In game 5 of the Western Conferences Semifinals the Warriors were in another dogfight. After scraping past the Houston Rockets in the 2018 Western Conference Finals they were back against familiar foes. This time though, the Rockets had their second best player Chris Paul and weren’t missing a record number of three point shots. The series was tied at 2-2 and the Warriors were watching their 14-point halftime lead slowly disappear. Then with 2:11 left in the 3rd quarter, Kevin Durant hit a 15-foot jumper, but came up limping. Durant left with that now notorious right calf strain. Even at home in Oracle Arena, the momentum was on Houston’s side.
Going into the fourth quarter, the Rockets had tied the game at 72 and the Durant-less Warriors were on the verge of heading back to Houston down 3-2. Instead, Golden State found a way. They grinded out a five-point victory and would go on to stun a shell-shocked Rockets team back at the Toyota Center in game 6. It was the first reminder this postseason in what makes champions. Ironically, the Warriors’ dynasty will be remembered for their explosiveness. The arrays of incredible shots that paralyzed most of the NBA for the past five seasons. However, this postseason didn’t show off many 40-point quarters or knockout blows, but the resilience that made them one of the greatest teams of all-time. No postseason saw the Warriors climb back from the edge so often. We accept it among our champions so quickly it goes unrecognized. Today we look back on the Warriors first title in 2015 as a combination of their greatness and taking advantage of injuries to Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love. However, had they lost; the series wouldn’t be remembered as a choke job. Instead, the then championless Curry and co. would have simply been victims of LeBron James’ all-time greatness. A good team knows how to take advantage of their own strengths. A great team knows how to capitalize on their opponents’ weaknesses as well. The Rockets could withstand the Warriors runs and even have a few of their own, but when the opportunities came to finish the job, they didn’t know how to take advantage. After missing out in game 5, the Raptors weren't going to again. Its apropos that the only teams’ capable of dethroning the monster had LeBron James and Kawhi Leonard, two of greatest during the era. This will still sting. Still be a postseason of what ifs, starting with had the Warriors not lollygagged against the Clippers in the first round maybe the extra rest could have prevented the injuries that would eventually do them in. The final season in Oracle Arena didn’t end in a way fans, players, or coaches wanted. But, it’s hard to envision another story that gains the Warriors more respect. What made Golden State such an easy villain was the ease of their dominance. First adding Durant to a 73-win team and then DeMarcus Cousins this offseason. No one will call this path easy. Between the injuries to Kevon Looney, Kevin Durant, and Klay Thompson, the Warriors were without three of their seven best players for a combined 9 games in the series.[1] The team fought on and were a couple made free-throws or a Stephen Curry made three away from forcing a game 7. No one doubts the Warriors heart or toughness anymore. Now, with Durant and Thompson both set for free-agency with injuries that will take both of them out for most (and likely all) of next year, most see this as the dynasty’s eulogy. It’s part of why there is such an outpouring of support and respect for them. Everyone is quick to compliment the old guy at the rec gym because no one is afraid of him. No one is afraid of the Warriors anymore either. Adrian Wojnarowski reported after news broke of Thompson’s injury that the Warriors would struggle “to reach the playoffs in the Western Conference,” next season. Most around the league have already deemed this the end of a dynasty. Perhaps it is, but why do I feel like we’ve done this before? It could have ended when the Warriors fell behind Houston 3-2 in the 2018 Western Conference Finals, or when KD went out in game 5 in the Semis, or when KD went out in game 5 of the Finals, or when Thompson went out in game 6, but still the Warriors were in it until the end, when Stephen Curry had a three-point look to win the game. The burden will fall on Curry’s shoulders in a way it hasn’t since before the team signed Andre Igoudala. Back when Mark Jackson was the head coach, isolation was the primary offense, and David Lee was the team’s second best player. In his postgame interview, Draymond Green made it clear he believes in this organization going forward and I find it hard to disagree. Even without Thompson, without Durant, and an ever-improving league. The Warriors dynasty was built on surviving great resistance. They’ve never faced any challenge like what awaits, but it’s also been six years since the expectations have been this low. Curry’s missed three could symbolize the end, but let the Warriors be an underdog at your own risk. If they couldn’t be champions, there is nowhere they would rather be. [1] Durant missed 5.5, Thompson missed 1.5, Looney missed 2.
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About MeI have been a die-hard fan of the San Francisco Giants, San Francisco 49ers, and Golden State Warriors my entire life. Following them (and the surrounding leagues) have given me a lot of strong opinions on sports. Links to some of Marc's Articles around the Web:
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