Why the Warriors are on the cusp of making history
OAKLAND, Calif. – Failing to predict that the Golden State Warriors would form a complete eclipse of the NBA in defense of their championship is forgivable. They didn't win free agency, as San Antonio did in luring LaMarcus Aldridge away from Portland. They weren't planning to welcome back from injury a former league MVP and four-time scoring champion, as Oklahoma City did with Kevin Durant. And they weren't going to acclimate two former All-Stars from season-ending surgeries, as Cleveland did with Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving.
The challengers to the throne were lining up, prepared to make temporary Golden State's reign at the top. But while it was easy to get distracted by the machinations of other contenders, the Warriors had significant advantages that now have them one win from setting the regular-season victory record that even Stephen Curry called, "ludicrous."
They had continuity and time.
“I was under the impression that, going into the season, we could potentially be a better team than we were last year, regardless of what our record indicated,” Curry said. “If we didn’t get 67 wins – which is what we had last year – it might not have necessarily meant we were worse. We could’ve been playing better, just a couple of bounces here or there, [and] may not have reached that 67. Now, we’re taking about 73.”
Coach Steve Kerr knew that he inherited an insanely talented team when he took over as head coach two summers ago, but the collective intelligence of the group was revealed in how quickly it grasped his system to win a championship in their first season together. Kerr and his staff stuck to the basics of his offensive and defensive philosophies, adding more as the season progressed and experimenting with other concepts that exploited its strengths.
As they reconvened for a title defense last September, the Warriors felt that improvement would come with more familiarity and a better understanding of concepts.
“Because that’s the natural progression,” Warriors assistant Luke Walton said. “You watch San Antonio play, they constantly know where everybody is going to be to where we try to get to. And that comes with time. That’s the only way to get better and better at it, is just repetition and time and years and that’s why we were able to get better.”
The Warriors had more time to turn their obliteration of the league in Year One into something more majestic in Year Two, making a mockery of NBA history and being on the cusp of hurdling Michael Jordan's 1995-96 Chicago Bulls. “I remember thinking to myself that record would never be touched because it’s just too hard to win that consistently. For our guys, to do what they’ve done all season, it’s just, it’s incredible,” Walton said. “I thought we’d be better, I knew we’d be competing for another title. But the 72 wins thing is something I never would’ve thought of going into this season.”
Before this season, 73 was only mentioned as the answer to trivia questions about David Thompson's career high or maybe the ridiculous jersey number Dennis Rodman wore in his short-lived stint with the Los Angeles Lakers. It certainly wasn't supposed to be a win total.
“You never thought about it from the perspective of nobody chasing. It seemed invincible,” Curry said. “Even at the beginning of this season, we started 24-0, it was kind of, ‘Maybe we can do it.’ It sounded kind of ludicrous – 72-10, how much good play has to go into it.”
Aside from talent and skill, the Warriors have also needed a few favorable bounces to be in position to make history. Their three All-Stars all played at least 78 games. The few times games were decided in the closing seconds, they made the critical, crushing shot. But as center Andrew Bogut said, “I think you make your own luck. If you do the right things, good things will follow. You don’t see teams like Philadelphia having a lot of luck. You don’t see teams like Brooklyn having a lot of luck. You build your own.”
And yet, this season hasn’t been without some turmoil. Kerr missed the season’s first 43 games recovering from a back surgery that still regularly gives him severe migraines. Kerr missed Tuesday’s practice for a doctor’s appointment, leaving Walton in charge, as he was the first three months of the season.
The Warriors were able to survive Kerr’s absence because he left in place a culture of trust and fun that has remained throughout a season that has required a sustained focus, resilience and greed. Even as they prepared for the most important regular-season game of their careers – one that would separate them as the best over 82 games – the Warriors were loose.
The Los Angeles Angels were in town to play the Athletics, but Mike Trout, Albert Pujols and reliever Joe Smith stopped by to challenge Curry and Draymond Green in the shooting game “PIG.” And, yes, Trout and Smith beat Green and Curry in their respective duels – all too rare instances in which the Warriors had to accept losses. A win against Memphis on Wednesday will make the overwhelming scrutiny of the past few weeks worthwhile.
“We’ll smile and we’ll hug each other and say, ‘Aw, great.’ And then we’ll go to the locker room and Coach Kerr will give a sentimental speech and then we’ll move on,” Green said. “In Chicago, they have a championship banner that says 72-10. If we don’t win a championship, we’re not posting a banner that says, God willing, 73-9, unless we win a championship. So, as bad as I want this record, we need to get something else to go along with it.”
After learning to weaponize the 3-point shot like no other team – benefiting from the two most dangerous long-range threats occupying the same backcourt – the Warriors have encouraged Curry and Klay Thompson to shoot more often from long range. An injury to David Lee last year helped them discover the versatility and defensive presence of Green, and this season they put the ball in his hands more and let him become a playmaking machine who regularly approaches triple-doubles. And during an uneasy, vulnerable stretch in the NBA Finals, they unleashed a small-ball lineup against Cleveland that has become an almost unfair, video-game cheat code.
“We have an opportunity to do something that’s never been done in history. So many great players have suited up since the NBA began. For us 15 guys to say we’ve accomplished something as a group that’s never been done before, that’s remarkable,” Curry said. “We are better. We are more mature. Have a high IQ about how we’re going to win games and it has been a grind through the season to keep this pace going, but [there’s] plenty more in the tank to finish out, hopefully a 2½-month journey – the only reason we’re here.”
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