SAN FRANCISCO, May 14 (US): Stephen Curry, Clay Thompson and Draymond Green cherish this playoff tour a little more because they’ve spent the past two years watching post-season rather than their familiar championship-chasing position.
Now, with those experienced faces and a new star crew, the Warriors are heading to another Western Conference final and only need four more wins to give themselves the title chance again, the AP reports.
They will build on the experience of Carrie, Greene, Thompson and Kevin Looney who have been here a few times already.
“It’s incredible knowing what we’ve been through these past two years and six of the last eight we have a chance to play in the finals,” said Curry, who led his team to five consecutive finals from 2015-2019.
“I think Draymond, Klay, Loon, we’ve been in this situation before. We understand the emotions and the adrenaline and how much you want and how hard it can be. … Never take it for granted and understand that that’s all, and then for us Another chance to get four more wins and play for a trophy, that’s special.”
For Thompson, it means a lot given that he returned in January after more than two and a half years spent recovering from surgeries on his left knee and right Achilles tendon.
Golden State had 70 rebounds — 22 from Looney after being pushed back by Curry and Green to be a starter again — en route to eliminating the 110-86 Memphis Grizzlies on Friday night and now progressing to face either the Suns or the Mavericks at their best — from seven battles for the West.
The seventh game in the series is on Sunday in Phoenix to determine who will be the next warrior.
Thompson scored 30 points with eight three-pointers in adding another Game 6 masterpiece to his long roster.
“I have no idea. I have no idea,” he said, “I love the moments. I love pressure. I love playing basketball at the highest level.”
New faces like Andrew Wiggins and Jordan Poole play huge roles during the post-season. Suddenly Golden State also had a raucous home crowd at Chase Center, with the Warriors been 6-0 so far in these playoffs.
And it feels like the old Oracle Arena these days.
“I think those fans knew what we were up against,” Green said. “We’ve all talked about the advantage of the local stadiums and how this is not the oracle and you have to re-establish that local court, and I think we’re doing a good job on that. But our fans were absolutely amazing tonight. It took everything we had to win that game, including Support the fans and the hype that was in the arena.”
This time, the Splash brothers Curry and Thompson could break their ground, as their fans chanted “Whoop that trick.”
They loved every second of it. The Golden State continues, the Grizzlies are going back to their Memphis forever.
The Warriors have endured their share of drama and unexpected tension to get this far.
Golden State battled two-time MVP Nikola Jokic during a five-game first-round streak with the Nuggets, then bypassed Ja Morant and Memphis in a gossip-filled streak between contenders. The Grizzlies eliminated the Warriors in a game play last season.
First, Gary Payton fell second for the rest of the post-season with a left elbow fracture to a blistering Dillon Brooks foul that suspended the Memphis star for one game for Flagrant 2 when he hit Payton on the head while driving. To throw the ball in game 2.
Morant got injured in Game 3 and accused Paul of re-injuring his troublesome right knee by pulling it while they were fighting for a loose ball.
Coach Steve Kerr has COVID-19 and sat in games 4, 5 and 6 with Mike Brown, acting head coach for two teams simultaneously, as he was just named the new Sacramento Kings pick last Sunday.
“What a chain,” Brown said.
While Kerr’s return date remained uncertain, he led the Browns and Warriors to fill the 12-1 mark during the playoffs. That includes 11-0 during the 2017 tournament with Kerr sidelined and then dealing with debilitating symptoms that were a complication of back surgery two years earlier.
“Mike B is unique. He is a player coach. He is a great leader. He loves the game,” Thompson said. “We will obviously miss him next year. But we’d welcome Steve back with open arms. He is our leader.”
Green joined the podium after the match with his son DJ as the do-it-all striker shared the story of watching the playoffs from Cabo San Lucas this time last year, admitting, “It feels good to be back.”
“I was taking that for granted and just thinking that’s the way it’s supposed to be, and we’re supposed to make the Western Conference Finals,” Green said. “The truth is, I still think so but I have a much deeper appreciation for it. It’s very difficult. It seems like every time it gets tougher and tougher.
“And to miss the qualifiers for the last two years, I remember sitting in Cabo last year watching the qualifiers and don’t get me wrong, I love Cabo, it was great to be in that place watching the qualifiers, but it was tough watching.”