We were all fooled last year. The casual basketball fan and hell maybe even the dedicated fan was deceived into thinking that Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors caught a break last year and were extremely lucky. Instead of the media and basketball world celebrating a team winning their fourth championship in franchise history and first since 1975. We all heard the underlying tones of how they were able to stay healthy all year and every team they ran into were banged up or eliminated each other. I don’t believe this is the case and I’m certain the Warriors could care less about that “he say, she say.”
Last year’s championship was won in training camp not June 16th 2015. Every single team faces adversity and it’s as if most circles ignore the challenges the warriors faced coming into last season. A rookie head coach in Steve Kerr taking over a talented roster with different ego’s and pieces new to him. They dealt with contract talks all season with Draymond Green and if he was a max player. Kerr brought a former all-star with a lot left in the tank in Andre Iguodala off the bench. Even talks about if fan favorite David Lee would be back with the team after his reduced role. The team was actually able to overcome many variables.
The early hot start never wavered and continued after a regular season in which they finished 67-15. They knocked out a top player in Anthony Davis of New Orleans in round one where they were clear favorites and then it gets tricky. They were down 2-1 in a series vs. the tough Memphis Grizzlies before rallying and taking the series in 6. Many felt had Mike Conley been 100% for the series they could have taken the series. Round three they faced another potential league MVP in James Harden and a team stacked with Dwight Howard, Trevor Ariza and Josh Smith. The Warriors handled them with ease winning 4-1. Patrick Beverly, Houston’s starting point guard missed the series out with a broken wrist and some felt he could have drastically impacted the series as well. Finally they faced the Cleveland Cavaliers in the nba finals. Cleveland lost new addition Kevin Love in the first round of the playoffs to an arm injury. They managed to get to the finals despite losing the big man, but lost point guard Kyrie Irving to a series ending injury in an over time loss in game 1 of the finals. Lebron James had one of the most statistically dominating series in nba history, but came up short. Millions especially in northeast Ohio felt had the injury bug not hit the team so hard Lebron would be halfway to catching Jordan in the hardware department right now.
All signs in this young season point to a hungry golden state team. I understand we are only three games in, but the team is in complete playoff mode. Curry erupting for 53 last night in New Orleans (28 in the third quarter) is averaging 39ppg 7asst 6rebs. They look poise to prove to the league and themselves last year was not a fluke and this year will end the same way. From start to finish Golden State is out embarrass your squad one rainbow three at a time, again.
thanks for posting.