... don't press it just yet.
The Warriors are off to an uninspiring 0-2 start, understandably losing to the Utah Jazz and not-so-understandably losing to the Brand-less Los Angeles Clippers. Recurring themes? Being outrebounded and abused by the other team’s big man. In the reverie of last season’s magical run, this is enough for some fans to say:
Rebounding is not a quick fix problem. What can the Warriors do then?
• Stop taking ill-advised threes: We love to watch the Warriors when their threes are falling. We love to lambast when they are not. In yesterday’s game, the Warriors shot 25% from three-point land as a team with Baron Davis as the main culprit: 1-9. Threes are a good way to quickly erase a large deficit, but if they are not falling, take it to the rack. Many times an opposing player will snag the rebound from the missed three since Andris Biedrins is usually the only player around the paint.
• Pass more: You know the Warriors are “on” when you see quick, sharp passes that result in wide open dunks and threes. I can’t comment about the passing in yesterday’s game (I was covering a football game), but in the game against the Jazz, I did not see any of the drive-kick out-drive-kick out-shoot sequences that were effective last season. Less dribbling and more passing equals high percentage shots and less scoring opportunities for the opponent.
• Get the energy back: Specifically, get the energy from the bench back. Apart from Al Harrington, nobody else on the bench has produced. Because of his incessant rally-killing jumpers in the first game, some fans have dubbed Troy “T-Hud” Hudson as T-Rash. Matt Barnes is looking more like a one-hit wonder than a breakout player. A nifty steal and breakaway dunk or a block down low is sometimes all it takes to get the team rolling again.
Solving these problems won’t effect a 78-game win streak. They will, however, help the team look as if they want to play above mediocrity.
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