Huge, huge win last night for the Warriors. Down 11 with four minutes to go and they somehow pull it out. I will be the first to admit I thought they were done and I was not happy about it. However, they proved me and many others wrong with this stunning come from behind win. A few observations:
1. The player of the game for the Warriors was Matt Barnes. His energy off the bench in rebounding, hitting a few threes and playing well on the defensive end helped pick up the Warriors in the first half and also in the second half as well. Barnes said before the game he was going to focus on the little things and that is exactly what he did. He may not get the attention and notoriety of Monta, who hit the game winner, but without Barnes the Warriors would not have been in the position they were to win that game.
2. Monta's shot was clutch!! The fact that a young guy like that is able to step up to the plate and deliver for the Warriors was huge. This will only continue to build his confidence even more.
3. Both Monta and Baron need to quick chucking threes. Specifically Monta. Ellis shoots and shoots and shoots from three-point land and rarely connects. What is interesting is that if takes a step or two inside the three-point arc, his percentage goesd way up. I think Monta needs to continue focusing on his mid-range jumpers and drives to the basket. If so, his effectiveness on the floor will rise even more.
4. I know it is early, but Stephen Jackson slows down the tempo for the Warriors when he is in the game. Watching him it looks like his sole purpose is to draw fouls and get to the line. Now that is not bad once in a while, but he seems to get the ball in the post and do very little other than trying to draw a foul and he does not get the calls all the time which end up in wasted possessions for the Warriors. I think Barnes showed Nellie tonight that he can and will play just as well if not better than Jackson if given the chance.
5. I would still like to see the ball moved around more on offense. My brother-in-law was watching the game with me and he even commented that the Warriors stand around too much on offense and watch the person with the ball. This team needs to cut, slash and set some screens to keep the offensive flow moving. It is nice to be a run and gun team, but if teams, such as the Nets, are able to dictate pace as they did in the first half, the Warriors have to be able to execute in the half-court set or they could find themselves in an early hole as they did last night.
A great win as mentioned earlier! Great unselfishness from Baron. The Warriors needed that one badly last night and got it. Timberwolves last as well so that made it even better. Now, let's how the Warriors can make it two in a row against Bobcats on Saturday night!
