Timberwolves 109 Warriors 108- And how did the Warriors celebrate not only MLK Day but the official start of George Bush's last year in office? They lost to the worst team in the NBA, the Minnesota Timberwolves as an Al Harrington lay up in the final seconds clanged off the rim. The TWolves had lost 16 straight games on the road. Of interest is the fact that the Beard had only fifteen points and missed a couple of shots at the end of the game, this coming after spending the previous night partying in Sundance as the movie he produced, "Made in America," premiered. That might have had an effect on his performance, but we're going to let it slide as how many basketball teams feature a player who produces a documentary that makes it to Sundance?

-A few notes about Sunday's playoff games: We here at SFist have a rule about playoff games played in freezing temperatures in that whichever coach appears to be less spooked by the cold wins. Coughlin dressed like it was just a normal winter game and other than looking like he got frostbite, didn't appear to be bothered at all. Mike McCarthy, the Packers coach, dressed like Ralphie's brother in A Christmas Story. We also couldn't help notice that while Eli looked completely nonplussed by the weather, Favre looked miserable out there.

Man, that Jamie Lynn Spears story is tremendous. Just stupendously tremendous. And you know, of course, that Mrs Spears, mother of Jamie Lynn and Britney, actually had a contract to write a book on parenting, right? The book, as you might expect, is on hold right now.

Warriors 111 Timberwolves 98- Golden State's Magical Mystery Tour rolled back up north to Minnesota where they rallied in the second half to win. And by rally, we mean outscoring the T'Wolves by 20 in the third quarter (37-17) after being down by 14 at half. The Warriors are now 14-5 with Jackson back in the fold and are 2-1 on their killer road trip. If they get out of this trip with a .500 record, everyone should be darn happy.

-Anyone seen that movie "Idiocracy?" It's pretty bad, but it's central premise is that civilization is not "evolving" but "devolving." The reason is because while all the well-educated, intelligent folks aren't having lots of kids because they're too busy with their careers and self-actualizing, all the dumb-ass redneck hillbillies are. In other words, the Spears family.

-There is kind of a fun essay in the New Republic by a Giants fan trying to make sense of the whole steroids mess by pondering good ole Marvin Bernard. The writer mentions that as a Giants fan, his favorite memory is a home game in 2000 against the Dodgers when Bernard hit a game-winning walk off home run in the ninth inning, a game we remember too. But now that Bernard's known as a juicer, is that moment tarnished in any way? After all, Bernard probably wouldn't have hit it if he wasn't cheating. Hell, he might not have even been playing if he wasn't cheating. What he's wondering is how are we supposed to feel about all these baseball memories we've enjoyed over the past ten years or so when we’re no longer sure what we saw was what we saw?

Well, we enjoyed it, anyways.

Even after last night's unsatisfying loss to the Utah Jazz in the SLC, we're calling it right now -- cancel your reservations at the midtown Manhattan Day's Inn, cuz' ain't gonna' be no Warriors representative at this year's NBA Lottery. After 12 years, THE STREAK IS OVER -- your Golden State Warriors will make the playoffs this year as the number eight seed in the Western Conference.

Unlike Monte Poole or Tim Kawakami, there is no "will they or won't they" coming from SFist. This is a done deal. Their season-long fever has broken just in time, and the Warriors are playing the kind of ball they need to play, when they need to play it -- like late in the game, like late in the season.

Though now tied with the Clippers after Tuesday night's action, for almost one whole week now, your Golden State Warriors have been proud owners of the number eight playoff spot in the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association (give that line a little Cosell when you read it). And they're gold Jerry, gold!

Really, the Warriors should be about five games out of the playoffs right now, but for once, fate is on their side. Just as the Warriors have started to play well, going 6-2 in the last 8 games, the rest of the Western Conference midpackers have completely collapsed. The Clippers have lost 14 of their last 21 games; the Timberwolves 15 of 21; the Kings 12 of 19; the Sonics 14 of 23; the Hornets 8 of their last 11. Fine, if nobody else wants it, the Warriors are more than happy to snatch up el ocho. No, not that ocho pasado, not until the second round of the playoffs, that is.

This year's Warriors are proving themselves when it counts -- during the playoff push. Poster image from GoldenStateofMind.com.

Also for once, the Warriors have been helping themselves with timely, critical victories, including wins over the Clippers, Timberwolves, and most recently, Sunday's playoff-caliber gutcheck win on the road over Seattle. Even their defense is coming around.