Pivot Points: Golden State's Stars Shine Bright Despite Broken Team

So, where do you turn when all hope for any chance at the postseason is lost, and the remainder of your season looks to play out in pretty much the same manner as the beginning?

This is the dilemma facing the Golden State Warriors who, after Tuesday night's game at Houston, now own a six-game losing streak and currently reside in the bottom of the Pacific Division basement at 13-34.

Things have steadily progressed from bad to worse for the Warriors, an exciting team but one which has no clue at all when it comes to winning basketball games on a consistent basis.

I have previously stated my opinion on what ails the Warriors, including a failure to defend, a lack of girth in the paint, and questionable management within the organization.

For better or worse, it seems the franchise has declined to make any moves regarding upgrades through trades or changes in management, so they have effectively declared the season devoid of purpose.

Maybe the Warriors' intentions are to improve through their guaranteed lottery spot or maybe they are waiting to cast their lot into the impending free-agent class of 2010, but those are future concerns.

While all may seem lost for the Warrior faithful, there are a few bright spots to ease the tension of a frustrating season, and they both efficiently coexist in the Golden State back court.

Guards Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry have been the diamonds in the rough of a year that started badly with the Stephen Jackson episode, and has continued under the clever ineptitude of coach Don Nelson.

I say clever because there was a time when Nelson was considered a great coach, but his recent struggles should be proof positive his success was determined by the quality of players he possessed, not his coaching acumen.

In Ellis, Nelson has one of the better scoring guards in the NBA, a player capable of creating his own shot and pulling up from 12-15 feet in traffic, displaying a knack for the hidden art of the mid-range jumper.

Ellis averages 26 points per game while handing out 5.4 assists per game, yet he was left off of the Western Conference All-Star team, a snub that has to do more with the state of his team than his accomplishments.

Even though Ellis has excelled, it would be hard to justify awarding him a spot based on the below average performance of his team, even if he has little to do with the pitiful state of the Warriors.

Ellis' back-court mate, Stephen Curry had recently been encountered with similar challenges in being recognized for his talents until he was awarded the NBA Rookie of the Month award for January.

Curry entered the league with the reputation of a scorer. Though he doesn't receive as much attention as fellow rookie point guards Tyreke Evans and Brandon Jennings, he has made large strides in his development.

His shooting percentage has increased each month and his scoring average now stands at 14.2 points and 4.7 assists per game, but more impressive is his ability on the defensive end.

Curry is not a big guard, but he utilizes his quickness well in the passing lanes and relies on his superior instincts to make him an above average man-to-man defender, not bad for his second year at the point guard position.

In addition, both Ellis and Curry have the benefit of youth, and assuming their games progress on a natural course, the pair has a chance to be very special in the future—but will it be with the Warriors?

Eventually, Golden state will have some tough choices to make, because the tandem of Ellis and Curry will soon tire of perpetual failure and a replay of the Jackson incident could manifest.

For now the fans can find solace in the glowing achievements of their amazingly skilled back-court, but unless the powers-that-be make a commitment to the franchise, they too may fade away into Golden State's past.

That would be a travesty, because when constructing a team, they are two of the more sturdy blocks to build around, and they have been the brightest parts of an otherwise dismal Golden State season.