? I say just blow it all up and start again...34-42 wins for 6 straight years? What's the point of that?

This is what I want for my warriors

1. A total crapfest that's heading to a couple top3 picks.

2. A good young tall core that's constanly showing improvement.

3. A championship contender in the making

4. A chanpionship contender

That's the only 4 directions that are acceptable .

Twinkie defense · Post #3 » by **Twinkie defense** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 10:49 pm

I don't think many people thought the Warriors would breeze into the 4th or 5th spot - and at 22-16 (.579), they're a mere one game up on Utah for the 8th spot... but also just 4.5 games out of 1st!

After digging a six game hole to start the season, the name of the game has been 1) get above water, and 2) don't suffer through any more extended losing streaks. They've done that, while notching a couple wins against elite teams (San Antonio, Los Angeles), and not losing to any teams they're supposed to beat (except maybe Jersey).

The Warriors are not elite - and even elite teams pull off a stinker from time to time (exhibit A: NY 89, Detroit 65). As such, they are going to have games, and portions of games, where they're out of sync and the shots don't fall.

But this soft stretch will help the Warriors distance themselves from the other teams fighting for those last couple of playoff spots, and I fully expect their winning percentage to be a little better when they come out the other end.

But thankfully, there will be plenty of opportunities for people to pull out there hair between now and then!

KR4 · Post #4 » by **KR4** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 10:54 pm

LF75 wrote:I don't care if we go from 8th seed in 07...to 9th or 7th seed in 08..Doesnt matter at all...I want to see improvement...I want to see our young *BIGS* develop...If we're planning on just riding out our great gaurds to a 6th , 7th or 8th seed for the next couple years? I say just blow it all up and start again...34-42 wins for 6 straight years? What's the point of that?

This is what I want for my warriors

1. A total crapfest that's heading to a couple top3 picks.

2. A good young tall core that's constanly showing improvement.

3. A championship contender in the making

4. A chanpionship contender

That's the only 4 directions that are acceptable .

I hear ya LF, but under this management, its not going to happen. As much as I say develop the young guys, I still have a strong need to make the playoffs for money, notoriety and the excitement. I think starting over would be completely impossible at this point.

-bob- · Post #5 » by **-bob-** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 11:03 pm

Orlando(23-16) and 3rd seed in the East, Warriors(22-16) and BARELY the 8th seed in the West.

no fair!

Mayor Baron · Post #6 » by **Mayor Baron** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 11:46 pm

-bob- wrote:Orlando(23-16) and 3rd seed in the East, Warriors(22-16) and BARELY the 8th seed in the West.

no fair!

I think that makes a point that playoff seedings are not the best way to evaluate a team. With the way the West is looking now, a team can get 50 wins and might not even get into the playoffs. But if the Warriors get 50 wins, I'll damn sure be happy about that. With that said, I hope the team can take advantage of the "easier" schedule ahead and move up in the West. Portland has a gruesome road trip and Lakers are without Bynum for 8 weeks,, so this will be a perfect time for the Dubs.

BROWN · Post #7 » by **BROWN** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 1:33 am

I hope all this slacking off in the first quarter won't hit them hard on these next games, cause these are all games the warriors should win.

They should be focused and play like it was their last game.
and
Stephen jackson has to get back into form.

Sid the Squid · Post #8 » by **Sid the Squid** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 1:37 am

We're not catching the blazers for at least the next 12 years...Our best chance is injuries to other teams and the warriors staying healthy..Basically...We suck.

Adonalmao · Post #9 » by **Adonalmao** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 1:51 am

You have no control over what happens with the Warriors LF, so why not enjoy all of the fun that this team has to offer this season? It's not like we are completely doomed. I'd say we'd be more doomed if it meant we sucked enough to get a #1 - #3 draft pick. You keep talking about developing 'bigs', but it seems that you forget that you need good guards in this league--especially with the new rules. We just happen to have some pretty spectacular guards and bigs who are not ready for the grind of an NBA season. Is your solution to play POB, Brendan, and Biedrins on the court at the same time? What NBA fan would want to see that? You do realize you're the minority in your desire for that lineup, or something close to that lineup.. You do realize that none of those players will ever turn into Tim Duncan, and that it's pretty much luck if you do have a dominant big on your team anyway. Its like you blame management for not having a dominant big because they don't give time for 'development', when the simple fact is that a good 'big' hardly ever comes around...

It just seems that your infatuation with big men seems to override any appreciation for how good our guards are, blinding you from the positives of this season and what Nellie has done for this franchise... A lot of the NBA is luck and there is no 'simple' solution to fixing a franchise, as you see it. It's not like theres a simple formula of a) suck for awhile --> b) get a good draft pick --> c) trust management to make a good decision with that pick --> d) suck some more --> e) win a championship. It's not that simple. Your four caveats seem to point towards a formula like that, and if that's what formulates the core of your philosophy about what a basketball team should strive for, then you're severely mistaken...guards are arguably as important as bigs, and getting a good big involves a helluva lot of luck...that's all i'm saying.

KR4 · Post #10 » by **KR4** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 1:56 am

brownwarriors wrote:I hope all this slacking off in the first quarter won't hit them hard on these next games, cause these are all games the warriors should win.

They should be focused and play like it was their last game.
and
Stephen jackson has to get back into form.

Shoot, SJACK, Al, Buke, Barnes, MP2 - all of em need to find their rhythm

Sid the Squid · Post #11 » by **Sid the Squid** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 1:58 am

I love complaining about my warriors..Very enjoyable....No kidding..Ive been doing for 30 years..I love the agony of it all...

sanddude909 · Post #12 » by **sanddude909** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 2:32 am

jrhester wrote:I don't think many people thought the Warriors would breeze into the 4th or 5th spot - and at 22-16 (.579), they're a mere one game up on Utah for the 8th spot... but also just 4.5 games out of 1st!

After digging a six game hole to start the season, the name of the game has been 1) get above water, and 2) don't suffer through any more extended losing streaks. They've done that, while notching a couple wins against elite teams (San Antonio, Los Angeles), and not losing to any teams they're supposed to beat (except maybe Jersey).

The Warriors are not elite - and even elite teams pull off a stinker from time to time (exhibit A: NY 89, Detroit 65). As such, they are going to have games, and portions of games, where they're out of sync and the shots don't fall.

But this soft stretch will help the Warriors distance themselves from the other teams fighting for those last couple of playoff spots, and I fully expect their winning percentage to be a little better when they come out the other end.

But thankfully, there will be plenty of opportunities for people to pull out there hair between now and then!

In this soft stretch for the next 8 or so weeks (rest of Jan, all of Feb, first part of March) I think we need to play around .700 ball to come close to locking up a playoff spot.

On the other hand, how cool would it be to have a 50 win team MISS the playoffs? I think the team with the most wins that didn't make it was a Jazz team that won 44 games a few years back, but I could be mistaken.

Mylie10 · Post #13 » by **Mylie10** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 3:15 am

LF is very consistant in his wants for the Warriors.

We all enjoy in different ways.

Kevin Love looking very good LF.

GswStorm3 · Post #14 » by **GswStorm3** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 3:52 am

brownwarriors wrote:I hope all this slacking off in the first quarter won't hit them hard on these next games, cause these are all games the warriors should win.

They should be focused and play like it was their last game.
and
Stephen jackson has to get back into form.

If Nellie only fixes one thing it better be all these slow first quarter starts. It's a very bad habit being forced to play so much catch up like we've had to lately.

Mylie10 · Post #15 » by **Mylie10** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 3:57 am

Yeah Nellie needs to start making more shots Damnit!!!

If Nellie doesn't start shooting better to start games I think we should sit him down.

GswStorm3 · Post #16 » by **GswStorm3** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 4:08 am

Mylie10 wrote:Yeah Nellie needs to start making more shots Damnit!!!

If Nellie doesn't start shooting better to start games I think we should sit him down.

Yeah letting the team chuck away early is the best way to get off to fast starts. Forget calling a simple pick and roll to Biedrins for a easy layup.

Mylie10 · Post #17 » by **Mylie10** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 4:12 am

Lighten up Dark Angel.

Point is that players miss shots and don't play aggressive defense. The coach can yell all he wants.

I recall Beans missing and messing up early in the first quarter.

Our defense is the reason we've started out slow and also just missing wide open looks.

If we make those shots instead of hitting rim and missing, then suddenly we start fast. Or if we create turnovers and get out on the break then we can start fast.

Twinkie defense · Post #18 » by **Twinkie defense** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 4:17 am

Warriors really do rely on their defense to jump-start their overall game, and it's an intense, exhausting style of D to play. No wonder that's hard to maintain for long stretches.

Personally, I get a little enjoyment out of knowing that, if a team gets the Warriors down by 12 or 15 points, it usually ends up not being too big of a deal, because at anytime they can go on a 20-4 run. Live dangerously!

GswStorm3 · Post #19 » by **GswStorm3** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 4:22 am

The defense isn't great, we all see that. But the best way to begin a game is to get easy baskets, not rely on getting hot from three point land so early. We begin a game with Baron or Jackson likely hoisting up a three whether their open or not.

bballguy50 · Post #20 » by **bballguy50** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 4:56 am

I guess we forget that this team has also gone through bouts of missing layups and/or 'easy shots'. An easy bucket is not so simple to come by.

The fact of the matter is if a guy has an open shot, whether its a 3 or 2, he should take it, at least early on. If they don't fall, then we should have the awareness to either take it to the rim, take a step in, or pass it to the next guy.