Sorry there was no pre-game work up, with an early start to the game, and being a Sunday and all…

The Warriors haven’t started the year great, but they were missing Jackson for the first 7 games. Don’t get it twisted, this team is badass. Why? Two words: Don Nelson. Great coach, top three for me in the league. He is a great tactician, makes great adjustments on the fly, has incredible strategy, and utilizes his players properly. Sam Mitchell should have taken some notes today, could have helped.

1st Quarter

• Is it me, or does starting both Moon and Baston not sit right?
• The Warriors came out, and attacked the paint. Getting two 3point plays on the first two possessions.
• Bosh gets the ball at the top of the key, and took a no hesitation jumper. Result: two points. He should do that more often.
• Every time the Raptors double-teamed in the blocks, Golden State kicked out for an easy jumper/three. Everytime!
• Parker finally came off a low post screen from Bosh for an open jumper. Need much more of that.
• Bargnani sees he court, and picks up two quick fouls, while draining a three. Kid doesn’t hesitate on his shots. I kinda like that.
• Biedrins grabbed two offensive boards for put backs.
• Interior defense still crap.
• Did anyone see that Mitchell commercial for Ford? Dude can’t act for his life. Not surprisingly, he also can’t coach.
• I am getting sick of hearing about Forderon and the Raptor bench. We all know, we have a deep team, but what we don’t hear is how our starters are outperformed each game by the bench. That’s not how it is supposed to go, is it?
• Delfino is butter from the corners, he also takes charges like a champ.
• Golden State had 9 baskets in the paint!

2nd Quarter

• Kapono needs more looks at the rim, he takes good shots.
• Delfino takes another charge.
• Bargnani needs to work on his baby hook in the post. That shot will always be there for him.
• Juan Dixon is permanently locked and loaded for action.
• TJ sat for 9 minutes after a great 1st quarter.
• Don Nelson called a timeout as soon as the Raptors took their first lead of the game. The Warriors promptly retook the lead on the subsequent possession. Great use of a timeout.
• Raptors defense on the high screen still sucks.
• Golden State had 8 baskets in the paint!
  • Raptors interior defense also sucks.

3rd Quarter

• Stephon Jackson is playing great defense on Bosh. Small forwards apparently can man-handle our franchise player too, and not just crap power forwards (read Mikki Moore).
• Don Nelson calls another quick time out after Ford lobs a sweet alleyoop to Baston. It is a good strategy to keep the fans out of the game. Again, Mitchell, please…take some notes
• The Warriors are probably the worse defensive team in the league. I do not get nervous at all trading baskets with them.
• Thank God for TJ on offensive, and Moon on defensive. They were the keys to the fourth.
• Golden State had 5 baskets in the paint, to the Raptors 3 (I decided to start tracking number of Raptors buckets in the key, the perimeter play was making me nervous).

4th Quarter

• After a masterful 3rd quarter quarterbacking the Raptors to the lead, TJ starts the 4th on the bench. Great way to kill the momentum. Nelson didn’t even have to call a timeout.
• Delfino draws another charge, this gino is really growing on me.
• Raptors offense is sucks stagnant. It has let the Warriors claw back into the game some.
• I need other peoples take, is it me, or does Colangelo NOT look happy when he is flashed on TV? I think he is pissed off, not sure.
• Play of the game:
  • Baron Davis nails a three on a broken play, Calderon misses a layup on the break, Davis comes back and nails a layup to tie the score. Mitchell finally calls a timeout…a little too late.
• It took 6 minutes, but TJ finally gets back in the game. Thank God we have Calderon, otherwise TJ could have continued his great play from the 3rd into the 4th, and the complexion of this game would have been much different (not a knock on Calderon btw, directed right at Mitchell).
• Finally, the Warriors take the lead at the 3:50 mark with a three from Croshere.
• Bosh’s work on the offensive boards keeps Raptor hopes alive.
• Baron, seemingly penetrating at will, dishes to Azabuike for a three. His encore is a tough fade over Parker for the nail in the coffin…game is over for all intents and purposes.
• Raptors timeout…
• They fuck up the inbound play, and I break my remote control in disgust. Sucks cause I have to get up to turn off the TV…what a waste of 2 hours.

Game Notes
Hard loss for the Raptors as they go on a three game road swing. This was an important game for them, at this point of the season. Going through Dallas, Memphis and Cleveland, then coming back to host Chicago wont be easy. They could potentially end next week 5-9 (although they should beat Memphis, I dare not predict Chicago they could decide to show up next Sunday).

Nelson and the Warriors threw multiple different looks at the Raptors on both ends of the court. They penetrated, seemingly at will, hit their shots, and had ENOUGH points in the paint. Colengelo has to bring in some low post defensive help ASAP. It isn’t a secret, the Raptors are vulnerable there.

Bosh decided to stay home again. good thing, otherwise he would have had 11pts, 11rebs and 6 turnovers. Bargnani got to see some court time, played decently, but picks up too many fouls. His offensive is so much better when he doesn’t force the issue, and takes his shots in rhythm.

I’m not sure if this is a good thing, actually it isn’t, but Moon led the Raptors in minutes played with 37. Not that he isn’t playing well, because he is, but shouldn’t, say, TJ be logging more minutes than anyone? Especially when he is hot? This is what I mean by having Ford and Calderon being a bad thing. Seems like Mitchell thinks sharing minutes is the best course of action. The Raptors offensive production fell off dramatically, managing a measly 12 points in the 4th quarter. 12! While Ford rode the pine, Calderon wasn’t able to spark any sort of offensive, giving the Warriors the game.

One last thing, I think I figured out Mitchell’s doghouse situation. Only one foriegn player at a time is allowed in it. Last game, Bargnani was in it, and Garbo was playing well. Today, Garbo was riding the pine, while Bargnani threw his hat in the ring. Garbo does the type of things that could have helped out. Hitting some shots, and a couple defensive stops could have helped a bit today.

Technorati Tags: TJ Ford, Chris Bosh, Sam Mitchell, Jose Calderon, Juan Dixon, Jamario Moon, Maceo baston, Don Nelson, Golden State Warriors, Baron Davis, Stephon Jackson, Bryan Colangelo, Andrea Bargnani, Carlos Delfino, Jorge Garbajosa