L.A. – Golden State Pregame: Wounded Warriors

Published by Mike Trudell on December 28, 2008 5:55 pm in Pre-Game.

Throughout the 2008-09 early-season campaign, Warriors head coach Don Nelson has had more lineups than TomKat’s children received Christmas presents.

Today’s questionable list includes Jamal Crawford – who will see how his groin feels before the game before making a decision before tip – and Corey Maggette, who has missed Golden State’s last 11 games with a hamstring injury and is doubtful.

In fact, only one Warrior – Andris Biedrins – has played in all 31 Warriors games, of which they’ve won nine. In addition to Crawford and Maggette, G.S.’s two leading scorers, captain Stephen Jackson’s missed six games; Monta Ellis isn’t expected to play until late January at the earliest; and young players such as Brandon Wright, C.J. Watson, Marco Bellineli have, respectively, both started and received DNP’s while active.

Yet and still, the Warriors play Nelson’s up-tempo system that can beat any team – such as Boston on Friday night – on any given night, and Phil Jackson’s aware. Before Sunday’s contest, Jackson said that the Warriors are playing better defense than they have in the past, and that it’s difficult to game plan against them since one never knows who’s going to be on the floor.

Jackson added a few other notes to assembled media:

  • He always liked Ronny Turiaf because of his energy, which this season has helped him block 2.17 blocks a game despite only 17.4 minutes per evening. Turiaf has been playing more minutes lately, however, including 30 against Boston.
  • That the Lakers have just one game in eight days is good for everybody to rest, particularly veterans like Derek Fisher, who’ve had to play big minutes lately.
  • Jackson counts on Sasha Vujacic to chase smaller guards around screens, which is not something many players on L.A.’s roster can do.

    That’s all for now … See you at tipoff.

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