SB Nation User Blog: bradyk2

Our 80 game season

bradyk2 — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 01:28:13 -0000

I hope this doesn't sound like a rant. I don't want it to be, but I'm sure parts of it will be.

All day I have felt sick, and depressed. I've felt the way you feel when your girlfriend breaks up with you, or when your dog dies. I feel helpless. Even sitting with my new cat, reading a good book, drinking tea and eating cookies, the back of my mind was splitting desperately and devestatedly. Even when watching the Giants lose a game I knew they'd lose, my heart felt located lower than my kidneys.

I thought about what it was. I seem to have severly injured my shoulder playing a pickup game of basketball yesterday. No, not it. I'm going to college soon, and scared to high heaven. Definately not. My sister, who I've had such a good relationship with, is bugging me more than ever before. Still not.

The Warriors were eliminated from the playoffs. Wait, no. That's actually not it.

81 games later, the Golden State Warriors played a beautiful 80 games. Even the 6 they lost to start the season. Even the TNT-televised home loss to a depleted Chicago team. Even the games Matt Barnes couldn't even get in to. Even the game Baron missed a buzzer-beating layup at. Even the devestating loss to the Nuggets on thursday night. Despite finding themselves on the outside looking in, the Warriors were beautiful. Many times they played just like last season, winning on heart and energy. Playing at breakneck speed, so much fun to watch. Losing and winning, playoffs or not, after 80 games, the season couldn't have been more fun.

I didn't even watch the game last night. I don't get CSN+, so I went and played basketball instead, and streamed the score online with 4 minutes left. Today I find out that Baron didn't play the second half. It seems he's in Nellie's doghouse. It seems Nellie's in his. Everyone on TV is saying Baron will opt out of his contract, leave the Warriors, the friends, the best coach he's ever had, the up-and-comers, the "We Believers," the greatest fans in the association.

I feel sick because we are so beautiful. "Baron Davis, my girlfriend's favorite...Al Harrington, he's been steppin' up his game since they brought him in...we got Monta Ellis...Stephen jackson, a straight up G, especially behind the line when he's shooting for 3."

I can't help but feel that that is over. Even as I prepare for tomorrow's game, not only my first time having good seats, but sitting right behind the W's bench, I feel that we've seen the last of the beautiful team we created last January. If Baron leaves, we're stranded. If Nellie leaves, we're lost. Even if they stay, the chemistry we had is lost. In a world of over-paid, extremely arrogant stars, the warriors were a breath of fresh air, a group of friends playing ball together, having fun.

And now I have the feeling like when you know something bad happened, but you just don't know what. At the same time, I feel the same way I did when my Grandmother died without me being able to say goodbye.

I feel how a kid must feel when their parents get divorced after assuring them that would never happen. It's hard not to feel betrayed, like a poor kid watching his favorite rockstar smash a thousand dollar guitar. The kid could've used that guitar, and the rockstar is smashing it for his own personal reasons.

Next year, Baron may be passing oops to Vince Carter, all so he can have an extra $2 to spend on Fedora's and Kanye West sunglasses. Nellie may be sitting in Maui drinking a Scotch or 3, so he doesn't have to put up with those kids for another year. Or they could all come together, continue the beautiful piece of art that lasted half a season, 2 rounds of playoffs, and 80 games. 80 magnificent, glorious, entertaining games.

I don't care that we missed the playoffs. I honestly don't. Not because I don't love the warriors. I've loved them forever. I could don a Lakers jersey tomorrow as their newest player and i'd still love the Warriors. But frankly, I can't waste time worrying about the price of window tints when I don't even have a car.

This may sound like hyperbole. Or I may be overreacting because as I sat down to write this, I vigorously shook my Nalgene bottle full of Gatorade. 2 towels later, it seems that I should've checked to see if the lid was on.

But we need this team intact. we're so close to being the Phoenix Suns. I don't care if we ever win the NBA Finals. We missed the playoffs 13 years straight, to be a fun team, a happy team, an entertaining team that wins 45-60 games a year is just fine with me. I didn't know how the Warriors would fare this year. 30 wins or 60, I had no clue. They had one hell of a season. But I only got 80 games. 80 beautiful games. And I'm not ready to call that the end.

Question for frequent game-goers

bradyk2 — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 19:11:22 -0000

hey guys-

I try to make it to a game or 2 a season. I can't make it to much more for time, age, and financial reasons. Anyway, I went to Saturday's game, thinking it was my game for the season, and had a blast. I sat in the upper deck (section 204) as always, and had a wonderful time.

Anyway, I came home and found out my best friend had just got his birthday/HS graduation present: 2 tickets for us to Wednesdays game. Section 128 (right behind the Warriors bench), Row 1. I've never even stood in the lower bowl. Needless to say, I'm ecstatic. So, I just have some questions for people who have ventured to games with good seats. How easy is it to get autographs? How early should I go? (will probably go very early, just because.

Basically, if I could have some tips from people who have done this before. I don't mean to sound like a babbling overly-excited kid (which, admittedly, I am), but I want to make the best of the experience.

Thanks!

-Brady

Carmelo Anthony Arrested!!

bradyk2 — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 18:27:53 -0000

Could've at least happened before yesterdays game!

I can't even find any links yet because it just came out, but it's flashing on the "Breaking News" section of ESPNEWS. Arrested this morning for suspicion off DUI. Sorry that I don't have links, it's very fresh news. Check ESPNEWS to see though!

I wonder if this will effect them on Wedney. Also, I wonder if this was after partying, assuming they're in the playoffs. I may be over-analyzing, but are the Nuggets getting complacent?

In honor of a nice win...

bradyk2 — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 07:59:16 -0000

I've posted very rarely this season, but the W's are really getting fun to watch, and i thought I'd post a few things.

The W's don't generally get much love from the rest of the league/media. At a TV break, I switched to the Nuggets/PaperClips game, just in time to hear them discussing whether the Nuggets or Rockets would grab the 8th seed. They seemed rather confident the Warriors would be #7.
This has probably already been posted, but was perusing NBA.Com today, and saw a little love for GSoM....go to the entry on Feb. 27

http://my.nba.com/forum.jspa?forumID=300012410&start=0

3) Also, I thought of a question today. Can a team win a championship with a true upper-echelon PG? It sounds like a ridiculous question, but bear with me. Every team in the NBA has talent. Enough ball movement generally leaves a guy open for a shot, or an open lane. When teams have a great PG (the likes of Kidd, Nash, BDiddy, etc.), he tends to try and control the game. He tries to make a great pass instead of simply making the easy pass that leads to the easy pass that leads to the easy pass that leads to the high-percentage 15 footer. While that style of ball (San Antonio, anyone?) is very boring compared to the Warriors, I can't help but wonder if it's the key to winning, in this entertainment obsessed league. Looking back at the teams in the finals the past few years, none have had a stellar PG. The Spurs had Parker (who has become great, but is really just a small SG), the Pistons had Billups (a very good PG, but not a great passer), the Heat had Jason Williams, the Mavericks Jason Terry, and the Cavs Daniel Gibson. Meanwhile, Kidd, Nash, Baron, and the other great passers in the league go ringless.

I wouldn't trade Baron for the world, but the strange question begs to be asked. do you think the Warriors can win a title eventually, with such a magnificent passer running the show?

Until next time, peace.
-Brady

Baron Davis 15th in MVP voting

bradyk2 — Wed, 16 May 2007 16:04:05 -0000

In a fantastic year for Warriors fans, in which our team, and superstar were both under-appreciated, a little consolation. Baron Davis finished 15th in the MVP voting. Given the Warriors record, lack of recognition, Baron's injuries, etc., he was obviously not a serious MVP candidate, but it's good to see this anyway. He recieved 1 vote, tied for 15th with Carmelo Anthony and Tony Parker, and behind (in this order), Dirk Nowitzki, Steve Nahs, Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, LeBron James, Tracy McGrady, Chris Bosh, Gilbert Arenas, Kevin Garnett, Carlos Boozer, Chauncey Billups, Dwyane Wade, Shaquille O'Neal, and Amare Stoudemire. Solid company.

I believe all the players finish above him were All-Stars.

Congrats, Baron, on a wonderful season, and mostly, congrats Warriors.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/basketball/nba/05/15/dirk.mvp.ap/index.html

Game 5 foul stats

bradyk2 — Wed, 16 May 2007 06:02:49 -0000

To back up what everyone else said, THANK YOU WARRIORS!!! thank you for the incredible season, i've never been this sad at the end of a season, and that's a good thing.

On to game 5...I will not blame a game on the refs, but like many, I felt like this game was unfairly called: A 5 minute scan over the play-by-play agreed with my sense of foul discrepency...while I know Utah pounded the ball in more often, these statistics cannot be avoided...

For the game:
Technical Fouls:
GSW - 2
Utah - 0

Personal Fouls:
GSW - 31
Utah - 19

1st half:
GSW: 10
Utah: 11

2nd half:
GSW: 21
Utah: 8

And the most incredible statistic, in the decisive 4th quarter...
4th quarter personal fouls:
GSW: 11
Utah: 2

All that can be said, has been said. Thank You Capers, Mauer, and Salvatore for making it an exciting, 8 on 5 affair.
Thank you Golden State for the best season of my life.

Pietrus bounces back?

bradyk2 — Thu, 10 May 2007 16:31:26 -0000

We may be down 2-0, but with 2 straight at home, I still feel good, and feel extremely confident we will bounce back and win game 3.

However, after a tough sequence at the stripe that know one needs to be reminded about, can Mickael Pietrus bounce back?

Probably the biggest knock on Pietrus' is his mental game. He sometimes has a low basketball IQ, and his confidence is easily shaken. With Monta Ellis already struggling, we cannot win this series with the absence of Pietrus, as that knocks us to a 6-man rotation, and loses one of our best rebounders.

So my question is, after arguably losing game 2 for us, how does Pietrus respond in game 3? Some of his early-season traveling and stepping out of bounds with his first step in the corner? Coming off the bench for some clutch 3s and big boards? Or just sitting on the bench, still dwelling on wednesday night?

Keep ya head up, Mickael, it's a whole new game tomorrow!

GOLDENCHILD

bradyk2 — Tue, 01 May 2007 18:46:59 -0000

I'm sorry, I know shoutouts are not high-quality material for GSoM diaries, but I needed to get ahold of GoldenChild.

GoldenChild- What's your email address? You said I could email you about thursday, which I greatly appreciate.....thanks much...
-Bradyk2

p.s. if, by the crazy offchance we lose tonight, anyone going on thursday night? I know the oracle would be rockin @ the thought of a playoff series victory...

Anyone have extra tix for game 6?

bradyk2 — Tue, 01 May 2007 01:32:55 -0000

Broke high schooler looking for cheap tix. :) Sorry, not the most useful diary, but just curious, does anyone happen to have any extra tickets for game 6 that they'd be selling for less than stub hub ($100)?

For that matter, it seems like, with such an important game (that is if we don't finish it off tomorrow), there should be a ticket thread, so that GSoMers can discuss seats, tickets and prices, if they're going, meeting up, etc. etc.

Thanks much, go warriors, ONE DUB!

UNSTOPPABLE BABY!!!

"Thank You Warriors" - SF Chronicle

bradyk2 — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 23:45:21 -0000

Hello fellow greatest fans on earth! :)

Anyway...the Warriors have done so much for us, the Bay Area, and so many other people this year. I'd been waiting since I was 2 years old to see them win a playoff game. They deserve to be thanked.

Last year, J-Rich put out a full page "Advertisement" In the SF Chronicle apologizing to the fans.

Regardless of whether they lose a heartbraking game 7 to dallas, or sweep the Bulls in the NBA Finals, when this incredible season ends, the Warriors need to be thanked. So I was thinking of putting out a full page "advertisement" in the SF Chronicle thanking the Warriors, once their season is over.

However, being only 17 I have very little money (still trying to pay off those GSoM night tix), but I just sent an email to the Chronicle asking how much it would cost.

My question is, if I were to arrange this, would people considering donating to the cause? It would be just another piece of a remarkable season if everyone on GSoM came together and chipped in $5 so we could thank the Warriors for this year.

So, would people be willing to shell out a few bucks to thank Mullin, Nellie, Jason, Baron, et al?

thanks,
-Bradyk2

p.s. I'll let you know the figure when the chronicle writes back

Poll

Would you donate money to thank the warriors?

Yes

18 votes

Only if it's under $10

15 votes

No

6 votes

39 votes | Poll has closed