2008 Woodie Awards
Warriors shock nation
Sean Kent
Issue date: 5/8/07 Section: Sports
Was it the greatest upset in NBA playoff history? That's debatable. However, as the first eighth seed to upset a number one in a best-of-seven series, the Golden State Warriors reasserted themselves into serious basketball conversations with authority. After years of being in a proverbial wasteland, the Warriors' unscripted run through this year's postseason has proved two things that nothing short of the playoffs biggest surprise could make the nation take notice.
The first is just how good this team really is. A motley crew of misfits and castaways, most of whom were discarded before their time, proved they deserved to be in the playoffs by slaying the mighty Mavericks, arguably the most talented team in basketball. Baron Davis forced fans around the country to remember just how good he actually is and made Dallas wish they had drawn the Lakers in the first round. Perennial anger management case Stephen Jackson did manage to get ejected twice (both times on the road), but proved to the home crowd how much he loves being in Oakland by sinking seven threes to put the game and series out of reach. The bottom-line and propelling force behind this team is the fact that they're just having fun and they actually enjoy playing with one another. They're carefree and don't worry about what some may have said about them in the past, but only live in the moment, a reflection of their team's nonchalant, and so far victorious, style.
Secondly, the Warriors' fans demonstrated to all the other 29 NBA cities why Commissioner David Stern said the team has the best fanbase in the country. Normally, fans that haven't experienced a playoff game in over 13 years would be a little excited for that first home game. However, consider that not only were the fans loud for game three, but they stayed loud for the rest of the series. Uncharacteristic of corporate NBA atmospheres, Warriors' fans stood for the majority of the three home games, evoking a raucous college-like environment, as many commentators stated.
However the most surprising and definitive sign of playoff fever was the fact that with 20,677, the Warriors attracted the largest crowd to ever watch a basketball game in the state of California. This is impressive when you consider the numerous championships the Lakers have won and the loyalty of the Sacramento fans during the Kings' recent string of playoff appearances.
No matter when the Warriors do make their playoff exit, their shocking advancement into the second round has opened basketball fans' eyes to the emerging talent that is the Golden State Warriors.
The first is just how good this team really is. A motley crew of misfits and castaways, most of whom were discarded before their time, proved they deserved to be in the playoffs by slaying the mighty Mavericks, arguably the most talented team in basketball. Baron Davis forced fans around the country to remember just how good he actually is and made Dallas wish they had drawn the Lakers in the first round. Perennial anger management case Stephen Jackson did manage to get ejected twice (both times on the road), but proved to the home crowd how much he loves being in Oakland by sinking seven threes to put the game and series out of reach. The bottom-line and propelling force behind this team is the fact that they're just having fun and they actually enjoy playing with one another. They're carefree and don't worry about what some may have said about them in the past, but only live in the moment, a reflection of their team's nonchalant, and so far victorious, style.
Secondly, the Warriors' fans demonstrated to all the other 29 NBA cities why Commissioner David Stern said the team has the best fanbase in the country. Normally, fans that haven't experienced a playoff game in over 13 years would be a little excited for that first home game. However, consider that not only were the fans loud for game three, but they stayed loud for the rest of the series. Uncharacteristic of corporate NBA atmospheres, Warriors' fans stood for the majority of the three home games, evoking a raucous college-like environment, as many commentators stated.
However the most surprising and definitive sign of playoff fever was the fact that with 20,677, the Warriors attracted the largest crowd to ever watch a basketball game in the state of California. This is impressive when you consider the numerous championships the Lakers have won and the loyalty of the Sacramento fans during the Kings' recent string of playoff appearances.
No matter when the Warriors do make their playoff exit, their shocking advancement into the second round has opened basketball fans' eyes to the emerging talent that is the Golden State Warriors.