That's the year the Warriors, with very limited expectations, shocked the world by ending a 12-year playoff drought and then eliminating the top-seeded Mavericks in one of the biggest upset in NBA postseason history.

The Warriors missed the playoffs last season but did manage 48 wins, so the future appeared almost as bright as it had following the playoff shocker the previous spring.

But that was before Baron Davis opted out of the final year of his Warriors' deal and bolted to the Los Angeles Clippers, leaving the club not only without a point guard but also without a heart and soul.

It was hoped Ellis would fill that void, but a somewhat mysterious "incident" last month resulted in major surgery and the expectation he will miss the first two months of the 2008-09 season.

So, the team without a point guard is now the team without its shooting-guard-turned-point-guard as well. For a club that features a "small ball" approach, that's not good.

Clearly, the ball is now in Marcus Williams' court. Acquired from the Nets this summer for a conditional first-round pick, the young backup is suddenly a very important player.

He'll be surrounded by a lot of talent -- especially newcomer Corey Maggette and returning standout Stephen Jackson on the wings. But on this relay team, the Warriors will go only as far as the point guard can take them without dropping the baton.

Oh, here's the bad news of the Ellis injury: The Warriors weren't transferred out of the West. So breaking even the first two months in the $66 million man's absence isn't an option. It's a dream-breaker.

That's why expectations have plummeted. Just like 2006.