The Golden State Warriors are not the same team we saw a season ago. Without Kevin Durant, Iguodala, Steph Curry, and Klay Thompson, they are a shell of their former selves, and their record shows it.
At 9-31, they sit dead last in the West as early-season optimism has become a wish for this nightmare to be over.
In light of the Warriors’ struggles, it’s easy to forget that this isn’t exactly new for them. In fact, before the emergence of Steph, it was quite normal. Doc Rivers, in a post-game chat with the media, alluded to this fact to his audience in Staples Center.
Clippers’ Doc Rivers cracks on the Warriors enduring a down year after so much recent success: “I’ve been in the league for a long time so I’m more used to them like this.” pic.twitter.com/huDyuQzjUx
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) January 11, 2020
Before their recent uprising, the Warriors were a struggling franchise. Between 1978–79 and 2011–12, the Warriors only achieved winning records in eight seasons. The team also suffered the NBA’s fourth-longest postseason appearance drought in history, with no playoff appearances between 1994–95 and 2005–06.
Historically, the Warriors have been pretty bad. It’s not until just recently that they have become the dominant brand we know them to be today.
Doc Rivers clealry hasn’t forgotten.
