| Warriors Reach Their Low Point Authored by Payam Jahromi - January 24, 2006 - 11:41 am
I didn’t think it was possible for the Warriors to hit a lower point than their home loss on Jan. 5 to the Pacers.
I was wrong.
Last night’s loss to the Clippers – one day after losing the first game of the home-and-home with L.A. – is the low point for an organization that had so much promise this season.
The year is nearly halfway over, but it feels like it’s completely over. The Warriors are only a game and a half out of the final playoff spot, yet after this loss it feels like 10.
Let’s count the reasons why the loss was especially tough:
1. The Clippers had beaten the Warriors six straight times coming into the game. The Warriors needed this win for their pride and confidence against their southern California rivals. Now the streak is at seven games, and the Clippers officially own the Warriors.
2. It was a huge game in the standings. The Clippers were three games ahead and in the sixth spot of the playoffs. When you’re battling with a team to make the playoffs – you CANNOT get swept to them on back-to-back nights.
3. The Warriors came out with energy, they were aggressive on the boards and they shot the ball well early. They had a 19-point lead in the third quarter and it looked as if they were going to take out their Clipper frustrations all in one night. And then they collapsed. Absolutely the worst possible way they could have lost this game.
4. There doesn’t seem to be any hope left. When the team was losing games earlier this month, they were clearly not playing up to its potential. The defense was bad, the energy was weak and the rebounding was atrocious. But in this game they came out with a fire and even outrebounded the best rebounding team in the league 51-37. And still lost. At home.
So where do they go from here? They better be ready to take on a Dallas team that wants revenge from their Dec. 30 meeting, a game where the Warriors won at the buzzer on Baron Davis’ shot. Then it’s on to L.A. to take on the Lakers – that means Mr. 81 points himself. Then back home against Portland.
I think they need to win at least two if not all three of these games to get out of this funk.
I know one thing: it’s not a good time to be Warriors fan right now.
If you have any questions or comments, you can reach me at pjahromi@sbcglobal.net |
