It was a loss, the latest in a mixtape of
late-game failures. But Warriors coach Mark Jackson said he saw
signs of crunch-time progress in the 119-116 heartbreaker Tuesday
night against Oklahoma City. “We played the best team in basketball
and we had them,” Jackson said.
It was a loss, the latest in a mixtape of late-game failures.
But Warriors coach Mark Jackson said he saw signs of crunch-time progress in the 119-116 heartbreaker Tuesday night against Oklahoma City.
“We played the best team in basketball and we had them,” Jackson said.
Yes, the Warriors committed six turnovers in the fourth quarter. And they blew a couple of important defensive assignments. But if Oklahoma City star Kevin Durant hadn’t made his final shot – or if Monta Ellis, with 48 points, hadn’t missed his – it’s a completely different story to Jackson.
“My starters responded from being benched the previous game,” Jackson said. “They gave energy, effort and passion. I got great play from my best players. We responded rebounding the basketball. We responded not turning the basketball over. And we lost on a tough shot by a superstar player and a missed shot for a guy that was having a career night. I’m not satisfied with a loss, but, ultimately, that energy and effort will win games.”
The Warriors (8-14) have a string of tough games coming up, starting tonight at Denver, and their pattern has been to perform to the level of competition. The Nuggets have the fourth-best record in the Western Conference and have beaten the Warriors six straight and 13 of 14 in the Mile High City.
The Warriors are 2-6 on the road. Five of the losses have been close.
“A step in the right direction for us is to be in every game,” point guard Stephen Curry said. “The more we go through these situations, I think the better we’re going to get and the more wins we’re going to get.”
– Jackson didn’t back off his postgame comments about the officiating.
Jackson took particular exception to two non-calls in the final minutes. On both plays, Jackson said his player was fouled and did not get a call – once when Thunder guard James Harden swiped David Lee’s arm, and another when guard Russell Westbrook “blatantly fouls” Ellis.
“These are calls that you cannot get back, but they hurt us,” Jackson said after Tuesday’s game. “I don’t accept ‘my bad’ from my players all night long. It’s getting old accepting ‘my bad’ (from referees) on missed calls.”
Wednesday after practice, Jackson – back to being his usual even-keel self – said he was calculated in expressing the referee’s impact on the game. He said he intentionally made sure he was respectful to officials, and he emphasized the calls he questioned did not cost his team the game.
Jackson said he hadn’t yet heard from NBA Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Stu Jackson, who usually doles out fines to those who criticize officials.
“All I did was make a statement in a respectful, professional manner,” Mark Jackson said.
Jackson acknowledged another motive: going to bat for his players.
“Bottom line is these are my guys, they’re working their tail off,” Jackson said.
– The NBA announced the 20 players who will take part in the Rising Stars Challenge, a game pitting rookies against sophomores during NBA All-Star Weekend. Neither Warriors rookie swingman Klay Thompson nor second-year big man Ekpe Udoh made the roster.
