Counting W's for Week 7

By: Atma Brother #1 of Golden State of Mind

Warriors Weekly Rewind
The Warriors went 2-2 this past week, but the good news is that there's only two teams in the entire league hotter than them over the past 10 games- the Boston Celtics and San Antonio Spurs. Three's Company and you can call the Warriors Jack Tripper and as a Dubs fan be very happy about the lovely company they're keeping.

• Game 17: Warriors 117, Magic 123 OT- This game just reminded me of Game 2 of last year's playoff series against the Utah Jazz. It was so close and the Warriors probably should have won it, but disaster struck in the final minutes if not seconds of the 4th and the Dubs just ran out of gas without Baron Davis in the overtime period.
  
• Game 18: Warriors 120, Bucks 90- Watching this blowout win, I really couldn't tell if the Warriors are that good or if the Bucks are just that bad. This was probably the easiest home win for the Dubs to date.
• Game 19: Warriors 120, Heat 113- The Warriors were cold for about 3.5 quarters and the Heat were pretty much dominating this game. But then the Baron Davis and the rest of the Warriors got hotter than heat and won a thrilling game in front of the Roaracle crowd on a fun, festive Friday night in Oakland.
  
• Game 20: Warriors 113, Lakers 123- The Warriors haven't won at Staples since... well, let's move on. For you crossover football fanatics the Bay Area went 0-3 this past Sunday with the 49ers and Raiders also failing to add to the W column.
  

We've reached the 20 game mark and the Warriors are a very respectable 11-9, putting them right in the thick of the Western Conference playoff race. When it's all said and done 2 games above .500 at the end of the season might get them into the playoffs for a second straight season as an 8th seed in the Wild, Wild West, but it's far from guaranteed. The Warriors are going to need to finish much better than 2 game over .500 to make a return to another We Believe spring a sure thing. However after this week it's going to be tough just to stay at .500.


Tuesday December 11: Warriors vs Spurs
It really seems like on any given night no matter what the Warriors do they simply can't beat a few select teams in the league. Unfortunately the World Champion San Antonio Spurs lead that class of teams. Whether it's a slow paced grind-out defensive game or a fast-paced affair with triple digit points on both sides, the Spurs just own the Warriors. On the bright side there's really no shame in losing to this Spurs team. They own a lot of other good teams in this league like the Utah Jazz who also happen to own the Warriors. (That's a lot of ownage.)

Let's hope Nellie has something really crazy up his sleeve for this one. There's no better time to experiment than this game. Who knows? Maybe Nellie will start Brandan Wright, DJ Mbenga, and Patrick O'Bryant all together. It's worth a shot. There's nothing to lose. It'll keep true Warrior junkies' eyes glued to the screen or on the edge of their seats in Oakland too. We're all pretty curious about what the Warriors two lottery pick big men can do in big minutes.
Prediction: 1 for the L column


Wednesday December 12: Warriors @ Trail Blazers
Ever since promising #1 big man Greg Oden went down with a season ending knee surgery before the 2007-2008 NBA season began, the Blazers have pretty much been off the national hoops radar. That's a huge mistake. The Trail Blazers are not to be taken lightly and have a realistic shot at the 8th spot in this year's Western Conference Playoff bracket.

That's not to say that this isn't a game the Warriors should and must win. Still, you have to give this young up and coming roster credit for hanging in till future superstar Greg Oden returns next season. Two keys to getting this W will be stopping LaMarcus Aldridge from dropping 20 points and containing Brandon R.O.Y. from showcasing his great all-around game. Aldridge is capable of going 20-10 and Roy can put up 20-5-5 before you even know it. Remember the names Martell Webster and Travis Outlaw. One, hopefully not both, of these young former high schoolers turned pro are my pick to light up the Warriors and go for a career game.
Prediction: 1 for the W column


Friday December 14: Warriors vs Lakers
There's really no better time for Baron to forget his LA roots and crank up the hyphyness Bay Area style than this Friday night against the arch-nemesis Los Angeles Lakers. At times they might seem like they play an overly methodical and monotonous brand hoops with a few Kobe Bryant highlights sprinkled in nightly, but the Lakers are also a smart, well-coached ball club that knows how to close out quarters and win ball games. Until the Warriors learn how to do the same against the LA Triangle, they are going to struggle mightily against their Pacific Division foes.
Prediction: Another one for the L column


Sunday December 16: Warriors @ Pistons
The Warriors kick off a 5 game road trip with a Sunday morning game in Detroit. Don't forget to set your alarm clocks as this game tips off at 9:30am. The NBA schedule makers just weren't kind to the Warriors and their fans for this one.

In a night game or even an afternoon game on Pacific Standard Time I think the Warriors could beat the Pistons with their athleticism, smarts, and frenetic D, but it's too early in the morning for us West Coasters. The Warriors players will have to be suited up and ready to go for this one at about 7:30am PST in the frigidness of suburban Michigan. That's early and cold.

If the Pistons are smart they'll slow down the game and milk Antonio McDyess, Rasheed Wallace, and Jason Maxiell down low for an easy win. If the Pistons don't stick to a simple interior focused game plan and the Warriors load up on Cinnamon Toast Crunch in the morning we're going to have ourselves a great game, possibly even a win. Remember the Warriors were up by 22 points the last time these two teams squared off at the Roaracle.
Prediction: Another one for the L column


Overall Week 7 Prediction: 1-3


What are your predictions for week 7 for the Dubs?
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