Warriors record home win streak ends at 19

It was bound to happen. First year coach Steve Kerr kept saying, "you can't win them all." Tonight at Oracle Arena, the Warriors lost a heart breaker in overtime to Chicago 113-111 ending their record setting 19 straight home wins streak.  The Dubs are still the hottest team in the NBA at 36-7, but it's clear things get tougher without their starting center. Once again big man Andrew Bogut was out, this time with the flu. Even so, other players stepped up as they've done all season, and that is what truly makes this a championship caliber team. Yes, they lost, but they put themselves in the position to win.
"It wasn't a lack of effort, " said Kerr. "It was a great game. A fun game to be a part of. We felt we had it won a few times, we just couldn't close it."

In the end, it was a turnover and missed shot that made the difference. The missed runner in OT came from Klay Thompson who finished with a team-high 30 points along with a team high 10 rebounds.
"We had a good look for Klay," explained Kerr. "We always try to win. Our guys were a little worn out. It's just one of those games where the shots don't go in. We were scrapping and clawing. You can't win them all."
It's that effort that Coach Kerr is thrilled with, win or loose. Aside from Thompson, five other Warriors scored in double figures. David Lee lead all scorers off the bench with 24 points. Stephen Curry had 21, Harrison Barnes contributed 12 and Draymond Greena and Marreese Speights each
added 10.
Derrick Rose lead the Bulls with 32 points, none bigger than the last one with 6.4 second left to send the sell-out crowd home with their first loss since November 11th.
"Give them credit. They played well," said Lee. "It was a hard fought game between two really good teams. We fought hard."
 Next up, the Warriors travel to Salt Lake City Friday night.

Serena Williams now faces the future of American tennis at the Australian Open

Before today's quarter finals of the 2015 Australian Open, top ranked little sister Serena Williams retweeted, Billie Jean King's observation of older sister Venus.   "I'm inspired by @Venuseswilliams every time she takes the court," tweeted King. "Great to see her healthy, competing and loving what she does."
At 34, Venus was facing 19 year old American up and comer Madison Keys for a shot at the semis and a chance to play her sister for the first time in 5 years. Despite her best efforts, the 18th ranked Williams simply couldn't match Keys' power and shot making loosing in a hard fought three setter, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4. Keys felt a sharp pain in her left thigh and called the trainer.
"I've had problems with that part of my leg," said Keys. "It was an overwhelming moment. I wanted to catch it before I did real damage. The pain killers and adrenaline helped me get through it."

There will short rest and recovery time for Keys who tomorrow faces little sister Serena. The 18-time major winner used her sister as inspiration and had little trouble disposing of last year's finalist Dominika Cibulkova, 6-2, 6-2.
"I'm happy to be in the semis," said a very hoarse Williams who has been fighting a cold all week. "I would love to win, but she's playing very well (Keys). No matter what, an American is going to be in the final." Their opponent, no matter what will be Russian.  The other semi final features No. 2 seed Maria Sharapova and No. 10 seeded Ekaterina Makarova.
History is on Serena's side. All five times the 33 year old has reached the semifinals in Melbourne she's won, but the next generation is knocking loudly at the door.

Rafael Nadal can't make it 18 wins in a row over Tomas Berdych

It was bound to happen. Rafael Nadal had a 17 match winning streak against Tomas Berdych, tonight it's over. Nadal lost in straight sets, 6-2 6-0 7-6 in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open. Nadal just didn't look like himself from the start, but you can credit Berdych for taking a page out of the Spaniard's playbook relentlessly hitting every corner of the court with pace and precision. While the first and second sets were all about the Czech player and his determination to final beat Nadal in a major, Berdych had to play the best tennis of his life in the third and final set when Nadal finally looked like himself. That is until the tie-breaker. No matter what Nadal did, Berdych had an answer and a better shot.

 My network of tennis players were all texting frantically during the match. Mary Ann shocked by Berdych's serve and Nadal's inability to come up with a counter punch. Nina reminding us: " it isn't over until the fat lady sings and Berdych has a habit of choking." Jim just stopped watching saying it was: "too painful." Well, the fat lady started singing at the end of the tie breaker. Nadal fought as he always does, but it was too little too late. He is fighting back from injuries and layoffs due to appendicitis, seven months off is a very long time in the life of a professional tennis player. He told us all after his last win that he was thrilled to be in the quarters in Melbourne. Tonight with humility and integrity, Nadal tried to find the silver lining. "I have to take positive things," said Nadal."I have to be willing to accept everything and work hard to be back the way I want to be."  He'll now return to Mallorca and reboot. He's done that before and come back stronger than ever, although the competition seems to be getting stronger as well and the top 4 are falling from glory. First it was second seeded Roger Federer, loosing on Friday to #46 Andreas Seppi and now Nadal is out, for his legion of fans it's tough to witness. But he leaves us with this. "I'll be back."

No love lost between Maria Sharapova and Eugenie Bouchard

The most talked about matchup of the 2015 Australian Open on the women's draw between tennis' established royalty and the young want-to-be was no contest. Maria Sharapova schooled Eugenie Bouchard 6-3, 6-2 on her way to her seventh semifinal. The five-time Gland Slam champion who was almost eliminated on day two in Melbourne is now just two victories away from her second title down under.
Sharapova did drop a set to Bouchard at last year's French Open, but on the hard court, there was little doubt who was in control of almost every point.  Sharapova used her razor sharp serve to throw Bouchard off her game, then with every ground shot, Sharapova's power was too much for her 20 year old opponent. This was of course part of Sharapova's strategy.
"I had to have a really good performance against Genie," explained Sharapova."I knew she was going to go at it and be an aggressive player. I try to take that away from her and I did a really good job of that today."

Indeed she did. While the talented Canadian did manage to retain her composure and show signs of future greatness, she was no match for the intensity of the proven champion. The two are incredibly similar, both on and off the court. Both are strikingly beautiful, aggressive players who have one game, hit hard and control the point. But it was clear that age and experience prevailed. While Bouchard proclaimed before the match that she had progressed a lot since their last meeting, it's clear she still has a long way to go to beat the top players when they're at their best. When the two shock hands after the match, there were no words exchanged and little eye contact, easy to see there is no love lost between these two.  One semifinal is set and it will be an all Russian affair with Sharapova facing 10th seed Ekaterina Makarova. While it should be a good match, the next most awaited matchup has Sharapova on a collision course with Serena Williams and all Bouchard and the rest of the up and comers can do is watch and learn.

Warriors and Serena Williams, tested but triumphant

Another game at Oracle Arena, another victory for the Warriors to extend their franchise record consecutive home wins to 19, but this one was way too close. Actually Golden State had a 14 point lead with three minutes left, but Boston fought back making it very uncomfortable as the Dubs held on 114-111.
First year Coach Steve Kerr gave credit to the Celtics who didn't give up, and to some tired players.
"They played a lot like us," said Kerr. "They kept fighting. They are a well coached team and they stayed with us. This is the point of the schedule where it gets really difficult to get up emotionally night after night."
Yet one thing champions never do is let us completely. Kerr was happy with the way his team met the challenge face on and did what they needed to finish on top.

Leading the way for the Warriors again was Klay Thompson who after setting a record Friday night had 31 points.
"We made some dumb mistakes at the end of the game that we have to fix," explained Thompson. "But we played well. Our effort was there and it was a good follow up to Friday's game."
Meanwhile in Melbourne at the Australian Open, top ranked Serena Williams also faced a tough challenger, Garbine Muguruza. The 20 year old Spaniard beat Williams at last year's French Open so this match was about revenge. However, Williams started sluggishly and Muguruza won the opening set 6-2 with hard hitting ground strokes. That's when the 18 time grand slam champion turns her game up another notch. Serving 16 aces, Williams took the second set, 6-3 and the third set 6-2.

"When I get down, I think of what I can do better," said Williams. "I have to solve the problem. Big things and big moments happen,I just have to figure out what she is doing and what I'm doing."
My tennis partner Joane and I won our match Saturday in Pleasanton, and we also used that strategy to change our play when our opponents found an opening with a 6-1, 6-3 victory.
Watching champions compete and rise to the challenge when tested is fuel for all of us.

Klay Thompson makes bid for All-Star spot with new NBA record

If there was any doubt just how good Klay Thompson is, first year Coach Steve Kerr compared him to Michael Jordan tonight.
"As many spectacular things as Michael did, I never saw him do that, " said Kerr after Thompson's record breaking 37 point third quarter. "13 for 13 and 9 for 9 from three point range. Come on, He was just on such a roll. You don't want to break that. It was a great night for him."
An unbelievable night according to Thompson who finished with a career best 52 points.
"It's pretty surreal," said Thompson. "You feel like every shot you shoot is going to go in."

The true beauty of the night is how his teammates responded and how the man of the hour shared the credit.
"I am humbled," said Thompson. "I have great teammates who found me all over the court. I couldn't  ask for better people around me."
The feeling is mutual. His splash brother, Stephen Curry couldn't be happier.
"It's something he should be very proud of," said Curry. "Anytime you get into the record books that's really something, he deserves it."
Curry is looking forward to having Thompson join him and the entire Warriors coaching staff at the All-Star game in New York. Although he wasn't voted in as a starter, there is little doubt the NBA's newest record holder isn't going to be selected by Western coaches.
To get an idea of just how impressive number 11 was in that record setting third quarter, he averaged 2.64 points per shot with a true shooting percentage above 100%.
"It's unbelievable," said Draymond Green. "You can't even get that hot on a video game!"
In his customary mild manner, Thompson acknowledged tonight was most unexpected.
"I never thought it would happen growing up," said Thompson. "I can't even put it into words."
Using the word unbelievable just did, except it really did happen. Oh yes, the Warriors beat the Sacramento Kings 126-101 and are now a league best 35-6 setting an example of how sharing the ball can produce amazing results.

Roger Federer is out at the Australian Open, but sportsmanship is IN.

Day five of the Australian Open is all about the shocking exit of four time champion Roger Federer. I was on a date night with my husband, seeing a wonderful new play Tree at the Kensington Hotel in Union Square when the match started. I rushed home to watch the fourth and final set of the surprising loss to Italian Andreas Seppi 6-4 7-6 (5) 4-6 7-6 (5).  My tennis buddy Mary Ann was frantically texting me to turn it on, recapping the score. "Roger down two set, holy moly!" My team captain Nina posted on Facebook: "I didn't see that coming."

The truth is, at the majors anything is possible, but this one does sting. For fans like Nina, it's the sad realization that at 33 years old Federer, although playing some great tennis as of late,  isn't the same.
"It was tough loosing the first two sets," said  the 17-time Grand Slam champion. "I had a chance to get back into it, I let it slip. The end wasn't pretty. It's a disappointing loss."
Even in defeat what is impressive is the class and sportsmanship on display. The way Federer congratulated his 46th ranked opponent was a genuine display of respect. A humble Seppi agree this was his finest hour.
"I just tried my best and it was one of my best matches for sure," said Seppi.
Federer isn't the only champion struggling down under. Third seed Rafael Nadal survived a five setter  yesterday against wild card American Tim Smyczek 2-6 6-3 7-6 3-6 7-5. But what has everyone talking about is the sportsmanship Smyczek demonstrated in the fifth set with Nadal serving, a fan yelled out as he tossed the ball, causing Nadal to fault. The young american, ranked 112 raised his hand asking the chair umpire to give Nadal a first serve. Commentator John McEnroe immediately praised Smyczek. "A class move by Tim there," stated McEnroe. "A class act."
Nadal echoed the sentiment. "I want to congratulate Tim. He's a real gentleman for what he did in that last game," said Nadal. "Not a lot of people will do this at 6-5 in the fifth."
For his part, the Milwaukee native downplayed his actions explaining it was the right thing to do. "It was just so blatant," Smyczek said. "It's not like he hit an ace on the next ball or anything, but I think he probably would have done the same thing if it was reversed."
Many are calling for Smyczek to receive the sportsmanship of the year award, and in every tennis site today, the comments were unanimous, sportsmanship is alive and well in the tennis world, in victory and defeat.

Warriors get sweet revenge with record home win

The drawback to being the best in the NBA is that every team is now gunning for the Golden State Warriors. And nobody  wanted to come into Oracle Arena and break the consecutive win streak more than the Houston Rockets who had already lost to the Warriors three times. No chance, not in the sold-out house of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, Andrew Bogut, Harrison Barnes,  and the rest of the team, because this was a group 126-113 victory. It truly is a thing of beauty to see the way the players have bonded and accepted the challenge by first year coach Steve Kerr to focus on defense, moving and taking care of the ball.  And the fans are taking notice. Tonight's win sets a new franchise best 17 straight home winning streak. The Rockets did their best to disrupt the home team especially its leader, Curry using ugly basketball, pushing and shoving. After Curry fought back, he earned a technical, and that's when the heart of the team flourished. Pushed again by a much larger Trevor Ariza, Curry started to lunge at the aggressor, but Green stepped in to calm his teammate.

Green who is referred to as the "heartbeat" of the team wanted to protect Curry. It's what makes this team so special.  and unique. The unselfish way the play and how they are there for each other in better or worse.
"I wanted to make sure he stayed in the game," explained Green.
The referee rightfully gave Ariza the technical and Curry responded with brilliant play that had the Warriors leading by 30 going into the fourth quarter.
"I didn't see it, so it's tough to comment on it," said Kerr not wanting to make the Ariza incident a big deal. "We were rolling at the time and that's what happens. If you're really playing well. the other team will get more physical and we have to play through that. We had a good response with a fantastic effort for three quarters."
In the fourth quarter,  the reserves gave up the comfortable lead for the first time this season and Kerr quickly put his starters back in to preserve the win but also to return to the discipline that has this team leading the league at 34-6.
In the end it was sweet revenge, and although he led all scorers with 33 points, Houston's All-Star James Harden must rethink his declaration that the Warriors "ain't that good," They just swept the Rockets for the first time in 40 years. The final scores speaking louder than any words.

Maria Sharapova taps her fighting spirit to advance in Australia

Maria Sharapova is the number two tennis player in the world and is the second seed at the Australian Open. Yet, she was one point away from leaving the tournament in Melbourne. On day three of the year's first Grand Slam, there have been numerous upsets, but none would have been bigger than this one with Sharapova facing fellow Russian Alexandra Panova who is ranked 150.  Sharapova, coming off a victory in the warm-up tournament last week in Brisbane, looked sharp playing her typically agressive  game at the beginning of the match, winning the first set 6-1 in record time. Minutes later,  25 year old Panova found her stride and forced Sharapova to overhit wildly. Panova took the second set 6-4 and was up 4-1 in the third set.

But this is when Sharapova turns it up one notch.  You can see it in her eyes, that fighting spirit that truly believes she will win no matter what the scoreboard reads. You can also hear it loudly as her shrieks intensify in volume and length. Regardless of how she does it, the amazing thing is to actually watch her do it. Any tennis player will tell you so much of the game is mental. I'm an avid player on two teams and it's something  we mere mortals can only marvel at. Sharapova broke back, held and survived two match points to win 7-5 in the third set. A match that lasted two hours and 32 minutes. Afterwards,  a relieved Sharapova hid her frustration.
"I'm just happy to get through," said Sharapova. "I was two point from being out of the tournament. I just didn't play my best tennis today. "
That is quite an understatement, the five time Grand Slam winner committed 51 unforced errors to just 38 winners.  Sharapova credited her opponent who played the best match of her career, finishing with 20 winners to 36 unforced errors.
"I thinks she played a pretty inspired match," said Sharapova. "I had a lot of challenges in front of me. But whatever you face you have to be good enough to move on"
Spoken like a true champion and fighter. As for those shrieks, critics of the women's tennis are asking tournament directors to step in, but so far the only response has been that they are: "looking into the excessive grunting of the game."
Interesting that Hall of Fame great Rod Laver whose name adorns the main arena in Melbourne is not a fan. "I stay away from women's tennis because I can't stand the shrieking," said Laver.
However, Maria Sharapova, remains unfazed. She will continue to ignore the critics and play her game as long as the wins keep pilling up and with 34 singles titles the only person standing in her way is top ranked Serena Williams.

Warriors continue breaking records on Martin Luther King Day

It is beginning to sound like a broken record. Make it another record broken at Oracle Arena.  With a 122-79 rout of Denver, the Warriors set the Oakland franchise record with 16 straight home victories. This rare matinee game played on Martin Luther King Day once again emphasized sharing and taking care of the ball and each other. A style of play that has Golden State at a league best 33-6. Just to prove the depth and character of this team, all 13 eligible Warrior players not only were on the court but scored and displayed suffocating defense.

As impressive as the defensive effort was the contribution offensively from the bench which  scored 67 points. The best part was watching the reactions from the starters who cheered them on. The entire arena went wild when the newest Warrior, James Michael McAdoo made his first basket. He finished with 11 points and five rebounds in a healthy 12 minutes. Klay Thompson vying to make his first All-Star game scored 22 points in just 23 minutes and his splash brother Stephen Curry added 20 in just 25 minutes hearing chants from the crowd for "MVP."
After the game, first year coach Steve Kerr once again praised his players' character.
"I'm not taking this for granted," said Kerr. "It's unique in the NBA to have a group that pulls for each other and that exhibits the unselfishness these guys shows every day. The total commitment for the team that every guy shows is really fun to watch."
For young McAdoo who received the game ball it is a day he'll never forget.
"With God anything is possible," said McAdoo. "I thank God, my teammates, the Warriors organization for this opportunity."
An opportunity on the day NBA players paid tribute to the Civil Rights leader.
"Dr. king just gave me hope," said Curry. "He made me believe you can achieve anything even going against all odds. His passion proved you can do it."
Someone who can achieve great things is McAdoo who has a chance to continue to prove himself  during his ten day contract.
"He's exactly what we thought he was," said Kerr. "We really like him. He's worked so hard and we think he has a real future with our team."
The future for this team looks very bright thanks to the ideals set forth by Dr. King's dream of equality. At this moment anything is possible for the Warriors.
"The momentum we've achieved throughout the season seems to be building," explained a proud Kerr. "And that comes from the quality of the character of this team."
The character of champions and leaders which is a joy to witness and continue to strive for. Happy Martin Luther King Day.

Seahawks NFC Championship win brings out real emotions

While the 49er faithful will have a hard time ever praising the Seahawks, true football fans can't help but marvel at the outcome of today's NFC Championship game in Seattle.  After a shaky start and  trailing by two touchdowns in the final three minutes, Russell Wilson lead his team to a tie in regulation and another touchdown in overtime for a return ticket to the Super Bowl.What really drew me in was Russell's reaction after the game.

With tears in his eyes he gathered in the team's prayer circle and thanked his teammates and a higher power.
"God is good all the time," an emotional Wilson said after the game. "Every time these guys on the team were unbelievable. The fight, the fight they made us fight over and over again."
Displaying incredible humility and sportsmanship, Wilson also praised his opponent.
"You have to give credit to the Packers they had an unbelievable season," said Wilson. "I'm just honored to be on this team. We kept believing.  I just had no doubt. We had no doubt as a team."
Those are the words and the behavior of a genuine leader. A post game interview San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick would be wise to study. Not that he needs to replicate it, but just understand how showing emotion can be a strength not a weakness.
This week we heard from the 49ers new head coach, Jim Tomsula and the Raiders latest point man, Jack Del Rio. They both addressed their hope to work with their quarterbacks to teach and lead them to reach their full potential, exhibit A should be Rusell Wilson.
Of course, San Mateo native Tom Brady displayed his own dominance with a 45-7 rout of Indianapolis and former Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck. Brady, playing in his 28th career playoff game became the NFL's all-time leading passer in the postseason, not bad for the Serra High School grad. Last week Brady moved ahead of his boyhood idol, Joe Montana throwing his 46th career postseason touchdown pass. While Brady continues to break records, Wilson is the one tearing down football's emotional barriers on this given Sunday.
"God prepared me for this situation," explained Wilson. "God prepared us all. I'm honored to be on this team. I'm going to the Super Bowl again. "
Indeed you are Russell Wilson but Tom Brady will have something to say about your hopes to repeat as Super Bowl Champions.

An off night for the Warriors on the road

Friday night and the going was tough in Oklahoma City for the Warriors. No matter how good your team is, if you relax too much, you risk loosing in the NBA. Golden State's eight game winning streak ended at the hands of Kevin Durant and the Thunder 127-115.
 "We just let our guard down,"explained rookie coach Steve Kerr who sat Andrew Bogut and Andre Iguadala. "We lost our focus and the game changed. I blame the unforced errors, careless passes that led to dunks on the other end."
Reigning MVP Kevin Durant was among those dunking at will without Bogut guarding the basket. Durant was on fire scoring a game high 36 points on 14 of 18 shooting.  And he wasn't alone. Russell Westbrook recorded a triple-double with 17 point, 17 assist and 15 rebounds. Serge Ibaka finished with 27 points and Dion Waiters added 21. Change the names and that's what the Warriors have been doing to own the NBA's best record at 31-6.

"We just never made our mark defensively," said Kerr."It becomes a shootout if you make a few careless plays, they will make you pay. We know how good they and they showed that tonight"
The bright spot for the Dubs was Klay Thompson who scored 32 points to record his third 30-point game of the season. Marreese Speights had 20, Stephen Curry on a bit of an off night finished with 19 and Harrison Barnes added 18.
Coach Kerr stood behind his players, especially Curry. "He's been so good all season long," said Kerr. "He's been brilliant. Tonight wasn't his night. He's allowed to have that every once in a while."
That attitude and support is one reason this team is thriving.
"They played almost perfect offensively and we had too many turnovers,"said Thompson taking the blame for defensive misses against Durant. "Every time we were making our run, we let them beat us. Our focus just wasn't what it was when we were winning the last 8 games in a row."
The road doesn't get easier. The Warriors play their fourth game in five nights in four cities, Saturday in Houston. It is being billed as the battle of the MVP between Curry and the Rocket's James Harden.  And Curry said tonight he'll be ready.

Warriors make it lucky 15 as North Beach honors Joe DiMaggio

More than 500 people attended an amazing benefit at Bimbo's tonight to raise private funds for the restoration of Joe DiMaggio Playground in North Beach. It's where I play tennis, where my kids rode their bikes, played baseball, basketball, soccer, lacrosse and ran with our dog when she was a puppy. It's also the heartbeat of the neighborhood. Yes, the city through the parks and recreation department is funding the project but to make it the first rate gem it deserves to be, the community must get involved. Local restaurants such as Don Pisto's, Il Casaro, Mama's, Original Joe's, Park Tavern, Tony's Pizza and Victoria Pastry donated the delicious food. The music by GG Amos, kept us all smiling and tapping our feet. City leaders and descendants of Joe DiMaggio were there as were police, firemen, the Director of  the Salesian Boys and Girls Club and clergy from Saints Peter and Paul Church. All in all, a reflection of the fabric that is North Beach.
 I am proud to be among the thousands who have purchased Legacy Tiles with our family names that will decorate the new walls and be a part of history. If you're interested, you too can participate at DiMaggioPlayground.org.

Also making history tonight, the Warriors who beat the Heat 104-89 and recorded their 15th straight home victory.  We rushed home tonight to watch the second half. Once again it's all about team ball and I chose the picture of Draymond Green, not because he was the leading scorer, but because his smile reflects exactly how it feels to be the best team in the NBA at 31-5.
"This has been so much fun," said first year coach Steve Kerr. "But we're entering the dog days of the season. When the newness of the schedule has worn off and players are tired. Everybody's playing and we are winning. It's been a fantastic season to this point so that should help carry us for a bit."
One thing is for sure, the fans at the 100th consecutive sell-out are doing their part to cheer on the Dubs. Stephen Curry continues on his MVP pace making seven 3 pointers on 7 of 10 and scoring 32 points and Klay Thompson also making his case  to be an All-Star added 19. A great night for the Warriors and for North Beach.

Warriors team play leads to 30th win in just 35 games

It's exactly what first year coach Steve Kerr has been preaching since arriving in Oakland: "Ball movement, defense and taking care of the ball." Lead by Stephen Curry's 27 points and 11 assists, Golden State beat Utah 116-105 in Salt Lake City. Make it seven wins in a row for the NBA's best team as Kerr becomes the first rookie coach to win 30 of his first 35 games.
In what has become his generous style, Kerr gave all the credit to his players, with a special mention for his All-Star point guard.
"He's been amazing," said Kerr. "He's found the perfect balance between attacking and pulling out, being smart, and being solid. We had 10 turnovers for the entire game." An impressive statistic considering the Warriors recorded 33 assists, all part of the Kerr plan. The Jazz played exceptionally well in the first half and the game was tied at 53 making for some nervous moments. But in the third quarter, Curry and company put on a clinic scoring a season high 44 points with just one turnover.
"That's everything to me,"explained Kerr. "I pound these guys over the head with talk of ball movement and the simple pass and it doesn't get much better than that third quarter."
It truly is something to behold, the chemistry and rhythm as this team perfects the complete game showcasing the very best of sports. They are out on the hard court smiling, cheering for each other and celebrating their success as one.
"Everyone is contributing, that's the big part about it," said Curry. "11 guys played tonight and no one played more than 30 minutes. You have to enjoy the game. It's a long season."
Five other Warriors scored in double figures, Draymon Green with 15, Klay Thompson and Harrison Barnes each added 12 and coming off the bench, Marreese Speights and David Lee had 10 points each. But even more impressive is how every single Warrior is making his mark on this record setting season. Andrew Bogut returned to the starting lineup and was brilliant with fierce defense and razor sharp passes. And the depth of the bench is highlighted by the superb play of Andre Iguadola, Leandro Barbosa and Justin Holiday, who saw extended minutes tonight. .
"I want to reward players for their work ethic, their attitude and their approach," said Kerr.
And his players are returning the favor, listening and executing which has them winning and enjoying every minute of it. Next up, the Miami Heat back at Oracle Arena tomorrow night.

Ohio State and Urban Meyer: Undisputed Champions

"Surreal," is how the MVP of the National Championship Ezekiel Elliott described the historic 42-20 Ohio State victory over Oregon.
So many story lines unfolded before our eyes reminding us why college football stirs such emotions. Sorry Ducks fans, this night belongs to the Buckeyes.  As Urban Meyer held up the first ever college football playoff trophy it was a symbol of redemption.
The Ohio native who left coaching for a year before taking the job in Columbus three years ago, did it for the love of the game and his birthplace. He wanted to return the Buckeyes to the glory days of his youth under legendary coach Woody Hayes. Meyer already owns two national titles from Florida, but this third one is special.

"We play football for all sorts of reasons, " said Meyer. "We play for the great state of Ohio. We play for an incredible university, The Ohio State University. But most importantly we play football for each other."
That belief in each other is what drove two sophomores to national prominence. Third string quarterback Cardale Jones starting in just his third game showed maturity and talent beyond his years, passing for 242 yards on 16 of 23 completions with both a rushing and passing TD. But it was Elliott who powered the win with a record breaking 246 yards on 36 carries and four touchdowns. As explosively as the offense drove the ball despite committing four turnovers, Coach Meyer credits his defense for the game's outcome.
"I can't imagine a better group of people to share this with," said Meyer. "Once you win a championship you are forever family."
Ohio State's physicality disrupted Oregon's fast paced attack lead by Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota who by the numbers had a good game passing for 310 yards and two touchdowns, but it wasn't enough.
 "It was tough, real tough," explained Mariota. "They just held us in the red zone. We couldn't finish it off."
Despite the outcome, Mariota and his coach Mark Helfrich showed unwavering class. "It hurts," said Mariota. "Ohio State played a great game. They have a great program and a great coach. They out executed us. Hats off to Ohio State."
As to what he shared with his teammates, the Hawaii native who suffered his first career postseason loss had nothing but praise. "I'm just proud of them. We dealt with a lot of adversity," said Mariota. "I love those guys. Those guys should be proud of what they do."
And Coach Helfrich is proudest of his redshirt junior quarterback.
"I love this guy. I couldn't be luckier to coach him and be around him everyday," added Helfrich. "The impact he's had on the field has been significant but what he's done off the field is even bigger."
The question now is will the most decorated player in Oregon history stay in school or enter the NFL draft as the number one pick. Much like Urban Meyer, Cardale Jones and Ezekiel Elliott, Mariota's  future is very bright regardless of what he decides.

Andrew Luck shines as pride of Bay Area

Watching the playoffs this year isn't nearly as much fun without the 49ers but there are still plenty of players with Bay Area ties to cheer for. Today, Andrew Luck displayed some of the same skills and magic he honed at Stanford leading the Cardinal to the Rose Bowl. It is unfair to compare Luck to the man across the field in Denver, legendary quarterback Payton Manning who will surely be in the Hall of Fame. Luck is in his third year in the league versus Manning's 17. Yet Luck is the one heading to the AFC Championship game, and doing it with class.
Much like he did in Palo Alto, Luck leads the Colts by example. The numbers in the 24-13 victory over the Broncos are impressive 27 of 43 for 265 yards, but even more so is the way Luck, at 25 years old commands himself on and off the field. Unlike the personal problems plaguing so many NFL players, Luck's record is impeccable. He is a student of the game and is seen studying plays after every possession. The way he and his teammates interact is also a thing of beauty. He is the first one down the field to congratulate his receivers after touchdowns or when they've made a great play and unlike other quarterbacks who shall remain nameless, he never blames anyone but himself. It's that humility that makes him such a powerful leader and one worth emulating. Knowing he was the clear underdog, after the game, Luck smiled and didn't claim the win over Manning, never even mentioning him by name. "For us, we came in and managed to get a win against a really good Denver team on the road," said Luck. "That's huge, that's awesome."
Now Luck and his Colts travel to New England to face another Bay Area product, Tom Brady who yesterday passed Joe Montana for most career postseason touchdowns. However, Luck is on a mission. "We have a week to prepare, " said Luck " We know it's a tough place. We know it's a great team. a tough defense to go against. We have to have a great week of preparation." And preparation is something Luck perfected early on at Stanford.

This is for my friends Mollie and Steve K! No , I didn't forget about Aaron Rodgers, I just ran out of time to post in the original entry, but he is definitely one to cheer for as he lead his Packers to a thrilling although a bit controversial win over the Cowboys 26-21. Rodgers, a Chico  native and Cal alumnus hobbled through a left calf injury and proved his amazing reliance and true leadership by never giving up to advance to the NFC Championships. After the game in Green Bay, knowing he must face the defending champion Seahawks, he still sounded confident. "I think I got 120 minutes left in me, " Rogers uttered. What my friend Mollie wants most of all is to watch her Cal Bear Rodgers beat Stanford's Luck in Super Bowl XLIX. They both have tough challenges next Sunday, but if anyone can do it, they can! Also from the Bay Area, although not ingratiating himself to the media is Oakland's Marshawn Lynch. The Cal alumnus did not duplicate Rodgers' exemplary leadership after his team beat the Carolina Panthers on Saturday. In a less than classy move after an average performance of 14 carries totaling 59 yards but no touchdowns, all Lynch had to say was:"I'm thankful." For 90 seconds he repeated those exact words. It might be enough to avoid another $100,000 fine from the league for not participating in the required post game interviews, but it does very little to enhance his reputation. He would do well to study Rodgers, Brady and Luck on how to conduct yourself as someone the Bay Area can be proud to call their own.

Warriors borrow Giants slogan: All Together

The wins just keep adding up at Oracle Arena. Make it 14 in a row at home as the Warriors take care of a feisty Cleveland team 112-94 without LeBron James. The recipe for success for first year coach Steve Kerr continues to be defense and ball movement. Just like the Giants won 3 World Series in 5 years by playing, "All Together", Golden State is making sure they share the ball to retain the best record in the NBA at 29-5.

 The splash brothers, Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry lead the scoring attack with 47 points. But they weren't alone. 6 players finished in double figures and even more impressive, the offense recorded its sixth game with more than 30 assists.
"We're at our best when we really push and move the ball," said Kerr. "It went exactly as I'd hoped. This is the best venue to play in the NBA. It's a tough place to win and we want to keep it that way."
Just ask Curry who agrees, that home cooking tastes really good. "There's nothing like it," said Curry."We have a lot of great athletes and players who can push the ball and knock down shots."
It's that depth that has teams around the league fearing not the beard but the Dubs. Aside from Curry's 23 points and Thompson's 24, Marreese Speights added 12, Harrison Barnes had 11, Draymond Green 10 and Justin Holiday came off the bench for 14 points in 18 minutes. Thompson scored 22 points in 24 minutes before he took an elbow to the forehead that required seven stitches.
 My sister in law Carol once told me, her secret to success coaching was building her reserves. "You are as good as your weakest player," she said. The Warriors have no weaknesses. Even when they don't score, or have suffered an injury, someone else steps up and every player contributes with defense and passing.  It's a testament to coach Kerr, but he isn't even taking all the credit. Tonight an old friend returned to Oakland. Former coach Mark Jackson was at Oracle as part of the national broadcast team. The crowd and his former players gave him a standing ovation. "He did a lot of great things here," said Kerr who called Jackson his friend. "He deserves it. He set the table for what's happening here."
It's that feeling of respect and admiration, much like we saw with the Giants that makes us all root for the Warriors.

Warriors reach lucky 13 wins in a row at home

Talk about home court advantage, records continue to fall at sold out Oracle Arena. Powered by 40 points from Klay Thompson, Golden State made it 13 consecutive home victories taking care of the Pacers117-102. It really is a thing of beauty to watch the Warriors play unselfishly, passing the ball around and sharing the limelight as they enjoy the best record in the NBA, 28-5.  Stephen Curry started the party when he scored his 1,000 career three, becoming the quickest player to reach that mark in league history. Curry added 21 points and a season high tying 15 assist. But the Splash brothers know they can't do it alone.

 "It was a good win. Every time you win at home it feels great," said Thompson. "I have to give a lot of credit to my teammates who gave me the ball and helped me get open looks. I was in a good rhythm."
The entire team is in a good rhythm and  first year Coach Steve Kerr credits it to the number of assists in every game, tonight his players recorded 30.
"We thought we could get better shots by  moving the ball in the second half," explained Kerr. "We started to play with a sense of urgency. When we can create a little energy and chaos and force turnovers that is the result of our energy."
That energy on the floor echoes through the crowd who spends much of the game on its feet. It's fun to cheer for players like Marreese Speights who scored 18 points living up to his nickname, "mo buckets" always with a smile on his face. Also drawing massive cheers was center Andrew Bogut who missed the previous 12 games with a knee injury and entered the game in the first quarter.  He finished with eight rebounds in 15 minutes. David Lee is also on the comeback trail and looked more like his All-Star self scoring 13 points off the bench.  Kerr acknowledges the depth of his team that comes with one drawback. "It's going to be tricky. We have a lot of guys who can play and a limited number of minutes, so there will be sacrifices that will have to be made," said Kerr. "These guys are committed to each other and the team and will make the sacrifices."
And that is the mark of a true champion. The chant at Oracle is for Curry as the "MVP"and with good reason, he is leading the team with the best record in the league, but Kerr wants others to get the recognition they so deserve and Thompson tops his list. Tonight number 11 sent that message loud and clear falling just one point shy of his career best 41 points. Yet it's his humility that endears him to us all. And that's something numbers can't properly relay, but fans certainly appreciate.

Warriors playing with confidence for record 12 straight home win

Time for a confession. I joined my girlfriends for an early evening movie, Flamenco, Flamenco at the Opera Plaza Cinema, then rushed home to catch the second half of the Warriors game. No worries, Golden State took care of Oklahoma City for their record breaking 12th consecutive home win 117-91. Much like the flamenco dancers in the South of Spain, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Harrison Barnes put on a masterful performance both offensively and on defense. Barnes lead all scorers with a season high 23 points, and the splash brothers each had 19. Perhaps more impressive for Coach Steve Kerr, the suffocating effort that held the Thunder to just 30 percent shooting. Oklahoma's two superstars, Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook went 8 for 37. "We're in a good groove," said first year coach Kerr. "Three months into the season our guys are more comfortable. I think our defense was really good, but we also got lucky tonight that they both had bad shooting nights."

The smile on Barnes' face says it all. The Warriors are having fun, and nowhere is it more evident than at Oracle Arena where they Dubs are 14-1. But Barnes who was a perfect 5 for 5 from beyond the arc was quick to share the credit. "I have to thank my teammates for getting me the ball," said Barnes. "This was a big game, but every game is a big game.We saw what happened when we went to LA and lost two games in a row."
Since the two losses, the Warriors have won four in a row, with two impressive. First to the best team in the East, Toronto and now to OKC. The winning is contagious and so is sharing and taking care of the ball. Curry who is the master dealer on the hard court showed off  impressive between the legs moves as he guided his team to the NBA's best record at 27-5. "Steph is incredible," explained Kerr."I've never seen anyone make those moves and he hit a shot from 35 feet out. He is remarkable. But even as talented as he is, what I love is that he's always trying to get better. He's really improved his defense while continuing to make spectacular plays and taking care of the ball." In the flamenco performances there are many contributors, the guitar players, the background singers and dancers, for the Warriors the depth of their bench is equally spectacular.  Justin Holiday stepped in when both Curry and Thompson got into foul trouble and scored 12 points. "Justin is playing with a lot of confidence," said Kerr. "Right now, it's just Justin's time and he's making the most of it." The heartbeat of the team, Draymond Green finished with 11 points and 13 rebounds. And Thunder coach Scott Brooks made no qualms about who deserved the victory. "We didn't play well tonight, there's no way around it," said Brooks. "They outplayed us. They're the best team in basketball."
The sell out crowds at Oracle agree and like those flamenco dancers, the Warriors are grace in motion that is a thing of beauty to watch; up next, the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday in Oakland.

Warriors prove the West is the Best

This is when sports is really fun. The sellout crowd at Oracle Arena is on their feet. Stephen Curry dunks the ball and every single Warriors player has a smile from ear to ear. Golden State which owns the best record in the NBA at 26-5 put on a show crushing Toronto, the best team in the East 126-105. Once again, Golden State proved defense, sharing the ball and the spotlight breeds success. It wasn't just one player putting on a show. What first year coach Steve Kerr has the Dubs believing and executing is that making the extra pass, taking care of the ball and playing defense leads to victory, make that a record 11 wins in a row at home.

It really is a thing of beauty to witness the unselfish play and genuine affection the players have for each other. It's called chemistry and it helped the San Francisco Giants win three world championships in five years. While you'd think Curry who was the top scorer with 32 points would take credit for the win, he was the first to credit his teammates, especially Draymond Green. The Michigan State graduate who Kerr calls the heartbeat of the team recorded his first NBA triple double with 16 points, 11 rebound and 13 assists.
"Draymond has to be mentioned for a lot of different things for the impact he's had on our team," said Kerr. "If I could vote, he'd have my vote on the all-star team. He represents what we are as a team. He sets the tone for us."
The tone tonight was loud and clear, as the Dubs shared the ball with an impressive 35 assists and only 9 turnovers.
As for the man of the hour, he humbly shared the credit as well. "I can't thank my teammates enough for putting me in the position to make the plays," said Green."I just like to play and if it happens, it happens. It was cool."
Cool indeed, aside from Green and Curry, three other Warriors were in double figures with Marreese Spaights adding 26 pints, Klay Thompson 20 and David Lee finishing with 12.
All this success without their big men, Andrew Bogut and Festus Ezeli who continue recovering for injuries, but were among those on their feet cheering on their teammates in an impressive display of  what team play is all about. Only wish other sports teams would tune in to watch and learn.