Jackson says Kings are ‘big game' for Warriors

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OAKLANDOutside of Northern California, the Warriors-Kingsgame on Saturday night likely isnt resonating very much.But that doesnt matter to Warriors coach Mark Jackson. Notsurprisingly, hes viewing the game as a big one for his team. The Warriors arejust 8-12, but theyve won two in a row and are seeking the seasons firstthree-game winning streak.Theyll have to do it on the roadwhere they are 2-5andtheyll have to do it against the Kings, a team the Warriors beat this pastTuesday at Oracle.
Before the Warriors beat the Kings on Tuesday, Jackson wrotethe record 8-12 on the grease board. The team was 6-12 at that time, with theKings and Jazz upcoming, and Jackson set two in a row as a goal.On Friday, he wrote 9-12 on the grease board."I think (Saturday) is a big game for us, obviously," Jackson said after practice. "Its an opportunity to win three in a row, anopportunity to continue to practice the principles weve laid forth and tocontinue to build."
What Jackson thinks the Warriors are building toward is thepostseason. He wasnt asked specifically about the playoffs, but he hasntconceded anything on that front regarding his playoff prediction.I think there are going to be a lot of teams that are goingthrough a tough stretch, Jackson said. And weve experienced ours. Obviously,the schedule doesnt get any better, but we feel we will.The Warriors beat the Kings 93-90 on Tuesday, a game that Kingsstarting shooting guard Marcus Thornton did not play in. Instead, JimmerFredette started that night. Thornton returned for the Kings win over Portlandon Thursday, while Fredette got a DNP-CD.Hes a heck of a talent, a guy that can flat-out scorer andcreate problems at the offensive end, Jackson said of Thornton. But at theend of the day, its about us. If we do what were supposed to do on both sidesof the basketball, well be just fine.

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