No Regard Presidential Previews: Golden State Warriors (Harry S. Truman)

Oh the season. Oh the season! Election or NBA, both are upon us. We're getting into the spirit by bringing you our season previews (with a little help from the presidents). One per day for the next 30 days—which will bring us to the Day of Reckoning. So please join us on the campaign trail as we shake hands, kiss babies and sink jumpers.

"Being too good is apt to be uninteresting." - Harry S. Truman

There have been two great upsets in the past 100 years: incumbent Harry S. Truman defeating Thomas Dewey and the "We Believe" Golden State Warriors defeating the top-seeded Dallas Mavericks in the 2007 playoffs.

Truman's 36 percent approval rating at the time was much higher than the chances anyone was giving the Warriors. But both fighters reached for and fully committed to their progressive morals to pull out their inspirational wins. Truman risked alienating many of his more socially conservative supporters by advocating sweeping civics rights reform; coach Don Nelson bit his thumb at traditional positions and ran out whatever five guys his Scotch-soaked mind grapes deemed worthy. Both wins were historic in their underdog status. "Dirk Defeats Baron" and all that.

But following this truly reformative victory, the Warriors have thus far squandered their second term. Baron's gone, Mayor Stephen Jackson is back where he's needed, Ellis was exiled, Nelson fled to Hawaii. The restocking fee? Untested coach Mark Jackson, unfruitful David Lee, unshaven Andrew Bogut and un-ankled Steph Curry. Look, I'm skipping around a bit here, folding time to help the narrative. But really, nothing's been happening at the Oracle since 2007.

This year, though, there is optimism. The roster is good and practical. Steph and Bogut should be a forceful offensive inside-out combo and Bogut is probably the second best defensive center. (But they should both also get the words "Barring Injury" tattooed on their chests.) Second-year guard Klay Thompson is primed to have a modest breakout and score 18 points a game. Harrison Barnes probably has some dope business cards all printed up. Jarrett Jack will soak up all those juicy Steph Curry missed games with his whole grain back-up point guard baguette. And then there are also other NBA players on the team, but who has an endless amount of time to type all of their names? No one, that's who.

Harry Truman's daughter Margaret was a singer. After a particularly scathing review of one show, he penned a letter to the critic:

Mr. Hume: 

I've just read your lousy review of Margaret's concert. I've come to the conclusion that you are an "eight ulcer man on four ulcer pay."

It seems to me that you are a frustrated old man who wishes he could have been successful. When you write such poppy-cock as was in the back section of the paper you work for it shows conclusively that you're off the beam and at least four of your ulcers are at work. 

Some day I hope to meet you. When that happens you'll need a new nose, a lot of beefsteak for black eyes, and perhaps a supporter below! 

Pegler, a gutter snipe, is a gentleman alongside you. I hope you'll accept that statement as a worse insult than a reflection on your ancestry. 

H.S.T.

You know Mark Jackson would do the same for his guys.

Rushed Pull-Up Jumpers:

Pokemon who the team should adopt as its new mascot: Electabuzz

Headline we'll be most sick of reading: "Curry, Bogut Sidelined Again"

Headline we're most looking forward to: "Andris Biedrins Goes 10-10 From The Line"

If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you enter the pearly gates?: "You just went right ahead and claimed the state's nickname for your own use? Strong move."

The Audacity of Z-Bo

The 2006-2007 Golden State Warriors were what I assume LSD is like. The experience of watching Don Nelson, Baron Davis and Stephen Jackson hijack the league for 12 days was mind-expanding in a way you normally only read about in Jack Kerouac books. And their "We Believe" mantra was fitting for a team trying to change the world during Obama's campaign. Nelson's lineup choices were as strong as Obama's email list, and Boom Dizzle's refusal to be anything less than great was downright presidential. Plus, there's a connection to be made somewhere between the flag lapel pin and the bullet fedora.

As much as that team stood for hope and change in a dedicated sports city that needed it, during an era that was starved for it, their breakup and subsequent waning also paralleled Barack's own struggle to unite and lead during his first term. Both promised a few too many revolutions to be able to follow through. Warriors fans must have felt like the ostracized LGBT community as they watched broken promises turn into missed playoffs.

But as Obama begins his second campaign, NBA fans have been gifted another team in which to place our optimism for a better world: The Memphis Grizzlies.

No Regard Daily Previews: Throwing Down Ain't Nothing But A Thang

One Game We Will Definitely Watch Tonight: Dallas Mavericks vs. Golden State Warriors

In typical Dirk-era Dallas fashion, the Mavericks have been piping hot so far this regular season, most recently rattling off nine victories in a row. In typical Curry-era Golden State fashion, the Warriors haven't played any defense so far this regular season, allowing 106.9 points per contest, which ranks them 28th in the league.

Cuban's boys are defending the shit out of the ball, allowing only 92.2 points per game. Shocking, I know, for a team whose nucleus is made up of 67-year-old Jason Kidd and Dirk Nowitzki who, in the past, played as if he'd rather take a swift kick to the nuts than actually try and check opposing bigmen in the post. This whole, allegiance-to-defending gig is a massive step for a team that has championship aspirations. Dirk could easily find himself bodied up against a particularly dexterous Spaniard come May, so everything he's doing now to learn how to defend down low is pivotal.

As for Golden State, don't tell Monta Ellis and Steph Curry that their team doesn't worry about defending.

No Regard Daily Preview: Happy Hour 11-12-10

If you are a regular reader of this blog, you may remember a feature we started this offseason, NBA Happy Hour. This Friday feature gave readers the opportunity to get drunk while, let's say, watching the FIBA championship game, by giving them certain things to look for and celebrate. We are now carrying this idea over to our weekend previews, in which we will tell you one game we'll be watching over the next three days, one game we won't be watching, and ways one could creatively reach Blackout City while enjoying either one. So without further ado: Grab a beer, follow the rules, and start the weekend with a Don Nelson-level buzz.

One Game We Will Definitely Watch This Weekend: Golden State Warriors vs. Milwaukee Bucks


Drink every time:

Whoa Nellie!

Sorry for the Post headline, but I have to say, I was not expecting this news! It may have seemed obvious based on the Warriors performance issues over the last two seasons and cryptic words from owner Joe Lacob, but I would have put a fair amount of money on Golden State keeping the Don around for the last season on his contract, giving him the chance to continue to develop Stephen Curry and work with David Lee. It seemed like the easiest thing to do.

But, alas, Lacob and fellow new owner Peter Guber, could not wait until 2011-2012 for a total "rebuilding". And as much as I love Nelson on a personal, drinking buddy level, this might end up being a really smart decision. Barring a remarkably good season, Nelson would have probably been out after this year. With all the new pieces in Golden State, it makes sense to give them a new coach from the get-go, rather than disrupting things after one season. Additionally, Keith Smart seems like a nice fit. The players like him, he's been very involved with leading the team, and if things don't work out, the stakes aren't all that high, economically or for the new owners' reputation. It's a safe choice, yet one with a high ceiling that could produce surprisingly good results.

That said, we'll miss Don. A lot. His tenure with the Warriors has included so many great moments and for at least a couple of us here, some of the most fun-to-watch basketball we've ever seen. All we can hope for is that, since he'll still make his $6 million for the upcoming year, he's fine with covering the tab when we invite him out for Scotch.

Team Dreamin' 2011: WARRIORS

At No Regard, we love basketball. We love the spectacle and strategy of the game, but sometimes the league's lack of imagination confounds and disappoints us. Call us optimists, visionaries, or kids who watched too much Space Jam, but we have ideas. Damn are we gonna share 'em.

The Face of the Modern Warriors Fan

It's been tough to get excited about the Warriors since that magical 2007 playoff run. The Post-Boom-Dizzle Era has been one dangerous lab test, Don Nelson’s desperate search for the elusive potion he accidentally concocted four years ago to take San Francisco on a miraculous ride. Bygones are bygones, and recently the famously fiery Bay Area fans have had little reason to get fired up.

Is there hope in the Golden State? Absolutely. Interest is waning for the Warriors, but we know just the guy to give new owner Peter Guber the kickstart he needs.

Mr. Guber, have you ever met Paul Vasquez?

If you’ve had Internet access this month you have, although you’d probably know him as HungryBear9562, or more likely, Double Rainbow Guy.

That’s right, we think you should hire Mr. Vasquez to do this season’s nightly televised play-by-play for Warriors games.