Bay Area Buzz 4/10: Warriors Playoff-Bound, Lincecum Remains an Unsolvable Puzzle
By Eric He
Anyone hung over from celebrating the Warriors first playoff berth since 2007? It’s ok, we won’t tell anybody.
Here are some things to ponder upon after a busy day in Bay Area sports:
April 09, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors bench of starters stand up for the final seconds of the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the fourth quarter at Oracle Arena. The Golden State Warriors defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 105-89 to clinch a playoff berth. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
The Warriors Are Playoff-Bound: What’s Next? Is Denver the Best Likely First-Round Match-Up?
"Realistically, the lower-seeded team always has to get a split in Games 1 and 2 to have a shot in a first-round series, and in that thin Denver air, against that still very talented team, it will be very, very difficult to pull off. It’ll be tough to steal a road game against Denver or any of the top three teams.But stylistically, Denver is the most similar of the three to the Warriors, and Denver is the one with more offensive question marks at PG and PF, and that means I’ll say that the Nuggets would be the best option for the Warriors.– Tim Kawikami, Talking Points"
After Two Starts, Lincecum Remains an Unsolvable Puzzle
"If you were seeking clues about the direction Tim Lincecum’s career is heading – continuing its puzzling spiral or returning to its former glory – Tuesday’s 9-6 win against the Colorado Rockies was not the place to find them.A quick glance at the stat line would seem to indicate the San Francisco Giants right-hander is still a lost soul, much like he was in going 10-15 with a 5.18 ERA last season, and just as he was during a dreadful spring hampered by a blister.– Jorge L. Ortiz, USA Today Sports"
Oakland Athletics Have Found a Way to Win Despite Outdated Ballpark
"The A’s have nothing going for them. Nothing, that is, except a history of resilience. They are a charter member of the AL, established in 1901, still alive after stints in Philadelphia and Kansas City, direct descendents of the original roots of the game. Historically and today, from Foxx and Grove, to Reggie and Catfish, to Giambi and Zito, A’s talent eventually migrates to the big-money teams. Still, in the Junior Circuit, only the Yankees have more than Oakland’s 15 pennants and nine World Series titles. The Rangers and Angels each reportedly scored $3 billion TV deals recently, but it was the A’s who won the division last season. – Howard Bryant, ESPN the Magazine"
Raiders’ New Cornerback Has Something to Prove
"Just six years ago, Mike Jenkins was a first-round pick with America’s Team. After his second season with the Dallas Cowboys in 2009, when he had five interceptions and 49 tackles, he was selected to the Pro Bowl.Jenkins seemed destined for a long, distinguished career in Texas.But since 2011, Jenkins has been slowed and sidelined by injuries that inhibited his performance and eventually cost him his starting job last season, the final year of his contract.– Doug Williams, NBC Bay Area"
Logical Extension: Iupati’s Rare Skills Could Make Him Next Man Up
"From a practical standpoint, Iupati, 25, would seem to be next in line for an extension. The 49ers can’t begin negotiating with Kaepernick and Smith until after the 2013 season and their maiden contract negotiation with Crabtree in 2009 didn’t yield a signature until after a 71-day holdout."
"In my mind, though, Iupati’s rare ability is the most compelling reason he’ll be the next to sign a long-term extension.The 49ers, after all, love to play power ball on offense and a human freight train such as Iupati is a prized weapon who would be exceedingly difficult to replace (particularly for a team that figures to draft in the back end of the first round for the foreseeable future).-Eric Branch, San Francisco Chronicle"