Ugh.

2-13, 17 minutes, all of them in the first half. Baron Davis was the heart and soul of this Warriors team, and his line from last night tells you all you need to know about Golden State's playoff-crunching (my horrifically corny term for the a game that officially knocks you out of the postseason...the opposite of clinching) loss to Phoenix.

To keep the sports metaphors rolling, Baron Davis was the fuel that powered the Warriors, and we all know that a car can't do jack on an empty tank. It was pretty clear three weeks ago that this time was on its last legs and that even if they somehow managed to gut their way into the playoffs, their visit to the postseason stage would be a short one. Indeed, the Warriors gave it all they got, but in the end their best just wasn't good enough to outgut their Western Conference opponents.

I think Ken Tremendous's head just exploded.

Yeah, its a little disappointing, but if you had told me or any other Warriors fan two years ago that Golden State would go 48-34 this year, you would have made them a very happy person. This Dubs are no longer the c0-laughing stocks of the NBA (the current undisputed laughingstock of the NBA: Your Los Angeles Clippers!) Hell, considering the Bay Area weather and the crazy East Bay fan support, the Warriors are arguably even a team free agents will want to sign with.

So before Warriors fans get all depressed about missing the playoffs, lets remember how far they've come. Montae and the gang will be back next year, and whether Baron resigns or not, this team will still be fun to watch come November.

In other news, the A's finally figured out how to win games in April: trade all of your good players away, make sure your best hitter and pitcher are on the DL (Chavy and Harden), throw in your number 3 starter for good measure, then play 10 of your first 15 games against teams who made the playoffs last year. And while you're at it, travel 8,000 miles round trip to Japan a week before every other team besides Boston starts the regular season and play 10 of your first 15 games on the road. And yes, I know the A's were technically the home team in Japan, but I have a gyroball throwing technique to tell you about if you believe Oakland had any sort of home field advantage in Tokyo.

9-6, tied for first in the AL West. Keep it rolling boys.

Barry Zito WHIP vs. Giants Team Batting Average Tracker: 1.69 vs. .245. Things are headed in the right direction Giants fans!!! In all seriousness, Lincecum is filthy and looks like a keeper. If Brian Sabean could just find some hitting and apply the basic economic principle of "sunk cost" to Mr. Zito's contract this team could actually go somewhere...in 2010.

Oh, and the Sharks are down 2-1 to the Flames despite entering the playoffs on a ridiculous hot streak, earning the number two seed in the west, and becoming the hot Stanley Cup Champion Pick of all five remaining NHL analysts. The more things change, the more they stay the same.