Hasn’t anybody discovered their lesson?
The Golden State Warriors at present maintain a 32-30 document and are in possession of the Western Convention’s fifth slot. They’ve stayed related regardless of being with out Stephen Curry since he went down with a leg damage on February 4th. However NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski not too long ago reported that the Davidson product might return throughout a street journey that kicks off in opposition to the Los Angeles Lakers and ends in opposition to the Memphis Grizzlies.
With one splash brother returning and Klay Thompson starting to warmth up, the Dubs are a group that must be feared come playoff time. A wholesome Golden State backcourt is an opponent’s nightmare given their capturing acumen and mixed expertise. It’s totally potential that Thompson and Curry can information the Warriors to their second championship in a row.
The Warriors at present have the NBA’s twelfth finest subject objective proportion and third finest three-point proportion. Even essentially the most informal basketball followers know that the Dubs take nice satisfaction of their capturing potential, a trait that has been headlined by Curry and Thompson for the higher a part of the final decade.
Earlier than sustaining his damage, Curry was capturing at a 49.5% clip from the sphere, and a 42.7% mark from vary whereas averaging 29.4 factors and 6.4 assists. Thompson, whereas previous his prime, has additionally been efficient. He’s capturing 40.9% from distance and averaging 22.1 factors per recreation. Over his previous 5 video games, he’s shot 49.12% from the sphere and had a 42-point outburst in opposition to Houston Rockets on Feb. twenty fourth.
Having each Curry and Thompson obtainable will give the Warriors a right away offensive increase. Additional, it would open the ground for different gamers resembling Jordan Poole and Andrew Wiggins. The Dubs thrive in open house, however the splash brothers don’t want a lot of it to attain. Each gamers can hit robust jumpers in tight conditions, and can draw plenty of consideration away from different people who want extra house to succeed.
On the defensive facet, the splash brothers’ previous playoff expertise might assist head coach Steve Kerr re-establish a unit that completed final season with the NBA’s finest defensive ranking. Neither Curry or Thompson are identified for his or her defensive prowess, however their mixed knowledge might assist youthful gamers resembling Donte DiVincenzo, Kevon Looney, and Ty Jerome discover their footing.
After a 123-105 win on Tuesday over the Portland Path Blazers, Thompson made it clear that he can really feel momentum shifting, particularly with Curry’s return on the horizon.
“I really feel it, yeah,” Thompson advised NBC Sports activities Bay Space’s “Warriors Postgame Reside” after the sport. “All of us really feel it. With 20 video games left, it’s such a golden alternative for us to extend our seeding, simply get in an excellent rhythm and these position [players] are getting such nice expertise proper now, it’s going to repay enormous come playoff time.”
“And I promise you this, after we’re wholesome, nobody needs to see us within the postseason. I promise you that.”
There have been many who doubted the Warriors’ championship aspirations final 12 months earlier than they ultimately defeated the Boston Celtics within the 2022 NBA Finals. Some puzzled if Curry and Thompson might nonetheless lead a group, and had been fast to declare the Warriors dynasty lifeless.
Why make the identical mistake? The Golden State Warriors is probably not title favorites, however so long as Curry and Thomposn are wholesome, the boys from the bay have a fighter’s likelihood.
