New Orleans: 108 Golden State:96

The playoff chase isn't over far from it. Granted the Warriors were beaten by a superior Hornets team but the comination of results elesewhere means the Warriors for the second year in a row are fighting for the 8th and final spot in the West. Never mind Peja's damn three pointer at the halftime buzzer yet. Pargo lighting us up from the bench. New Orleans' 37 point quarter or CP3's first triple double of the year. The Warriors are still in the playoff hunt but this does feel like a chance wasted.

Boxscore

Sunday’s must-win game against the Hornets wasn’t on the level of the epic disasters we witnessed in Texas. Andris had a tremendously active game, rolling to the basket in the first half, fighting for rebounds all night, and doing his best to keep the Hornets away from the rim. Monta, similarly, left everything out on the court, refusing to cease his attacks on the basket even after the rest of the Warriors looked content to pull up for threes. We even saw signs of life from Al Harrington, still crippled from the outside due to a thumb injury but doing his best to fight for rebounds and steal scrap points around the basket. Outside of the starters, only Azubuike saw meaningful minutes (and finally returned to earth after an excellent run the past week).

Despite these performances, this team does not belong to Biedrins, Ellis, Harrington or Azubuike. This team goes as far as Baron and Jax will take it. In April (Spurs, Mavs, Memphis, New Orleans), they’ve been powerless:

Davis’ April vs. season averages: .377 / .430 field goal percentage, 2.0 / 5.3 free throws per game, 3.8 / 2.79 turnovers per game, 5.0 / 7.6 assists, and 16.3 / 21.9 points.

Jackson’s April vs. season averages: .255 / .408 field goal percentage, 0.25 / 5.0 free throws per game, 0.8 / 1.3 steals per game, 3.3 / 4.6 rebounds per game, 7.0 / 20.3 points per game.

Given those numbers, the Warriors’ end-of-the-season swoon has actually been less severe than it should have been, thanks to big games from Ellis, Biedrins and Azubuike. That will be little comfort, however, during the final weeks of April.

The truth

Some other observations

: Someone pay Monta please. He was incredible the way he played tonight and he showed a bit of veterans savy playing the 4th with 5 fouls . No doubt after this game and his 20 PPG average there will be plenty of teams willing to take a look at him during the offseason. Hopefully we show him the money

: Chris Paul easily beat Baron in this matchup hands dwom maybe proving what Bryon Scott already knew when Davis wasn't slected for the All Star game this year.

: Biedrins was active 15 boards, 6 of them offensive. I'm really starting to dig his rebounding consistency

: Thank god Denver lost. Lets hope they regret it.



The Warriors’ loss to New Orleans, if nothing else, was honest. We stuck to the same plan we’ve deployed all year. The few moments it worked were as exciting as ever, but those moments are now few and far between. Last season we found ways to win these April games. This year, we’re having trouble finding ways to stay close. After 2007, we know what a playoff push looks like. It’s a knowledge that now can only gnaw at us as we watch this month — and season — slip by.

So here we sit... grateful that Denver blew their game but still as vulnerable as can be. And while I regret the fact that I didn't get to see this game in real time, there is one thing I can't possibly regret. This endless feeling of anxiety and suspense we all have right now for tomorrow's game against the Kings?!. I feel it consitantly