I've got a few things up around the workplace - one of the "We Believe" towels they gave away last year, the Baron/Kirilenko thing taped to the back of the seats on opening night, a wider shot I took of the tipoff in Game 3, the first home playoff game in so long - and sometimes it's still hard to believe all of that actually happened.

We were stuck in the same old mediocrity this team had been stuck with for so long until that trade last January. Somehow, our team pulled it all together that last quarter of the season and got it done. We witnessed an amazing run. I saw exciting games in Sacramento and Portland for the season-clincher, but the playoff experience topped it all.

We got national attention we haven't had in ages, to the point that the Warriors became a focus of Charles Barkley so much that he ended up wearing a "We Believe" t-shirt after Dallas got knocked out. We as fans were recognized by Bill Simmons and others for our passion, noise and the atmosphere we generated. After so many years of insignificance, being a Warriors fan was more than something to be laughed at with pity or wickedness. All of a sudden, it meant something.

The Jackson-less start had a lot of people shaking their heads saying "I told you so." No Richardson? No heart. No Jackson? No matter. What could he do? Already, people started forgetting about the Warriors. Fluke, one-hit wonder, lucky break catching Dallas, etc.

Now Jackson's back and showing why he's so vital to this team. He brings it every night, people feed off that, and he balances out everyone else's roles as well. Baron doesn't have to feel like he's got to do it all. Monta's starting to come around again. Other guys are doing good things in various ways. We've gone from 0-6 to 8-7, just like that.

Things are looking good again. There are still some of the same flaws - rebounding, free throw shooting, too much of a reliance on the 3-pointer in certain cases, and so on. But the team defense looks strong and can really buckle down when they have to, they're taking good care of the ball and even if some bad shots ruin a few possessions, at least they're getting those shots instead of turning the ball over a lot. They're getting back to playing with that gritty desire that defined last season's run and they're pulling some games out late. That's something good teams do.

It's still early. Maybe that pace can't be maintained the whole season. Maybe they'll have a few low points along the way that they have to fight through.

But...what if they don't?

Right now, there are only a handful of teams in the NBA that concern me. In the West, I look at the Spurs and the Jazz and think those are the only teams I'm not sure about in a playoff series. Phoenix, Houston, Dallas, Denver, the Lakers and so on - I think we can hang with any of them. In the East, after Boston maybe there's Orlando and a couple others, but like I said before it's still early.

I'm not ready to annoint the Warriors Championship contenders yet, but I'm seeing a lot of good things going on right now that could put them in line for an excellent chance to really do some damage. Hopefully they can strengthen the roster a little bit more as needed and go from there.

It might not last long. There are going to be a lot of questions to be answered this offseason. I'm just going to enjoy the ride we're on right now. It's a good time to be a Warriors fan