Golden State Warriors searching for late-game magic

The standings show the Warriors have 10 losses, but coach Mark Jackson said they have been beaten only twice. "I would say two teams beat us: the Philadelphia 76ers and the Charlotte Bobcats," Jackson said recently. The other eight? They are the results of a lack of clutch play. The Warriors have made defensive progress and exhibited team unity, and management has made some good moves, but it all has been obscured by the team's inability to finish games strong. Jackson said he is encouraged, but winning is something a team must learn. And if the Warriors don't learn the lesson soon, their playoff promise figures to go unfulfilled. "That's what makes it even more frustrating," forward David Lee said. "We're right there. We're probably not a top-three seed in the West. But (those close losses) are the difference between teams that are the seventh and eighth seed and the teams that don't make the playoffs. We've got to find a way to get it done." Six times this season, the Warriors have entered the fourth quarter with the lead, tied or within five points, yet were defeated. How is this happening? The Warriors have been outscored in the final quarter nine times. In five of those nine fourth quarters, they have been outscored by double-digits. Only once, against Chicago on Dec. 26, had they built a big enough lead to survive. What makes their late-game failures so frustrating for the Warriors are their glimpses of late-game successes. Such as when they turned a 64-64 tie against visiting New York into a double-digit victory. Or when they stormed back in the fourth quarter against Miami, forcing overtime and getting a victory. Games such as those serve as evidence the Warriors can get it done. "We've proven that we can beat anybody, especially (at home)," Lee said. "We've also proven we can lose to anybody ... We need to start looking forward to those times where we're up or down two points with four minutes to go, because we've got a chance to redeem ourselves." If the Warriors won half the games Jackson believes they gave away, they would be 9-6 and tied for fifth in the Western Conference. Their loss to Indiana on Friday was the latest example of how the Warriors have a lot to learn about finishing off games. For the second time this season, Monta Ellis made noticeable errors in the final seconds, squandering a chance for victory. First, Ellis -- who dribbled out several seconds with the score 91-91 -- perhaps made his move too late. Second, being so far from the basket, Ellis exposed one of his weaknesses: ballhandling. Pacers guard George Hill was in position to interrupt Ellis' crossover dribble, leading to a turnover and Hill's winning layup. Ellis is 0 for 2 when he has a chance to nail the game-winner. The first time, against Utah on Jan. 7, he nearly dribbled out the clock despite trailing by a point and settled for a tough fadeaway jumper. Jackson said he feels comfortable putting the game in the hands of Ellis, his best scorer. But Jackson, while acknowledging Ellis is his best option, said he isn't married to isolating Ellis at the top and counting on him making a play. Despite the team's late-game shortcomings, Jackson said he is encouraged. He said his team is defending and rebounding, sticking together. Those, Jackson said, are the building blocks of a winning team. "The reality is I've got a bunch of guys who have never won that are playing winning basketball," Jackson said. "Winning in this league is a process, and in that process you've got to be extremely patient to see the other side. It gets tough being that salmon swimming upstream. But as long as you're persistent and don't quit, you will get to the other side."