Now, let me start off by saying that I am not a Golden State Warriors fan nor do I pretend to be one. I am in fact a loyal fan of the New York Knicks and will continue to be until default. However, this is not the time to discuss my distaste for Jared Jeffries (basketball's version of a 0-tool player, in other words Rey Ordonez) or the fact that Mardy Collins has gone from being a carbon copy of Rick Brunson - an easily exciteable towel waving 12th man, limited to garbage time play - into a viable NBA-caliber point guard with upside in a span of a month. I will also choose not to elaborate on how, through consistent interaction with several unflappable and biased Knicks fans at work, I have talked myself into the "Isiah was handed a tough hand by Scott Layden and has made great strides in the past season" camp. I will discuss these things following the draft... that is, unless the Bulls get the 1 or 2 pick in the lottery. At that point, I can be found locked in a dimly lit room blasting "Go NY Go" on repeat while staring at my John Starks "The Dunk" poster all the while reconsidering my life desicions and gently weeping.

Anyway, enough of the Knicks talk because today, April 18, 2007 belongs to the Golden State Warriors and their "win and in" matchup with the Portland Trailblazers. It is well known that the Warriors havent reached the playoffs in 12 seasons (the longest playoff drought of any NBA team) making tonight the biggest game the franchise has played in a long time.

Throughout my time following the NBA, I have held an inexplicable fondness for the Warriors. Run TMC saw the rise of my favorite point guard of the early 90's in Tim Hardaway and Chris Mullin's flat top, which ranks as arguably the stiffest haircut ever worn by a white basketball player with apoligies to Greg Ostertag pseudo flat top-crew cut. The Warriors were also integral for me in the Sega Genesis era. They were my team in all EA sports basketball games from Bulls vs Lakers featuring Tim Hardaway's patented "UTEP 2-Step" special move to NBA Live 95 which saw Chris Mullin's left-handed majesty behind the arc and a young, innocent Spree taking it hard to the tin.

Even after the Warriors sank to the bottom of the NBA ranks, a process that began with the arrival of Syracuse "legend" the immortal Billy Owens and was cemented by the departures of Webber and Nellie, they remained interesting. No team held a more "intense" practice session then the lowly Warriors in the PJ Carlisimo era and when John Starks, my favorite Knick of all-time, was traded naturally he ended up in Golden State.

The arrival of Baron Davis - the man responsible for ruining 4 of my fantasy basketball teams in the last 3 years, but who will be drafted by me next year because of my unconditional love and "feeling" at the start of each year that this will be "his year" - in 2005 and his pairing with Jason Richardson got me back on board with this franchise. Now with Mike Montogomery's blank stare long gone and the cranky Don Nelson back in charge, the team is infinitely fun to watch and a consumate threat to drop or allow 130-140 points on any given night. A mid-season trade sending the blackhole known as Mike Dunleavy Jr. and the pride of the Irish Troy Murphy to Indy yielded two athletic scorers in Al Harrington and Stephen Jackson. Harrington and Jackson are great fits for Nellie's "run and gun system" and helped make the team more explosive and well-rounded. (Insert cheap Stephen Jackson "run and GUN" joke here, because I wont be the one to incite his crazy ass). In addition, Monta Ellis has emerged as a budding superstar and with a healthy J-Rich and Baron, this team has finished the season strong.

So tonight, in Portland, Oregon, the Golden State Warriors can erase 12 forgettable years with a win and give their loyal fans, weird mascot and ornery coach the playoff berth they so desperately desire. May the spirit of Run TMC be with you.