Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/497293
ByAntonioGonzalez The Associated Press OAKLAND The Golden State Warriors know all about play- off upsets. After all, the fran- chise pulled off one of the big- gest stunners in NBA history just eight years ago. This time, they'll be trying to avoid suffering the same fate they once handed out. The Warriors enter the play- offs as the NBA's top seed af- ter winning a franchise-record 67 games. Of course, it wasn't that long ago that Golden State downed Dirk Nowitzki and the top-seeded Dallas Mavericks — another 67-win team — in the opening round of the 2007 playoffs. Now Anthony Davis and the New Orleans Pelicans will try to upend the Warriors when their first-round series starts Saturday. Atlanta (60-22), the top seed in the East, begins with Brooklyn. Knocking off a No. 1 seed in the opening round is difficult, but it's certainly not unprece- dented. Here's a look at some of the best eight seeds ever: • 1998-99 New York Knicks. The labor lockout shortened the season to 50 games, giv- ing the reconstructed Knicks (27-23) little time to integrate newcomers Latrell Sprewell and Marcus Camby. But when the playoffs started, they matched up against the rival Miami Heat and looked like a different team. New York won NBA Intheplayoffs,No.8 seedshaveachance Warriorsknowallaboutplayoffupsets following stunning win over Dallas in 2007 MARCIOJOSESANCHEZ—THEASSOCIATEDPRESS The Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry, le , grabs a rebound next to Memphis Grizzlies' Vince Carter (15) and Zach Randolph (50) during the first half Monday in Oakland. RICH PEDRONCELLI — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE Sacramento Kings forward Derrick Williams, le , tries to stop the drive of New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis during the second half April 3in Sacramento. By Antonio Gonzalez The Associated Press SACRAMENTO A season that started out so promising for the Sacramento Kings ended the same way as the previous eight: out of the playoffs, with a losing record and looking for luck in the draft lottery. Except this time, that only be- gins to explain how things went so wrong. Sacramento (29-53) struggled to shed its label as a league laugh- ingstock, firing two coaches and restructuring its front office again. The Kings also ended the season with their top three scor- ers — DeMarcus Cousins, Rudy Gay and Darren Collison — side- lined with injuries that could lin- ger into the offseason. "This is one circus of a year as a team," forward Jason Thomp- son said. "Not too many people have been through what we've been through," added forward Derrick Williams. "I just don't think it could have gotten much worse." In November, the Kings looked like they had finally turned things around. They started 9-5 under coach Michael Malone and seemed ready for a break- out season. Instead, Cousins came down with viral meningitis and missed SACRAMENTO KINGS Morechangeslikelya erlosingseason Season that started out promising ends with three different coaches, star players injured MARK J. TERRILL — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Los Angeles Lakers guard Jabari Brown shoots between Sacramento Kings guard Ben McLemore, le , and forward Jason Thompson during the first half Wednesday in Los Angeles. By Brian Mahoney The Associated Press Sweet-shooting Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors have the best record, an un- matched home-court advan- tage, and the understanding that means nothing now. "We had a great home record and did some historic things, but that doesn't get you any extra points in the playoffs," Curry said. The Warriors (67-15) were the NBA's best this season. LeB- ron James has been on top be- fore, though never in Cleveland. And don't forget the Spurs, even though you have to look far down the West standings to find them. When the NBA postseason opens this weekend, there will be plenty of championship contend- ers but perhaps no clear favorite. "I got no idea who's going to win the championship. This is the most convoluted I've ever seen the NBA as far as, I've got no idea," Hall of Famer and TNT analyst Charles Barkley said. With James gone from Miami, so are the days of penciling in one half of the NBA Finals matchup. The Heat reached the last four fi- nals, winning two of them, be- fore James returned to Cleveland last July. NBA PLAYOFFS Warriors? Cavs?Spurs again? No favorite Playoff picture convoluted with many possibilities MARK DUNCAN — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Cleveland's LeBron James, right, drives on Detroit's Caron Butler in the first quarter Monday. By Beth Harris The Associated Press MESA,ARIZ. Michael Phelps won the 100-meter butterfly at his first meet in eight months Thursday night, beginning his push to com- pete at a fifth Olympics next year. The 18-time Olympic gold med- alist led at the halfway mark and went on to touch first in 52.38 sec- onds in front of a big crowd at the outdoor Arena Pro Swim Series meet. His time was slower than a year ago, when he finished second to longtime rival Ryan Lochte in 52.13 at the same meet after end- ing an abbreviated retirement. Lochte was second this time in 53.11. Phelps is back competing af- ter serving a six-month suspen- sion handed down by USA Swim- ming after his second drunken driving arrest. He said Wednes- day that he's aiming for the 2016 Rio Olympics. It's his first meet since the Pan Pacific Championships in August. He was cheered on by mother Debbie and fiancee Nicole John- son, who smiled while gazing at Phelps during his post-race inter- view. "I'm always hard on myself," SWIMMING Phelps wins 100 butterfly at first meet in eight months In limiting contributions from foreign governments to six nations and providing more frequent disclosures about donations, the Clinton Foun- dation alluded to the political dimensions of its new moves. DISCLOSURES AND ETHICS Clintoncharitywill limit foreign donations FULLSTORYONPAGEB5 Two out of three judges on a federal appeals court panel expressed doubts Thursday about a legal challenge to the Obama administration's far-reaching plan to address climate change. CLEAN AIR LAWSUITS Court skeptical of challenge to plan FULL STORY ON PAGE B3 The Los Molinos Bulldogs (3- 4, 1-1) play at Mercy (2-6, 1-1) at 6p.m. today at Diamond Park. The Corning Cardinals (5-8, 0-3) visit Lassen (11-9, 2-1) at 3p.m. BASEBALL Mercy hosts Los Mo in county rivalry game The Red Bluff Lady Spartans and Corning Lady Cardinals begin play today at Shasta's Wolf Pack Invite in Redding. Mercy so ball hosts Los Moli- nos at Diamond Park at 4p.m. SOFTBALL Red Bluff, Corning to play in Wolf Pack Invite UPSETS PAGE 2 KINGS PAGE 2 PREVIEW PAGE 2 PHELPS PAGE 2 SPORTS » redbluffdailynews.com Friday, April 17, 2015 MORE AT FACEBOOK.COM/RBDAILYNEWS AND TWITTER.COM/REDBLUFFNEWS B1