It's been building for the past month, but fans of the historically woebegone Golden State Warriors, awoke this morning with a dazed sense of disbelief to screaming headlines announcing: THE STREAK IS OVER -- THE WARRIORS HAVE MADE THE PLAYOFFS!

It's been so long since the Dubs got an extended play on their basketball season that neither they nor the fans really know what to do with themselves now that the dream has become a reality.

Even Warriors faithful who watched the game live in Portland or on TV in the O-rena could scarcely believe it happened. But who are you going to believe? A track record of 12 years of futility or your lyin' eyes? This year, believe the lyin' eyes.

Believe it! Them Warriors really are golden and they're in the NBA playoffs for the first time since 1993-1994. Photo from SFgate.com.

Yes, it is hard to believe, but it's twue, it's twue. Them ragged rabble from years gone by have been replaced with playoff players who can really play. And this team has earned it. From their 16-7 run over the last six weeks to last night's clutch win over the Portland Trailblazers, on the road, in the second game of a back-to-back, with all the pressure of "win or go home" resting on their inexperienced shoulders to the collective weight of historic suckitude, this Warriors team didn't back into a playoff spot, they reached out and grabbed it by the throat.

And the best part? This team is so hot right now, so full of confidence, and so blessed by the basketball gods, this season could keep on going right into the second round. That's because the Warriors' first-round opponent is the Dallas Mavericks. Sure, the Mavs are the number one seed in the Western Conference and owners of the best record in the NBA this season, but for the last two years, the Warriors have had their number, including 3-0 against them this year and 6-1 against Big D over the last two years. Believe this: the Mavs are running scared -- even if they won't admit it.

The one down side is the obsequious fawning over coach Don Nelson. No doubt that Nellie has brought gravitas and experience to this team, along with a lifetime of basketball knowledge. But playoff-starved fans and media have been ridiculously generous in their praise for the big man. Solid coach who knows how to win regular season games and get teams to the playoffs -- YES! No doubt. But genius? Just for getting the very last playoff spot? NO! Genius is a term that should be reserved for people that win championships, and last we counted, in more than 30 years of coaching, Don Nelson has never won a championship, never coached in a championship series, never even really gotten close. And stop with the coach of the year crap too. Utah's Jerry Sloan or Toronto's Sam Mitchell are much more deserving this year than Nellie (he has won league Coach of the Year honors three times).

Nellie should be lauded though. We give him full credit for moving VP of Basketball Operations Chris Mullin and absentee owner Chris Cohan off the dime and trading away frontcourt and salary cap albatrosses Mike Dunleavy and Troy Murphy. Without that trade, we'd all be talking about the Lottery right now instead of Round 1. Also, Nelson must be given credit for getting this team to play some defense. Everybody enjoys watching the hustle and flow of Nellie's wide-open offense, but it's defense that wins ballgames, and during the playoff push, it's been the Warriors swarming defense that has made the difference.

And hey, while we're giving out credit, we want to dish a little credit our own way. Though we did not think the W's had enough to make the playoffs this year, we did predict that they would finish with a record of 42-40. Any guesses on what record they finished with this year?

This feels weird to type, but forget about 60 Minutes and the Amazing Race this Sunday night, invite the crew over for some beer and pretzels, and get ready for some playoff basketball, Warriors style. The first game of the series tips off Sunday at 6:30 p.m. on TNT.

Warriors, baby!