CAPTAIN JACK AND WARRIORS ARE BACK
Entering the seventh game of the season, the Golden State Warriors were 0-6 and looking like a joke. Could they really have gone from last season’s surprise to this year’s disappointment during the off-season?
Golden State was missing something, more like someone. Warriors’ coach Don Nelson insanely named forward Stephen Jackson team captain. He was missing from the team.
Saying Jackson is troubled, is an understatement. The forward was serving a seven-game suspension for shooting a gun outside a strip club.
However, the Warriors finally cracked the win column in their seventh game, defeating the LA Clippers 122-105. Golden State center Al Harrington said, “Now we get Captain Jack back, and hopefully start to make some noise.”
That’s exactly what Golden State has done. Since Jackson’s return, the Warriors have won 11 of 14 games, including handing San Antonio just its fourth loss tonight. With Golden State’s turn-around, ESPN’s John Hollinger predicts the Warriors will return to the NBA playoffs.
Jackson is proving to be a good choice, as he’s leading this young team. His presence improved the defensive effort of all players. Golden State allowed 109.3 points per game and 49.6 percent shooting without Jackson, compared to 102.2 points and 44.2 percent shooting since Captain Jack return.
Most importantly teammates, fans and sports writers are embracing him.
At least for now Jackson is coming up big on the court, where he is averaging 21.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.1 assists.
ANOTHER NOTE: While Golden State surges above the .500 mark, the NBA’s other blue and orange team got a slight reprieve.
The New York Knicks are a joke, but fans in Madison Square Garden let up momentarily yesterday. Mets pitchers John Maine and Oliver Perez, members of the team that had an epic September collapse, were booed when they were shown on the overhead scoreboard during the third quarter.
New Yorkers sharing the love for all sports teams.
2 comments:
Nothing made me feel better about the great game of basketball than when the Golden State Warriors upset the Dallas Mavericks in last year's NBA playoffs.
It's not that I have anything against Dallas, I just get a little tired of the same half dozen teams dominating the sport. There's only so much Duncan, Nowitzki and Nash that I can take.
Not only that, but it's always fun to watch the underdog take out a top dog - that is, unless you're a fan of the top dog.
I'd rather see the return of some past greats, like the Lakers, Celtics and Knicks. The only team in that group that I even moderately like is the Lakers, but wouldn't it be nice to see a new group of consistently good teams in the NBA?
I'd love to see some of the up and coming small ball teams like the Warriors and the Wizards take the next step and perform at a high level. It certainly wouldn't get rid of the tired stories about the flawed Phoenix defense or the great but underrated play of San Antonio's "hey I'm still struggling through puberty" sounding Tim Duncan. It would, however, bring a fresh group of stories for us to enjoy for a while.
I watch the Warriors almost every night and they are one of the most exciting teams in the NBA. Don Nelson was interviewed on sports talk radio recently and he said that most star players like to play for him.
The "Captain" Jack decision was a gutsy one that is paying off for the Warriors. To be honest, they don't have a lot of veterans except for Jack, Baron Davis, Al Harrington and Austin Croshere. Also, the W's high tempo gets everyone enough shots so no-one complains. The team truly has that elusive chemistry right now. Hopefully that turns into playoff success.
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