The Golden State Warriors don’t always look like the league’s back-to-back champs.
There’s no debate: The Golden State Warriors are the NBA’s most talented team. With two of the league’s top-five players leading the charge along with DPOY candidate Draymond Green and All-Star Klay Thompson, the Warriors are virtually unguardable.
However, if you’ve been following the NBA’s playoffs, you’d know the Warriors allowed the league’s biggest postseason comeback. Down 31 in the third, the Clippers shocked the Warriors, taking Game 2 in Oracle Arena.
That game was a necessary evil for Golden State. It woke them up. The Warriors were going through the motions and were cruising in their opening series.
But, their opponent didn’t have cruise control on. The Clippers were fighting for their postseason life, and with that resilence, they made history against arguably the league’s most talented team of all time.
The Warriors were embarrassed, and this team doesn’t take that lightly. They came out shooting in Game 3. Without any excuse, the Dubs found a way to regain a 31-point lead in Game 3, and they didn’t look back this time.
Now up 3-1, the Warriors are in full playoff mode. They’ll hopefully close out the series on Wednesday in front of their home fans. That said, in the back of Golden State’s mind will live that Game 2 comeback.
With that game in mind, the Warriors, in the coming weeks, will most likely take on the Houston Rockets. The Rockets will be the Warriors most challenging competition. They’ll push them to the limit.
If the Warriors were to sweep the Clippers with ease and never experience their wake-up call, the Rockets may’ve woken the Warriors up and taken a game in a series that may go seven. It was crucial that Golden State get punched in the face to realize they need to be at their best for all 48 minutes.
After a few games of smashmouth basketball, the Warriors, who will likely advance to the second round following Game 5 on Wednesday, will be prepared and mentally ready for a grueling series against Houston.
Ultimately, Game 2’s comeback could prove vital for Golden State.