For the third straight season, the Golden State Warriors have entered the playoffs as the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference. Ten years ago, however, they were on the other end of the spectrum, coming into the 2007 NBA playoffs as the No. 8 seed in the West.
The seeding didn't matter, however, as the "We Believe" Warriors, led by Baron Davis -- and Matt Barnes, who is once again back with Golden State -- shocked Dirk Nowitzki and the No. 1 seeded Mavericks, beating them in six games, and ending a 16-year drought without a playoff series win for the franchise.
Things are obviously much better for the Warriors these days, especially in terms of competing for a title, but the '07 bunch is still an iconic group that will be remembered in the Bay Area forever. And before Game 1 of the second-round series against the Jazz on Tuesday night, the Warriors will honor the "We Believe" group on the 10th anniversary of their achievement. Via Warriors.com:
The Golden State Warriors will celebrate the 2007 "We Believe" team on Tuesday, May 2, during Game 1 of their Conference Semifinals series at Oracle Arena, the team announced today. The celebration takes place one day shy of the 10-year anniversary of the 2006-07 Warriors completing their historic First Round upset over the #1 seeded Dallas Mavericks on May 3, 2007, when they posted a 111-86 victory in Game 6 at Oracle Arena to become the first #8 seed to prevail over a #1 seed in a best-of-seven series.
Several members of that iconic Warriors team will be on-hand for the celebration, including Baron Davis, Stephen Jackson, Jason Richardson, Monta Ellis, Al Harrington, Kelenna Azubuike, Adonal Foyle, Patrick O'Bryant and Zarko Cabarkapa. Another member of that team, Matt Barnes, is currently playing for the Warriors.
A salute to Zarko Cabarkapa and the Warriors for making sure this group gets the recognition they deserve.
