The Warriors: Hanging By a Thread
Y'uh-oh. With the season hanging by a thread, the War-rips were hoping to come out of their recent six-day break with some piss and vinegar, but instead, all they got was a little salty wine.
On Wednesday, the War-terloos were worn down and overmatched by the Miami Humidity, losing at home 110-96. Last night, they sleepwalked through their game with the Phoenix Sunburn like it was a preseason scrimmage, losing at Phoenix 112-99 and dropping below .500 for the first time all season. At one point during the Suns game, the War-bricks were 3-18 from the three-point line; they could muster no offensive energy or discipline at all in the second half. It was one of their more lackluster performances of the season.
And despite a good deal of clumsily generated buzz out of the War-wiggums front office about being in the market for Ron Artest or some other significant new piece of the puzzle (note to Chris Mullin, if the Artest deal doesn't work out, Steve Francis might be available), the recent mini-break came and went with nothing to show for it except Gwen Knapp's backhanded attempt at hometown support for garment-less player personnel emperor Mullin.
By the Truthmaker, contributing
Entering a critical phase of the season, this team appears listless and slightly confused from top to bottom. Confirming our earlier suspicions about his vision for the team, Mullin noted earlier this week, "I do feel the need to get better, no question. I always feel that way. How to do that, and when that day will come, are the variables." Yeah, no shit. Sounds a bit to us like someone frozen in the headlights; meanwhile, the faithful are getting restless.
This malaise couldn't come at a worse time, because next up for the War-droops (trumpets please)--the LA Fakers and Kohhh-beeee. Gulp. Kobe might have a sprained right wrist, but it didn't stop him from showing LeBron what clutch really means in the NBA and busting up Cleveland last night with critical shots down the stretch in the Fakers 99-98 triumph over the Steamers.
The War-blues have been looking down on the Fakers for most of the season, but not any more. Coming into this first matchup of the season between the two teams, the Fakers are smoking hot and looking for a little Warrior ass. The Fakers have won four of their last five, and just as we feared, they are starting to figure things out.
Yet to win a game in 2006, the War-bunch have to face Cleveland, Dallas, the Fakers, and the LA Strippers twice in the next two weeks. Needless to say, Saturday's game in Oakland against the Fakers is going to be hu-uu-uge! Hopefully it won't leave the taste of salty wine in our mouths.