The Warriors are still in search of win No. 36, which would mark
a 10-game improvement over last season. They missed a golden
opportunity to get it Sunday, losing 104-103 to Sacramento. Golden
State will have to try for No. 36 Monday night at Denver likely
without their best player.
OAKLAND
The Warriors are still in search of win No. 36, which would mark a 10-game improvement over last season.
They missed a golden opportunity to get it Sunday, losing 104-103 to Sacramento. Golden State will have to try for No. 36 Monday night at Denver likely without their best player.
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Warriors guard Monta Ellis will not travel with the team for Monday’s game at the Nuggets after sustaining a head injury late in Sunday’s loss. While the team headed to the airport, Ellis headed to the hospital for further examination.
Ellis’ head slammed against the hardwood with 58.9 seconds left after a drive to the basket. He was undercut by Sacramento big man DeMarcus Cousins, who was trying to take a charge.
Ellis remained down for a few moments. When he tried to get up, he staggered noticeably and had to be supported. He eventually was helped off the court and checked out without taking his free throws.
“You could tell by the look in his eyes he had no idea where he was at,” Warriors forward David Lee said after totaling 24 points and 14 rebounds. “He was trying to go to the free throw line to shoot free throws and kind of walked toward the fans for a second. I was like, ‘Come on, trainer. Get out here.’ … You’ve got to be careful with those kinds of things because that’s not like a twisted ankle or something. It can be real serious.”
Ellis, who was nursing a tender ankle to begin with, finished with seven points on 2-for-9 shooting with four assists in 26 minutes. It appeared as if coach Keith Smart was going to sit Ellis the rest of the night after he took him out with 3:36 left in the third quarter. But Smart put his best player back in with 3:19 left after the Kings took a 97-93 lead.
Ellis immediately nailed a jumper and point guard Stephen Curry cut Sacramento’s lead to 98-97 with a 15-footer with 2:30 left.
But that’s as close as the Warriors would get.
So after a three-game win streak over playoff-bound teams, Golden State lost at home to one of the worst teams in the league.
But what if the Warriors do end up improving their record by 10 wins over last season? Should fans be impressed with the progress or disappointed in missing the playoffs? Should fans consider it a good season because of the growth or a bad season because, in the end, it’s another trip to the lottery?
Games like Sunday, a disappointing loss against a beatable team, leave many thinking this season is disappointing. With two games left, Monday night at Denver and Wednesday vs. Portland, the Warriors can still reach the 36-win plateau. But what could have been looms too large for some to overlook.
“Our goal in training camp was to get to the playoffs,” said forward Dorell Wright, who had 19 points and a career-high six steals while playing all 48 minutes. “When you fall short of that, it’s never something you’re proud of. We’ve improved. We definitely did that. We’re a young team. We’re still growing. But our ultimate goal in training camp was playoffs.”
Another school of thought exists, however. The Warriors had significant roster overhaul, including two new starters. Their key offseason acquisition, Lee, was acclimating to a new position in a new system. The coaching staff was basically put together the day before training camp.
“I would say anywhere else other than here would say it’s a good season,” Smart said. “It’s not what we want. But I think I’ve done everything I can possibly do. But for some strange reason, any other place in the country would say, ‘They’re moving in the right direction.’ But I understand. I’ve been here. We know the ultimate success is getting this team to the playoffs.”
— Story by Marcus Thompson II, Contra Costa Times
