Author: Monojit Mandal
Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, Klay Thompson and their Golden State Warriors teammates refuse to believe that their title hopes are lost. Despite their recent elimination from the playoffs, the Warriors’ core remains steadfast in their determination to fight and win another championship together.
The defending champions’ season came to a premature end with a 122-101 defeat to the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 6. After an incredible run of 19 consecutive wins in the post-season series against Western Conference opponents under coach Steve Kerr, Curry, Green and Thompson were eliminated before reaching the NBA Finals for the first time. Golden State also failed to win a single game away from home, ending an impressive run of 28 consecutive away wins in finals series.
The Warriors are aware of the rumors about the dynasty, led by Curry. The team won four titles in eight years, including five consecutive trips to the NBA Finals from 2015 to 2019.
Coach Kerr agreed that it was too early to think about the team’s future when reflecting on the season. He expressed his faith in the remaining talents of Curry, Green and Thompson, emphasizing that they are still top-level players. Kerr believes that the team still has the potential to be champions and that the disappointing season is not the end of their journey.
Kevon Looney admitted that he was hesitant to assess the high and low points of the season, as the wound of his second-round exit was still fresh. He praised the efforts of Curry, Thompson and Green throughout the season and in the playoffs, emphasizing their remarkable ability and the potential they still have.
The Warriors have encountered several obstacles in their quest for a new championship. They faced a team crisis when Green punched Jordan Poole during training camp, inconsistency on the road and injuries that kept key players out for long periods of time. It was a challenge to establish the necessary continuity.
Looney’s opinion was shared by Andrew Wiggins, who stated that he thinks the organization has a bright future and is optimistic about the team’s potential.
The players are still disappointed by the early exit. Golden State used Curry’s 50-point performance in Game 7 against the Sacramento Kings to become the first champions to recover from a 2-0 deficit. Curry and Thompson, on the other hand, failed to make important shots against the Lakers. The Warriors set an NBA record with 365 three-point misses in the first two rounds, surpassing the Rockets’ 358 misses from 2020. Curry and Thompson combined to shoot a dismal 6 of 26 from three-point range in Game 6, making them one of three couples in the post-season to miss 10 or more three-point attempts in the same game.
The Warriors will regroup and evaluate possible squad adjustments at the start of the summer. Curry emphasized the importance of working together to form the best team possible, ensuring that all the pieces fit together and position themselves as serious contenders for the title.
Thompson, like his colleagues, expressed his sadness and his commitment to recovery. Thompson, Curry and Green hadn’t missed the playoffs in a healthy state for a long time, which made their early exit even more difficult. Despite the setback, Thompson said they gave their best and will use the off-season to regroup and come back stronger.
The Warriors’ core group remains united in their quest for titles, motivated to overcome this setback and regain their place as contenders.