Let’s get one thing straight. The Golden State Warriors did not take a step back from their 06-07 season. Sure, the Warriors actually made the playoffs in 06-07. Sure they made history and knocked out the #1 seed as a #8. But let’s be real. If the Warriors met any team besides the Mavericks, they never would have made it out of the first round.
The Warriors improved their scoring from 106.5 ppg in 06-07 to 111 ppg in 07-08. The horrendous rebounding gap of -5 rpg in 06-07 was improved to a merely terrible -3.8 rpg in 07-08. They won more games, bumping up 42 wins to 48. This past season was in fact a step forward. It just so happened that every other team in the West took a bigger step.
That’s the good news. Here’s the bad. As of the signings of guard/forward Corey Maggette and forward/center Ronny Turiaf, the Warriors will be hard pressed to build upon last season’s performance. Sure, Maggette brings a nice scoring punch and Turiaf will be instant energy off the bench, but the loss of point guard Baron Davis won’t truly sting until we see some pressure games. The ones that go into overtime. The ones that go down to the last shot. Davis was the assists leader. He was the closer. He was the superstar answer to the ridiculous amount of talent at the guard (especially point guard) position in the Western Conference.
The ironic twist to all this is that the Warriors have a better chance to make the playoffs next season. Let’s not forget they were one key win away from a highly entertaining first round matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers. The Portland Trailblazers (who finished 10th last season) are a question mark even with their highly touted center Greg Oden making his NBA debut. The Denver Nuggets (who finished 8th last year) are a worse team with the loss of center Marcus Camby. As for Davis and his Clippers... we have 4 games to settle that score now don’t we?
So what do the Warriors have to address or avoid to keep us going in the right direction? The most glaring problem is the point guard position. We have one unproven backup in Marcus Williams. The plan is to move budding superstar Monta Ellis from shooting guard to point guard. My question is, why move a young player after his breakout season? Aren’t they worried it might impede his growth? If Ellis does not adjust or gets injured, the Warriors will have to shop around for a veteran to run the show.
This is where the trouble begins. The Detroit Pistons wanted to swap point guard Chauncy Billups for center Andris Biedrins. The Warriors weren’t interested but what is worrying is how they’re glossing over his role in this up and down tempo. Biedrins is one of those players that every other team is quietly keeping an eye on. Detroit swung first with the Billups offer. Expect other teams to take their shots as well.
Speaking of Biedrins, has anyone else noticed how perfect this guy’s hair is? How does a person survive four quarters of professional basketball with stylish hair intact? This requires further investigation.
There’s more at stake than just trying to win games. For the first time in a long time, the Warriors have fans. The type of fans that produce a sea of “We Believe” shirts during the playoffs. The type of fans whose rabid energy and relentless cheering give value to home court advantage. People might say it’s mostly bandwagon jumping, but there’s never a bandwagon if there’s nothing to celebrate. The fans appreciate that a weekend at the bar will end in a victory celebration. The fans appreciate that other teams and the national media must take the Warriors seriously. It was not long ago when most cheers were for the visiting team in Oakland. It was not long ago when the announcers had nothing good to say about the Warriors. It was always, Kobe Bryant is a great player. The Spurs are a great team. The Jazz are a classy organization. But now they have pride. They have an ego.
Play by play announcer Bob Fitzgerald proclaimed during a 20-point blowout “We’re going to have many games like this!” When the Warriors lose a close game, you can hear the edge in color commentator Jim Barnett’s voice. “They got away with one tonight and they know it.
The Warriors should have won this one.”
He believes.
So do we.

Insider’s Insight

THIS JUST IN

Monta Ellis suffered a high ankle sprain and tore his deltoid ligament playing a pickup game in his hometown of Jackson, Miss. He is expected to miss training camp and the first month (at least) of the upcoming NBA season.

OUTLOOK

Losing your best player for a month is a season ending proposition in the cut-throat Western Conference. Not only will the Warriors have to play exceptionally well in his absence, but Ellis will have to jump in cold; playing a new position with no practice or training under his belt.

REFLECTION

Nelson’s run and gun style gets wins, but not when it matters. His teams can beat any team on any night during the season, but fizzle out in the playoffs. His up and down tempo also burns out the players, which was evident at the end of last season.

FUTURE

Patience. Things won’t change much for two or three years. After that, the decline of the Suns, Spurs and Mavericks (all due to old age) will mean the Warriors should be moving up in the ranks. Assuming they find a new coach and Ellis fully recovers from his injury. Patience.

MATCH UPS TO WATCH
Too many games? Not enough time? Don’t worry.
Insider has selected the top 3 match ups you must watch this season.

Out with the old, in with the new. The Warriors are what the Suns used to be. Run up, run down, score, score, score.
Last season the Warriors officially took over as the kings of run.
The Suns will want to remind the Warriors that they did it and can still do it better.
These teams throw haymakers until someone drops. Don’t blink.

They took Davis from us. We took Maggette from them. Expect the Warriors to have a better season than the Clippers.
It might even come down to these teams fighting for the last playoff spot.
How perfect would that be if the entire season came down to an us or them situation against ex-savior Baron Davis?

These teams love to play each other. They split their last two games in nail biting, down to the wire fashion.
A good barometer for intestinal fortitude is how you respond to good old fashioned testiness. It’s not just about winning. It’s about pride.
Now that Davis is gone, who is going to step up when push comes to shove?

HISTORIC MOMENTS

2000 Regular Season - Epic shootout vs Lakers. Antawn Jamison and Kobe Bryant each scored 51 points in a Warriors win. At one point, Jamison and Bryant traded six straight baskets in the final two minutes of overtime.
2003 All Star Weekend - Jason Richardson wins second straight Slam Dunk contest, making the Warriors somewhat relevant to the national media. They even painted a mural of him in downtown Oakland.
2007 Playoffs - Historic upset of champion favorite Dallas Mavericks. This was somewhat offset the next round against the Utah Jazz. The Warriors almost resulted to thuggery after realizing they’re going to lose. It got so bad that at one point ex-Warrior Derek Fisher had to plead to Matt Barnes not to start a fight on the court.

WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?

1995 NBA Draft - Picking Joe Smith #1. They passed on Rasheed Wallace, Kevin Garnett, Jerry Stackhouse, Michael FInley -- I can’t go on this is too depressing.
2001 - Signing Antawn Jamison to an $84 million dollar deal. He was a nice guy and a decent player. He was not a superstar nor was he a franchise player. By the way, in the 1998 NBA draft they passed on Dirk Nowitzki and Paul Pierce, drafted Vince Carter, then traded Carter for Jamison.
2002 NBA Draft - Picking Mike Dunleavy, Jr. #3. They passed on Amare Stoudemire, Caron Butler, Tayshaun Prince, Carlos Boozer -- it would be safe to assume that the Warriors do not perform well with high draft picks.

Blazing speed. Capable of scoring at will. Humongous potential but I still question moving him to point guard. If it wasn’t broke, why fix it?
Needs a cool nickname.



Mr. Perfect Hair himself. Quick feet, great hands, horribly underutilized these past few seasons. Needs more touches to develop his post game.



The reason Davis leaving isn’t as devastating as it could have been. Best defender on the team, assumed new team captain. Will handle some point guard duties.



Poor man’s Kobe. Teamed with Jackson will be an intimidating duo of defenders. Teamed with Ellis... wait, which one of us is supposed to pass the ball?



Versatile forward who has consistency issues. He gets paid more than Jackson to do less. Ideally, they’d want to trade Harrington for a decent point guard.



Makes teams fun to watch. That is, until they get ground to pulp in the playoffs. The Warriors would be wise to start shopping for a new coach.