“I knew they had some pieces, I knew they were definitely on the rise. Just coming there, seeing the front office, everyone’s in there every single day. Coaches expressed a lot of confidence in the players. They want to win and they want to win now. I’m glad I’m apart of this.”
- Harrison Barnes during summer league
These are the words of the first Warrior selected during this past draft, the first of three rookies that have contributed to this ongoing phenomenon that is the 2012-2013 campaign. Three rookies with three very different games contributing in three key areas for the newest and shiniest contender the league has. Back on June 28, the Warriors filled their void at small forward, backup center and rebounding all in one night.
The words of Harrison Barnes embodies what has become of the Golden State Warriors since the installation of Joe Lacob as majority owner of the franchise. While the entire statement above seems like standard prose for a rookie coming into the league, the Warriors aren’t like any other team in the league. A franchise so engrained with failure is now reaping the benefits of smart ownership, competent management and motivational coaching. Unthinkable just seasons ago, the Warriors have quickly become a model for other franchises to follow.
Yes, the Golden State Warriors are a franchise others want to become.
Hirings, firings, signings and trades are all part of the picture, but this past draft class is what is most impressive. Any team can overpay for talent and immediately see results, but not every team can draft players that fit a particular system. The Warriors did a fantastic job at misevaluating talent for decades. To see these picks culminate in immediate success is not only uncharacteristic for any team, but especially a Warriors team; a playoff team at that.
Greg Popovich: We made shots and they didn’t have as good a night shooting the ball. Sometimes it’s as simple as that. There’s other factors, you think about turnovers, blah, blah, blah. But we shot it and they didn’t.
Mark Jackson: This is a make-or-miss league. That’s all. If we don’t play our brand of basketball we are not good enough to just win.
Klay Thompson: Collectively, we didn’t shoot as good as we did in the first two games.
The Warriors first three games (respectively) this series in shot chart form:
For a team built primarily around shooting the basketball, can it be as simple as “make-or-miss” in relation to wins/losses with the Warriors?
Over-simplication is often short-sighted, but it holds true in this particular situation.
Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson combined to make 1,134 field goals this regulars season, which accounts for 36% of the team’s shots. The starting backcourt attempted 2,594 field goals out of a team total 6,841 (38% of team’s total shots).
The narrative these playoffs — and especially after Game 2 — was the outrageous shooting numbers (48% FG, 40% 3PT) and the complementary play between Curry and Thompson. If one was off, the other was on. It wasn’t so much that these two players can’t both be off at the same time, it just hadn’t happened yet. That was the worst case scenario, and one everyone thought would never come.
Friday night, we saw what happens when that scenario indeed happens.
Curry and Thompson combined to shoot 12-for-37 (32%) and the team only made six (out of 20 attempts) three pointers. There simply wasn’t that third consistent option out there on the floor.
Jarrett Jack — since David Lee’s injury at least — has tried to be this third option, and for the first half kept the Warriors at bay with four shots in the 2nd quarter before failing miserably in the second half (on both ends of the floor). Harrison Barnes was aggressive going to the basket but couldn’t find his range from outside the paint, Andrew Bogut was 5-for-9 but can’t be counted on for consistent production and Carl Landry was 4-for-4 on shots inside the circle but struggled to get anything going from the outside.
The lone bright spot from was from David Lee himself, who in three minutes looked to be very much the Lee of old on the offensive end. Lee said postgame he’s feeling better than he did in the Denver series, but that bar was set pretty low. Coach Jackson said he didn’t keep Lee in the game because he didn’t like the way Lee was running his last trip down in the 2nd quarter. Lee’s performance in Game 3 was nothing more than a tease, and it doesn’t sound like that will change as the series progresses.
The Warriors simply weren’t getting as many clean looks as they were in the previous two games, and credit the Spurs defense. Danny Green hounded Curry all night, allowing limited open shots and not giving him much room to initiate the offense all night. Thompson was shaded by Kawhi Leonard for a lot of Game 3 and he did a solid job of not giving Thompson enough space to get off clean looks. With that said, Thompson had his chances:
Thompson succeeded in the mid-range but struggled from inside the free throw line, a scary (and troubling) trend.
Murphy’s Law was in full effect Friday night: Warriors were hounded on defense, missing shots, Curry turned his left ankle and the Spurs reminded everyone why they’ve been the class of the NBA for years. The Warriors were outclassed in every facet Game 3. For the first time this postseason they showed their age and inexperience. It was a scary sight for fans, and for the Warriors to have any chance this series they need to muster up the same urgency they’ve played with this entire playoff run.
If there’s anything the Warriors have proved this entire season is their incredible poise and resiliency. Bouncing back from each loss these playoffs with a win, the Warriors are incredibly mature for their age. This youth showed in Game 3, but it’d be foolish to assume a repeat performance is all but certain come Game 4.
The focus must start on the defensive end, as numerous players stated after Game 3. Throwing different looks at Tony Parker (Bazemore?) in Game 4 or simply putting hands up on jump shots will pay dividends, but consistent effort and focus will prove to be the Warriors biggest improvement from their loss Friday night.
Will the Warriors shoot a measly 39% from the field in Game 4? Will Curry and Thompson combine to shoot 32% again? Will the team shoot 32% from deep while only making six treys? Will Parker score 32 points (25 in the first half) again?
All signs point to nay, but on even shorter rest (12:30 PST) and with Curry hobbling, the signs aren’t as clear as they once were.
From Klay Thompson’s one-on-one with WarriorsWorld’s Jesse Taylor last month:
When did you notice the difference in your defense and realize that you were able to stop some really good players?
I’ve always thought I could play defense, going back to high school and then college. I think my shooting and scoring always outshined it.
As for the NBA, it was probably midseason this year when I thought, “Oh, I can actually guard some of these guys.” That’s when the confidence really came.
Was there a certain player or a certain game where it really hit you?
Yeah, I’d say when we played the Spurs at home and wore those T-shirts. Remember that game?
Yep. Who can forget the yellow jerseys?
Tony Parker came into that game really hot, averaging like 24 and 10, and shooting high 50s from the field. (note: Parker was averaging 29.3 points on 57% shooting in his previous six games and 9.1 assists in his previous seven games)
I thought I did a great job against him in that game on national TV. I thought people finally noticed then that I could be a versatile player, not just an offensive guy.
Klay Thompson’s game is far from a finished product, but in his second season as the Warriors starting shooting guard he’s proved to be an invaluable piece to the Warriors ever-changing puzzle. Thompson was third in the NBA this season in three pointers made with 211 — behind only Stephen Curry’s NBA record (272) and Ryan Anderson (213) — and is often in the discussion for best shooter not named Curry in the league.
His decision making on the offensive end, layups and turnovers gets the criticism, and deservedly so. But Thompson has proven throughout his early career — especially this season — that his defense is what matters most to this team’s success. He’s much more than a shooter. He knows he’s gotten better in this area and he knows his team needs his presence on the defensive end to compete to the best of their ability.
What happened at the end of Game 1 was a series of unfortunate events, many of which could’ve been avoided.
Thompson picked up two fouls in the first quarter, limiting his aggressiveness on the defensive end the rest of the night. Facing the likes of Tony Parker, Thompson would need all the fouls he could get against Parker’s aggressive style of play. Thompson is starting to understand certain player’s moves and tendencies, as he explained in his previous interview on this site. Foul count is important in any game, but in a road playoff game against San Antonio Spurs in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals, there’s no greater importance.
Thompson is the LeBron James of this team on the defensive end, for lack of a better term. He’s constantly thrown on the opposing team’s best perimeter player with the hopes of shutting him down or limiting him any way possible. This idea of “position-less” players on either end can be attributed to the flowing landscape of the league. A league where position titles (PG, SG, SF, etc) are becoming less and less important, the need for intangibles, size and smarts have proven much more important. Like the tired “Is Curry a PG or SG?” argument, the discussion is moot. Play your role, not your position.
Thompson is playing his role, and without him on the floor the Warriors were lost, confused and outmatched the final four minutes of Game 1. Thompson picked up his fifth foul with 8:02 left in the game when he gave Kawhi Leonard a slight hand check in the back on a rebound attempt. His sixth foul — and the beginning of the Spurs 18-2 run — came with 3:57 left when Parker drove to the paint and into Thompson, falling to the ground under the basket and drawing the foul. Both of these questionable calls that could’ve gone either way, but the Warriors haven’t built enough report with the league yet and being as the game was in Texas, the call wasn’t going their way.
Parker had 12 points on 4-of-15 shooting in 33 minutes when Thompson fouled out. He finished with 28 points on 11-of-26 shooting (6-6 FT), eight rebounds and eight assists
Thompson was key in the Denver series as he was matched up with Ty Lawson and will be of greater importance as the San Antonio series progresses. Thompson will shade Tony Parker throughout, and as the Spurs grow increasingly older by the day the need to keep the frenchman in check will prove vital. Sharp cuts, positioning and ball movement will all be there from the Spurs, and while Thompson can’t play every second of this series (at least I don’t think he can), he will effect in one way or another how the team performs in all these given situations.
Whether he’s playing on-ball or off-ball, Thompson’s physical gifts and work ethic is what has propelled him to this status as defensive stopper. He has the lateral quickness to keep up with most guards and physical stature to check most forwards. He’s worked tremendously hard both on the court and off with help from coaches and players and equally as important, has learned to understand defenses, schemes and tendencies. This evolution was visible earlier this season, but as the postseason is upon us and possessions become increasingly important, his presence on the defensive end of the floor has become beyond pivotal.
The Warriors loss isn’t all on Thompson’s absence in the last 3:57: Jarrett Jack had defensive lapses and the offense became sluggish. Still, do the Warriors win this game if Thompson plays the entire last stanza? I believe so. Thompson acknowledges he was maybe too aggressive in his defense of Parker, but it’s hard to argue that being aggressive is ever a bad thing. Smart aggression is beautiful, reaching into the lane while a defender is dumb aggression. That isn’t Thompson, and while others may look at his dumbfounded looks on the court or lack of personality as signs of this, they couldn’t be further from the truth.
Points get the highlights, and Thompson’s offensive output is still important to this team. With that said, this team can still win games with bad offensive games from the second year guard (See: Game’s 3-6 against Denver). It might take another Curry 3Q barrage or collection of Jarrett Jack midrange shots, but this team can win games with a bad shooting night from Thompson. Conversely, the Warriors can’t win without him playing his quality of defense for the majority of the game. He’ll naturally become more aware of his fouls because of what happened Game 1, so unless the officiating crew consists of three Bennie Adams, Thompson will out there. His importance on that end of the floor can’t be overstated, and it’s time all become aware that his defense is a far more important asset to the Warriors than his shooting is.
“It was killing me to watch from the sidelines,” Thompson said. “I’ve got to be smarter than that. I play aggressive, but maybe limit to three or four fouls a night, just for the sake of our team because I need to be out there.”
Wait, David Lee is active tonight? I thought he couldn’t walk??? What does Mark Jackson have up his sleeve – hopefully not PED’s.
I know some people didn’t love David Lee’s 90 second cameo, but I got it. It had nothing to do with x’s and o’s. It was a human thing. It was an empathy thing. It was, “This could be the last time our All-Star, fan favorite and team leader gets the chance to play a playoff game at Oracle, so if the doctors say he can hold up for 90 seconds, then he’s going in there.” At the very least, it was going to make the fans go nuts, bring the team closer together, and provide Lee with a memory he would never forgot. I loved it.
2. During: Courtsides? I thought Hammer was broke?
3. After: Draymond is a GAMER. I know he sometimes gets a little too excited and takes a bad shot or hacks somebody on defense, but think about the series he just had. Think about the confidence Jackson has in him. Think about the BIG minutes he played. Think about the fact the he’s a second round pick playing in the first playoff series of his life.
Regular season: 2.9 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 32-21-81%
Playoffs: 7.3 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 59-50-75%
GAMER ALERT!!!!!!
4. During: Third (Steph’s) Quarter
As quick as Lawson is, he knows he can’t give Steph an inch. But playing someone that tight is difficult, and the second you’re leaning one way or the other, you’re dead. And Steph understands that better than anyone.
Why are you leaving him?!?!?!?!!?!?!?!?!?!?
Oh and guess who made that pass…
5. During: I’m cutting him some slack because Iguodala was in his pocket all series, and he did hit some big shots in Denver in games 1 and 2, but overall, I just feel like Klay needs to be more aggressive offensively. At this point, everyone knows how good of a shooter he is. And when he does puts the ball on the floor, everyone knows it’s two dribbles — jump shot. But here’s the problem, No one fears the drive from the Klay. No one fears a pump fake and easy trip to the line. He’s become a defenses dream – predictable. So what’s the fix? Before more aggressive!!! When a guy is closing out hard, put your head down and go to the rim. Pump fake and jump into him. Drive and kick. Start making plays outside of just catch-and-shoot opportunities. Because until then, defenses are going to continue to play Klay the same way Denver did – in his pocket.
Bogut was a monster all series, but game 6 was his coming out party. He was a animal on the glass and caught and finished just about everything Curry and Jack dropped off for him. But it’s wasn’t his 14 and 21 that impressed me most – nope – it was his defense at the rim. Not only did Bogut reject 4 shots, but he most have altered another 10. Look at the number of X’s inside the paint in Denver’s shot chart. That’s enough to get Kirk Goldsberry’s nether regions excited. I know Bogut has been battling injuries all year, and maybe didn’t have the impact we had all hoped for or expected, but in game 6 he was special.
7. After: The Play of the Game (or what I felt was the play of the game)
Our biggest show of the year comes at the most important time of the season for our Golden State Warriors. Fresh off their incredible series victory at Oracle in Game 6, we talk everything Warriors with a multitude of guests. We hope you enjoy.
In our first segment we welcome Ethan Sherwood Strauss of WarriorsWorld and ESPN.com. We talk David Lee’s surprising comeback, the Warriors 4-out lineup and how effective it was against the Denver defense, Joe Lacob’s epic turnaround and more.
We next welcome ESPN.com’s NBA writer Chris Palmer to talk Stephen Curry’s swagger, Mark Jackson’s coaching job, Andrew Bogut’s importance these playoffs and much more.
Next up is Bay Area News Group’s Marcus Thompson talking the future of Jarrett Jack coming back, whether David Lee will play minutes next series and the scene at Oracle Arena.
Finally, we welcome Ed Maisonet of SLAM Magazine to the podcast as he talks his affinity for Stephen Curry and where he ranks in the NBA’s pantheon of players, why he was rooting for the Nuggets on press row and how Oracle Arena compares to Chesapeake Energy Arena.
As always, you can listen to the podcast, subscribe and rate us on iTunes here.
Legacies are made and destroyed in the playoffs. Oddly enough, we tend to collectively rewrite them, falling prey to recency bias. Peyton Manning couldn’t win the big one until he won the big one but now he can’t win the big one again.
In the interest of full disclosure, it’s doubtful that anyone has wavered more on his talents and exploits than yours truly. Once upon a time, the word overrated was used in conjunction with Melo.
So what gives? The answer gives a fairly accurate depiction of Anthony’s career arc.
Superstars are expected to carry their teams during playoff runs and give them a chance against elite competition. The term invokes the names of Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, LeBron James and Derrick Rose to name a few.
Anthony is often placed in the conversation, although one could argue that he consistently inserts himself into the discussion and then sees himself out of it.
The regular season is his baby. During the 82-game grind, Melo performs admirably under the bright lights and treats fans to exceptional performances. Whether this was as a member of the Denver Nuggets or as a current employee of the New York Knicks, Melo has long been a stud.
However, once the postseason rolls around, his play typically fizzles out fairly quickly. His teams rarely last long in the playoffs.
In eight of his nine NBA seasons, Anthony’s teams have been eliminated in the first round. Granted, not all of the blame can be shifted on his shoulders. The man had teammates for crying out loud.
But the one thing that all can point in his direction is obvious: his own performance.
Throughout the entirety of his career, save for a few exceptions here and there, he’s been underwhelming in the playoffs. Have a quick look at the comparison between his regular season numbers and postseason:
Period
MPG
PPG
RPG
APG
FG%
Regular Season
36.3
25.0
6.4
3.1
.456
Playoffs
39.1
25.4
7.2
2.9
.417
His scoring takes a slight increase in the playoffs, and the same applies to his rebounding figures, but those actually come as a result of the increased minutes played in the postseason.
It’s a bit more prudent in this instance to verify his numbers in both scenarios projected over 36 minutes per game to get a much more accurate look at his production:
Period
PPG
RPG
APG
FG%
Regular Season per 36 mins
24.8
6.3
3.0
.456
Playoffs per 36 mins
23.4
6.6
2.7
.417
His playoff performance when compared head-to-head with the regular season shows a decline in points, assists and marksmanship from the field.
Against tougher postseason competition, Melo has had issues converting from the field and it’s reduced his overall effectiveness as a player.
Fair or not, his inability to rise to the occasion for the most part during the playoffs coupled with his teams’ early exits lead to many vacillating on the merits of his inclusion into the group of elite players in league.
Games 4 and 5 of the 2013 opening round of the playoffs against the Boston Celtics have reminded fans of this dynamic. With an opportunity to close out a proud Celtics team, the Anthony of old has reemerged.
He’s been settling for a multitude of mid-range jumpers and clanking them with frequent regularity. He got himself to the free throw line and still scored 29 points on average in both contests, but only converted 18-of-59 field goal attempts (30.5 percent).
Fast-forward to the present, and all of this can be forgotten.
In June 2012, LeBron James faced a similar dilemma. Although his team was facing a 3-2 series deficit, the reigning league MVP had to go to Boston for a Game 6 that may have defined his career in defeat. Instead, he submitted arguably the greatest playoff performance of his career in victory and used the win to propel the Miami Heat to a title.
The circumstances aren’t as dire for Anthony given that the New York Knicks actually have 3-2 lead in their series against the Boston Celtics. Nonetheless, Game 6 in Boston could be construed as a legacy-defining game.
It’s not quite do or die, but Melo’s best will certainly be expected. Anything less could result in a Game 7 at Madison Square Garden with the world awaiting for an unprecedented NBA playoff collapse.
Anthony can’t erase his past playoff failures with a victory tonight, but it will certainly help soften up the blow when history looks back on his career. The Knicks and their fans need their leading scorer to be at the top of his game going forward.
Otherwise, he might be tagged with some of the most unflattering labels in sports and those tend to stick. It’s the difference between making the Hall of Fame and talking about possibly joining the fraternity.
Tonight won’t necessarily alter Anthony’s legacy one way or another, but it’s certainly part of the story. And so far, his story just isn’t all that good.
Questions or comments? Feel free to leave them in the comments section or you can contact me by email at [email protected].
The Golden State Warriors are in the midst of somewhat of a franchise renaissance. They made the postseason for the first time in six seasons and even advanced past the opening round of the 2013 playoffs. But make no mistake; none of this happens without Andrew Bogut.
This might sound ridiculous now, but many mocked his acquisition when it occurred. There was a sentiment floating amongst fans that essentially trading Monta Ellis for Bogut would come back to bite the Dubs.
Many argued that Ellis was the heart and soul of the team. He was the Warriors’ leading scorer and the team should consequently be built around his talents despite his shortcomings as a player.
Bogut was viewed as somewhat of a health risk. His contributions to the franchise would be minimal at best, or so the line of thinking went.
He showed flashes during the regular season, but consistency was lacking. Golden State never truly knew what they would get from the former Buck.
And yet, in his first full season in the Bay, Bogut has already taken the Dubs farther than Ellis ever has in his time as the team’s primary scorer.
An argument could be made that Jarrett Jack and Bogut wrestled for the title of second best player on the team in the first round series against the Denver Nuggets.
The Warriors’ starting center was simply disruptive throughout the six playoff games against George Karl’s group. He allowed the Dubs to overcome whatever tactic and in some cases the effort exhibited by the opponent.
When athletes came crashing down the paint for scores, Bogut thwarted them at the rim and rebounded the misses. His activity, length and strength helped him anchor the paint and snatch boards out of the air against one of the top rebounding teams in the league.
He played with an edge and toughness that seemed to rub Denver players the wrong way at times. He took exception to the perceived rough play directed at Stephen Curry and delivered his form of vigilante justice by taking out Kenneth Faried in Game 5.
It may have been uncalled for, but the message was clear: Curry was off limits.
On the other side of the ball, whenever Karl ordered a trap in the pick-and-roll, Bogut eventually figured out how to get himself open and in a lane where his teammates could directly find him for an attempt at the rim.
Repeatedly, Bogut kept flashing into the paint and finishing right at the basket with no defenders in sight. His hard screens not only sprung Golden State’s top shooter loose on a few occasions, but it also allowed him to stroll down into the painted area for easy scores.
All of his talents and intellect culminated into a Game 6 masterpiece that completely frustrated the Nuggets: 14 points, 21 rebounds, four blocks and three assists.
Denver never really completely figured out how to exploit Bogut. They forced him into defending Ty Lawson in the pick-and-roll, but the big man simply retreated to the paint and allowed the former Tar Heel to put up mid-range jumpers.
Lawson converted 17-of-38 mid-range jumpers (44.7 percent) in the series per NBA.com’s advanced stat tool. This suited Mark Jackson quite well.
Lawson had more mid-range jumpers attempted than shots directly at the rim — 35 such tries — in the series, which he converted 57.1 percent of the time.
Bogut deterred drives and made life a living hell for the Nuggets’ frontcourt in the playoffs.
Going forward, his skills will be needed against a tough San Antonio Spurs squad. He will be asked to defend the incomparable Tim Duncan and also help out on Tony Parke’s drives in the same manner he did against Lawson.
His contributions will be incredibly important for a Warriors’ team looking for another upset. But the beauty of it all is that the tandem of Curry and Bogut certainly gives them a chance.
And that’s all Warriors fans have been asking for in these past years.
Questions or comments? Feel free to leave them in the comments section or you can contact me by email at [email protected].
“We don’t like each other, we shouldn’t like each other, there’s pain and anguish to every win and loss. Competitive spirit.” – George Karl
This is fun, isn’t it?
On the eve of Game 6 of the first round of these Western Conference playoffs, the Warriors and Nuggets have grown a keen disdain for one another. Before these last five games, there was no such hatred or questioning between the two teams. They were similar Western Conference foes with the ultimate goal of winning an NBA championship, whether practical or not.
So what happened?
Playoff basketball happened. The heat-of-the-battle cliché has proven to be true; the playoff atmosphere presented to these two franchises has brought about a side from each we’ve never seen before. It’s fun more than anything. The reactions from national media, local pundits and social media to the shenanigans following Game 5 have been a sight to behold.
Mark Jackson, George Karl, Stephen Curry, Kenneth Faried and even JaVale McGee have made headlines the past two days for their comments following a chippy Game 5. Faried made what could be described as a dirty play — depending on who you ask — as he stuck out his right hip/knee/foot/leg while Curry was strolling through the painted area. Note: the move was directed towards Curry’s right side, which includes his precious surgically repaired right ankle.
The discussion about this play has been exhausting. Whether dirty or not, the overlying theme of this series has transformed into detestation. These teams simply don’t like each other at this point. Sure, they might claim to be friends outside the field of play, but the actions of both teams — both on and off the court — have escalated the teams to clear “rival” status.
Whether it be the Clippers, Lakers, Pacers or Nuggets, the Warriors have made their physical play become a known entity this season. Not since the 2007 “We Believe” team have we seen such competitiveness on a game-by-game basis — only to cultivate in an increased presence come the postseason. It’s good, hard playoff basketball, and with the exception of Faried’s hip check in Game 5 it’s all been fair game.
The Warriors got into it with both their Los Angeles rivals this season. The Clippers, well renowned for their floptastic techniques, got under the Warriors skin. The Lakers, being the most hated team by Warriors fans, irked everyone with their OT comeback on December 22. These two teams are more natural rivals: Los Angeles — from all Bay Area franchises — is all that is wrong with the world. It’s safe to say Bay Area pundits and fans don’t mind seeing the Lakers get swept by the Spurs, or the Clippers on the verge of a first round exit.
The new unnatural rivals: Pacers and Nuggets. Indiana is often regarded as a hard-nosed, blue collar, physical team. Golden State, conversely, has had a long-standing reputation — whether warranted or not — of being soft. While this reputation is no longer valid, the events that took place during the Warriors-Pacers game in February have a lot to do with their new standing in NBA circles. The scuffle began mid-4Q when David Lee pushed Roy Hibbert on a rebound attempt and ended with all ten players on the floor in the first row.
This brawl led to Hibbert and Lee no longer becoming besties and quite possibly the funniest quote from someone not named J.R. Smith this season:
“Seriously, I didn’t even feel him,” Hibbert said of Curry. “I saw some light-skinned guy. I don’t know if it was Klay Thompson or Steph Curry, I just knew there was a light-skinned guy by me.”
Fun times.
This leads me to the Nuggets, the Warriors freshest and newest antagonists. This won’t reach Los Angeles levels of antipathy, but fans don’t forget the pleasantries. Just like Roy Hibbert will be booed next time he steps foot into Oracle for pushing Stephen Curry to the ground back in February, the Nuggets will be remembered as the team who attempted to injure Curry with a questionable move. This isn’t the beliefs of everyone, understood, but the majority of Warriors fans.
We can agree the playoffs are awesome, and with the Warriors participating this season the attentiveness towards every minute detail has risen incredibly. Nuggets players have hit Warriors players and vise versa, players and coaches have taken jabs at each other through the media and both teams have claimed each other to be dirty. Being the playoffs — and the first series for the Warriors in six years — this won’t be taken lightly.
For all the buffoonery that George Karl has said this series, he was sure right about one thing: we don’t like them.
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