Comparing the Warriors to Seabiscuit, General Manager Larry Riley says he is chompin' at the bit to get his team on the court, "knowing we're going to succeed."

Like the small, unwanted colt that shocked the racing world in the 1930s, Golden State's young and undersized roster faces long odds to be a playoff team.

Undaunted, Marc Jackson reiterated his vow to change the culture of losing. At Thursday's news conference at Oracle Arena the rookie coach said last year's Warriors were "incredible on offense and took no pride on the defensive side of the ball. If you want to be serious about winning, you've got to be serious about playing defense."

Jackson, a self-described slow and unathletic player who became a good defender, says "there should be no excuses." While Riley says there are no untouchables on the roster, he didn't sound as though a major trade or free agent addition was likely. Certainly a key to the Warriors' resurgence is the play of Andris Biedrins.

Jackson says he is optimistic he can restore the enigmatic center's lost confidence.

Jackson, an ordained minister, is a master motivator. Whether his new flock embraces the message will be one of the more intriguing story lines of the upcoming NBA season.