The Golden State Warriors, absent for many years in the upper royalty in the NBA, returned to prominence last year with their first championship in 40 years. They’re still a far cry from the Boston Celtics or the Los Angeles Lakers, who have numerous trophy banners hanging from their rafters, and they are leagues behind the San Antonio Spurs or the Detroit Pistons in years of receiving the coveted trophy as kings of the world. Still, there is reason for positivity for Warriors fans.
Over the last two years, the Warriors have been, by far, the best team in the league. In fact, they proved that they not only can take out all the East Conference teams, but were better than the much more competitive Western Conference, who seems to rule the roost in the NBA. Despite losing their first game after 24 straight victories, they can still claim superiority in a league that is plagued by some good, and most mediocre teams.
Stephen Curry is by far the best player in the sport, not only winning the MVP last year, but becoming one of the most prolific shooters in the sport today, even besting his stats from last year. They don’t have the mega all-star bench that other teams may boast, but they find a way to work as a cohesive unit, and know how to win games from start to finish. This year’s 24 game run was proof that last year wasn’t a flash in the pan. This team is around to stay for some time, and it’s lead by an all-world player and his loyal subjects.
Further, there are no ‘personalities’ on the Lakers, looking to steal headlines, complain about the refereeing, or making excuses for not showing up night to night. The reason they lost to the Milwaukee Bucks was not a lack of effort or talent – it was more of the exhaustion and pressure of having to deal with the ‘streak’, the media, and the fans, who expect perfection on a nightly basis. The best thing that happened to the Warriors was a loss in a very, very long season.
We all know they will be the number one seed once it comes down to the playoff seedings, and besides the Spurs, who can really say that a team will compete with them in a seven game series? If you were a betting person, even money says they will repeat as NBA champs. If they don’t, it won’t be a lack of effort or talent, but more like an injury or a very hot team that stood in their way.
The fans in the Oakland area haven’t had much to celebrate over the years, with the A’s always being bridesmaids instead of brides, and the Raiders teasing their fandom, thinking that this year will be like the old days. Unfortunately for the ‘other’ Bay Area team, their hopes and dreams lay with the Warriors, who took years in developing the champion stature. You can thank a lot of folks who spent years rebuilding a franchise that always took a back seat to the other west coast teams, namely the Lakers, but they’re back and here to stay for a while.
New York Knick fans can tell you that one more pick, and they would have secured Curry and his golden touch. It’s a sore subject to this day, but their loss was Golden State’s gain. Curry is the most rounded player in the NBA, and he continues to excel in his craft, bringing out the best in his teammates, and knowing how to win the majority of their games. I think everyone thought they would go undefeated this season, but nothing is perfect – not even the 2015-16 version of the Golden State Warriors.
They don’t even need their head coach, Steve Kerr, to sit on the bench and draw up plays to make them successful. This is a group of winners, of unusual players in a league that boasts a lot of personalities, both on and off the court, and isn’t it a refreshing change? There’s nothing about these Warriors not to like, unless you root for another team in their conference. Otherwise, you can’t help but admire what they have accomplished to date, and what lies in the future.
Yes, they lost their first game of the season to a much less talented team like the Milwaukee Bucks, but that’s not a slight on them – it just shows they are human, and we need that in sports. Not everyone can be a winner every night. This may bring the team closer together, and a whole new streak could commence. At the end of the season, they may even win more games than the best of the best that the NBA has ever seen. It’s not only possible, but probable.
So, Bravo to the Bucks for ending the streak, but it should make the Warriors that much more hungry to pick up where they left off. And, at the end of the day, don’t be surprised to see Curry and his teammates hoisting up another trophy as kings of the league, and others trying and wishing they could duplicate such a good thing. It’s their time, and everyone should enjoy the ride.
