let's talk Warriors
First, I want to get all this negativity out there and make it clear that as it stands, the NBA playoff system is full of shit. If you couldn't tell by last years playoffs, PLEASE OPEN YOUR EYES AND SEE WHAT YOU HAVE THIS YEAR. In the eastern conference, 1st seed Boston and 2nd seed Detroit are separated by 6 games. That's not unusual seeing as how good Boston is with 55 wins to this point and Detroit with 49 wins. But please believe, the majority of their regular season games are in their conference, being the junior varsity eastern conference. How can you tell me both conferences are equal and that the best teams will come out to play the championship if in the Western conference the margin between 1st and 9th (9th out of only 8 possible playoff spots) is separated by THE SAME 6 GAME MARGIN AS IN THE EAST'S 1 AND 2. How does this effect who comes out the best in each conference you may ask? If every team in the west is in a dog fight every night just to make the playoffs, while the 1 and 2 seed just need to be on cruise control until the very least the conference finals (where i have no doubt Boston and Detroit will meet) who do you think is going to be fresher to play the championship series?
I have sad my peace on what the way the playoff system is, now to MY Golden State Warriors and the joy that comes with bleeding blue and gold.
If you weren't convinced by the record (43-26) then tonight's game against the Laker's should legitimize the Warrior's as one of the NBA elite teams. Granted the win was ugly in that we blew a half team lead of 26 points and fell behind mid way through the 4th quarter. The Warrior's gritted it out and played tough, rugged, ball, and played at the slow methodical pace of the Laker's. Tonight's win speaks volumes of the Warrior's in that they're not just spoilers anymore, if the NBA was set up in a 16 team playoff, the Warrior's would be 10 by the fact that the 6 at large teams get nod for a top 6 seed, but they would be able to match up with Orlando, Houston, Dallas, or Phoenix to have a legitimate chance at moving into the second round.
I don't want to spend this entire blog glorifying the Warrior's. True fans know what kind of team this is and that record is not a fluke, especially in the western conference. What I want to spend time talking about is the type of ball that the Warrior's play and what the future holds for this team. Ya the Warrior's have been amazing since the half point in the 06-07 season until and all of the 07-08 season, but what kind team will they be in the future when Baron and Jackson move on.
I can safely say no one plays the style of basketball the Warrior's play at anymore. In the early 2000's it was the Kings playing an up and down game, exciting basketball, high scoring, but still with the balance of Webber and Divac's to set the tone in the half-court with solid passing, flawless execution, and sharp shooters on the outside. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough to get by the Laker's in their prime. Shaq, Kobe, and Phil had the best combination of personnel to run the triangle and control the pace of the game on the both ends night in and night out to get to 3 championships.
Next we have the Mavs of old with Steve Nash, Michael Finley, and a slue of score first defense later type players. A few different looks were used during Don Nelson's tenure with in Dallas, but one thing is certain, he brought this team up from practically nothing and found all the players that gave the Mavs the identity that they have now. During the bulk of Nash's time with Dallas, Nellie tried different combination of the same high octane offense. One year he went with the 2 point guard look with Nick Van Axel playing 2 guard and trying to shoot the lights out of teams from the perimeter. Then came the 2 twan's in Jamison and Walker splitting time with no inside presence what so ever. The Dallas teams of the Nellie and Nash teams were exciting, but they never really had the ability to string together consistency because of the overstock of talent they had and the inability to play real lock down, high activity defense.
Although it didn't work out for that stretch of time, the Sonics would be the next team to try to run and gun their way into success. Lead by coach Nate McMillan, the Sonics ran teams out the gym with very little hard defense but fast pace and extremely hot shooters. With a one two punch of Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis, the Sonics were set to upset the Spur's in the first round, just a few late game jumpers and a buzzer beater could have changed basketball history. Unfortunately, the team was lead by an underachieving Luke Ridnour and too much was asked for in Vladimir Radmonavich to be a consistent number 3 guy. And so the team fell apart and decided to take on a full rebuilding project in 07-08 where the future looks real good for the them.
Then came the Suns (pre Shaq). If it wasn't for the Stoudemire and Diaw suspensions in the post season last year, the Suns might just the NBA champions with their unique style of fast pass, high scoring, little defense style of play. 3 straight years the Suns have been legitimate title contenders, with 2 time (possibly 3 time) MVP in Steve Nash. But it wasn't enough and the Suns could never catch a break. It always felt like the Suns were fight for the lives with teams always catching breaks against them. Now that the suns have traded away Shawn Marion and have acquired Shaq, the style of play has definitely changed. Although they are able to revert back to old success, they can't do it with Shaq. They have to find the balance of playing both styles. Unfortunately, this doesn't help the case for the high octane style of basketball.
Now, present day Warrior's. I'll make this short, no one has ever seen a playoff race be this close before. 6 games separated 1 through 9 in the western conference. The Warrior's were said to be a fluke and a team that plays on gimics. They players on the team were sad to be too emotional and when it came down to end of game tight situations, the Warriors would fold. This has yet to be the case all season. Ever since dropping the first 6 games of the season the Warrior's are 43-20 without losing back to back games since the first 6. Also Baron Davis, Stephen Jackson, and Monta Ellis are on track to each averaging 20 points a game for the season. The Warrior's are the top scoring team in the league and lead the league in steals. What my point is, Nellie was the perfect coach for this team. The players he traded for brought their own toughness that was lacking from Nellie's Dallas days and now gives me the versatility to not just try to outscore the other team, but to really be physical on the defense end knowing they can make mistakes and still run the ball back down the other teams throat.
The rest of the Warrior's schedule is as follows: LA, Portland, @ Denver, Dallas, @ San Antonio, @ Dallas, @ Memphis, @ New Orleans, Sac, Den, LAC, @ Pho, Sea.
There are 6 must win games: Por, @ Mem, Sac, Den, LAC, and Sea, Sea being the last game of the season. That will bring the Warriors to 49 which might not be enough. So that means they need to win 2 more games. If (AND WHEN) the Warrior's handle business against one of the tougher teams left on the schedule they will be at 51 wins which should be enough to lock up the number 8 seed.
It's exciting times in the history of sports right now. No other time can I remember the regular season this wide open where standings change daily and no one is safely in the playoffs. But, after games like tonight, I have no doubt that the Warrior's will rise to the occasion and handle the teams they have to in order to make the playoffs and not just be spoilers, but legitimate contenders to go to the next round.
Every game I bleed blue and gold. Win or loss I take every game in as passionately as the last. That's all I know how to do. I am every bit the meaning of the word fanatic and I will stick by my teams as long as I have love for the games the give excitement and magic that only sports can. I can take the chops of losing, but I will always hold ultimate optimism that the next game will one that goes down in history.
Here's to a playoff birth for the Warrior's, may the future hold nothing but fond memories yet to be made and the blood, sweat, and tears, not just shed by the players battling every night, but by the fans that live and die with every second of the game.
I have sad my peace on what the way the playoff system is, now to MY Golden State Warriors and the joy that comes with bleeding blue and gold.
If you weren't convinced by the record (43-26) then tonight's game against the Laker's should legitimize the Warrior's as one of the NBA elite teams. Granted the win was ugly in that we blew a half team lead of 26 points and fell behind mid way through the 4th quarter. The Warrior's gritted it out and played tough, rugged, ball, and played at the slow methodical pace of the Laker's. Tonight's win speaks volumes of the Warrior's in that they're not just spoilers anymore, if the NBA was set up in a 16 team playoff, the Warrior's would be 10 by the fact that the 6 at large teams get nod for a top 6 seed, but they would be able to match up with Orlando, Houston, Dallas, or Phoenix to have a legitimate chance at moving into the second round.
I don't want to spend this entire blog glorifying the Warrior's. True fans know what kind of team this is and that record is not a fluke, especially in the western conference. What I want to spend time talking about is the type of ball that the Warrior's play and what the future holds for this team. Ya the Warrior's have been amazing since the half point in the 06-07 season until and all of the 07-08 season, but what kind team will they be in the future when Baron and Jackson move on.
I can safely say no one plays the style of basketball the Warrior's play at anymore. In the early 2000's it was the Kings playing an up and down game, exciting basketball, high scoring, but still with the balance of Webber and Divac's to set the tone in the half-court with solid passing, flawless execution, and sharp shooters on the outside. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough to get by the Laker's in their prime. Shaq, Kobe, and Phil had the best combination of personnel to run the triangle and control the pace of the game on the both ends night in and night out to get to 3 championships.
Next we have the Mavs of old with Steve Nash, Michael Finley, and a slue of score first defense later type players. A few different looks were used during Don Nelson's tenure with in Dallas, but one thing is certain, he brought this team up from practically nothing and found all the players that gave the Mavs the identity that they have now. During the bulk of Nash's time with Dallas, Nellie tried different combination of the same high octane offense. One year he went with the 2 point guard look with Nick Van Axel playing 2 guard and trying to shoot the lights out of teams from the perimeter. Then came the 2 twan's in Jamison and Walker splitting time with no inside presence what so ever. The Dallas teams of the Nellie and Nash teams were exciting, but they never really had the ability to string together consistency because of the overstock of talent they had and the inability to play real lock down, high activity defense.
Although it didn't work out for that stretch of time, the Sonics would be the next team to try to run and gun their way into success. Lead by coach Nate McMillan, the Sonics ran teams out the gym with very little hard defense but fast pace and extremely hot shooters. With a one two punch of Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis, the Sonics were set to upset the Spur's in the first round, just a few late game jumpers and a buzzer beater could have changed basketball history. Unfortunately, the team was lead by an underachieving Luke Ridnour and too much was asked for in Vladimir Radmonavich to be a consistent number 3 guy. And so the team fell apart and decided to take on a full rebuilding project in 07-08 where the future looks real good for the them.
Then came the Suns (pre Shaq). If it wasn't for the Stoudemire and Diaw suspensions in the post season last year, the Suns might just the NBA champions with their unique style of fast pass, high scoring, little defense style of play. 3 straight years the Suns have been legitimate title contenders, with 2 time (possibly 3 time) MVP in Steve Nash. But it wasn't enough and the Suns could never catch a break. It always felt like the Suns were fight for the lives with teams always catching breaks against them. Now that the suns have traded away Shawn Marion and have acquired Shaq, the style of play has definitely changed. Although they are able to revert back to old success, they can't do it with Shaq. They have to find the balance of playing both styles. Unfortunately, this doesn't help the case for the high octane style of basketball.
Now, present day Warrior's. I'll make this short, no one has ever seen a playoff race be this close before. 6 games separated 1 through 9 in the western conference. The Warrior's were said to be a fluke and a team that plays on gimics. They players on the team were sad to be too emotional and when it came down to end of game tight situations, the Warriors would fold. This has yet to be the case all season. Ever since dropping the first 6 games of the season the Warrior's are 43-20 without losing back to back games since the first 6. Also Baron Davis, Stephen Jackson, and Monta Ellis are on track to each averaging 20 points a game for the season. The Warrior's are the top scoring team in the league and lead the league in steals. What my point is, Nellie was the perfect coach for this team. The players he traded for brought their own toughness that was lacking from Nellie's Dallas days and now gives me the versatility to not just try to outscore the other team, but to really be physical on the defense end knowing they can make mistakes and still run the ball back down the other teams throat.
The rest of the Warrior's schedule is as follows: LA, Portland, @ Denver, Dallas, @ San Antonio, @ Dallas, @ Memphis, @ New Orleans, Sac, Den, LAC, @ Pho, Sea.
There are 6 must win games: Por, @ Mem, Sac, Den, LAC, and Sea, Sea being the last game of the season. That will bring the Warriors to 49 which might not be enough. So that means they need to win 2 more games. If (AND WHEN) the Warrior's handle business against one of the tougher teams left on the schedule they will be at 51 wins which should be enough to lock up the number 8 seed.
It's exciting times in the history of sports right now. No other time can I remember the regular season this wide open where standings change daily and no one is safely in the playoffs. But, after games like tonight, I have no doubt that the Warrior's will rise to the occasion and handle the teams they have to in order to make the playoffs and not just be spoilers, but legitimate contenders to go to the next round.
Every game I bleed blue and gold. Win or loss I take every game in as passionately as the last. That's all I know how to do. I am every bit the meaning of the word fanatic and I will stick by my teams as long as I have love for the games the give excitement and magic that only sports can. I can take the chops of losing, but I will always hold ultimate optimism that the next game will one that goes down in history.
Here's to a playoff birth for the Warrior's, may the future hold nothing but fond memories yet to be made and the blood, sweat, and tears, not just shed by the players battling every night, but by the fans that live and die with every second of the game.