Originally posted by Ninerjohn:
Originally posted by DelCed2486:
As someone who still has memories as a little kid of the '75 championship team and all the pain, mediocrity, and flat-out suckage that followed, getting 50 wins is definitely great, a season we'll all remember. Just too bad it had to happen when the West is so deep, and between injuries and too many off nights--especially at home--this team underachieved.
With Bogut they'd have a puncher's chance vs. Clips in a 7-game series, but without him they have no shot, Grifin and Jordan will run roughshod over the Dubs. As for Bogut, hard to fault a guy looking out for his health, but many people have played with busted ribs in sports a lot more physical than basketball...I told you guys he'd miss some playoff games. But I wouldn't be surprised to see him come back during the series.
I dont know that this team really underachieved to be honest. With injuries to Bogut, Lee, Iggy, and Ezeli a 50 win season is pretty darn good . DId they lose some games they should have won? Sure. But they also won some games that they played great and beat good teams too.
Reality is the best they could have hoped for in the West was a 4th seed. San Antonio, OKC,and LAC, simply have more talent and are better teams. The Warriors are not a 57+ team win and 54 wins was probably about the max for this team.
Agreed they beat some good teams, but with the talent the Warriors have that should be expected that you'll get a few of those wins...losses to teams like the Cavs, Bobcats (x2), Wizards, etc. were killers. I could see maybe 3 or 4 of those, 1 at home, but there were too many. No, the Warriors aren't conference big boys yet, but without the "bad" losses I think they're comfortably at 4 and challenging for 3.
Obviously the injuries did play a part in some of those losses...you expect key guys to miss a game here-and-there, but not the extended time missed by Lee, Bogut, and Iguodala....and you can throw in O'Neal. So yes I say they underachieved, but it's with the caveat that injuries factored into that. It's also why I'm not as down on Jackson as some are...for his faults, he's still the coach that helped turn this franchise around and he seems to have a genuine connection with the players.
