Cause for the optimism? The improving health of the team, especially the expected return of guard Monta Ellis, the development of young talent and a favorable home stretch (13 of the next 18 at home).

"We never thought we would have so much to deal with in one year, but it is what it is," swingman Stephen Jackson said. "At the same time, we're 12 or 13 games out of the playoffs. Still got a chance. I think the biggest thing for us is to have a sense of urgency, because we're getting guys back. And once Monta gets back, we've got to start looking straight ahead and not worry about the first half of the season. We've got the second half to put it together."

It's been a crazy first half for the Warriors. They played 24 of the first 38 on the road, losing 20 of those contests. During one stretch between November and December, they played 14 of 18 away from home.

They had 98 games missed because of injury. Ellis, who hasn't played all season after offseason surgery on his left ankle, accounts for less than half of the missed games. Jackson, swingman Corey Maggette and forward Brandan Wright all have missed (or will miss) at least 10 games. As a result, Golden State has used a league-high 26 starting lineups, with 12 including a rookie.

That's not to mention the drama surrounding Ellis' injury which was followed by a 30-game suspension for his participation in prohibited activities and lying about it and the fallout from that. Nor the public beef between coach Don Nelson and starting forward Al Harrington, whom the Warriors wound up trading in November. Nor the behind-the-scenes clashing of team president Robert Rowell and Chris Mullin, who's in a lame-duck year as the Warriors' executive vice president of Basketball operations . Nor the midseason change in coaching philosophy, which saw Nelson put the defense in the hands of two assistants.

Still, the Warriors are bubbling with optimism in the locker room. While most see the 10 losses by 15 points or more, the Warriors choose to look at the eight defeats by five points or fewer. While most see the .293 winning percentage, the Warriors focus on the reality that they had to take on a brutal schedule without their full team.

"The pieces are here," guard Jamal Crawford said. "Pretty soon, we'll have everybody ready and start rolling. We're upbeat. I told the team (before Friday night's game) we've lost six of the last seven, but it was by an average of seven points. So we're not far away. Everybody was in and out, in and out. So we can put something together. We're very upbeat. We've got to hang in there together. We do believe."

Contact Marcus Thompson II at mthomps2@bayareanewsgroup.com