The uptempo, high-scoring and crowd-pleasing Golden State Warriors of the regular season hadn’t been heard from through the first four games of this Western Conference semifinal against the grind-it-out Memphis Grizzlies.
That carefree and can’t-miss team was missing from this series, at least that was until Wednesday night’s Game 5 when a familiar and refreshing sight returned to Oracle Arena, the happiest building in the NBA. Steph Curry dropped step-back threes and then bounced around with a strut. Klay Thompson broke free of his slumber and found the nets. Andre Iguodala hung onto the rim ever so arrogantly after a particularly punctuating alley oop slam.
Oh, yes. These Warriors. These acrobats and jugglers and tightrope walkers.
Now we remember.
You may or may not totally buy the idea of the Warriors as world champions in the making, but their title as the most watchable team in basketball is undisputed. The problem is they haven’t had many chances to demonstrate this because the Grizzlies have a way of bringing out the slog in anyone. The pace slows, the ball stops, the scoring drops and the snoring increases whenever the Grizzlies force teams to play down to their miles per hour.
But now, look. The Warriors are lively again, and even better for them, looking every bit the dominant team that seared through the regular season and then the first round of the playoffs. When they are hitting shots and running the floor and forcing turnovers and finding open shooters, they appear to be the most dangerous team still alive in these playoffs and definitely the one you’d most want to see in The NBA Finals.
“The moments keep getting bigger and bigger for us,” said Curry, “and we love it.”
The basketball fan who wants to not only see great teams, but to be entertained along the way, will get his wish if the Warriors keep this up. They’re still one victory away from the conference finals, and the next game is in Memphis, and Tony Allen’s hamstring might relax by Friday, and the playoffs can get goofy without warning. That said, aren’t the Warriors, when they’re allowed or able to roam freely, just too good for the rest of the NBA?
“Should they get past the Grizzlies and either the Clippers or Rockets, it’s hard to see the Warriors showing up in The Finals and failing to bring folks to their feet and their TV sets.
– Shaun Powell, NBA.com”
“They’ve been doing it all year,” said Grizzlies coach Dave Joerger. “They torture you.”
They’re in control of the series, up 3-2 after Wednesday’s 20-point wipeout win, and also back in touch with their true selves. The scoring, the splashing, the frolicking and the pace, it’s all in the Warriors’ favor. The last two games have shown what happens in the rare instance when offense trumps defense and “fun” translates into “formidable.”
Before going any further, we should discuss another F-word: Fortunate. The Warriors are that, too. These playoffs, you see, have received a kick in the groin from injuries that have broken more players than Curry on a crossover dribble. The Cavaliers lost Kevin Love for good and Kyrie Irving is down to one good leg. The Wizards had to go three games without John Wall, who somehow returned Wednesday with a broken hand. Mike Conley wears a protective mask over his broken face. Pau Gasol’s hamstring pull might ultimately doom the Bulls.
The Warriors no doubt were helped when Allen tested his own hamstring and couldn’t suit up for Game 5 to further spook Thompson. Free of the fingerprints from Mr. First Team All Defense, Thompson scored 21 points and never looked more relaxed if not downright thrilled.
Meanwhile, the Warriors have shaken free of big injuries with the same ease as they do a double-team. They’re the picture of perfect health, giving coach Steve Kerr lots of peace and also options. Maybe the basketball gods are also desperate to be entertained by more Warriors basketball, at least for another round.
“The execution offensively hasn’t been good the whole series which says a lot about the team we’re playing against,” Kerr said. “They take a lot of what you do and make you uncomfortable. They’re making us work for everything.”
Sometimes it seems unfair when you understand what Kerr is working with. Iguodala came off the bench and scored 16 points in 25 minutes. Harrison Barnes added 14 and looks more comfortable with every game. Thompson and Curry combined for 39. These are the weapons that make the Warriors almost a lock to break 100. Then when you factor in their defense, which held Memphis to 78 points, it makes a convincing argument that June basketball is indeed in their immediate future.
And that’s just as well. When the NBA reaches that summertime prime-time slot where viewership is highest and something special is on the line, the league benefits when The Finals has something that folks want to see. The last four years offered LeBron James and the Heat and it was worth watching whether you wanted them to win or lose.
Should the Warriors make it that far, well, who would complain? Once again we see them bringing their E-game — entertaining — and looking solid in the process. Should they get past the Grizzlies and either the Clippers or Rockets, it’s hard to see the Warriors showing up in The Finals and failing to bring folks to their feet and their TV sets.
“When we’re playing this way,” said Draymond Green, “everyone’s having a good time. At least we are.”
