Golden State Warriors 2009 Playoffs
The Golden State Warriors postseason performance has been one of early success and late failures. The Warriors spent the first seasons in Philadelphia and had great success there. The Warriors won the NBA Finals in 1956 with Paul Arizin and Neil Johnston. The two players’ offensive punch would soon be replaced by Wilt Chamberlain. Though he would break scoring records, he would not be able to make the Warriors champions. Playoff tickets brought hope every season, but each year a better team would knock them out of the postseason. The closest the team came with Chamberlain at center was in 1964. Philadelphia went to the NBA Finals, but could not overcome the Boston Celtics.
After Chamberlain left for the 76ers, the Warrior replaced him with another future Hall of Fame player, Rick Barry. Barry led the Warriors to the championship series in his second season. The team lost to a familiar face, Wilt Chamberlain, and the Philadelphia 76ers. The first championship finally came in 1975. The Warriors brought back Rick Barry from the ABA and upset the Washington Bullets with the help of Jamaal Wilkes and Phil Smith. The series was thought to be so out of reach for the Warriors that their hoe arena scheduled other events during the series, so they were forced to play at the Cow Palace in Daly City.
Golden State Warriors Background
The years that followed were far from successful, but the team has been building to compete in an ultra-competitive Western Conference. This offseason has not been kind to the team though. First Baron Davis bolts for the Clippers and then his replacement, Monta Ellis, has an injury that may take him out for the season. In a conference that is stacked it makes the possibility of the Warriors earning playoff tickets the loss of such key players is almost a dagger in the coffin. Now it appears Marcus Williams will get he chance to start after two seasons sitting on the bench in New Jersey.
The team still has Stephen Jackson and Al Harrington to make things interesting at the Oracle Arena during the regular season schedule. The two players are explosive scorers who will become the focus of the Don Nelson offense as free agent Corey Maggette learns his way around the system. Andris Biedrins is still developing but recently signed a six year deal that will keep the shot blocking, big rebounding center in the bay area. While this may make things look better in the long run, the short term for Warriors playoff tickets will demand he make good on the contract now. Really to salvage this season, Williams will have to blossom in the role and the bevy young of young players (Marco Belinelli, Brandon Wright, and Anthony Randolph) will have to go from projects to performers.