It’s NBA Playoffs time and it’s still a bummer that the Golden State Warriors aren’t in it and are not even close to becoming any type of playoff team. But every time the playoffs rolls around, I remember the last time the Warriors made the playoffs. I remember that “We Believe” team five years ago and being part of that magical crowd.

I grew up a Warriors fans ever since I learned to pick up a basketball. Since basketball ended up being my first love, it still holds a special place in my heart. And since the Warriors were the local team, they became the team I followed.

Naturally, like many other Warriors fans, it sucked to see the team struggle every year. But during the 2006-07 season, it became magic for us fans. The crazy run and gun offense of the Warriors led by Don Nelson gave the fans something to cheer about again. And when the team made the playoffs, we were ready to rock the house.

I think I woke up at 6AM the day playoff tickets went on sale. Maybe I got up earlier, I don’t know. At the time, I was still a student at SJSU so I had to drive up from the South Bay to get to Oracle Arena. It was cold. The line was long. It was three hours of boredom. But as the line started to move, I started to worry. Would I be able to get a ticket before they sold out?

Since Game 3 and Game 4 tickets were the only tickets available to buy, I ended up realizing that I had to buy tickets for both games. The max amount of tickets purchased per transaction was eight, so I decided to buy four for each game.

When I approached the box office window, I asked for the four tickets for Game 3 and four tickets for Game 4. The four tickets I got for Game 3 were in the nosebleeds but I didn’t care. (As you can see by my video, we upgraded ourselves to some empty, unoccupied seats in the second half.) As for the Game 4 tickets, those were standing room only. I bought them and I was told that I had bought the LAST tickets available. The people behind me would not get any. WOW!

My hair looks bad, but I don’t care. I was so happy!

Game 3 to me was magic. I had been to many Warriors game but the electricity was phenomenal. It also was so great to see the Warriors come out and play well and dominate. Since the Dubs stole Game 1, the belief that they could win the series was reality to us. And throughout Game 3, I couldn’t stop cheering. I don’t think I sat down in the second half. I was just full of excitement.

The Warriors that playoff run received national attention and the world realized that we were the best fans in the league. (And the fact that it was the #8 seed doing some big things helped too.)

Game 4 was a nailbiter and since it was standing room only, I had to stand throughout the entire game. But it was all good. Seeing Baron making the half court shot and then the great defense at the end. I was so juiced to be there. And it was nice to take my dad to Game 4 too. He’s not a huge basketball fan but I knew that it would have been nice for him to experience a playoff game in any sport. Glad he was there with me.

I didn’t get a chance to go to Game 6, the clincher. But it doesn’t matter. That playoff run, especially the two games I went to, was the best experience I ever had as a fan in any sport. The Bay Area was engulfed by this team. Everybody was on the Warriors bandwagon and it was just so much fun.

I usually left my night classes early just to find a way to catch the Warriors at the end of their playoff games against Utah. But it was OK because I was experiencing something I had never experienced before.

Looking back, I can’t believe it’s been five years. The team hasn’t been to the playoffs since and the roster has completely changed. But that moment in time to me was a magical ride I’ll never forget. I do hope the next time the Warriors make the playoffs, that magic is there again. But this time, the team wins the championship. I still believe.