Golden Daze
After a dozen years on the outside, a Warriors fan explains what it means to visit the Playoffs.
by Branden J. Peters
On many occasions I have said I would never write a blog post because I do not write for free. That may sound selfish to some and idiotic to the more self-righteous, but I’m from East Oakland, California—hustling is in my blood and working for free is not hustling.
But today I am contradicting myself (not the first time and certainly won’t be the last) as I write my first post. I have a good reason to eat my words, 12 years worth of reasons:
Last night, the basketball team that I have been rooting for my entire life ended the second-longest Playoff drought in NBA history.
That’s right people. The Golden State (should be named Oakland, but I digress) Warriors are in the NBA Playoffs and once again it’s on. To commemorate this occasion I am in the XXL offices today rocking my Mitchell & Ness Latrell Sprewell home jersey with a fitted to match. I’m so excited I feel like a little kid on Christmas Eve.
It’s not like I didn’t believe we (yes I said we, after all this time and money I’ve invested in the franchise, I feel like I’m part of the family—Mully cut a brotha a check) couldn’t make the Playoffs this year, it’s just that the reality of doing it is so sweet.
When Don Nelson was hired as the coach, I bitched and moaned to Khalid and Ryan, because as far as I’m concerned, Nellie’s infighting with Webber and the beef he let go on between Tim “No Amaechi” Hardaway and the younger guys on the team created the losing state that the franchise was mired in. But for the 2006-2007 Playoffs, all is forgiven.
Moving forward, call it bias, call it lifelong fandom, call it whatever you like, but I wholeheartedly believe that the Warriors will defeat the Mavs in the first round (a first round that’s way too long if you ask me—bring the 5-game series back!). Dirk is head and shoulders above any player on the Warriors roster and that’s pretty much where the Dallas advantages stop in my eyes. Starting five for starting five, GS matches up pretty well with the Mavericks or any other team in the West besides the Spurs. Dallas has no answer for B-Diddy or J-Rich (especially if he’s hot, which he has been for the last couple of weeks).
Everyone is harping on Golden State’s regular season sweep of Dallas, which means both nothing and a lot. The Mavericks are soft, as exhibited last year in the Finals, and it wouldn’t surprise me if the dominance GS has had over them the last two years rattles them just a bit. On the flip side, there are hella examples of NBA squads getting whooped in the regular season by a particular team only to annihilate said team in the Playoffs. So who knows if it will have an effect?
Avery Johnson will have a great game plan, Dirk will get his 35, Howard will fill up the stat sheet but, Jason “I really wish I was from the Bay” Terry, Devin Harris, old man Finley and old man Stackhouse don’t want to see the Warriors offense. On another note, who knows Dirk’s strengths and weaknesses better than Nellie? If it wasn’t for the old coach, Dirk would probably still be pulling splinters out of his butt in Milwaukee.
As my homie V-Dub told me the other night, the Warriors are like a street version of the Suns. I could not have said it better myself. Showtime has officially moved up north, I said it and you see it.
Warriors Basketball, it’s fantastic!!
Branden is the Lifestyle Editor at XXL Magazine.
35 Responses to “Golden Daze”
Apr.19 at 4:47 pm
SteveSmith#8fan says:
Jason “I really wish I was from the Bay” Terry, Devin Harris, old man Finley and old man Stackhouse don’t want to see the Warriors offense. - Does Michael Finley know he is back on the Mavs?
Apr.19 at 5:00 pm
Ryan Jones says:
“I bitched and moaned to Khalid and Ryan”
Yes you did, Branden. Yes you did.
Apr.19 at 5:09 pm
Boing Dynasty says:
It sucks your homie is named after a Volks Wagon. I also find it hard to believe anyone wishs they were from Oakland.
Apr.19 at 5:18 pm
The Real Mongoose says:
I wish i was from the bay so I could say “hella”
Apr.19 at 5:25 pm
Reggie Evans says:
I only post comments for free.
Apr.19 at 5:31 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
I’m from Long Island and I say “hella” all the time. Also, if E-40 doesn’t get to perform the anthem at one of the home games, I’m going to be very disappointed.
Apr.19 at 5:56 pm
Maurice Garland says:
Congrats BP…Hopefully I’ll be writing a Hawks blog this time next year…DRAFT A POINT GUARD BILLY!
Apr.19 at 6:08 pm
Khalid Salaam says:
A street version of the suns? LOL, Nice……..BP has been amped about this this the start of the season so he deserves to gloat. Dallas is a tough match-up but you never know.
Apr.19 at 6:09 pm
VDub says:
Nice shout out BP!
And, Dynasty… no I’m not named after a car!
;-)
Apr.19 at 6:13 pm
Soulrise says:
TOWN BIZ ALL DAY EVERYDAY!!!
Apr.19 at 6:13 pm
Bozaframa says:
I think hella disappointed would have been the correct usage, Russ.
Apr.19 at 6:15 pm
Bozaframa says:
And I can finally let go of my Vendettas against Nellie and C-Webb. Yes, my friends, it is once again all good in tha hood.
Apr.19 at 7:23 pm
jbn74sb says:
Look, I’m no Dirk fan, but who is it on the Warriors that matches up with him?
Apr.19 at 7:26 pm
Kadavour says:
lmao @ “street version of the suns”
Apr.19 at 7:53 pm
ALX8725 says:
GO WARRIORS! As a Warriors fan, I wouldn’t be surprised with anything that happens in this series, whether its a Warriors upset or a Dallas sweep, I really wouldn’t be surprised. Doesn’t mean this series won’t be exciting though, because it will! The Hype has been established, which team will deliver?
Apr.19 at 8:46 pm
David says:
e-40 doing the anthem would be great. Too $hort could do the second game. Has anyone ever been allowed to rap the anthem at a game?
Apr.19 at 8:56 pm
tedturner says:
brotha lynch and ron artest should do a song(or album) together. i couldnt be happier for the warriors, especially baron, who is one of my favorite players. they have their chance to do something special.
Apr.19 at 9:03 pm
Court Smith says:
You said it best my dude. I’m loving it! The first year i get season tickets we make the playoffs. I guess I have to keep it up. This is huge for the bay. You should have see the ARENA the night we made it. It felt beautiful. If I had dreads I would have started shakin ‘em.
Apr.19 at 9:19 pm
JON says:
stephen jackson is mac dre’s twin?
Apr.19 at 9:30 pm
JOE says:
WARRIORS IN AFTER 12 YEARS, PACERS OUT AFTER 10 YEARS IN. WHO GOT THE BETTER DEAL IN THAT TRADE???????????
Apr.19 at 11:34 pm
Boing Dynasty says:
I dont think talent had anything to do with that trade, Joe. Indy just wanted to make sure none of thier players busted off shots in parking lots for the rest of the year, then they looked up and saw Troy Murphy and Lil Dun, and it was a wrap. Indiana loves white people, dont ya know.
Apr.20 at 1:17 am
Reese says:
hopefully this time next year ill be writing a Hawks playoff blog somewhere…
Apr.20 at 1:38 am
howard says:
when will Yao Ming get his own solo cover?
Apr.20 at 1:55 am
Justin Adler says:
I’m not that familiar with the who goes to games in Oaktown, but will 40 water, Too $hort and others be sitting courtside for the playoffs, cause that would be hella amazing.
Apr.20 at 5:15 am
Matthijs says:
“Adonis” Foyle will be all over Dirk. The Foyle will outsmart Mo-whiskey at every end of the court. Wait, we’re talking political debate club, right?
Apr.20 at 7:22 am
FLUD says:
HIE-RO-GLYPH-ICS. They should do ‘93 til.. but change it to ‘94 til infinity…as a celebration of finally gettin’ backin. I like the ‘Golden State’ bit. Sounds cool. Bay Area Action At Last!!!
Apr.20 at 9:17 am
Cub Buenning says:
You’ve all mentioned several East Bay greats, but no Hammer?!?! THE CITY.
Apr.20 at 11:27 am
albie1kenobi says:
seems like all the warriors fans just came out the woods (or hood) all at once (i’m sure the Bay is crunk as hell right now, but i haven’t really step outside to check out the scene), while all the raptor fans who’ve been claiming disrepect all season long are no where to be seen. or at least stopped commenting. what a change of events here. i’m not making fun of you guys, i’m just simply wondering why.
Apr.20 at 11:54 am
Mike says:
Raptors fans can go to hell. At least the bandwagon jumping know nothing know it alls.
Apr.20 at 12:02 pm
Zee says:
Warriors in 7, and even if not, damn this will be an entertaining series. It’s not A-OK it’s OAK. That’s what a dude told me at the warriors rally wednesday night. After Terry and Howard, the Mavs aint lookin too nice. We’ll see.
Apr.20 at 12:11 pm
Sam Rubenstein says:
Branden and the city of Oakland deserve this after all they’ve gone through with the Raiders the past few years. And the whole Warriors playoff drought thing. Good luck Warriors! (you’ll need it)
Apr.20 at 12:20 pm
The World Famous BP says:
Thats right Sam, we do deserve it. And forget Forty Water (sorry Unc) and $hort doin the anthem. Lets bring out Tone Tony Toni to do game 3 and The Pointer Sisters or Lenny Williams to do game 2. Keep it all Oakland and somewhat old school. Reminicisnt of the years when we were last good.
Apr.20 at 12:48 pm
Shiz says:
Wow! I never thought I’d see a Lenny Williams shout on slamonline…Niiiice…E-40 has THE most emaculate slang EVA! He could be telling you about going to the grocery store for some bread and some pickles and it’ll be the most engrossing story you’ve ever heard, just cuz you’re trying to interprete what the hell he’s talking about…Holla atcha Saha…Tell me when to go…
Apr.23 at 7:57 pm
Donkey Kong says:
“On many occasions I have said I would never write a blog post because I do not write for free.” Branden great way to start of the blog. You know i was going to call you out on that.Its to see you know where you came from. YEEEE!!! I guess u beat me to it. I to wasn’t all to excited about Nelly homecoming to the WARRIORS lets just say all has been forgiven. I think his time away from home made him a better coach and solidified his legacy in Warrior’s basketball
May.4 at 2:55 pm
» Sadly, this is NOT our next cover - SLAM ONLINE says:
[…] Next issue will be on stands next week and covered here on the site by Lang Tuesday. In the meantime, imagine that someone in the SLAM family (besides occasional contributor Branden Peters) had enough faith in G State to give the Warriors some front-page love. Hopefully this effort (thanks to art director Melissa Brennan for creating her third SLAM cover of the month) helps makes amends for our gross miscalculations. […]