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Golden State in first place after win over Knicks |
OAKLAND — Monta Ellis shook off a terrible first half to finish with 22 points and eight assists, Brandon Rush added 19 points off the bench and the Golden State Warriors beat the New York Knicks 92-78 on Wednesday night. Playing without injured guard Stephen Curry, the Warriors led by as much as 19 before cruising to their second straight impressive win over an Eastern Conference team. Two nights earlier Golden State (2-1) beat the Chicago Bulls 99-91. Ish Smith had 11 points, four assists and six rebounds while starting in place of Curry, who sat out the game after injuring his surgically repaired ankle against Chicago. Amare Stoudemire finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds for New York while Carmelo Anthony had 13 points. Ellis went just 4 of 15 in the first half but scored eight straight points, including a pair of 3-pointers, midway through the fourth quarter when Golden State pulled away. The Warriors did it once again behind their defense, which stymied Stoudemire and Anthony most of the night. The two combined to go just 8 of 27 and were only 13 for 19 on free throws. No one else could pick up the scoring slack for the Knicks, who were also outrebounded 47-31 by the smaller but quicker Warriors. Landry Fields had 13 of his 14 points in the first half. Bill Walker also scored 14 for the Knicks, who failed in their bid to start the season with consecutive victories for the first time since 1999. Former Knick David Lee scored 13 points for Golden State (2-1). This was the first stop on a three-game trip to the West Coast for New York. The Knicks, who beat the Celtics on Christmas Day to kick off the truncated NBA schedule after losing all eight games to Boston in 2010, play the Lakers in Los Angeles on Thursday. They return to Northern California to face the Sacramento Kings on Saturday. The Warriors played without Curry, who landed awkwardly on his surgically repaired right ankle in the fourth quarter of Monday’s win over Chicago. It was the second time in seven days that Curry injured the ankle. He also missed eight games last season because of lingering ankle problems. “It was the best thing to give it some time to heal,” Warriors coach Mark Jackson said before the game. “Bottom line is he got hurt landing on somebody and we are going to give it some time to heal.” Smith started in place of Curry and scored seven of Golden State’s first 10 points. He finished 5 of 13 from the floor. Anthony and Stoudemire couldn’t get much of anything to fall. The duo repeatedly settled for long jumpers, a trend that continued deep into the fourth quarter. Even with their two stars off to a slow start, the Knicks took a 43-37 lead into the half. Golden State closed the gap with a 15-5 run early in the second half, tied the game at 64 when Rush made a 3-pointer with 0.7 seconds remaining in the third quarter, then took control with 20-6 burst in the fourth. The Warriors opened a 19-point lead with 4:09 left when the Knicks frustrations began to show. Tyson Chandler tossed Lee to the ground and was whistled for a technical foul, bringing the sold-out crowd at Oracle Arena to its feet. Notes: The Warriors have agreed to terms with 7-foot-1 free agent center Kyrylo Fesenko on a one-year contract pending Fesenko passing a physical. Fesenko, who spent the past four seasons mostly as a backup with the Utah Jazz, was in Golden State’s locker room before the game but neither nor the Warriors can talk about the deal until it is complete. … The Warriors have sold out the first three games on this four-game homestand. … Former Golden State guard Jeremy Lin, who signed with the Knicks on Tuesday, entered the game late in the fourth quarter and missed his only shot attempt. Leave any suggestions in the comment box. Posted in nba, Uncategorized | Comments Off
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Golden State Warriors Get First Win of Season by… |
What a difference one night can make. Just 24 hours after getting blown out by the Los Angeles Clippers 105-86 to kick off their season in underwhelming fashion, the Golden State Warriors put on an absolute clinic at the Oracle Arena in Oakland on Monday night, beating the Chicago Bulls 99-91. What a way for my hometown team to get their first win of the shortened 66-game campaign, and Mark Jackson his first ever coaching victory. As I wrote yesterday, it appears that the Warriors are going to go as Stephen Curry goes, and he most certainly went last night. After a dismal opening day performance, Curry showed flashes of the brilliant point guard we are all hoping he’ll be, putting up an amazing stat line of 21 points, ten assists, seven rebounds, and six steals, not to mention a couple of breathtaking alley-oops, including a three-quarters court toss to Dorell Wright. And that’s all with missing a large chunk of the fourth quarter after re-injuring his ankle yet again, this time after landing on Kyle Korver’s foot. (Apparently Curry is going to have to miss the Warriors’ next game against the New York Knicks on Wednesday, making an already tough contest even tougher). Jackson has been stressing that this Golden State Warriors team is going to be focused around defense, so perhaps it’s only fitting that in his first ever win, the team played great D on reigning league MVP Derrick Rose, holding him to 13 points on 4 of 17 shooting, and that they also managed to rack up 16 steals in the process. I know it’s been a while since there’s been basketball, but this was the best defensive effort that I’ve seen from a W’s team in a very, very long time. And I’m not going to say that I’m right (it’s only been two games after all), but Kwame Brown’s performance Monday night was inspired. In 23 solid minutes off of the bench, the big man made in impact defending against the always tough Joakim Noah. And a +/- of +21? Nicely done, Kwame. So what does it all mean? That the Warriors are going to play tough D, beat up on good Eastern Conference teams, effectively use 11 players (there is no telling the depths of Coach Jackson’s bench), and win games without scoring 100 points? Probably not. But even if this is just a one-time thing, it was great to see the W’s put together a performance that shows the potential of what this team could one day be. Can they do it again on Wednesday without Curry against the Knicks? I’m not going to be the one who says that they can’t. REFERENCES: “Curry Leads Warriors to 99-91 Win Over Bulls,” Associated Press. J. Michael Falgoust, “Warriors’ Curry (ankle) Could Miss a Game,” USA Today. Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content. If you like reading our blog, remember to bookmark it. Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off
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Stephen Curry injures ankle in Golden State… |
SACRAMENTO — The Warriors lost their exhibition season finale 95-91 to the host Sacramento Kings on Tuesday. But the defeat was overshadowed by another loss: point guard Stephen Curry. Late in the first half, Curry sprained his right ankle — the same ankle that bothered him all last season — and had to be helped to the locker room. He never returned and left Power Balance Pavilion on crutches, his face hiding behind the shadow of his hood. He will be evaluated by Warriors doctors Wednesday to determine the extent of the injury and whether he’ll play in Sunday’s season opener against the visiting Los Angeles Clippers. “Disappointed,” coach Mark Jackson said. “But the bottom line is we’re a no-excuse basketball team. … Hopefully, he’s back quick. But if not, we still have to go out and execute our game plan and fulfill the promise.” Curry had seven points, five assists, three steals and no turnovers in 15 minutes before getting hurt. With 46.4 seconds left in the second quarter, Curry, backpedaling to the defensive end, appeared to roll his right ankle. After trying to walk it off, he buckled to the hardwood and writhed in pain on the sideline between the team’s benches. Curry sprained his right ankle three times last season, the first in an exhibition game, and missed a total of eight games. Curry had surgery in May — performed by Dr. Bob Anderson, a foot and ankle specialist at OrthoCarolina in Charlotte — to repair two ligaments in his right ankle. He was cleared by doctors for full activity on Sept. 14 and hasn’t had any issues with the ankle before Tuesday. “Tough loving Steph,” forward David Lee said after totaling 30 points and 13 rebounds against the Kings. Second-year guard Ish Smith replaced Curry in the second-half lineup. Jackson said he gave Smith the nod over rookie Charles Jenkins so he could get a look at Smith, whom the Warriors claimed off waivers Friday. Smith played just over 18 minutes, scoring two points on six shots with three assists. Down the stretch, guard Monta Ellis, who had 19 points and six assists, ran the point for the Warriors. Though Jenkins was penciled in as the backup point guard, Jackson said he has multiple options at point guard that his staff will weigh over the next few days if Curry is out. “We’ve got to look at it like it’s an opportunity for the next man,” Jackson said. “Ish Smith is a guy that was put on waivers (last Wednesday by Memphis). He’s got to look at it like, ‘What a blessing.’ “ “I hadn’t airballed like that in awhile,” said Thompson, who finished with seven points on 2-for-15 shooting. “It felt good and everything, too. I thought it was in.” After two free throws by Marcus Thornton, Golden State had the ball down 94-91 with 16.4 seconds left. Guess whom Jackson went to for the game-tying 3-pointer? Yup, Thompson. But the rookie started the play by going to the wrong spot. Then, he pump-faked himself out of a good look from 3, only to settle for a step-back 3-pointer that clanked. “Klay made a mistake,” Jackson said. “But we got a good look out of it, and we learned from it.” Thompson went 6 for 25 shooting with 16 points in two exhibition games. He has missed all eight of his 3-point attempts. Thompson said he’s going to spend the next few days in the gym and vowed it won’t happen again. “I’m not going to lose confidence. That’s the worst thing you can do as a shooter,” Thompson said. “That was tough. It’s going to linger around for a couple days. … I’m just happy Coach Jax has that confidence in me to call the play for me like that. I just feel bad for my teammates that I had a performance like that.” That’s all for today. Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off
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Stephen Curry says he’s ‘safe and secure’… |
With the latest round of NBA chatter surrounding the point guard, Curry said that he has been told by Warriors general manager Larry Riley and new coach Mark Jackson that he is “safe and secure” with the only franchise he has ever known. At least for now. The latest buzz with Curry involves New Orleans guard Chris Paul, who holds a player option for next season but has been reluctant to sign an extension with the Hornets and could opt for free agency in the summer if he’s not traded. The Warriors have refused to part ways with Curry in any such deal because of his favorable contract and upside, and there’s a more pressing need for an experienced center. Nothing short of a blockbuster deal that nets the franchise considerable return will likely change that mindset. “They want me here,” Curry said. “Obviously, there’s the business of basketball and there are things that may happen with a GM having to make a decision for the best interest of the team. When you have a guy like Chris Paul, who is a franchise player, that’s something you really have to think about it with anybody on the roster. I understand that. I’m not going to be upset if they entertained that.” New owners Joe Lacob and Peter Guber have promised to make splashy signings and bold moves to revamp a team that has made the playoffs just once since 1994. The brass hired Jackson as a first-time coach, former agent Bob Myers as assistant general manager and respected executive Jerry West as a board member this summer. All they need now is wins. As has been the case the last two years, almost any major deal for the Warriors would involve parting ways with Curry or backcourt teammate Monta Ellis. Nobody understands that more than Curry, whose name generates more inquiries into Golden State than anybody on the roster. “It’s nice to be in the conversation with a guy like that,” Curry said of Paul. “I know myself, I’d be part of a package, but that’s something that’s going to happen when you’re in this career, in this business, and you’ve got to run with it.” Even while working out, it’s not exactly easy for Curry and others to overlook trade talk. Lacob peered down from his office window above the Warriors practice court Wednesday, watching players compete in a four-on-four half-court game and run sprints and other conditioning drills supervised by trainers. Riley, Jackson and other members of the coaching staff also looked out of their office windows on occasion. The voluntary workouts, of course, have no coaches involved until a new collective bargaining agreement can be ratified. Ellis and center Andris Biedrins showed up at the facility for the first time since the NBA lockout, although they didn’t participate. Training camp is expected to open Friday. “We just really can’t wait to get going for real,” said second-round pick Jeremy Tyler, who became the first American-born player to drop out of high school for a professional basketball career overseas in 2009 until he was eligible for the draft this year. “Been waiting a long time for this chance. Just glad it’s finally here.” Golden State’s biggest need is still size. The Warriors pledged to be active in trade discussions, and free agent centers Tyson Chandler and Nene are among the franchise’s top targets. With teams not allowed to officially sign free agents until Friday, the roster is sure to be in flux until Golden State opens the regular season at home against the Los Angeles Clippers on Dec. 25. Even after that, there’s no guarantee. “It’s just different,” Curry said. “It’s a good possibility there’s going to be some new faces in here after training camp all the way up until Christmas.” ___ Follow Antonio Gonzalez at: www.twitter.com/agonzalezAP Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Thanks for reading! . |
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Curry ‘safe and secure’ with Warriors |
Updated Dec 7, 2011 7:36 PM ET
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP)Stephen Curry woke up Wednesday morning to a flurry of text messages from friends and family back home wondering about the trade talk surrounding the Golden State Warriors point guard. ”Seven text messages saying `Hornets, question mark,”’ Curry said, chuckling. With the latest round of NBA chatter surrounding the point guard, Curry said that he has been told by Warriors general manager Larry Riley and new coach Mark Jackson that he is ”safe and secure” with the only franchise he has ever known. At least for now. The latest buzz with Curry involves New Orleans guard Chris Paul, who holds a player option for next season but has been reluctant to sign an extension with the Hornets and could opt for free agency in the summer if he’s not traded. The Warriors have refused to part ways with Curry in any such deal because of his favorable contract and upside, and there’s a more pressing need for an experienced center. Nothing short of a blockbuster deal that nets the franchise considerable return will likely change that mindset. ”They want me here,” Curry said. ”Obviously, there’s the business of basketball and there are things that may happen with a GM having to make a decision for the best interest of the team. When you have a guy like Chris Paul, who is a franchise player, that’s something you really have to think about it with anybody on the roster. I understand that. I’m not going to be upset if they entertained that.” New owners Joe Lacob and Peter Guber have promised to make splashy signings and bold moves to revamp a team that has made the playoffs just once since 1994. The brass hired Jackson as a first-time coach, former agent Bob Myers as assistant general manager and respected executive Jerry West as a board member this summer. All they need now is wins. As has been the case the last two years, almost any major deal for the Warriors would involve parting ways with Curry or backcourt teammate Monta Ellis. Nobody understands that more than Curry, whose name generates more inquiries into Golden State than anybody on the roster. ”It’s nice to be in the conversation with a guy like that,” Curry said of Paul. ”I know myself, I’d be part of a package, but that’s something that’s going to happen when you’re in this career, in this business, and you’ve got to run with it.”
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Even while working out, it’s not exactly easy for Curry and others to overlook trade talk. Lacob peered down from his office window above the Warriors practice court Wednesday, watching players compete in a four-on-four half-court game and run sprints and other conditioning drills supervised by trainers. Riley, Jackson and other members of the coaching staff also looked out of their office windows on occasion. The voluntary workouts, of course, have no coaches involved until a new collective bargaining agreement can be ratified. Ellis and center Andris Biedrins showed up at the facility for the first time since the NBA lockout, although they didn’t participate. Training camp is expected to open Friday. ”We just really can’t wait to get going for real,” said first-round pick Jeremy Tyler, who became the first American-born player to drop out of high school for a professional basketball career overseas in 2009 until he was eligible for the draft this year. ”Been waiting a long time for this chance. Just glad it’s finally here.” Golden State’s biggest need is still size. The Warriors pledged to be active in trade discussions, and free agent centers Tyson Chandler and Nene are among the franchise’s top targets. With teams not allowed to officially sign free agents until Friday, the roster is sure to be in flux until Golden State opens the regular season at home against the Los Angeles Clippers on Dec. 25. Even after that, there’s no guarantee. ”It’s just different,” Curry said. ”It’s a good possibility there’s going to be some new faces in here after training camp all the way up until Christmas.” Feel free to leave your comments below. |
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