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Archive for January 13th, 2024

2023 Warriors: Game 39 Loss (Record: 18W-21L)

Posted in Basketball, General Comments, Sports, tagged 2023 Warriors Regular Season, All-Star Game, Andrew Wiggins, Basketball, Brandin Podziemski, General Comments, Golden State Warriors, Jonathan Kuminga, Klay Thompson, Memphis Grizzlies, Milwaukee Bucks, National Basketball Association, NBA, Splash Brothers, Sports, Steph Curry, Trayce Jackson-Davis on January 13, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Game 39 is in the books… The Warriors slip back to three games below .500 with a “relatively” close (11pts!!) loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. The Bucks are 27W/12L to the Warriors 18W/21L so based on record, the Warriors should have been blown out. We lost, but it was actually more competitive than the final score would seem.

The final score in this game: 140 to 131. The Warriors were competitive early and for most of the game. This was the first game in the last four where the opposition was held to under 70pts at the half. The Bucks scored only 54pts in the first half. In other games, the Warriors have rolled over and played dead. Tonight, the Warriors out hustled the Bucks and led at the half by 2pts!

Regular Season Record – (18 Wins – 21 Losses)
Game 39: Warriors 118 / Bucks 129

Initial Observations: The Warriors played inspired (“hustling”) ball against the Bucks for the entire game, they just didn’t have the “juice” to get the win. Despite having five players in double figures, and three over 20pts, the Warriors just lacked the “clutch” end of game player – the “go-to” guy. The Warriors gave up two untimely / unforced turnovers and the Bucks were just strong enough to use the turnovers to pull away and then stay ahead.

Andrew Wiggins was not a major factor in this game, but at least he didn’t completely disappear. He got seven points, 4 rebounds and 1 assist.

Jonathan Kuminga and Jackson-Davis both played okay to good. Kuminga had a good game (28pts) and managed to earn his 19th double-digit scoring game (in a row). He continues to impress with his athleticism going both ways.

Jackson-Davis had a decent offensive night (12pts), two rebounds and one assist. J-D continued to match well with Klay on rolls to the basket and seemed to also have a better (“eye-test”) defensive night than the numbers indicate.

Steph had the game down as a rest day (no reported injury) so it was up to Klay and Podziemski to take up the slack. They combined for 54pts, and nine threes made (combined for 9 of 22). “Podz” was not up to Steph’s “Splash Brothers” level, but he was pretty good.

Conclusion: This was an important game because the Warriors recently played consecutive blow-out game losses without intensity – and this game – together with last night’s solid effort against the Chicago Bulls demonstrated the Dubs haven’t quit for the season and can beat average teams (Bulls – last night) and be competitive with good teams (Bucks – tonight).

Game 40 is Monday against the Memphis Grizzlies (14W/25L) in Memphis… The Grizzlies are “bad” team with a lot of stars out due to injuries (just like the Warriors), so the Warriors should handle the Grizzlies easily and start to position themselves for All-Star Game break and the second half push for the play-offs.

One game left to the mid-point of the regular season… Tonight’s competitive loss was a pleasant surprise. It wasn’t a win, but it wasn’t a blow-out loss either.

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Click here (13 January) to see the posts of prior years. I started this blog in late 2009. Daily posting began in late January 2011. Not all of the days in the early years (2009-2010) will have posts.

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Sing Without Fear

Posted in Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Chief Aupumut, Death Song, Fear Of Death, Going Home, Heroes, Philosophy, Quotes, Singing on January 13, 2024| 4 Comments »

When it comes time to die, be not like those whose hearts are filled with the fear of death, so when their time comes they weep and pray for a little more time to live their lives over again in a different way. Sing your death song, and die like a hero going home.

— Chief Aupumut

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Click here (13 January) to see the posts of prior years. I started this blog in late 2009. Daily posting began in late January 2011. Not all of the days in the early years (2009-2010) will have posts.