So its been a while. But the Dubs are still .500. Its been 7 games since I last posted. As predicted, the Dubs held serve at the O. They have won 6 in a row at home. They unfortunately did not win the games I thought they would win at Sacramento and at Memphis. Granted they have been playing through major injuries, but hey, so has every other team in the association thus far.
The quick off the top of my head recap.
Dubs got off to the good start by waxing the 76ers behind a career game (at the time) from Matt Barnes. They beat Boston. Done and Done. Two games you expect to win. They then lost the next night to Sacramento. While I think that the Dubs are a better team, and their record proves that, they are 0-8 in the second half of back to back's on the road. It was encouraging to see them beat NO/OKC on the road 3 nights later. This was a win that they needed, had to have, and ended up getting. The loss at Memphis was unfortunate. If only the Dubs could have played against the Mike Fratello led team, instead of the new coach (Barone is it?) Memphis will undoubtedly play better in their new uptempo style down the stretch. But still, they are the worst team (record wise) in the West. The Seattle game was one that worried me because I felt like Ray Allen could go off and offset any a few good performances by the Dubs. Well, he did indeed go off for 38. Luckily, the Dubs and Matt Barnes made the plays down the stretch, and got the V. Last night's Suns game was predictable. The stat on the TV said it all. The last 9 games the Warriors have played in Phoenix have been the second half of back to backs, and in only one of those games had the Suns played the night before. The Dubs record in those games..... 1-8.
So after that important stretch that started on December 26th, the Dubs are still what I thought they were..... A .500 team.
Wednesday night at the O starts a new important 8 game stretch. Orlando starts the normal January parade of Eastern Conference games to the Arena. The Dubs have traditionally (in the last 4 years) fared well at home against the Eastern Conference. The Magic game will be tough, as the Dubs narrowly escaped their game last month against the them in Orlando. They are the second best team in the east. Still, Wednesday's game is the first of a stretch of 8 games where the Dubs play 6 in Oakland. In my mind it is possible to go 6-0 in those games. Will it happen? Doubtful. The Warriors are too banged up. Baron has been playing too many minutes, and he admirably tried to give it a go last night, but both his wrists are hurting from a hard fall in the Seattle game. If he can recover, the home games against Orlando, Miami, the Clippers, Cavaliers, Nets and Bobcats can all be won. However, my prediction is that in this 8 game stretch, the Dubs will go 4-4. They will probably lose both road games to the Staple center this month. Jim Barnett was saying that two Clipper games next week are the most important of the month. I tend to agree with him. If the Dubs could somehow win both games, they could finish 5-3 over this stretch.
Essentially, I see the Dubs as a .500 team, if Baron does not miss a significant number of games. If they can stay even until Jason Richardson returns, and then in the first 3 weeks after his return, while he aclimates himself back into the lineup, I think they will have a chance to make a run into the playoffs. Regardless, I think this team is definitely growing before our eyes. Should be interesting.
The quick off the top of my head recap.
Dubs got off to the good start by waxing the 76ers behind a career game (at the time) from Matt Barnes. They beat Boston. Done and Done. Two games you expect to win. They then lost the next night to Sacramento. While I think that the Dubs are a better team, and their record proves that, they are 0-8 in the second half of back to back's on the road. It was encouraging to see them beat NO/OKC on the road 3 nights later. This was a win that they needed, had to have, and ended up getting. The loss at Memphis was unfortunate. If only the Dubs could have played against the Mike Fratello led team, instead of the new coach (Barone is it?) Memphis will undoubtedly play better in their new uptempo style down the stretch. But still, they are the worst team (record wise) in the West. The Seattle game was one that worried me because I felt like Ray Allen could go off and offset any a few good performances by the Dubs. Well, he did indeed go off for 38. Luckily, the Dubs and Matt Barnes made the plays down the stretch, and got the V. Last night's Suns game was predictable. The stat on the TV said it all. The last 9 games the Warriors have played in Phoenix have been the second half of back to backs, and in only one of those games had the Suns played the night before. The Dubs record in those games..... 1-8.
So after that important stretch that started on December 26th, the Dubs are still what I thought they were..... A .500 team.
Wednesday night at the O starts a new important 8 game stretch. Orlando starts the normal January parade of Eastern Conference games to the Arena. The Dubs have traditionally (in the last 4 years) fared well at home against the Eastern Conference. The Magic game will be tough, as the Dubs narrowly escaped their game last month against the them in Orlando. They are the second best team in the east. Still, Wednesday's game is the first of a stretch of 8 games where the Dubs play 6 in Oakland. In my mind it is possible to go 6-0 in those games. Will it happen? Doubtful. The Warriors are too banged up. Baron has been playing too many minutes, and he admirably tried to give it a go last night, but both his wrists are hurting from a hard fall in the Seattle game. If he can recover, the home games against Orlando, Miami, the Clippers, Cavaliers, Nets and Bobcats can all be won. However, my prediction is that in this 8 game stretch, the Dubs will go 4-4. They will probably lose both road games to the Staple center this month. Jim Barnett was saying that two Clipper games next week are the most important of the month. I tend to agree with him. If the Dubs could somehow win both games, they could finish 5-3 over this stretch.
Essentially, I see the Dubs as a .500 team, if Baron does not miss a significant number of games. If they can stay even until Jason Richardson returns, and then in the first 3 weeks after his return, while he aclimates himself back into the lineup, I think they will have a chance to make a run into the playoffs. Regardless, I think this team is definitely growing before our eyes. Should be interesting.
posted by DailyDub at 3:39 PM
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