Good News, Better News As Golden State Warriors Get Blown Out At Home

Warriors Update—Jan. 28, 2010

New Orleans rookie Marcus Thornton knocked down an open trey at the eight-minute mark of the fourth quarter last night, stretching the Hornets' lead over the Warriors to 23.

With another Golden State loss secured and Chris Paul safely on the bench, our beloved Warriors Update crew cried uncle and left Oracle Arena. It was another meaningless fourth quarter for an irrelevant team, out of the playoff picture 44 games into the season.  

Yesterday’s par-for-the-course woeful performance was overshadowed by Oracle Arena buzz of Warriors news that was good, and got better. No, we are not drinking and texting simultaneously (we always remember the golden rule: drinking, driving, texting: only one at a time).

As harsh as it sounds, part of yesterday’s good news was the Warriors being undressed despite dressing 11 players. Supporters who double as believers (read: team-employed announcers and beat writers who need access) can no longer exercise their pre-packaged, pop-in-the-microwave excuses: the team is short handed; they are road weary; they are playing an elite team.

Jeez, even their best excuse, Monta is worn out, didn’t fly; Ellis was well rested, having had the previous four days off. 

(Which, by the way, reminds us that we’ve been thinking about the Warriors injury bug. It begs the question: is it just a coincidence that the Ws have more injuries than other teams? Or is there an issue with the strength and conditioning staff and program? Just saying…)

So the Dubs were blown out by an 8-16 road team that recently shed two rotation players for salary cap/luxury tax reasons (if you don’t think Devin Brown matters, recall the Dec. 23 Hornets-Warriors game. Brown started, played 25 minutes and chipped in with 11 points, two boards, two dimes and two steals).   

Last night’s performance was indicative of Golden State’s last 100 games. They came up way short, not even competitive. The naked truth is clear: management dismantled a very good 2007 playoff team, and have absolutely nothing to show for it.  

Perhaps this could be a springboard for change. Which leads us to…

Yesterday’s Better News: It was reported and confirmed that earlier in the day Larry Ellison, the fourth wealthiest person in the world, stated unequivocally that he would like to buy the Warriors. Let me repeat: Larry Ellison wants to buy the Warriors . This should be Shubert, or at least Radiohead, to the ears of any Golden State fan.  

By now, everyone agrees that any change is good change. But it’s better than that. The truth is, Ellison likes to win. We mean he really, really likes to win. One doesn’t build an empire like Oracle, amassing a $22 billion net worth without the drive and desire to claim victory at every turn. Moreover, his dedication to winning America’s Cup is almost unprecedented. 

Ellison is willing to do what it takes—hire the best advisors, put together the best team, spend what it takes to put his team in position to win it all. Sound like a good formula for the frozen tundra Warriors? In the words of everyone’s favorite helicopter-riding moose hunter, “you betcha!”

Apparently, the Ellison news conference went down like this: at the Oracle headquarters in Redwood City, CA, a post business announcement Q&A included the plea “can you please buy the Warriors?” Ellison quickly responded, “I’m trying, I’m trying.” Then, as if to underline the dysfunctional nature of the current Warrior franchise, he added: “Unfortunately, you can’t have a hostile takeover of a basketball team.”

It's true, no one can force a sale of the team. But fans can change the financial and emotional equation for the current owner. Then, who knows? Perhaps he tires of the public humiliation, the futility, the losing, the financial losses. Maybe he relents and puts a realistic price tag on the franchise he has run into the ground.  

So remember: friends don’t let friends attend this season’s Warriors games. Connect the dots: Less attendance, less revenue, more financial losses, increased desire to sell, asking price lowered, non-hostile transaction is completed.

We’re No. 28.  Here’s to hoping it gets worse, so it can get better.

As always, go Ws…