Game notes:
- The Lakers are by far the most protected team in the league. It isn't so much the foul calls they get (and they get a LOT of reputation whistles); it's the whole game. Traveling calls on Lee (twice), Barnes, Thompson. Vicious no-calls for Warriors driving to the cup - I thought Barnett was gonna have a conniption when Howard mugged Barnes. The fact that Howard, Gasol, and Hill literally NEVER leave the lane, but LA only sees 2 three-second calls. Kobe and Morris mugging ball handlers is good defense, but Warriors can't breathe on LA's players. Did anyone else see Klay Thompson pick up his 4th foul on a David Lee moving screen..? Just a tremendously choreographed Laker victory.
- I'm glad J&B are pointing out Barnes' incessant need to pump fake. For a guy that can hit the NBA three, he passes up a ton of wide open looks. Thus far in the early going, Harrison Bryce Jordan Barnes has been held back by his passiveness alone. Clearly, he can score when he wants to... Seems like the only person he hasn't convinced about that is himself.
- Again, Klay Thompson is the Warriors' hottest player out of the gate. And, again, he got into early foul trouble and cooled off when he came back later in the game. Let's hope he can correct that little problem against Denver.
- To my mind, there isn't a soul in this league that can handle Landry on the block in single coverage. If the Warriors are so desperate to huck 3's, you'd think they'd establish him as a post threat and work off his double teams. The man is averaging a career-high 15 and 8 on 60% in 25 minutes off the bench. Landry = efficient scoring. The Dubs seem to do better on nights where they call his number and on nights where they forget to feed him, their offense flounders. Landry in victories? 19.7 points on 71% shooting. In losses? 10.8 points on 38%. That's about as scientific as I get, homies.
- I'm giving Mark Jackson a ton of credit. There, I said it. He's learning how to call time outs properly, he's playing all 12 on his roster, he's teaching rookies how to succeed, he's the first coach to put Steph off the ball consistently, and my god he's got the defense looking a LOT better than ever. Haters gonna hate, but this dude has my respect and I think he's done a great job with what he has.