It must be nice to be Matt Barnes
The Golden State Warriors can avenge Matt Barnes their legendary “We Believe” team with a Round 2 victory over the Utah Jazz.
Ten years ago, the Golden State Warriors fell to the Utah Jazz in the second round of the playoffs. Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer were too much for the Dubs. The magical run ended.
Ten years is a long time. A lot can happen over the course of a decade. The balance of power shifts.
Now it’s Golden State on top. Utah is the underdog. They will clash in the second round.
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This is the year of revenge for the Golden State Warriors. They re-tooled with Kevin Durant in the offseason to regain glory. After winning 73 games and building a 3-1 lead in the Finals, the Warriors collapsed to their rival in embarrassing fashion.
The big picture says to beat LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals. However, the Warriors stumbled into a smaller battle. They can get some revenge a little earlier.
The Warriors will be honoring the 2006-07 “We Believe” Warriors team that lost to the Jazz. Many of the members will be in the building for a celebration of their achievements. Guys like Baron Davis and Stephen Jackson will be in attendance.
A lot happens in ten years. These teams have gone through uniform changes. Legendary coaches have been pushed out, new ownership groups have settled in, the list just goes on and on. Nearly everything is different.
The two things that remain the same: the Bay Area fans that fell in love with that magnificent squad a decade ago and Matt Barnes. He’s not wearing navy and orange anymore, but he’s wearing 22 for the Golden State Warriors once again. And fans never forget heartbreaking losses like the one they suffered at the hands of the Jazz.
This is Matt Barnes’ redemption. After the Warriors saved him ten years ago, he bounced around the league with mixed results. After a Durant injury prompted them to back off a Jose Calderon deal that was nearly completed, the Warriors picked the recently-waived Barnes up.
The Dubs are probably going to beat the Jazz. They’re just much more talented than them. But it won’t be business as usual for everyone.
Barnes and the fans will enjoy the victory a little more.