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Ball movement key to Warriors' big win over Timberwolves
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Kelenna Azubuike and the Warriors made the extra passes to get easy shots against the Wolves.
More random observations from the Warriors' 146-105 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday (photos):
-- There were no long stretches of the head-shaking, what-are-you-thinking one-on-five play that have plagued the Warriors' offense the first five games. They moved the ball well, making the extra pass to get easy baskets, as their 36 assists on 52 field goals would attest. In the first half, 20 of the Warriors' 30 baskets were either layups or dunks. Considering their starting lineup is essentially four guards and a post player, that's what they have to do. What they give up in defense and rebounding, they have to make up for with efficiency and precision on offense. Those are two things that have been missing so far.
-- Mikki Moore started at center in place of Andris Biedrins, who is out with what the Contra Costa Times is reporting as Osteitis Pubis -- an inflammation of the muscles that attach his right groin and abdominal muscles. The Warriors are still calling it a back injury, but either way, he won't even be re-evaluated for two weeks, will miss the entire five-game road trip and is out indefinitely.
-- Anthony Randolph's status with the team seems to be in constant flux -- from starter to backup center to fourth-quarter point forward -- but it doesn't appear to be because Don Nelson isn't rooting for him to succeed. Randolph hit a fall-away jumper in the second quarter and Nelson sprung from his chair (as much as he can at 69) and slapped his talented big man on the rear in celebration -- and it's not the first time Nelson has made a point of congratulating Randolph during a game.
-- Speaking of Nelson and things he likes to see, can you imagine what the guru of small ball was thinking when he looked out on the floor in the fourth quarter and saw Randolph and essentially four point guards (Monta Ellis, Stephen Curry, C.J. Watson and Acie Law) playing together. The Warriors scored 35 points in the quarter that ended with Randolph, who had 23 points and seven rebounds, running the show. Could this lineup become Nelson's newest wrinkle?
-- It was the fourth quarter and the Wolves had raised the white flag, but Law posted 10 points and five steals and Watson scored 13 with three 3-pointers.
-- Anthony Morrow came out of the locker room early at halftime and took repeated shots from beyond the arc on the right wing. He then started the second half and scored 10 points in the third quarter -- nine on 3-pointers from that very spot. It was obvious Morrow knew where he wanted the ball and his teammates found him. "He's just a very competitive kid and a great, great shooter," Nelson said of Morrow, who was 7-of-10 from the floor and 5-of-6 on 3-pointers. "The guys are just finally figuring it that out." Morrow scored 15 of his 20 in the second half.
-- Not even a 41-point win can hide the fact that rebounding is a huge issue for this team, which Nelson conceded when he turned to the small lineup. On a positive note, Ellis had 10 rebounds, including eight on the defensive end, to lead the team. On a negative note, the Wolves had a 53-38 rebounding edge and at times Ellis appeared to be the only Warrior even interested in rebounding. Spreading the court with a lineup full of perimeter players at times leaves nobody to even contend for an offensive rebound, which makes shooting a high percentage crucial, which, in turn, makes that extra pass to the open man even more important. As much as they want to run, the Warriors have to realize they can't push the ball if they don't have the ball and need to get everyone crashing the boards on the defensive end. There were just too many second chances for the Wolves, who had 21 offensive rebounds.
-- The crowd, announced at 15,546, seemed to get antsy every time Stephen Jackson held the ball for more than a few seconds and looked to be considering an ill-advised drive through the defense or a forced jumper. Boos were clear after more than one of his missed shots. It seems the fans are letting Jackson know they're tired of his antics and not even a 15-assist night can make them forgive and forget.
-- And finally, these two observations from my 9-year-old daughter who attended the game and was shocked to hear the crowd boo Jackson when he was introduced before the game. After I explained why the crowd was booing, she said: "He probably wants to leave because they keep losing." I guess the whole controversy isn't that hard to figure out. And after noticing that Curry isn't the biggest guy on the floor, she said: "He looks just like a regular kid out there."
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