I had a great opportunity to talk to Jim Barnett, who knows more about the Warriors than just about anyone else around. We started the conversation talking about the special gem that is Steve Kerr, the coach of the Warriors. What a terrific representation of a franchise.
The guy is flat-out unreal.
We also talked plenty of Warriors, lots and lots of Warriors, who have a record of 23-4 after beating the New York Knicks.
Well, that was certainly a ho-hum ballgame at Oracle Arena on Thursday night.
The Warriors put it on cruise control against the New York Knicks and wound up coming away with a nice, easy 103-90 victory. The Warriors were never really challenged but then again they never fully put the game away, either. Nevertheless, the win improved the Warriors record to 23-4, best in the league.
On “Warriors WrapUp” on 95.7-FM The Game, the postgame show on the Golden State flagship, we talked about various aspects of the Warriors’ win.
Here’s a link to “Warriors WrapUp” from Golden State’s victory over New York.
–JaVale McGee got the start again in place of the injured Zaza Pachulia, and he came up with 17 points in 16 minutes — by far his best production as a Warrior. McGee has quickly become a fan favorite, and it looks like now he’s even got a fan in coach Steve Kerr.
The Warriors return home after their five-game road trip – and into town on Thursday night come the New York Knicks, who are quietly the third-best team in the Eastern Conference right now.
(Below are links to “Warriors WrapUp,” the postgame show and also “NBA This Week”)
Whenever I take stock of a Warriors’ opponent inevitably the first place I go is to the opposition’s front court. It feels like the first question I always ask myself is this: Will their big players be able to function like they usually do when the Warriors go to their small lineup?
When the Warriors play Draymond Green at center and Kevin Durant at power forward, it is very difficult for the opposition to use a lineup with two big men. Well, you can use it, but it likely won’t be very successful. If you’re hoping to play two big men at the same time against that Warriors’ lineup, you’re asking for trouble. Those two bigs better know what they’re doing, and they also better be pretty skilled.
Matt Steinmetz 