FOULEDOUT!

The Golden State Warriors won’t be going to the playoffs after all. The roller coaster ride of the Warriors in the jam packed Western Conference officially ended after the Phoenix Suns defeated them 122-116. The Denver Nuggets clinched the final spot in the West as a result of Warriors‘ loss.

The Warriors needed to win their last two games and hope for the Nuggets to lose in their season finale in Seattle if they are to qualify for playoffs.

Is this the end of small ball?

-fouledout

The Denver Nuggets are back in the top 8 of the Western Conference after they defeated the fiery Phoenix Suns 126-120. The Nuggets are now ahead of the Golden State Warriors after the latter lost to the San Antonio Spurs 116-92.

Leandro Barbosa made five 3-pointers and finished with team high 27 points. Amare Stoudemire scored 25 points and grabbed 10 rebounds while Steve Nash added 17 points and 18 assists. Shaquille O’Neal had another great game and posted a double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds.

Grant Hill missed his third straight game due to a groin injury and Raja Bell was ejected after getting two quick technicals in the third period.

Allen Iverson led the game and finished with 31 points. Carmelo Anthony finished with 25 points and 8 rebounds including two crucial rebounds and two free throws in the final 27 seconds of the game. Kenyon Martin had 18 points and 8 rebounds and J.R. Smith added 17 points for the Nuggets.

Returning from a 2 and ½ month absence, Nene saw 10 minutes of action and finished with 4 point and 5 rebounds

This is a crucial win for the Nuggets as they are trying to tighten their hold in the wild Western Conference playoffs race. The Nuggets‘ schedule are in their favor as they are set to face three lottery bound teams in the following days.

-fouledout

After 15 seasons in the NBA, Golden State Warriors forward Chris Webber will finally hang the sneakers and call it quits. Webber signed the the Warriors this season in hopes of revitalizing his injury-plagued career. He played only nine games for the Warriors this season before being sidelined because of his injured knee that slowed his career in the recent years. He averaged 3.9 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2 assists for his nine game stint with the Warriors this season.

Webber was drafted by the Warriors in 1993 and won the Rookie of the Year honors in his first season in Golden State. He clashed with Warriors coach Don Nelson and was eventually traded to the Washington Bullets the following season. Webber’s best seasons in the league were played in Sacramento. He transformed the Kings into one of the legit playoff contenders in the West and led them to the 2002 Conference Finals where they lost a seven-game series to the Los Angeles Lakers. He was then shipped to the Philadelphia 76ers in 2005 after his career was slowed down by a surgery on his knee. He spent one season with the Detroit Pistons in 2006 before he re-signed back with his first professional team, the Warriors.

Webber, a five-time All-Star player, was brought back to Golden State in hopes of adding size their small ball line up. His return to his former team ended up with very little impact as he was only able to play nine games. Webber is slowed by his knee injury and unable to keep up with the fast paced style of the team.

Chris Webber played over 800 games in his professional career and holds career averages of 20.7 points, 9.8 rebounds and 4.2 assists.

-fouledout