SAN FRANCISCO ( Associated Press) — Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green are nurturing a little more this playoff run, as they have spent the past two years post-season watching instead of their familiar position chasing the championship.
Now, with those seasoned faces and a cast of new stars, the Warriors are headed to another Western Conference Finals and need just four more wins to give themselves a title chance again.
They will rely on the experience of Curry, Green, Thompson and Kevon Looney who have been here many times already.
“It’s unbelievable to know what we’ve been through these past two years and the last six out of eight we’ve had a chance to play for the finals,” Curry said. “I think, Drummond, Kel, Loon, we’ve been in this situation before. We understand the emotions, the adrenaline, how much you want it, how hard it is. … Never take it lightly and Understand what it is, and then another chance for us to win four more and play for the trophy, it’s special.
For Thompson, it means so much that he returned more than 2 1/2 years to recover from surgery on his left knee and right Achilles tendon in January.
Golden State scored 70 rebounds — 22 after Looney Curry and Green pushed him to be a starter again — on his way to a 110-86 finish to the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday night and now among the best of the Suns or Mavericks. Proceeds to face – Seven’s Battle for the West. Game 7 of that series is in Phoenix on Sunday to determine who is next for the Warriors.
Thompson scored 30 points with eight 3-pointers in adding another Game 6 masterpiece to his long list.
“I dunno. I don’t have a clue,” he said, “I love moments. I love pressure. I love playing basketball at the highest level.”
Newcomers like Andrew Wiggins and Jordan Poole are playing big roles during the race later this season. There’s also a sudden home crowd at the Chase Center at Golden State, where the Warriors are in the playoffs 6-0 so far.
And it feels a bit like the old Oracle Arena these days.
“I think these fans knew what we were up against,” Green said. “We’ve all talked about the advantage of home-court and how it’s not an oracle and you have to re-establish that home court, and I think we’re doing a good job. But our The fans were absolutely incredible tonight. It took us everything it took to win that game, including fan support and the noise in the arena.”
This time, Splash Brothers Curry and Thompson could let loose on their floor as their own fans chanted “whoop that trick.”
They loved every second of him. The Golden State is underway, the Grizzlies are heading home to Memphis for good.
The Warriors have certainly endured their share of drama and unexpected stress to reach this one.
Golden State fought two-time MVP Nikola Jokic with the Nuggets in a five-game first-round series, then edged out Jaa Morant and Memphis in a series full of back-and-forth talks between rivals. The Grizzlies knocked out the Warriors in a play-in game last season.
First, Gary Peyton II went down for the remainder of the postseason with a fractured left elbow on a hard foul by Dillon Brooks, which led to the Memphis Star’s one-game suspension for Flagrant 2 after he hit Peyton over the head. Pushed off because he was driving for a lap in Game 2.
Morant sustained an injury in Game 3 and charged the pole as he pulled his right knee while fighting for a loose ball and re-injured him.
Coach Steve Kerr caught COVID-19 and was ruled out of games 4, 5 and 6 with Mike Brown, acting head coach of the two teams, as he had to face the likes of the new Sacramento Kings last Sunday. name was given.
“What the heck of a chain,” said Brown.
While the date of Kerr’s return remained uncertain, the Browns guided the Warriors to a 12–1 scoreline during the playoffs. This includes running 11-0 with Kerr during the 2017 championship, then dealing with debilitating symptoms that were a complication from back surgery two years earlier.
“Mike B. is one of a kind. He’s a player’s coach. He’s a great leader. He loves the game,” Thompson said. “We’re going to miss him next year for sure. But we’re going to miss Steve.” Will welcome him with open arms. He is our leader.”
Green was joined on the postgame podium with son DJ as the do-everything forward shared a story of watching the playoffs from Cabo San Lucas at this time last year, admitting, “It feels good to be back.”
“I used to take it lightly and just think that’s how it should be, we have to make it to the finals of the Western Conference,” Green said. “The reality is I still think so but I have a very deep appreciation for it. It’s so hard. It seems like every time it gets harder and harder and harder.”
“And to have missed the playoffs in the last two years, I remember sitting in Cabo watching the playoffs last year and don’t get me wrong, I love Cabo, it was great to see the playoffs at that place, but it was brutal.” ..”
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