<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">OKLAHOMA CITY - Warriors coach Mike Montgomery addressed the team in the locker room earlier on the road trip. He lauded the players' effort, praised their competitiveness, acknowledged their togetherness. But even Montgomery, who earned his stripes in the public service announcement that is college basketball, can't get past the results. Even a teacher at heart, with a soft spot for the less-talented hard workers, understands this league is about the end results. "It was probably a little collegial," Montgomery admitted. "I suppose you're not supposed to do that. "This is a bottom-line deal. There's no ifs ands or butts. There's no graduating people, building character, molding men and all that other stuff you can attach to a college situation. This is the pros." Wednesday's 114-109 overtime loss to the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets at the Ford Center epitomized Montgomery's two worlds. Everything that makes Montgomery proud was on display Wednesday. The Warriors played hard. They matched grit with a desperate Hornets team still fighting for the playoffs. But they lost. Again. That's six straight. Not only have the Warriors been officially eliminated from the playoffs, but only the Portland Trail Blazers have a worse record in the Western Conference. The Warriors are now tied with Orlando for the sixth-worst record in the 30-team NBA. Houston, which played much of the year without Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming, has a better record than the Warriors. Seattle, which fired its coach in-season, has a better record, too. The one-man shows in Minnesota and Los Angeles have produced more victories. "That's very depressing when you put it like that," center Adonal Foyle said. But to a man, they will tell you it's not enough to play hard, though there is something to be said for not tanking the rest of a lost season. It's not enough to come close only to crumble down the stretch. An "A" for effort doesn't make the grade. Tugging the heartstrings with testimony of gumption doesn't excuse being No. 14 among the conference's 15 teams. "You should play hard," forward Mike Dunleavy said after totaling 19 points, six rebounds and five assists. "Everybody loves basketball, enjoys playing it. We're paid a lot of money to do it. You should play hard. That's a given. ... Playing hard is only half the battle. We've got to be better at a lot of things." Each player in the locker room contends the Warriors (30-44) are better than they're end results. They all publicly vouch for the team's talent and potential, and certainly, they've got some young players who are only going to get better. They regularly bring up how they're losing games late because of little things, which is partly true as they've lost 25 games in the final five minutes. "We're better than that obviously," Foyle said. "We're so much better than our record. It's enough to (just) play hard if you're completely outmatched and you don't have the power to compete. But clearly we have the power." But if numbers are the ultimate judge, as is the case in the NBA, the Warriors are on their way to their worst season in either of the last four. They must win four of their next eight contests just to match last year's record. Throw in the hope entering this campaign, considering the conviction with which members of the organization used the P-word, and to many this is already the worst of the 12 consecutive seasons the Warriors have missed the playoffs. "You are what your record says, so we're a 30-win team right now," Dunleavy said. "No matter how you slice it, we've got 30 wins. That's how good we are." In the end, that's just not very good.</div> Source
Other shoe dropping. When did you think it was over? I thought it was over when Mullin didn't make a move before the trading deadline. Too many problems with this team and Mullin was either too stubborn to recognize them, over estimated the team, just plain naive or a combination of the above. He even said that his staff will go into the all-star weekend to sit down and "evaluate" the team. Gee, I thought it was HIS job to constantly evaluate the team and major or minor tweaks when necessary. No wonder polls show that Mullin is the third worst GM behind Isiah Thomas and Kevin McHale .
Yes, the Warriors are really 50-38, they're just playing a joke on the bay area. Mullin is a rube with very little on his challenged mind. He basically signed what we already had and brought Baron in to lead this group. Baron let the team down by not being in basketball condition. Yesterday Elie challenged Baron to step up his conditioning, Baron says he will accept the challenge. Wow, thanks Baron. Will that be next year, will you workout in between games and your film production duties? Baron is not a committed ball player. He is a legend in his own mind with nothing to back it up. Poor Baron was upset that he was not an allstar, not invited to tryout for the Olympic team etc. Hello, Mr. Davis, maybe better shot selection, finish at the rim, distribute the ball to team, and most importantly play consistent defense would improve your status. Baron Davis is the Warriors achilles heel. We were all giddy with anticipation for the season to start. A new year with a new leader and then reality set in. Baron is a mediocre point guard. He shoots a low percentage, pounds the ball for most of the shot clock and then clanks one off the rim. This has been the most aggravating season in recent memory. The Warriors are a selfish bunch of ill matched athletes. The only positive I have seen this season is the improved play of Biedrins and the drafting of Monta Ellis. Montgomery is still overmatched and quite frankly I am tired of his passive and stubborn approach to the pro game. Let Keith Smart coach this team and send Montgomery back to Palo Alto.
This season has been hurtful. I don't think anyone of us expected the Warriors to have another less than medicore year. Our expectations were higher than ever just to be shot down once again. I'm tired of losing, I'm tired of not playing any meaningful games past April. You would think we would be use to this...
Funny how Dunleavy and Foyle talk about the team not doing other things besides playing hard... like making the ball go in the bucket?!? Foyle and Dunleavy have been the biggest dissapointments. Our 3rd pick overall... man I want to cry.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AnimeFANatic:</div><div class="quote_post">Our 3rd pick overall... man I want to cry.</div> That's in the past. It's $45M for five years now
Dunleavy got his money, don't expect much from him. I really would have like to see the Warriors make the playoffs this year. They could have been one of many Cinderella stories this year (Clippers, Hornets). I think this proves that Baron Davis is somewhat overrated. He doesn't do all that much for the team that Claxton and Fisher combined weren't doing. He brings size but shoots a poor percentage.
I'm sorry, but I hate Fisher. I would have still loved to have Nick the Quick on our team. At least the guy is a capable point guard that can run the break and dribble penetrate some without it going off his foot.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Jurassic:</div><div class="quote_post">Dunleavy got his money, don't expect much from him. I really would have like to see the Warriors make the playoffs this year. They could have been one of many Cinderella stories this year (Clippers, Hornets). I think this proves that Baron Davis is somewhat overrated. He doesn't do all that much for the team that Claxton and Fisher combined weren't doing. He brings size but shoots a poor percentage.</div> I know Baron could have done things better, but the fact is the rest of the team sucks really bad. And that they're way worse without Baron. The guy was second in assists on a team that can't shoot.
I'd say that the offseason may bring a few good changes, but there's just such little wiggle room. Pretty depressing stuff. How fitting is it that the year the Warriors are decetly positioned going into the draft, it's a terrible draft... Just wait, we'll end up getting the top pick this year and ending up with garbage.
I like what I read from Monty. He actually admitted to doing things collegiately still. Maybe this will be the hump for him. I say if we are not in a position for the playoffs next year by the All Star break, then we let him go. I think this team is still capable if they realize they can not just run the coach out of town. I hope we dont blow this team up...
I don't even know who said Dunleavy was comparable to Larry Bird because Bird was a true college superstar. Dunleavy was like... one of many on a star laden Duke team. C'mon here. Hype! At least the overhyped guys like Yao and Melo are living up to it. When/If Dunleavy gets traded and if he starts putting up numbers then, I'll be pissed. He's always doing something well when it doesn't matter to the Warriors... or when somebody puts too much faith in him. i.e. Barnett, ShapeCity in our fantasy league, Dunleavy fans. P.S. The Dunleavy comparrison to Bird, is probably offensive to Larry Bird. But on the otherhand, one would wonder how Larry Bird would do in the NBA without some good frontline big men like Kevin McHale, Robert Parish, and a pure point guard that can run plays.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting iLL PiLL:</div><div class="quote_post">my friend brought up a good point...when was the last time you saw j-rich get an alley-opp??</div> He pretty much gets one a game when Baron plays. Fisher is terrible at throwing the lob for some reason, hes tried it a few times but its way off.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting custodianrules2:</div><div class="quote_post">P.S. The Dunleavy comparrison to Bird, is probably offensive to Larry Bird. </div> Uhh... well yeah. Even if Dun could hit his 04-05 numbers of 45% FG%age and 38% 3-pt%age, it pales to Bird's. More fun than serious discussion and I suppose I can get away with it cause this is a Warriors forum . It's hyperbole used to pump up Dun's fragile ego and get him back on track to remind him that he CAN be a shooter. I still think he's rushing his shot when there is no need to. Fer chrissakes, he's 6-9. Bird was a brilliant shooter. Jordan was a brilliant scorer.
