Golden State Warriors’ Toughness Exhibited in Minnesota
The Golden State Warriors will go into the All-Star break with a tough win in Minnesota. They showed toughness and resilience when it seemed like nothing was going their way. Up 14 early in the 4th quarter and in complete control, the Warriors’ offense went ice cold and Minnesota took advantage of their poor shooting, eventually tying the game 89-89 with 1:34 left in regulation.
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It looked like the Warriors were going to limp into the All-Star break with a horrible loss to the Timberwolves, but Klay Thompson, who has been struggling for a week with his jumper, hit a huge wing three to put the Warriors up by three, a lead they would never relinquish. Thompson could have easily shied away from the moment, but the now All-Star starter took it upon himself to take and make the big shot.
As Warriors’ fans, we should not be surprised by the outcome because Thompson and the entire Warriors team has had lots of bounces go their way this season. The Warriors have the best record in the NBA at 42-9 and are the most complete team, destined for postseason success. It has been their toughness that has made them the most dangerous team in the NBA and no one epitomizes that more than Draymond Green.
Green has been an instrumental piece to the Warriors success this season as a defensive player of the year candidate, an improved shooter and a willing passer. But over all those attributes, it is his toughness that has inspired this team. On Monday night in Philadelphia, Green looked to roll his ankle pretty severely late in the 4th quarter on a freak play. Green could barely walk after the incident, having to be helped to the locker room.
Coming into Wednesday night’s game in Minnesota, he was listed as questionable. But to no surprise to anyone, Green played and competed like the injury never occurred. Green ended up with just three points but grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds and dealt out five assists to go along with two steals and a block.
These are the types of performances that inspire everyone on the roster because Green is a leader and when a leader can play with a sprained ankle, it makes everyone else play with more intensity. They want to bust their butt because they do not want to disappoint the “heartbeat” of the team, who is clearly the toughest player on this team. When this happens, you get the best defensive team in the league, who are determined to get every loose ball, contest every shot and grab every rebound.
This is what Warriors’ fans should be most excited about coming out of the All-Star break because if the Warriors continue to exhibit their defensive mentality and toughness, it will take them to the next level. It will not be their offensive game, even though it is also the best in the league, because shots are not always going to fall and the game slows down in the postseason. But if they continue to defend at an elite level, led by Green, Andrew Bogut and a cast of others, it will not matter as much if the Splash Brothers are not bombing threes at an extreme rate. That statement is a scary thought for all teams in the Western Conference that the Golden State Warriors are tough that can beat you at both ends of the floor.