86 games into their first season under head coach Steve Kerr, the Warriors have only lost 15 games. New expectations range from a Most Valuable Player award to an NBA Finals sweep, and in the midst of an extended break in between the first and second round of the playoffs, the Warriors are once again in the position they saw themselves in for the latter part of the regular season: waiting.
-== Top 7 Warriors’ Moves In The Joe Lacob Era ==-
“The whole idea of a week off is cool,” said Draymond Green, who is coming off a series that saw him defend Anthony Davis as well as anyone could and he also averaged 15.8 points, 12.8 rebounds, 6.3 assists on 48 percent shooting. “But sheesh, it seems like we’re going to be waiting forever to play.”
Kerr and his troops battled rest and rhythm for nearly a month once it was clear the top seed in the Western Conference was theirs and they’ll have at least one week of rest following their first round sweep of the New Orleans Pelicans. They await the winner of the Portland Trailblazers vs. Memphis Grizzlies series, with all indications pointing towards the latter.
“We’ve had advanced scouts at every game in the series,” said Kerr. “We’re getting reports on both teams. Obviously Memphis has the advantage but we haven’t said one word about either team to our team.
As a player it’s frustrating. You’re waiting around. I do prefer this to what we had in the first series where we had such a quick turnaround. This is something we should take advantage of. We should take advantage of it and that’s what we’re doing.”
When asked if he was enjoying the rest, Curry, as hesitantly as one could say it: “Yeah, but besides Sunday I don’t really think I’ve taken a full day off. We’re always doing something. We want to stay active and keep your rhythm, but when you’re not grinding in a playoff basketball game you’re building up some rest.”
It lasted only four games, but the Warriors were tested in their first round series. Despite stellar defense from Draymond Green and constant help from Andrew Bogut, Anthony Davis was able to impose his will. Greatness sometimes can’t be superseded, and averages of 31.5 points, 11 rebounds on 54 percent shooting prove just that.
Davis was outstanding, but Curry was the hero as his Game 3 heave to send the game to overtime should already be amongst one the best plays in franchise history. The MVP favorite didn’t have his most efficient series in the opening round, but as was the case throughout the season, it’s the threat of his own skills that open up so much for his teammates – specifically Thompson and Green – to flourish.
The Pelicans proved worthy adversaries and now the Warriors must watch the Blazers and Grizzlies for at least one more game and a few more days to finally get back to what they do best. The Blazers are decimated and the Grizzlies might be without Mike Conley, which makes the Warriors top seed look much better for their playoff path.
In what was once heralded as the most competitive Western Conference in NBA history, the first round – with exception of Spurs-Clippers – has fallen flat. The Warriors swept, Houston took one game too many to defeat Dallas and the winner of Blazers-Grizzlies seems destined for a letdown in the coming series. As the #1 seed, the playoff bracket is shaping up to be exactly what the Warriors envisioned.
But, that’s down the line, and what’s in front of them is most likely the Memphis Grizzlies, who present a completely different challenge than New Orleans. Green and Bogut are due for another brute series with Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol waiting and Tony Allen wrecks havoc on whoever he deems fit.
Memphis is coming, but they’re not the immovable force they were once claimed to be earlier in the season, either. The Warriors are scouting themselves more than either potential opponent, says Kerr, which is a scary proposition for any foe. Despite the sweep the team didn’t play their best basketball and only time will tell if the long break will help improve such a performance.