April 17, 2008

San Jose, CA (UWIRE) -- The Golden State Warriors aren't going back to the playoffs.

After nearly reaching the 50-win mark, the Warriors will be missing out on the 16-team party. For fans throughout the Bay Area, it was a heartbreaker seeing the Warriors run out of steam down the stretch.

Looking back at the season, there were a lot of things the team did well and many more things from which they could learn to improve.

The season asked for new stars to emerge. With the draft-day trade of fan-favorite Jason Richardson, the Warriors asked third-year guard Monta Ellis and fourth-year center Andris Biedrins to become the new sidekicks for captains Baron Davis and Stephen Jackson.

Ellis improved his scoring average by nearly four points, and Biedrins improved on scoring and added more than 30 percent to his free throw percentage.

It looked like a recipe for success.

With most of the roster intact from last season's playoff run, the team was ready to make a burst out in the competitive Western Conference.

But the team staggered out of the gates. Jackson had to serve a seven-game suspension to begin the season, and without the heart and soul of the franchise, the Warriors lost their first six games. Imagine if Jackson didn't have to miss those games. If they would have won the three of those six games, they would be in position to make the playoffs.

The team improved offensively and defensively. The Warriors were the highest-scoring team in the NBA for the majority of the season, and defensively, they forced more turnovers than any other team in the league.

Not enough.

When Richardson was traded, I knew the Warriors weren't returning to the postseason. The trade that brought rookie power forward Brandan Wright to the team, along with the team's first-round pick of sharpshooter Marco Belinelli, couldn't compensate for Richardson's departure. And with the Western Conference evolving into a powerhouse, it proved to be difficult for such a young team to return to the playoffs.

We could blame the Warriors for not making a move at the trade deadline. We could blame the signing of aging - now retired - forward Chris Webber. But the real problem was the team's execution late in games, and eventually, at the end of season.

There were plenty of losses that should not have happened along with fourth-quarter leads lost down the stretch. Losses to the Nets, Pacers, Wolves, Bulls, Hawks, Bobcats and Lakers were losses that separated the Warriors from the contenders. Playoff-bound teams finished those games with wins, and the Warriors didn't.

After the 0-6 start, the Warriors went 40-17. The team didn't win half of its remaining games since.

During the last portion of the season, Mickael Pietrus missed nine games due to injury, Jackson scored a total of 14 points in three key losses to the Spurs, Mavericks and Hornets, and Matt Barnes never played consistently. And what was with Davis sitting out the entire second half of Monday's crucial game in Phoenix, the Warriors final chance to qualify for the playoffs? I looked at my milk carton during the game, wondering if I would see any of their faces printed on the side.

But do you know what? I'm actually relieved the Warriors aren't going to the playoffs. Unlike the experience I had at Oracle Arena during last season's playoff upset of the Mavericks, the Warriors weren't going to repeat their "We Believe" magic. The team didn't have that swagger down the stretch. The clutch shots weren't there, and more importantly, the fans weren't there.

Last year, the Oracle was the loudest arena in the entire world. Why? Because the loyal fans poured their hearts and souls into the team even after 13 years of futility. Since then, people jumped on the bandwagon. Bandwagon fans would fill up the arena, depriving real fans of the chance to go to games. The bandwagoners don't know how to be loud. The arena was not rocking, unlike last season.

I was at the game when Richardson, who had spent his entire career in Oakland, made his much-anticipated return to the Bay with the Bobcats. When his name was announced, there was no deafening cheer he deserved. The arena was filled with mediocre claps and cheers.

And by the way, doing the wave while the Warriors are shooting free throws, not a smart choice.

Well, the Warriors aren't the "cool thing" anymore. They didn't make the playoffs (like I predicted they wouldn't), and they might not be any better next year. The Bay Area teams are back in a playoff drought, except for the Sharks and SaberCats.

So put away your Baron Davis jersey that you just bought last week. Toss your fake, eBay-bought "We Believe" T-shirts away, and please get off the bandwagon.

Oh well, baseball season is here. So go A's and Giants?

(C) 2008 Spartan Daily via UWIRE