Azubuike disagrees with Jackson: ‘I gotta keep it real'

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Last week, Stephen Jackson made a bold declaration.

"My Warriors team would beat today's Warriors team," Jackson said. "I guarantee that. I guarantee that."

What does Kelenna Azubuike think about that?

"I totally disagree. I love Stack Jack. He has a lot of pride. He loves that 'We Believe' team. But this team is just better," Azubuike said on KNBR 1050 on Tuesday. "They have more closers, they close better, they're better in crunch time. Yeah, we beat No. 1 seed Dallas Mavericks, but that next Utah series, we couldn't make free throws when they counted, we just couldn't close them out. We lost some games we should have won."

In Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Jazz, the Warriors led by seven early in the fourth quarter, before falling 116-112.

In Game 2, the Warriors led by three with 16 seconds left. Mickael Pietrus missed two free throws and the Jazz got a bucket to make it a one point game.

Baron Davis then split a pair of free throws with 6.2 seconds left, and Deron Williams tied it up with 2.3 seconds remaining. The Warriors ultimately lost in OT, 127-117.

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In Game 5, the score was tied with about six minutes remaining, but Utah pulled away to win the series with a 100-87 victory.

In addition, "the talent across the board is better on this Warriors team right now," Azubuike said. "And the shooting is way better on this Warriors team. The 'We Believe' team had some talent, but I gotta give it to this team, even though I'd love to pick the 'We Believe' Warriors because I was on that team.

"But I can't do it. I gotta keep it real."

The 2006-07 Warriors averaged 106.5 points and 23.8 assists per game, while shooting 35.6 percent from deep. Their 104.5 defensive rating was 18th in the league.

The current Warriors average 115.3 points and 29.1 assists per game, while shooting 41.9 percent from beyond the arc. Their 100.1 defensive rating is fifth best.

The "We Believe" Warriors won 42 regular season games. The defending champions are currently 54-5.

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