OAKLAND, Calif. -- Someone might want to check the DNA of the Warriors' players and patent a vaccine from it, because they've somehow remained immune to a plague that would leave most teams dizzy and disoriented. Injuries, front-office turmoil, jarring trades and even locker room squabbles haven't dented their sense of well-being.
Certainly no team has suffered more demoralizing last-second losses this season, which has even created an undertone of caution among Oracle Arena's notoriously exuberant fans. And still, the energy of the entire roster -- including currently exiled rookie Anthony Randolph -- remains amazingly robust. Although the Clippers fold their collective tent the minute an opponent builds a sizable lead, the Warriors, with only a few exceptions this season, so far have refused to accept their bottom-dwelling status.
Case in point: Wednesday's 124-112 win over the Phoenix Suns, a triumph far more decisive than the final score. The Warriors led by as many as 25 points, and Phoenix never dropped the lead to less than 10 points after the first quarter. Stephen Jackson celebrated his first career triple-double (30 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists) as the Warriors tied their season highs for 3-pointers (13) and assists (29).
"We've begun to trust each other," Jackson said. "We're gaining confidence in each other."
All this a mere 48 hours after watching a double-digit lead disintegrate into an overtime loss to the San Antonio Spurs, the Warriors' third home collapse in a nine-day span. But if "We Believe" was Golden State's rallying cry two seasons ago, "We Can't Remember" seems to be the current mantra.
"You have to have a short memory," said Kelenna Azubuike, who scored 19 of his 25 points in the first quarter. "We understand as a team there are going to be nights when it's going to be very disappointing. You just have to keep playing."
Certainly no team has suffered more demoralizing last-second losses this season, which has even created an undertone of caution among Oracle Arena's notoriously exuberant fans. And still, the energy of the entire roster -- including currently exiled rookie Anthony Randolph -- remains amazingly robust. Although the Clippers fold their collective tent the minute an opponent builds a sizable lead, the Warriors, with only a few exceptions this season, so far have refused to accept their bottom-dwelling status.
Case in point: Wednesday's 124-112 win over the Phoenix Suns, a triumph far more decisive than the final score. The Warriors led by as many as 25 points, and Phoenix never dropped the lead to less than 10 points after the first quarter. Stephen Jackson celebrated his first career triple-double (30 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists) as the Warriors tied their season highs for 3-pointers (13) and assists (29).
"We've begun to trust each other," Jackson said. "We're gaining confidence in each other."
All this a mere 48 hours after watching a double-digit lead disintegrate into an overtime loss to the San Antonio Spurs, the Warriors' third home collapse in a nine-day span. But if "We Believe" was Golden State's rallying cry two seasons ago, "We Can't Remember" seems to be the current mantra.
"You have to have a short memory," said Kelenna Azubuike, who scored 19 of his 25 points in the first quarter. "We understand as a team there are going to be nights when it's going to be very disappointing. You just have to keep playing."
