Sports Radio Service


		Warriors fired up and ready for second half By David Zizmor February 18, 2008

	The Golden State Warriors went into this weekend's All-Star break with a really good record 32-20 with a .615 winning percentage and with that winning percentage if the Warriors to finish up at .615 that would give them 50 wins. Obviously they don't have that many wins and haven't won that many in a long time and not since original Nelson days that winning percentage also puts the Warriors in a big fat tie for seventh place in the West which we all know is super duper competitive. The Warriors have to feel good about themselves considering the Warriors were 0-6 and now they're sitting here at 32-20 and having a legitimate shot at being in the playoffs despite the west being so difficult and the Warriors obviously have some problems to worry about that Baron Davis has been a little bit slow lately but the Warriors have had a lot of time to rest here. The fact is that Davis didn't go to the All-Star game in New Orleans even though he deserved it and the fact that he didn't go gave him a nice long rest for his knees and legs and hopefully regain some strength for this run in the second half as they approached the playoffs. The break also gave him a chance to just get healthy, there are just a number of guys on the Warriors that are banged up and getting to relax over the break that's always a plus also Brandon Wright for instance the rookie gets his braces taken off over the break that always helps and nobody likes having their braces on that's always annoying my big brother was really happy when he lost his braces and I'm sure Wright is ecstatic. The thing with the Warriors is they have to be in every game the rest of the way. There's really no chance for breaks you can't lose games to teams like Minnesota and Chicago which is what they did when they closed out the month of January it just can't happen, they just can't lose the games they're suppose to win. The Warriors have a lot of games in the Western Conference so every one of those make a big difference in the playoffs. A win or two or a loss or two could be the difference between making the playoffs or not. So the Warriors have to use this time they're resting to their advantage the Warriors have to come into this second half re-energized ready to go and make a huge run like they did last season after the big trade. At the end of February that's when the Warriors went on the their big run that pushed them into the playoffs by just a measly game from the last night of the season last year. The Warriors are in better position this year but their also facing tougher competition this year. Last year the teams the Warriors were battling with the Clippers, the Lakers, the Hornets they were all 42 win teams all right in the at .500 zone this year this could be one of the greatest all time playoff teams ever. If you look back in the history of the 8 playoff teams system where 8 teams from each conference make it no team has won 46 games or more has ever missed a playoff. This year if the teams hold to their current paces you could have three teams miss the playoffs with 46 or more wins that's how good the west is. That's not considering that the west has gotten better remember the Lakers have just traded for Pau Gasol, the Mavericks may or may not be getting Jason Kidd but if they do it'll be "oh my goodness" that's crazy Kidd is one of the top point guards ever and he'd be heading back home to Dallas where he started back in the day. The trade and the moves this team has been making is making the west more and more difficult and Shaquille O'Neil going to Phoenix I mean what’s that all about? The Western Conference is just absolutely loaded and as good as the Warriors are and as exciting as they are they have so many tough teams to face in the west that it's a shame and it's a shame that some of these teams have to lose because the Warriors are one of the most exciting teams by all accounts to watch in the NBA. Everybody loves watching them we've actually seen them on TNT and ESPN as national games of the week a number of times this year already whereas in the past 15 years you could count on one hand how many times they've been on those networks. So everybody knows how exciting the Warriors are that they're good and they're fun to watch but they could still be on the outside looking in when the playoffs arrive if they don't hold together and this is a team that clearly has to worry about injuries and if Baron Davis goes down they're in big trouble. David Zizmor does a weekly report on the Warriors and you can catch David on Sportstalk 1690 KFSG Sacramento.