It doesn’t take any high-level analysis to tell you the Golden State Warriors‘ big three is dominant. But, it might surprise you to know they have never lost a playoff series when fully healthy.
Now, the Dubs have dropped two series in the last eight years. First, in the 2016 NBA Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers and again in the 2019 NBA FInals versus the Toronto Raptors. Both series went to six or more games — with at least one member of the big three being sidelined at some point.
The 2016 Finals came down to just a few shots in the fourth quarter of Game 7. However, some argue the series would have never gone that far if Draymond Green was not suspended for Game 5.
The Warriors have never lost a playoff series where all 3 of them started every game (16-0) pic.twitter.com/TaxGy91Mcj
— Warriors Nation (@WarriorNationCP) September 11, 2021
Likewise, fans (and the Dubs themselves) have long believed 2019 would have ended differently had Klay Thompson not missed Game 3 AND fallen with a torn ACL in Game 6. Not to mention, Kevin Durant’s string of injuries, as well.
However, we are only focusing on Green, Thompson and Stephen Curry. In this case, the three have never lost a playoff series when each of them started in every game.
The Golden State Warriors’ big three of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green have never lost when fully healthy.
The Warriors have been pushed to the limit plenty of times. They stared down the barrel of a 3-1 deficit in the 2016 Western Conference Finals before an iconic Game 6 performance from Klay Thompson (41 points) pushed the series to seven — where Curry sealed the deal by scoring 36 points on 13-of-24 shooting.
They again faced elimination in 2018 when Houston took a 3-2 lead in the WCF. Again, Thompson led all scorers with 35 in Game 6 while Durant lifted the team to the NBA Finals for the fourth straight season in Game 7.
Their 16-0 record is obviously full of caveats. Injuries are not excuses and the addition of Durant put them over the top in many instances. Yet, it is an impressive reminder of how talented this trio is and how excited we should all be to see them together again next year.