0-5 Start, So What

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'><span id="default"><span id="CCT_Article">OAKLAND -- Warriors rookie forward Brandan Wright knows exactly what would be unfolding if his team's 0-5 start had taken place on the campus of North Carolina instead of at Oracle Arena.

"If this was last year and I was in college," Wright said, "I'd be panicking right now."</p>

Clearly, Oakland is not Chapel Hill West.</p>

It's too early to tell if it's just blind faith or if Golden State will buck the odds and become a playoff team after pulling a face-plant out of the starting blocks. But there's no doubt that a five-game losing streak to open the season has done little to change the outlook of what is most likely the loosest collection of players in the NBA.</p>

"We know what we have here," Warriors forward Matt Barnes said. "We've got a great coach and we've got a very talented team. ... I don't really feel we're worried. Every game does count, but we know what we're capable of, so once we get over that hump, get that hot streak, everything will be solved."</p>

The reason for the Warriors' relative tranquillity despite their last-place status stems from a few different sources.</p>

The most obvious reason is the tone set by the leaders of the team, from coach Don Nelson to captains Barnes, Baron Davis and Stephen Jackson.</p>

"I think that a team takes on the personalities of its leaders," Warriors forward Austin Croshere said. "If I were the leader of this team, it probably would have jumped off a bridge by now, but guys like Baron and Jack, they just want to keep <span id="default"><span id="CCT_Article">it loose. They just don't get in a panicked state, don't think about it too much. We've played much better basketball the last six quarters, and even with the guys out, if we make some free throws, a play here, a play there, our record's a lot different."

Then there's history, or at least a selective reading of the record books. Though the chances of an 0-5 team making the playoffs have not proven to be stellar over the years, the Warriors are drawing comfort from the work last season by the <span id="default"><span id="CCT_Article">Dallas Mavericks (who started 0-4 but finished at 67-15) and Phoenix Suns (1-5 to 61-21).

"Phoenix did it last year," Warriors guard Monta Ellis said. "I think we have the same ability and same depth they had. With our team mind frame and everybody lifting each other up, we could do the same thing."</p>

Said Wright: "You might lose five in a row, but you might rip off 10 or 12 in a row, or 13 out of 15. That's just the type of team this is."</p>

Barnes said earlier this month that the Warriors didn't want to count on having to mount a 16-5 or 9-1 run to the finish, as they did last season. But it's beginning to look like that may be necessary again to get on the right side of .500.</p>

"That's when we play the best, I guess, with our backs against the wall, the big lights on and the pressure on," Barnes said. "I have a feeling we're not going to wait that long; we're going to get started soon, but you never know. The important thing is we know we have it in us."</div></p>

Source: Contra Costa Times</p>
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