Mark Jackson might be announcing the NBA Playoffs right now, but he's fairly convinced next season he'll be coaching the Golden State Warriors right into April and May. While early interviews after getting the job tend to stray toward the optimistic side, Jackson might have taken it a little too far when he expects the Warriors to be in the playoffs next season. In an early interview with NBA TV, Jackson believed he wouldn't have taken the job if he didn't think Golden State would be competing for one of the top eight seeds in the West next season.
It certainly doesn't look promising right now. Golden State finished 36-46, 10 games out of the final playoff spot in the always deep Western Conference. The Warriors don't really have that much potential upside with their current roster, particularly with no depth and size in their frontcourt. You have to figure roster changes are on the way, and Jerry West and Larry Riley will do their best to facilitate the movement to a better Warriors squad in 2011-12.
What do you think of the Jackson "Playoffs" sentiments? Is it bold bravado, idle talk, or sheer lunacy? Let us know in the comments!
For more reaction, head over to Golden State of Mind.