There is a saying that you can learn more from a loss than a win. Apparently, some sports experts haven’t heard it.

Before the No. 6-seeded Golden State Warriors played the No. 3-seeded Denver Nuggets in the first round of the NBA playoffs, all 18 of ESPN’s experts picked the Denver Nuggets to win the series.

Only four experts said the series would go to Game 7; only four people considered that the Warriors could compete with the Nuggets.  The Warriors went on to win that round in six games. Warriors: 1 Experts: 0.

Why is it that all 18 analysts were wrong? It’s because the Warriors compete with their heart and guts every night.

In a game against the Houston Rockets earlier this season, the Rockets hit every shot they took, despite great defense by the Warriors. Towards the end of the game, the Rockets were shooting for the record books – until the Warriors’ Draymond Green committed a hard foul to prevent the Rockets from getting there.

Many frowned on the idea of fouling someone to prevent a record, but Warriors didn’t care. When asked about the foul, head coach Mark Jackson said, “We’re not going to lay down. If you’re going to try to get the record, we’re going to stop it.”

The Warriors play a fast-paced game, meaning the other team is going to get more shots. This is why the Warriors ranked sixth from last in defensive field goals attempted, but ranked fourth in opponents’ field goal percentage. The Warriors aren’t as big as other teams, but they compete harder than anyone else.

Going into the second round of the playoffs, only one of ESPN’s 17 experts picked the Warriors to beat the San Antonio Spurs.

Can you blame them? The Spurs are a better team on paper. But the Warriors can beat the Spurs, because they don’t care what others think.

Many felt the Spurs would cruise through the first game. If by “cruising,” they meant trailing most of the game and winning because the Warriors broke down, then yeah, they cruised.

In Game 2, the Warriors were supposed to repeat their late-game meltdown, but the Warriors did not relinquish their 19-point halftime lead, beating the almighty Spurs and showing the world they belonged in the playoffs.

Over the course of the playoffs a team is going to have a bad night with the other team having a good night. In Game 3, the Spurs played better, and the Warriors loss. Game 4 was a tale of two halves.  The Warriors had their worst shooting half in the playoffs, not to mention their two star players were playing injured and their best big men were in foul trouble early on. They were destined to lose at half time; NBA analyst Jalen Rose said this would be the last game the Warriors would play, insisting they would lose – but the Warriors refused to die.

Lead by hobbled all-stars and many reserves the Warriors went after every rebound, hustled on defense, kept fighting and won.

Going into Game 5 at San Antonio, the Warriors will still have doubters but that won’t matter, because the Warriors will still compete.