Ten. That's how old I was the last time my favorite basketball team made the playoffs. Not the last time they won a series, or went to the Conference Finals, or even won a championship. Just the last time they actually made it into the postseason.
I'll be 23 years old in July. Pretty pathetic right?
For whatever reason, I have maintained my loyalty to the Golden State Warriors over the past 13 years—we have missed the playoffs longer than half my life. And I'm not going to lie: It hasn't been easy.
How did I survive all this time while most Bay Area fans jumped ship? I don t think there is any one answer to that question. Maybe I'm a masochist at heart who gets a thrill out of pain. Perhaps the classy play of Muggsy Bogues and Gilbert Arenas had something to do with it. Or maybe (and this is probably the real reason), I just can't get enough of Bay Area sports.
Either way, it's in the past. THE WARRIORS ARE IN THE PLAYOFFS—and it's time to celebrate.
But before we break open the champagne, we should perhaps answer a pertinent question: How were the fellas finally able to break away from their losing ways?
Something about this year's team was different from the very beginning—and it started with the coach.
When I got the news this past summer that Don Nelson was taking over for head coach Mike Montgomery, I was ecstatic. Not that I hated the old college coach who once taught me my fundamentals at Stanford basketball camp. But this was old Nellie we were talking about—a well-respected man, known for his small ball and crazy four-guard lineups.
It was 1994 when the Warriors were last in the playoffs. Bill Clinton wasn't even halfway through his first term as President and Tupac Shakur was still alive.
As for the Warriors, they finished an astounding 50-32. Things were looking good...until the Phoneix Suns swept them out of the first round of the playoffs.
All in all however, it was quite an accomplishment for one of the most notoriously terrible teams in the league. The mastermind behind it all?
None other than Don Nelson. Funny then, now that the Warriors are back in the playoffs, that Don Nelson is once again their head coach.
But Nellie isn't the only reason for the Warriors' turnaround.
This year's squad features an array of talent, starting with its leader Baron Davis. The former UCLA player and godfather of rapper The Game's son is an injury-prone power point guard who is considered to be one of the game's best when healthy.
The other man in the backcourt is Jason Richardson—a longtime Warrior whose athleticism and hops are nearly unmatched by anyone in the league. With JRich having won back-to-back dunk contests, everyone knew that the Richardson/Davis backcourt would result in a lot of SportsCenter top 10 highlights—and boy has it ever.
Adding to the mix are former first-round draft choices Monta Ellis and Andris Biedrins, both of whom are younger than myself and in their second and third years in the league, respectively. And then there is Mickael Pietrus out of France, who with his great defensive skills is pretty much a poor man's Bruce Bowen.
All of which begs the question: With so much talent on the roster, why did it take so long just to make it to the playoffs?
For starters, both Ellis and Biedrins seriously stepped up their games this season. Both enjoying the first significant playing time of their careers, the two have flourished in Nellieball, and are both top contenders for the NBA's Most Improved Player award. And with Baron healthy for the majority of the year (at least by Baron Davis standards), a huge midseason trade for Al Harrington and Stephen Jackson, and a monster run at the end of the season, a playoff feeling erupted amongst Golden State fans.
Finally, after all these years, we no longer have to wait for playoff basketball by the Bay.
Let's also not forget to give credit to Chris Mullin for putting the pieces together. Mullin's decision to pull the trigger on trading Blue Devil bust Mike Dunleavy and Troy "Big Dumb Oaf" Murphy for Harrington and Jackson seemingly put the Warriors over the hump. It was Mullin who shook things up and turned things around in Oakland. And as far as I can see, there's nothing but upside in the franchise's future for years to come.
As for this year's first round matchup against the best team in the NBA?
Truth is, it really doesn't matter who wins—it's a series that I've waited 13 years to see.
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about 1 year ago
Apart from the mischaracterisations about the status of Run TMC going into going into the last Warriors playoff series ( Ritchmond was no longer on the team at tht time and Hardaway was injured throughout the series) I wholeheartedly agree with John's optimism about the current crop of Warriors.
It's been a long time coming, and though we've seen some great talent come through Golden State, this is the first time in years that the team has put together a proper balance between talanted youth and motivated veterans. I particularly look forward to seeing how both Monta Ellis and Jason Richardson respond to a playoff atmosphere, since their play will likely determine how far the Warriors survive throughout the playoffs.
Even if the Warriors don't make it out of the first round this year, I feel like fans in the Bay Area will have something to look forward to for years to come. And for anyone thinking that this year's Warriors are just last year's Clippers, I'd like to point out that massive chasm that differentiates Mike Dunleavy's coaching ability from Don Nelson's. So long as Nellie stays away from chicken wings, strippers, and anything else that's likely to give him a heart attack, we'll be just fine.
about 1 year ago
Yeah, Finally!!!! is right. I can't believe it. I've been a fan for my whole life, warriors camp etc. Sunday night is going to be a fine night indeed. We're +10, i'll take it
about 1 year ago
Hey guys,
Just wanted to let you know that it was my editing mistake regarding Run T-M-C in the playoffs.
I should have fact checked this bit of information before publishing John's article, as I was indeed the one who added the Run TMC reference in there. Shasghar is right that Richmond was no longer around by then.
We strive for the best at Bleacher Report but occasionally mistakes are made please accept my apologies.
I will remove the reference immediately.
about 1 year ago
The team was led by Sprewell, Webber, Chris Mullin and Avery Johnson.
about 1 year ago
Oh man!! These playoffs are going to be unforgettable because of the '07 Warriors are in it. Let's hope they don't take their 3-0 regular season record versus the Mavs this year too haphazardly. I mean the first season's over and now the playoffs begin, and they have to realize they are going up against the defending Western Conference champs.
With Ellis and Davis guarding Terry, I believe that the combination of muscle and quickness will wear him down and make him as much of non-factor in this series as is possible. Too bad there is really no one to guard Nowitski - who in my opinion is the league M.V.P.- but Biedrens and Harrington should give the mult-faceted 'Witz some tough bangin' in the post and quick feet on the perimeter.
I just can't wait because I'm goin' to the Warriors vs. Mavs game on the 27th and maybe 29th...First playoff game ever!!!
Let's do this...Warriors in 5
about 1 year ago
John,
This is one of the best written articles I have read on this website. Loved every part of it. Great points!
about 1 year ago
John, true fans never give up hope that their hometown teams will finally step it up and make a run. Jumping bandwagons is easy, sticking with your team is painful at times. I applaud your loyalty and hope your boys make you proud.
about 1 year ago
Lets go Warriors!
about 1 year ago
FIRST PLAYOFF WIN IN 15 YEARS! Looks like the Warriors aren't just happy to be here
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