Not the Warriors' year (yet again) Pt. 1

2/24 - GS 90 Clips 103 (box)

2/25 - GS 85 Lakers 102 (box)


After the two double-digit losses to both LA teams this weekend, I'm pretty much convinced that this isn't going to be the Warriors' year to make the postseason. I know...they've come enticingly close to the coveted 8th seed in the West, but they just aren't getting it done as these two crucial losses illustrate.

Don't get me wrong. I haven't given up all hope for the Warriors' future. In fact, I think their long-term outlook is one of the brightest in the League (exhibits A and B).

So what's up with this crew? Off the top of my head, I can point to a few factors that are holding them back from the next level:

1. Baron Davis - Yes...I never thought I'd say it, but Baron is a major culprit. As advertised before we got him, he's very injury-prone. When you have to have your knee scoped midseason, you've got problems. I understand Baron is a dynamic PG and is a floor leader the likes of which we haven't seen here in a while (see our distinguished line of PG's: Mookie Blalock, Vonteego Cummings, Speedy Claxton, etc.). But I'm sure I'm not alone when I say that he could be doing so much more.

Do you remember when the Warriors first acquired him? There was this 10-game stretch or so where Baron was going nuts. Not so much scoring the ball, but dishing it and getting his teammates involved like there was no tomorrow. He looked like a videogame character out there w/ his fancy no-look dimes, yo-yo ballhandling, etc.

What the hell happened to that guy? We see him in flashes here and there, but for the most part we see a Baron that will take ill-advised pull-up 3's before setting up the offense, look for his own offense before getting his teammates involved, etc.

I firmly believe that Baron, with his court vision and feel for the game, could lead the league in assists easily if he really put his mind to it.

Did I mention the guy is injury-prone?

And that he hasn't played a full 82 games since the 01-02 season?

*gulp*

2. Lack of a true post presence - Most teams that make the playoffs have a legit, inside banger to provide offense and D down low (check out Elton Brand, Boozer, the Pistons' interchangeable bigs). It's so key to have a guy you can rely on to get you 20-10 on a nightly basis and to make the defense have to worry about watching the paint as well as the perimeter...it just opens things up more.

I can't really say that the Warriors have that guy. Biedrins would be the closest player, but I still think he's a year or two away. I'm really impressed by his skill-set (nimble feet, good nose for the hoop, soft hands, shotblocking). That being said, I project him to being a finesse-type C for us...not the low-post beast we need.

Who knows...if he bulks up to 265 (from his current 245, which seems hard to believe) and develops a Rasheed-esque mean streak...we might be onto something.

Until then, I hope Mully has Paul Millsap on speed dial.

(to be continued...)