CLEVELAND One day after they were passing the cranberry sauce at a team dinner, the Warriors appeared to have forgotten how to share. Their 112-97 loss Friday to the Cleveland Cavaliers is perhaps best explained by a season-low 13 assists.
"I have no clue what's going on," Stephen Jackson said. "We weren't passing the ball. When we share the ball, good things happen. When everybody's out there for self, we ain't going to win like that." Jackson added: "When we have success, we share the ball, we pass to the open man. We have everybody looking for the open man. We weren't doing that tonight."
As a result of this one-on-one approach, Golden State shot just 39.8 percent from the field and no one got into a rhythm. Jackson scored 11 points on 2-of-11 shooting. Corey Maggette was 3 of 11 for 11 points. Kelenna Azubuike was 3 of 8 for eight points.
The Warriors' performance was so inept that new guard Jamal Crawford's line 15 points on 6-of-14 shooting, with six assists and five turnovers didn't look so bad. Backup point guard C.J. Watson, hitting on 6 of 7 shots and scoring 17 points, was positively Jordanesque.
Selfish play and lousy shooting is no way to go about facing the excellent Cavaliers, who were led by LeBron James' 23 points, eight assists, seven rebounds and three steals. The Warriors trailed by 26 after three quarters, prompting Coach Don Nelson to pull his starters.
It was the Warriors' fifth loss in a row, and they need a victory in New York today to prevent being swept on this five-game trip.
"If we don't play together, we're going to struggle. Period," Crawford said. "We have to be willing to give up a good shot for a great shot. ... I don't know. It wasn't this bad the last couple games, since I've been here. I've only played three games. I don't know. Hopefully it can happen soon."
The Warriors were rolling for a quarter. They made their first seven shots and led by as many as 11 points. The first 12 minutes ended with the Warriors having scored 32 points, on 52.6 percent shooting, and leading by six.
Then, suddenly, all their harmony disappeared. Over the second and third quarters, the Warriors scored 36 points on 27.7 percent shooting.
It was a far cry from Wednesday's loss at Boston, when Golden State made nearly half its shots, scored 111 points and handed out 21 assists. That one was like Warriors Basketball from a year ago, when they averaged 110 points and 22.4 assists.
Through 16 games this season, the Warriors are averaging roughly seven points and three assists fewer per game.
Since Nelson returned to the bench the Warriors have hung their hat on an explosive offense. But the disarray at that end of the court has left players frustrated.
Today, Golden State faces a Knicks team that figures to be energized. What's more, the Warriors are the underdogs in their next three games after New York (against Miami, at Houston, at San Antonio). Things could spiral.
"I'm going to try and stay positive and say it won't get bad," Jackson said, "but we can't keep saying we're going to get the next one. We can't keep relying on that. You got to actually do it. It can get bad, but hopefully we come out tomorrow with the attitude of not letting us come on a road and not win a game."
