If you're like me, you've wondered how the 12-year streak stacks up against other postseason droughts in NBA history. Thanks to basketball-reference.com, I was able to compile this information from their vast archives. Here are the 10 longest dry spells in NBA history:

As you can see, Golden State's current 12-season streak is the 2nd longest overall. A few interesting notes:

• As most people remember, Nelson was the Warriors' coach the last time the team appeared in the playoffs—in 1984.
• The coach who ended the Clippers' 15-season streak, Larry Brown, had been rumored to be taking over for the Warriors this offseason as well.
• Nelson helped to end the 3rd-longest streak, leading the Mavericks to the playoffs in 2001 (his 3rd year in Dallas).
• The Warriors' other long postseason drought was ended by George Karl in 1987. Nelson joined the team before the 1988-89 season.
• The long Grizzlies (Memphis plus Vancouver) and Jazz (Utah and New Orleans) streaks comprised the first several years of each franchise's existence. Perhaps it shouldn't be too surprising that both teams changed cities during this period of fruitlessness.

Next, here's a look at all 158 postseason droughts since 1950, organized by length of streak. Almost half of all dry spells have lasted for just 1 season, with the team in question making the playoffs the next season. Nearly two-thirds of all dry spells have been over after 3 seasons.

The Warriors are fortunate to have some of the most loyal fans in the league. Despite all of the recent futility, local support is as strong as ever after the big announcement:

• The guys at Golden State of Mind have been even more prolific than normal over the past week, writing about Nelson here, here (entertaining), here, here, here, and here. They felt so much love at last week's press conference, they temporarily set aside their grievances against owner Chris Cohan.
• Dave at The City says that this change erases the 2nd of Chris Mullin's 4 mistakes as the Warriors' GM. (I don't think it's too soon to declare Dunleavy's contract extension as mistake #5.)
• Warriorsworld.net declares Nelson the "perfect coach for this team" and predicts a playoff appearance.

ESPN.com's Marc Stein also thinks that Nelson makes the Warriors a playoff team. Unfortunately, I just don't see that happening ... there are too many good teams in the West, and the current Warriors squad just doesn't compare to Nelson's successful teams in the past (the Run-TMC Warriors, the Dirk-Finley-Nash Mavericks, or even the Marques Johnson-Sidney Moncrief-Bob Lanier Bucks). I hope I'm wrong about this. Regardless, I'm sure I'll enjoy watching.

UPDATE: GSoM dug up most of Golden State's last playoff game from 1994 on YouTube. Barkley dropped 56 points on Webber (in his last game as a Warrior).