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Power Rankings: One week of truth for Warriors
By Tony Mejia
CBS SportsLine.com Staff Writer
The biggest week in the last 13 years of Golden State Warriors basketball has arrived, and the objective is simple: Win two games, get back to the playoffs.
Finally.
Don Nelson last led the Warriors to the postseason in 1994, failed to win a game, and then was out the next season following a 14-31 start. In the years since, the Warriors have had eight coaches who led the team to a last- or next-to-last-place finish in the Pacific Division every single time.
It has taken Nelson's return for the tide to change, but that hasn't been the most important addition of the season. Believe it or not, it's the additions of Stephen Jackson and Al Harrington that have gotten the Warriors to this point, a turn of events that no doubt revolts Indiana fans.
At the start of the season, I predicted another disappointing finish for Golden State, projecting less than 30 wins and another last-place finish.
I was wrong on both counts. Consider this my apology.
That said, the Warriors would've finished last had Chris Mullin not executed a mid-January trade with Indiana, a move that upgraded their talent and provided a better fit for Nelson's system than Mike Dunleavy, Troy Murphy and Ike Diogu did. It was a gamble, with pulling the trigger being quite the pun given who was involved in the acquisition. To his credit, Jackson has been a model teammate, with his versatility and defense emerging as key assets.
Once Jason Richardson and Baron Davis got healthy, giving Nelson his full complement of weapons, the Warriors have won 14 of 19 games, including wins over Detroit, Denver, Dallas, Phoenix, Houston and Utah.
The impressive late push makes Golden State a dangerous potential foe for the top-seeded Mavericks, especially since the Warriors don't seem to fear them at all. Harrington has guaranteed that they'll succeed against Dallas on Tuesday and in Portland on Wednesday, making the playoffs.
"We're winning both of these games," Harrington told the San Francisco Chronicle. "There's nothing else to talk about, no other options."
Hopefully for Warriors fans, his predictions are better than mine.
From first to worst, the season's final Power Rankings:
Current Team Previous
1 Mavericks · Trends 1
The Mavericks have been the league's elite team through most of the season, and will finish among the top two most impressive single-season records in Western Conference history.
2 Spurs · Trends 2
Don't make too much out of Tim Duncan's laughter-related ejection. While it might have cost the Spurs a win, it also buys him some leverage this postseason. An overzealous Joey Crawford let down his brethren, which is a shame since he has consistently been one of the game's top officials.
3 Suns · Trends 3
James Jones' ability to knock down clutch jumpers might ultimately be the difference in the Suns breaking through this postseason. He has the confidence to be a factor.
4 Pistons · Trends 4
The Pistons will finish with the only winning road record in the East, and did so despite Flip Saunders being smarter with his veterans' minutes and going to a deeper bench.
5 Rockets · Trends 5
Jeff Van Gundy has come to trust second-year guard Luther Head's shooting in critical situations, and it's easy to see why. Although Head is young, he thrives in the clutch and isn't afraid to miss.
6 Bulls · Trends 6
Forget about the regular season; now is when Ben Wallace will start earning his big paycheck. He was brought in to be the closer, and April, May and June is closing time.
7 Heat · Trends 8
Losing to teams they had no business dropping games against might ultimately be the Heat's undoing. Their playoff path seems too arduous for a team still trying to find its stride. The Heat did jell on the run last year.
8 Raptors · Trends 7
With their Raptors safely in the playoffs, fans in Toronto have turned their attention to rooting on New Jersey's attempted climb into the No. 6 seed. Canada's rabid masses desperately want a piece of Vince Carter.
9 Cavaliers · Trends 10
The Cavaliers might not be a championship-caliber squad, but back-to-back 50-win seasons are a strong accomplishment for second-year head coach Mike Brown. You have to walk before you can run.
10 Jazz · Trends 9
The Jazz are entering the final week of the regular season wondering what has gone wrong. That's not the mindset you want entering the dance.
11 Nuggets · Trends 11
Marcus Camby got my vote for Defensive Player of the Year, and he's making me look good down the stretch. He has 28 rejections over his last six games, raising his league-leading average to 3.3 per game and helping him set a single-season record for blocks.
12 Nets · Trends 13
Now that Richard Jefferson has gotten all the kinks out, the offense is looking potent enough that the Nets could give their first-round opponent a major scare.
13 Lakers · Trends 12
Wonder if the Lakers would take that Andrew Bynum-for-Jason Kidd deal now? Despite their struggles, it was still the right move long term.
14 Warriors · Trends 14
Toronto's Bryan Colangelo will be the Executive of the Year, but Chris Mullin certainly deserves a pat on the back for delivering results. Thus far, gambling on Stephen Jackson is paying off, and convincing Don Nelson to return is one of the season's most understated accomplishments.
15 Clippers · Trends 15
Elton Brand was disgusted with his team's effort in Sunday's crippling loss to Sacramento, and hinted he'd be unhappy if there weren't changes made to next year's team, whether the Clippers make the playoffs or not.
16 Magic · Trends 17
Making the playoffs bodes well for the Magic's campaign for a new arena. What at one point seemed like a go-project has met increased resistance, but creating a buzz over the coming week could go a long way in swaying the momentum.
17 Hornets · Trends 16
Here's hoping Chris Paul's foot surgery this summer goes without incident. He'll have a screw inserted in his left foot, but hopefully won't have his awesome speed compromised.
18 Wizards · Trends 18
DeShawn Stevenson and Jarvis Hayes have an opportunity to make themselves more attractive free agents this offseason if they can produce in the postseason. If the Wizards are going to have any chance to hang around in a series, they will need both to play over their heads.
19 Kings · Trends 19
A busy offseason awaits for the Kings brain trust, which has many divisions in front of them that will dictate the future of the franchise.
cont...
Power Rankings: One week of truth for Warriors
By Tony Mejia
CBS SportsLine.com Staff Writer
The biggest week in the last 13 years of Golden State Warriors basketball has arrived, and the objective is simple: Win two games, get back to the playoffs.
Finally.
Don Nelson last led the Warriors to the postseason in 1994, failed to win a game, and then was out the next season following a 14-31 start. In the years since, the Warriors have had eight coaches who led the team to a last- or next-to-last-place finish in the Pacific Division every single time.
It has taken Nelson's return for the tide to change, but that hasn't been the most important addition of the season. Believe it or not, it's the additions of Stephen Jackson and Al Harrington that have gotten the Warriors to this point, a turn of events that no doubt revolts Indiana fans.
At the start of the season, I predicted another disappointing finish for Golden State, projecting less than 30 wins and another last-place finish.
I was wrong on both counts. Consider this my apology.
That said, the Warriors would've finished last had Chris Mullin not executed a mid-January trade with Indiana, a move that upgraded their talent and provided a better fit for Nelson's system than Mike Dunleavy, Troy Murphy and Ike Diogu did. It was a gamble, with pulling the trigger being quite the pun given who was involved in the acquisition. To his credit, Jackson has been a model teammate, with his versatility and defense emerging as key assets.
Once Jason Richardson and Baron Davis got healthy, giving Nelson his full complement of weapons, the Warriors have won 14 of 19 games, including wins over Detroit, Denver, Dallas, Phoenix, Houston and Utah.
The impressive late push makes Golden State a dangerous potential foe for the top-seeded Mavericks, especially since the Warriors don't seem to fear them at all. Harrington has guaranteed that they'll succeed against Dallas on Tuesday and in Portland on Wednesday, making the playoffs.
"We're winning both of these games," Harrington told the San Francisco Chronicle. "There's nothing else to talk about, no other options."
Hopefully for Warriors fans, his predictions are better than mine.
From first to worst, the season's final Power Rankings:
Current Team Previous
1 Mavericks · Trends 1
The Mavericks have been the league's elite team through most of the season, and will finish among the top two most impressive single-season records in Western Conference history.
2 Spurs · Trends 2
Don't make too much out of Tim Duncan's laughter-related ejection. While it might have cost the Spurs a win, it also buys him some leverage this postseason. An overzealous Joey Crawford let down his brethren, which is a shame since he has consistently been one of the game's top officials.
3 Suns · Trends 3
James Jones' ability to knock down clutch jumpers might ultimately be the difference in the Suns breaking through this postseason. He has the confidence to be a factor.
4 Pistons · Trends 4
The Pistons will finish with the only winning road record in the East, and did so despite Flip Saunders being smarter with his veterans' minutes and going to a deeper bench.
5 Rockets · Trends 5
Jeff Van Gundy has come to trust second-year guard Luther Head's shooting in critical situations, and it's easy to see why. Although Head is young, he thrives in the clutch and isn't afraid to miss.
6 Bulls · Trends 6
Forget about the regular season; now is when Ben Wallace will start earning his big paycheck. He was brought in to be the closer, and April, May and June is closing time.
7 Heat · Trends 8
Losing to teams they had no business dropping games against might ultimately be the Heat's undoing. Their playoff path seems too arduous for a team still trying to find its stride. The Heat did jell on the run last year.
8 Raptors · Trends 7
With their Raptors safely in the playoffs, fans in Toronto have turned their attention to rooting on New Jersey's attempted climb into the No. 6 seed. Canada's rabid masses desperately want a piece of Vince Carter.
9 Cavaliers · Trends 10
The Cavaliers might not be a championship-caliber squad, but back-to-back 50-win seasons are a strong accomplishment for second-year head coach Mike Brown. You have to walk before you can run.
10 Jazz · Trends 9
The Jazz are entering the final week of the regular season wondering what has gone wrong. That's not the mindset you want entering the dance.
11 Nuggets · Trends 11
Marcus Camby got my vote for Defensive Player of the Year, and he's making me look good down the stretch. He has 28 rejections over his last six games, raising his league-leading average to 3.3 per game and helping him set a single-season record for blocks.
12 Nets · Trends 13
Now that Richard Jefferson has gotten all the kinks out, the offense is looking potent enough that the Nets could give their first-round opponent a major scare.
13 Lakers · Trends 12
Wonder if the Lakers would take that Andrew Bynum-for-Jason Kidd deal now? Despite their struggles, it was still the right move long term.
14 Warriors · Trends 14
Toronto's Bryan Colangelo will be the Executive of the Year, but Chris Mullin certainly deserves a pat on the back for delivering results. Thus far, gambling on Stephen Jackson is paying off, and convincing Don Nelson to return is one of the season's most understated accomplishments.
15 Clippers · Trends 15
Elton Brand was disgusted with his team's effort in Sunday's crippling loss to Sacramento, and hinted he'd be unhappy if there weren't changes made to next year's team, whether the Clippers make the playoffs or not.
16 Magic · Trends 17
Making the playoffs bodes well for the Magic's campaign for a new arena. What at one point seemed like a go-project has met increased resistance, but creating a buzz over the coming week could go a long way in swaying the momentum.
17 Hornets · Trends 16
Here's hoping Chris Paul's foot surgery this summer goes without incident. He'll have a screw inserted in his left foot, but hopefully won't have his awesome speed compromised.
18 Wizards · Trends 18
DeShawn Stevenson and Jarvis Hayes have an opportunity to make themselves more attractive free agents this offseason if they can produce in the postseason. If the Wizards are going to have any chance to hang around in a series, they will need both to play over their heads.
19 Kings · Trends 19
A busy offseason awaits for the Kings brain trust, which has many divisions in front of them that will dictate the future of the franchise.
cont...
