The Warriors season starts up tonight and in honor of the return of basketball, SFist Chris takes a look at the Warriors.

What a difference a year makes. Come opening night of 2006, most of Warrior Nation was just hoping that the newly unretired and rehired Don Nelson could somehow resuscitate the franchise from its 12-year playoff coma. A .500 season was all anybody really hoped for; few dared dream the impossible dream of postseason play.

After starting fast and then fading, the Warriors pulled off a master stroke of highway robbery on January 17 when they unloaded franchise goats Mike Dunleavy, Troy Murphy, and Ike Diogu to some rubes in overalls and straw hats in Indianapolis for starters Stephen Jackson and Al Harrington. After some gettin'-to-know-you time, the club finished the season ablaze, going 16-4 down the stretch to pluck the eighth and final playoff spot from the Los Angeles Clippers.

And then there was the opening round series with Dallas. Ahhggghhh, sweet playoff upset. The Warriors absolutely owned the Mavs, and oh it felt so good. 2006-2007 season: Mission accomplished.

Photo from USA Today

In the offseason, the Warriors had an excellent draft, snagging 6'5" Italian guard Marco Belinelli with their first round pick. Though only 21, Belinelli has already played five years of professional ball in Europe. He is perfect for Nellie's offensive-minded system and we predict that if Nellie gives him the minutes, this guy will win Rookie of the Year. The Dubs also scored the Larry Smith-like Stephen Lasme in the second round. A few extra rebounds never hurt. Then Mullie went nuts, trading fan favorite Jason Richardson to the Charlotte Bobcats in exchange for North Carolina superfreak Brandan Wright. Add to that the signings of 7'2" 2006 second round pick Kosta Perovic and journeyman big man Austin Croshere along with the return of 2006 first round pick Patrick O'Bryant (an SFist favorite) from the NBA Siberia also known as the Bakersfield Jam, and the Warriors did pretty well for themselves in the offseason.

Tomorrow: Strengths, weaknesses, and our predictions for the Warriors in 2007-2008.