Klay Thompson is in tears in the center of the basketball court, unable to bear emotionally how, after so many years of such serious injuries, he is back.
And not only did he return, but he appears better than expected, already having three games with over 30 points in the NBA playoffs. And yet, in the beginning of the 2021-22 season, just a few thought that the Golden State Warriors could be a contender again!
The Golden State Warriors surpassed their season’s expectations and have rejuvenated a dynasty that many had assumed was dead.
Many thought that this is a team that you can’t trust anymore. So many articles and experts were doubting the ability of one of the best triplets the game has ever seen, to get back to elite level.
Taking a look at the roster, one could see a playoff team, but hardly a championship team.
- Draymond Green had the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons as the worst seasons of his career.
- Thompson had two devastating injuries that kept him out for two years!
- Andrew Wiggins was considered one of the worst NBA contracts to leave Minnesota.
- Jordan Poole, just a year ago, was playing in the G League.
- Kevon Looney was in question of whether he can stay healthy!
- Otto Porter, not only had injury issues, but didn’t get much interest in the free agency last summer!
- Gary Payton Jr. went one step further from being cut from the Warriors roster and asked to join the team’s video analysis team.
- Bjelica was a benchwarmer for the Heat.
- Kuminga and Moody are just two rookies who could hardly get time to play in the playoffs, while Andre Iguodala is one step ahead of ending his career.
What else would a team need to have a mantle of doubt over it? And yet, some of us considered the Warriors to be one of the strongest teams in the West.
Our main reasoning was that we should trust one of the top Big 3 the game has ever seen, especially when complemented by players like Wiggins and under the guidance of the great Steve Kerr.
Thus, the Warriors against the original predictions, but with their presence on the field showing that they are the best team, managed to go back to the NBA Finals, now having the home advantage with Curry and Klay being (surprising to no one) the playoff leaders in three-pointers and Wiggins and Looney to be (to everyone’s surprise) the leaders in the playoffs in offensive rebounds.
But predominantly, the element that makes this team different is none other than the confidence in the potential of each player and in their collective spirit.
The presence of Steph Curry is the guarantee of success, of teamwork, of great progress and this great player, winning the debut MVP award of the Western finals, showed his class again with 23.8 points per game and 7 assists!
Up close, the Wiggins and Thompson duo, who despite shooting badly in the series, each had 18.6 points, with the Canadian star playing the top defense we have seen on the great Luka Doncic!
Work is not done though. The Warriors say they have to win another 4 games to finish. And to be honest, they know better than anyone.