By Geoff Lepper
48minutes.net

OAKLAND — As Tuco Benedicto Pacifico Juan Maria Ramirez might say: “One Warrior goes in, another one comes out.”

That’s fitting because Golden State will once again be swapping a healthy player for an injured one Friday against Atlanta: swingman Stephen Jackson is set to return, but second-year guard C.J. Watson, so impressive Wednesday at both ends of the floor against Sacramento, has been ruled out by the team because of a case of turf toe on his left foot.

Watson considers the problem to be a day-to-day situation, but he’s slated to undergo an MRI scan in the afternoon to assess the damage more fully.

“It sucks that C.J.’s out,” Jackson said. “He’s been playing so great, he’s been really an upside to how we’re playing, even though we’re losing.”

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By Geoff Lepper
48minutes.net

OAKLAND — In 568 career NBA games, Warriors guard Jamal Crawford has only gotten to five fouls on 16 occasions. He has not fouled out once.

Keith Smart, Golden State’s defensive coordinator, doesn’t see those facts in a positive light.

“If you don’t get in foul trouble, there’s a reason,” Smart said. “You’re probably not close enough to get a foul. So we’ve got to get him thinking about those things.”

Crawford is thinking about it. He’s an avid film watcher, and Smart has used those sessions to point out Crawford’s flaws on D since his arrival in November.

“I definitely could get better,” Crawford said when asked if he was playing up to his potential defensively. “I think my whole overall game could get better, though. I think that I could be a better player. And that’s the way I work, what I’m striving towards.”

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THIRD OVERTIME:

** That’s the story of the Warriors season, right there: A fantastic pass from Crawford to Turiaf for the mid-air layup, followed by Udrih stealing an offensive rebound from between Turiaf and Morrow and scoring another pair of second-chance free throws.

** Anthony Randolph saves three consecutive possessions with his offensive rebounding and sets Golden State up for a 2-for-1 exchange with 36.3 seconds left. It’s mind-boggling that it took until now to get him back on the floor.

** That’s on Randolph for not taking care of Salmon after the shot went up, IMHO.

** I question any last-second play where, down 2 with 1.6 seconds to go, your best scorer is the guy inbounding the ball.

On the other hand, I’m all in favor of anything that brings this game to a merciful conclusion.

SECOND OVERTIME:

** This is one of those nights, BTW, where I’m glad I’m not working for a newspaper any longer.

** Golden State’s free-throw shooting crisis. Oy vey.

** If the Warriors are going to go small, it should be Azubuike at the 4, not Maggette.

** Crawford talked about needing to earn the trust of teammates in terms of having the right to fire away down the stretch. You don’t earn that trust by shooting ill-advised jumpers early in the shot clock while nursing a three-point lead.

** I know Nelson wanted Morrow to be more active, but I don’t think even he foresaw this kind of impact.

** They were lucky that Martin didn’t knock that down and have a chance at a three-point play.

** I’m just flabbergasted. Honestly. Three instances of blowing the foul-to-give situation in one game? Maybe I WAS a little too harsh on Mike Montgomery back in the day.

FIRST OVERTIME:

** Biedrins fouls out climbing the back of Brad Miller: In case you didn’t know it already, now you see the importance of boxing out.

** This might be one of those OTs where one guy (in this case, Crawford) scores all 14 points for his team.

** Another stupid tech on the Kings? And folks think Stephen Jackson’s the hothead?

** Ummmmm, someone might want to, you know, stick a hand in Garcia’s face. Jus’ sayin’.

** A Belinelli-esque flop by Martin.

** The Kings actively don’t want to win this game. It’s that simple.

** Is it worse to lose a game in overtime — spoiling a brilliant fourth-quarter comeback — or just get blown out from the jump?

** Regarding Monta Ellis…

By Geoff Lepper
48minutes.net

OAKLAND — Warriors guard Jamal Crawford thinks rookie teammate Anthony Morrow has such a pure stroke that he “puts a lot of pressure on himself if he misses a shot.”

It’s nothing compared to the pressure he’s going to feel from Golden State coach Don Nelson tonight.

With Marco Belinelli, Monta Ellis and Stephen Jackson all sidelined, it’s incumbent upon Morrow to provide some firepower against the Sacramento Kings. That means his recent form — two shots in a total of 16 minutes over the Warriors’ three most recent games — is not going to cut it.

Nelson spent part of Tuesday’s practice going over a new play specifically inserted to help Morrow get free of defenses. But the coach put the onus on his undrafted gunner from Georgia Tech.

“I’m trying to get him to move more,” Nelson said. “He’s such a great shooter and so used to reverting back to college, where he just stood and when he was open, he shot and made it, and when he wasn’t, he just wasn’t part of the offense. And we’re trying to get him to move and cut and screen and use screens. And that’s not easy for him. . . .

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By Geoff Lepper
48minutes.net

OAKLAND — The Warriors’ own Mouth of the South has roared to life.

Monta Ellis didn’t just partake in his first 5-on-5 practice drills Tuesday. The pride of Jackson, Miss. took them over, cajoling teammates and yapping at foes in a surprisingly noisy session of mostly half-court work.

With Baron Davis gone and Stephen Jackson sidelined — and before even getting into a game this season — Ellis has taken up the mantle of being the vocal leader for the Warriors.

“The whole time . . . he didn’t stop talking,” said Jamal Crawford. “That country slang, he just kept going.”

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