WASHINGTON You could make the case that the happiest player in the locker room right now is swingman Stephen Jackson. Even after the Warriors' 124-100 loss to the Washington Wizards on Tuesday, he was jovial and energized.
He said his surprisingly pleasant disposition was partly his helping the Warriors put their ugly loss behind them. It also helps that he's off point guard duties. With Jamal Crawford in the starting lineup, Jackson can go back to his normal positions of small forward or shooting guard. No more handling the ball full court against pesky defenders. No more focusing on getting his teammates involved. No more chasing around point guards.
"I had more energy just going out there knowing I had another 20-point scorer," Jackson said, "having a guy who can make plays and take a little more pressure off me."
Despite the presence of Crawford, who played his first game as a Warrior after being traded from the New York Knicks, Jackson had another off shooting night, scoring 16 points on 5-for-12 shooting (he's at 39.2 percent over the last six games). He did have eight assists (giving him 48 over the last six games). He said he had to stay in sharing mode because he's still facing double teams.
"Especially on pick-and-rolls, they're doubling (me)," Jackson said. "They're really trying to take away my little thing I have with Goose (center Andris Biedrins) on pick-and-rolls. So I've got to be more cautious on my passes to him now. I'm still going to make plays, because my shots are not there being that I'm getting double-teamed."
Decisions, decisions
Warriors coach Don Nelson started Crawford in his first game as a Warrior. With Crawford in the starting lineup, someone had to come out and Nelson gave the starting nod to guard Anthony Morrow over swingman Kelenna Azubuike. But apparently he second-guessed that decision.
The opening tip had barely come down before Azubuike was at the scorer's table. Morrow got off one shot, a missed 3-pointer, before coming out two minutes, 18 seconds into the game. Azubuike played the rest of the first half.
The same pattern occurred in the third quarter. Morrow started the second half but was taken out at the 9:11 mark. Azubuike came in and played the rest of the third quarter. Morrow didn't re-enter the game until 10 remained in the fourth quarter, with the Warriors down 24.
Off glass
The Warriors were outrebounded 54-40. That's the second consecutive game they've given up 50 boards. They were outrebounded by 16 at Philadelphia on Sunday. The Warriors are 0-4 when they give up 50 rebounds or more. ... Jackson picked up his third technical foul of the season for complaining about a non-call late in the third quarter. ... For the first time this season, Biedrins failed to record a double-double in consecutive games.
Marcus Thompson II
