February: Make or break the season?

by WarriorForLife on Jan 30, 2008 8:49 PM PST

We all know that our Warriors should be taking the season one game at a time. We also know that they are at home for all but one game this upcoming month. Not to mention that they play only 10 games in that 29 day span. That said, I believe this is the month that makes or breaks our playoff hopes. If they come out and play with the same intensity as they did tonight, we should be sitting pretty going into March. If they play like they did last night, we may be hoping for a few bounces in our favor come end season. Here are my best case predictions for this next month:

Fri. 1 Charlotte W
Thu. 7 Chicago W
Sat. 9 Sacramento W
Mon. 11 Washington W
Wed. 13 Phoenix W (I have a good feeling about this one)
Tue. 19 @ Utah W (Same as Sun game)
Wed. 20 Boston L (Second game of B2B, against best team in the L)
Fri. 22 Atlanta W
Tue. 26 Seattle W
Fri. 29 Philadelphia W

Feb. record: Best case; 9-1 Worse cae; 7-3(Other two losses to PHX and Utah)
Overall : Best case; 37-20 Worse case; 35-22

Again, I know we gotta take it one game at a time, and the Warriors are good at pulling off surprising wins as well as losing to teams we really should be beating. But I just could't help myself with this diary.

What are your predictions?

This FanPost is a submission from a member of the mighty Golden State of Mind community. While we're all here to throw up that W, these words do not necessarily reflect the views of the GSoM Crew. Still, chances are the preceding post is Unstoppable Baby!

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Comments

The schedule

kinda scares me...you know how the Dubs could get lulled into down playing the opposition with a weak schedule...Timberwolves, Knicks and Nets, all almost beat or beat the Dubs here at Oracle.

Now look, they get on the road, have no momentum going into the Rockets game and play a defensless first quarter with three quarters of "OK" play. They almost shoot themsevles back into the game but come up short...now figure this, they play the number one team in the West, with a chip on thier shoulder, back to back from a previous loss, thier best player has the flu and the fact they're out of eighth playoff spot...what happens?...

The Warriors seriosly can't down play any of these teams...IN THESE GAMES AHEAD, THEY NEED TO HAVE THE SAME MENTALITY THEY HAD IN THAT 16-5 CLOSING RUN OF LAST YEAR. They proved they're still capable of that in this game. What allowed them to go 16-5 and win this game was thier defense and early fast uptempo offense in which everyone was getting involved. A sense of urgency...

by RubberDubDubs on Jan 30, 2008 9:16 PM PST reply actions

we're

not going to win that many. I predict a month filled with heartbreak all over it. We are going to hit a lull because we beat the hornets tonight.

by saintdee on Jan 30, 2008 9:40 PM PST reply actions

Rockets Loss Started Something

I think the loss to the rockets changed our guys.
They were mad like I have not seen. They came out on fire last night! With the way the team is excited about bringing Webber in the mix, I only see this team getting more confident and tougher to beat. This is the stretch we use to solidify our home court advantage. WE are actually Due to run off another great winning streak.

GO Dubs!

Proud Sponsor Of: The San Jose Giants Baseball Team 2008 is gonna be big! http://www.greenlightjerky.com

by GreenLightJerky on Jan 31, 2008 7:24 AM PST up reply actions

Worst Case

After losing to the Twolves and nearly the Knicks and Nets, how can the worst case be 7-3?

In my "worst case", I could see them losing 6 straight starting with:

Sacramento who finally has their full starting 5 back
Washington: at 24-20 without Arenas
Phoenix
Utah
Boston
Atlanta: a very much improved team

I have a hard time seeing them lose to Charlotte, Chicago, Seattle, or Philly.

Well I guess by definition, "worst case" should be 0-10, but I think the worse they can do is go 4-6. The best they can do is go 8-2. I just don't see them beating more than 4 of the above mentioned 6 teams and could possibly slip up against one of the other 4.

by Fantasy Junkie on Jan 30, 2008 9:41 PM PST reply actions

Haha, ooops.

You're right, technically ''worse case'' would be 0-10 (Knocks on wood*). And of course, I don't expect them to go 9-1, or even 7-3. I really wouldn't be surprised with a ''worse case" of 4-6 or a ''best case" of something like 5-5 or 6-4 with the way they play. These predicions were just my initial gut instinct. I could very well be way off, but I'd like to think we can pull it off.

"That's why Baron is Baron." -Bob Fitzgerald

by WarriorForLife on Jan 30, 2008 9:53 PM PST up reply actions

I am also a bit worried

Dubs always play up/down to their competition.

I am more confident that they beat a team like the suns or spurs, than the hawks or 76ers.

by warriordean on Jan 30, 2008 9:42 PM PST reply actions

even if they go undefeated,

it's not going to make the season... but it could break the season.

by the evil monkey on Jan 30, 2008 9:54 PM PST reply actions

True, it's not gonna make it

in terms of solidifying a playoff spot, but with a good month, we can vastly improve our shots at one.

"That's why Baron is Baron." -Bob Fitzgerald

by WarriorForLife on Jan 30, 2008 9:57 PM PST up reply actions

I'm sick of predicting

We lost to the T'Wolves, beat the spurs twice, lost to Dallas twice, and beat New Orleans tonight after a game we could of won. There is no telling what can happen in the next 10 games, just hope they win em all. Not to mention they have won 8 games in a row while playing the 2nd game of a back to back. Nobody guessed that either.

by Spidz34 @ Golden State Of Mind on Jan 30, 2008 9:56 PM PST reply actions

I agree

I figure they'd go 1-1 on this road trip, but who knew they would lose to the rockets and beat up on the hornets?

This warrior team will give you a stroke.
That's why we love them.

by warriordean on Jan 30, 2008 10:06 PM PST up reply actions

If there is

a make or break for a team/s for the months of February will be San Antonio and the Lakers.

San Antonio 28-16 is only 3 games ahead of the Warriors. With their 3 successive loss and the last one with the Sonics 85-88. Many thinks that unless corrective measures Pops will make this road trip and current injuries especially pulling out Tony Parker off the roster will break them.

San Antonio Spurs
Updated Player Pos Injury Expected Return
01/25/08 Brent Barry SG Calf Out until at least late February
01/29/08 Tony Parker PG Heel Out indefinitely

Feb 5 @Ind 7:00 PM
Feb 6 @Wash 7:00 PM
Feb 8 @NY 7:30 PM
Feb 10 @Bos 1:00 PM
Feb 11 @Tor 7:00 PM
Feb 13 @Cle 7:00 PM
Feb 19 Char 8:30 PM
Feb 21 @Min 8:00 PM
Feb 23 NO 8:30 PM
Feb 25 Atl 8:30 PM
Feb 28 Dal 8:00 PM

The Lakers 28-15 are only 4 games ahead of the Warriors. Playing on the road is tough and playing undermanned because of injuries makes it more tougher.

Updated Player Pos Injury Expected Return
01/21/08 Trevor Ariza SF Foot Out until at least late March
01/14/08 Andrew Bynum C Knee Out until at least mid-March
01/28/08 Chris Mihm C Achilles' Out until at least early February
01/29/08 Luke Walton SF Hip Questionable for Jan. 31 at Detroit

Jan 31 @Det 7:30 PM
Feb 1 @Tor 7:00 PM
Feb 3 @Wash 12:00 PM
Feb 5 @NJ 7:30 PM
Feb 6 @Atl 7:00 PM
Feb 8 @Orl 7:00 PM
Feb 10 @Mia 3:30 PM
Feb 11 @Char 7:00 PM
Feb 13 @Min 8:00 PM
Feb 19 Atl 10:30 PM
Feb 20 @Pho 9:00 PM
Feb 23 @LAC 10:30 PM
Feb 24 @Sea 9:00 PM
Feb 26 Port 10:30 PM
Feb 28 Mia 10:30 PM
Feb 29 @Port 10:30 PM

Unless Phil and Bryant will instill mental toughness to the team, then they might not make a repeat scenario of last season. Although Portland (26-19) and Houston (25-20) are looking outside, chances are one or both will make it to the playoff.

Looking at Warriors sked and the addition of C-Webb makes me feel that we've been dealt a better hand than the Lakers and Spurs. The Dubs has only one road game with the Jazz on 02/19 and we can see if Webber can handle Boozer.

Feb 1 Char 10:30 PM
Feb 7 Chi 10:30 PM
Feb 9 Sac 10:30 PM
Feb 11 Wash 10:30 PM
Feb 13 Pho 9:00 PM
Feb 19 @Utah 9:00 PM
Feb 20 Bos 10:30 PM
Feb 22 Atl 10:30 PM
Feb 26 Sea 10:30 PM
Feb 29 Phi 10:30 PM

by muritqua on Jan 31, 2008 8:34 AM PST reply actions

good insight

you really did your homework.

The spurs might be ok as long as they have duncan and sign damon sodomizer.

It does not look good for the Lakers.
A ton of road games in Feb.

by warriordean on Jan 31, 2008 9:22 AM PST up reply actions

Love what

you dig up! It really provides a solid perspective on predictions. Many of us are either to busy or to lazy (me) to research NBA knowledge but right on for the info!!!

by RubberDubDubs on Jan 31, 2008 2:03 PM PST up reply actions

predictions

Feb 1 Char 10:30 PM win
Feb 7 Chi 10:30 PM loss
Feb 9 Sac 10:30 PM loss
Feb 11 Wash 10:30 PM loss
Feb 13 Pho 9:00 PM win
Feb 19 @Utah 9:00 PM loss
Feb 20 Bos 10:30 PM win
Feb 22 Atl 10:30 PM win
Feb 26 Sea 10:30 PM win
Feb 29 Phi 10:30 PM *win

I like the Kings over us, because the rivalry ensures that they play us hard, and they're at full strength.

Jazz = warriors owned

I am not afraid of the Celtics, and neither are the warriors. The dubs love challenges and will play their best against the best.

5-4, to keep us in the thick of it for the stretch run.

by GameSix on Jan 31, 2008 9:42 AM PST reply actions

math is important

6-4 not 5-4...duh

by GameSix on Jan 31, 2008 9:43 AM PST up reply actions

Realistically...

February Can definitely MAKE the Season, but if Anything is going to BREAK it, it'll be October/November. 0-6 start....ughhh

by FriscoJoe on Jan 31, 2008 9:45 AM PST reply actions

Next 10 games can definately make season

If the Warriors treat this stretch like a playoff run and win 8 of the next 10 (very doable with 9 at home), They're at 36-21 at the end of February with 25 games left to play. I think the 8th seed is going to need around 48 wins, so they'd only have to play .500 ball the rest of the way to at least make it in. Which is good, because they have the following brutal stretch starting March 21st:

2/21 vs Houston
2/23 @ LA Lakers
2/24 vs LA Lakers
2/27 vs Portland
2/29 @ Denver
2/30 vs Dallas
3/1 @ San Antonio
3/2 @ Dallas
3/4 @ Memphis
3/6 @ New Orleans

If you all playoff teams in the West have over 50 wins this year, you'd just have to chalk it up to bad luck. I don't think that's ever happened before. The law of averages says at least a couple of the 10 top teams will fall off a bit by the end of the year. If the Warriors take the next month seriously, I don't think it will be them.

by mazlo on Jan 31, 2008 10:25 AM PST reply actions

Dates wrong

That should have been
3/21 vs Houston
3/23 @ LA Lakers
3/24 vs LA Lakers
3/27 vs Portland
3/29 @ Denver
3/30 vs Dallas
4/1 @ San Antonio
4/2 @ Dallas
4/4 @ Memphis
4/6 @ New Orleans

by mazlo on Jan 31, 2008 10:36 AM PST up reply actions

10-0

Call me crazy
Call me unrealistic
Call me stupid
Call me drunk
Call me overly optimistic
Call me loc'd out of my mind

But if you want a prediction I'm callin 10-0!

I feel that on any given night we can beat any team in this league. Maybe I've been drinking too many 40's, but I really feel that the Dubs have a chance to win every game they play. I don't really even trip when they are down by 20 pts anymore. I still think they can win. What? Down by 10 with 2 minutes to go, "We can still win!" I don't question anything anymore. If stack Jack wants to shoot a 3, I yell "DUMP"!! If Baron wants to force a crazy shot, I yell "GO CRAZY BD!" If Matt Barnes wants to inbound the ball with a half court pass I yell "PUT SOME MUSTARD ON THAT SON!!"

Nowadays I simply just Believe.

I believe: We are unstoppable baby!

"Hold It Down For The Bay Reppin Oakland" --Keak Da Sneak

by Section 233 Row 1 on Jan 31, 2008 12:37 PM PST reply actions

schedule not as important

as health imo

re schedule - almost doesn't matter who we play, we lose to Min and defeat NO, we don't have long winning or losing streaks

BUT we are one of the thinnest rosters and would not be able to sustain any winning streaks without either Baron or Beidrins - our two achilles heals

SA can lose Parker and still win most of their games, LAL is deep enough to adjust without their starting big man, NO has depth both inside and out and could withstand losing one starter ... we cannot

which is one reason I came around to embrace the CW signing and still why we still need to use the TPE intelligently

by hardcore on Jan 31, 2008 1:00 PM PST reply actions