November 30, 2009

Let The Worries Commence

The good guys won a scorcher tonight. Monta Ellis scored a career-high 45 on 27 shots, Corey Maggette and C.J. Watson brought things home nicely after Monta fouled out, Anthony Randolph and Chris BY GOD Hunter also added nice bench performances, Anthony Morrow Morrowed it up all up in people's grills, and the result was a nineteen-point win to send the Oracle faithful home happy. It was a delightful game...

...and also a troublesome game. Monta only fouled out because of a substitution scheme so creatively bankrupt that he had to play every second of the 42 minutes up to that point; his seven turnovers bespeak an offensive plan that was equally mindless. Corey Maggette and C.J. Watson are good and commendable players, but the fact that they are still Warriors speaks poorly of the decision-making of the front office. Anthony Randolph and Chris Hunter's nice performances were only nice bench performances because some horrible Satan-sent clerical error keeps allowing Mikki Moore to start NBA games. Anthony Morrow's truly impressive all-around game was slightly marred by the fact that WE MADE HIM OUR NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION POWER FORWARD FOR 213 SECONDS. The calls went our way; the crowd buoyed us. But on a holistic level, we -- "we" -- these Warriors of ours, and we fans that indefensibly support them -- should not feel good about what happened tonight.

When you root for a franchise this star-crossed, you start to settle for things. "Okay, our defense was horrible, but not as horrible as it was this other time, so at least they're trying." "We didn't have any good coaches after Nellie left the first time, so we'd be crazy to get rid of him now." "Our team reached the second round of the playoffs? I have never envisioned an outcome so scrumptious. Death to the quibblers! I demand GRAPES!" When things are rough, you cling happily to any ray of sunshine that reaches you. You become unduly grateful for the few good things you encounter. In your infrequent happy moments, you stop worrying.

This blog is about telling you to wise up. This franchise sucks in a way that threatens every ray of sunshine you've ever imagined. The wise men have not become wise. A new day is not dawning. It's time to worry.

From this day forward, we will walk through every dark corner of the psychodrama that is The Golden State Warriors. We will poke at every shallow comfort, every unexamined belief, every tacit approval of mediocrity. We don't do this out of hatred or smugness... we do this out of love. We love these Warriors, and we want them to climb that storied mountain. But blinders won't help them do it.

Starting now, you, you poor, long-suffering Warriors fan... your miseries will be doubled. But consider that pain productive, even necesssary. Only the cold glare of daylight will lay our flaws bare. Only unapologetic self-awareness will start to heal the wounds of this franchise. Only the harshest and shrillest voices will reach the malignant Cohanic tower that rules them all.

Our aim: to make it worse, so it can get better. Please join us. We will never forget you.