THE OPPONENT

The Warriors, contrary to November, fight. Monta Ellis plays 49 minutes a game (or something), Corey Maggette would be an All-Star on Neptune (rational voters there) and Stephen Curry has proven useful if not better altogether pleasant. For some reason, "wacky" has dissembled into "alarmingly curious," and the sheer talent on the roster allows for a nice bit of competitive behavior in the box score.

LAST TIME

Tyreke Evans introduced the Ellis-Curry pairing to a little something he calls EL BENO UDRIH. Kings won.

THE KEY BATTLE

I would've loved to have been able to write Kevin Martin vs. Curry, but alas it was not meant to be. So let's go with ... Evans vs. Curry! I assume Beno Udrih (who just murdered Golden State in November) will get another go in advance of Martin's return. Given how desperately Don Nelson wants to play Ellis and Curry together, he just has no answer to this riddle, and he really ought to just be glad Martin isn't back yet.

BOLD PROCLAMATION

A King will register a triple double, thanks to a Oracle-inspired spike in missed field goals and transition opportunities.

INTERESTING SIDESHOW

GSoM Night 8! Anyone taking the long escalator ride into the deathtrap? (Sucker.)

NUMERIC PREDICTION

Kings by 14. (Love you, Stan.)

DETAILS

Comcast and 1140 AM at 7:30PM. Just one game thread for a Friday night. Post-gamer at 9:45.