The Contra Costa Times (Marcus Thompson II) reports: Jamal Crawford, at 28 is entering the prime of his NBA career, and under Keith Smart’s tutelage, is learning things he’s never learned before. The dividends are already evident in his game. The results are most noticeable on defense, where Crawford has a reputation for being sub-par. He said he’s trying harder on that end of the floor, and for longer stretches, something he acknowledged he hadn’t always done. In times past, you wouldn’t have seen Crawford provide such solid help defense as he did Wednesday when he blocked a pull-up jumper by Sacramento’s Kevin Martin from behind. You wouldn’t have seen him hustle to contest a buzzer-beating attempt, as he did against Atlanta on Friday, blocking Zaza Pachulia’s heave into the stands near half-court. You wouldn’t have seen him getting excited and showing emotion when he makes a play on the defensive end, as he has lately.
Category: Golden State Warriors Blog
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Crawford leads Warriors to 119-114 win over Hawks
The AP reports: Stephen Jackson, who missed four games with a right hamstring strain, had 24 points to help the Golden State Warriors beat the Hawks 119-114 on Friday night. Jamal Crawford scored 29 points, including the go-ahead basket in the final three minutes, and Corey Maggette had 24 points and a season-high 16 rebounds for the Warriors… Joe Johnson scored 25 points for the Hawks, who lost for the fifth time in six games. Maurice Evans added 21 points and Michael Bibby had 20. Atlanta forward Marvin Williams was taken to a hospital after hitting his head on the court during a play in the second quarter and may not make the trip home with the team.
Warriors re-sign Jermareo Davidson
The Golden State Warriors have signed forward Jermareo Davidson to a second 10-day contract, the team announced today.
Davidson, who signed his first 10-day with the Warriors on January 5, has appeared in one game with Golden State, logging four minutes at Portland on January 10. Davidson began the season with the NBA Development League’s Idaho Stampede, where he averaged 16.1 points and 10.8 rebounds in 15 games. At the time of his call-up, the 6’10’’ forward ranked first in the D-League in double-doubles (10) and third in rebounding (10.8).
Kings hold off Warriors 135-133 in 3 OTs
The AP reports: John Salmons hit a 17-footer with 1.6 seconds remaining in the third overtime and the Kings held on to beat the injury-depleted Golden State Warriors 135-133 on Wednesday night, ending a 12-game road losing streak dating to Nov. 19 at New Orleans. Salmons finished with 25 points, a career-best 14 rebounds and seven assists for Sacramento, which earned consecutive victories against the Warriors for the first time since taking 15 in a row in the series from 2000-03… Brad Miller had a season-high 30 points and a career-high 22 rebounds for Sacramento, but was whistled for a technical with 2:17 remaining in the initial OT that could have been costly. .. Jamal Crawford scored the first four points in the first overtime on the way to 35 points after missing the potential winner at the end of regulation. Crawford also stripped Kevin Martin as he attempted a final shot to end the first extra period.
Monta Ellis practices
The Contra Costa Times (Marcus Thompson II) reports: Dribbling at the top of the key, Warriors guard Monta Ellis split a double team with a quick spin move, freeing himself for a pull-up jumper at the free-throw line. No, this didn’t go down on the video game NBA Live ’09. This was the real deal. Ellis got over another major hurdle Tuesday — he participated in a full practice for the first time since undergoing left ankle surgery in August. “Monta actually did the whole practice today, which probably I wasn’t supposed to (allow),” coach Don Nelson said. “It kind of ended up that way.” What does this mean? Ellis has only one obstacle remaining: game action.
Crawford 32 in wild 120-117 Warriors win over Pacers
The AP reports: Jamal Crawford scored 32 points and hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with 11.3 seconds left in a pell-mell fourth quarter, and Golden State snapped its five-game losing streak with a 120-117 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Sunday night. The final minutes were a sublime exchange between Danny Granger and Crawford, who hit four 3-pointers and didn’t miss any of his eight free throws. Granger, who scored 15 of his career high-tying 42 points for Indiana in the fourth quarter, went 14-for-14 from the free throw line and added seven rebounds… Kelenna Azubuike added 21 points and eight rebounds for the Warriors, hitting a free throw with 5.6 seconds left as road-weary Golden State opened a seven-game homestand with its first victory since Dec. 29… Marco Belinelli scored 17 points for Golden State before spraining his right ankle with 6:45 to play.
Stephen Jackson didn’t play.
Aldridge scores 26 points in Blazers win over Warriors
The AP reports: Although Portland’s plan was to treat Brandon Roy with caution, by the fourth quarter against Golden State it was clear that no special treatment was necessary. Roy had 19 points in his return from a hamstring injury to help the Trail Blazers beat the short-handed Warriors 113-100 on Saturday night… Roy’s return clearly inspired Portland, which trailed by 12 points in the first half, then led by 18 in the second. LaMarcus Aldridge led the Blazers with 26 points. Corey Maggette had 25 points for the Warriors, who lost their fifth straight game. Golden State cut it to 99-94 on Maggette’s 3-pointer and Kelenna Azubuike’s jumper with 4:26 left, but couldn’t get any closer… Travis Outlaw added 19 points for the Blazers, who had six players in double figures. Greg Oden had 10 points and eight rebounds.
Late Gasol surge leads Lakers past Warriors 114-106
The AP reports: Pau Gasol had 33 points and a career-high 18 rebounds, Kobe Bryant added 21 points and the Lakers rallied from a late deficit for their seventh victory in eight games, 114-106 over the Warriors on Wednesday night. Andrew Bynum had 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Lakers, whose home loss to New Orleans on Tuesday snapped a six-game winning streak for the Western Conference leaders. Los Angeles also lost key swingman Lamar Odom to a bone bruise, trimming their rotation and increasing their dependence on Gasol, who had just 10 points against the Hornets… Jamal Crawford had 25 points and a season-high nine assists for Golden State, and Corey Maggette added 19 points before fouling out of the Warriors’ fifth loss in six games… Trevor Ariza scored a season-high 17 points for the Lakers, playing 33 minutes in Odom’s absence.
Lamar Odom out Wednesday
Lakers forward Lamar Odom was examined today by team physician Dr. Steve Lombardo and MRI results show that Odom has a bone bruise in his right knee. Odom will not play in tonight’s game in Oakland against the Golden State Warriors, and his status beyond that is listed as day-to-day.
Odom suffered the injury in the 2nd quarter of last night’s game against the New Orleans Hornets at STAPLES Center.
Don Nelson job safe
The San Francisco Chronicle (Janny Hu) reports: Despite the dismal start and consecutives losses to the two worst teams in the NBA this week, Warriors President Robert Rowell reiterated Monday that coach Don Nelson’s job in not in jeopardy. “No, I’ve not given it an ounce of thought,” Rowell said before the game at Utah. “Nellie’s a great coach. I think he’s done his job as a coach. I think Nellie has done everything he’s done his last 30 years in the business. … “Unfortunately, we’ve had Corey (Maggette) out 15 games, we’ve had Monta (Ellis) out, we’re banged up. It’s still not an excuse – it’s the NBA – but we knew when Monta went down that this would be a tough start to the year.”