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David Lee, PF 30 MIN | 5-11 FG | 2-2 FT | 6 REB | 4 AST | 12 PTS | -24
Lee was ineffective for most of the night has he matched up against David West and Jeff Foster, who were physical with him and never allowed him to get comfortable on the block. |
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Dorell Wright, SF 18 MIN | 1-8 FG | 0-0 FT | 5 REB | 1 AST | 2 PTS | -23
Dorell looked tentative at times and failed to give the Dubs much of anything on this night. He consistently misfired from just about every spot on the court and got lit up by Danny Granger as he failed to adequately fight through screens. |
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Andris Biedrins, C 13 MIN | 0-2 FG | 0-0 FT | 4 REB | 0 AST | 0 PTS | -19
Biedrins failed to provide any resistance at the rim and on the block while guarding Hibbert. In addition, he failed to give the Warriors any semblance of production at the center position and mostly played the role of spectator for most of the night. |
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Monta Ellis, SG 28 MIN | 7-19 FG | 0-0 FT | 5 REB | 2 AST | 14 PTS | -23
Monta was able to get of to a hot start, scoring 10 points in the first quarter; but once the perimeter jumper went cold, that was all she wrote. Indiana doubled and triple teamed Ellis on side pick-and-rolls and forced him to give up the ball to players who could not make the defense pay. |
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Charles Jenkins, G 18 MIN | 0-5 FG | 2-2 FT | 2 REB | 2 AST | 2 PTS | -9
Indiana helped off Jenkins to make life tough for Monta and unfortunately for the Dubs, Jenkins could not make them pay. |
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Three Things We Saw
- The Warriors second unit went to their zone as they usually do and forced a couple of missed shots throughout the game; however the guards failed to understand their responsibilities at the top of the zone and eventually allowed easy 3-point looks as well as the free throw area to be vacant on far too many occasions.
- Golden State’s inability to make open 3-point shots led to Indiana packing the paint, which essentially decided the game. The Warriors had no driving lanes, no post up opportunities and very chances at the rim that did not come directly from fast breaks.
- As the game began to unravel for the Warriors, Klay Thompson displayed questionable shot selection. As Jeff Van Gundy often says, good teams are in fact good because they have good habits that they practice and preach daily. It will be important for Mark Jackson to recognize that on film and point it out to the rookie and the rest of the team to ensure the team tries to play within the structure of their system going forward.
Jackson said after the game that the loss was at least partly about a “lack of effort.” In reality this was a coaching loss. Indiana clearly read the book on the Warriors – on D, be physical in the paint and focus on taking away the Ws’ outside shot. On offense, take it directly to the hoop.
Jackson should apologize to his team. A real coach would have made Indiana pay for smothering the 3-pt. line.
Probably too generous with these grades. I would have given everyone an “Ugh”.