As 4x NBA champions, the Golden State Warriors aren’t used to flaming out in the playoffs. In fact, their 0-2 deficit to the Kings this year is the first time in the Steve Kerr era that the Dubs have been down like this to start a series.
For Draymond Green, whose ejection helped swing the results in favor of the home team, he’s going to have to work extra hard to give his team a fighting chance to come back… but he doesn’t seem to be afraid of the moment at all.
“A new challenge. After the game, I was thinking about that. This is one we haven’t seen yet. And we’ve conquered all the rest of them, so why not go conquer this one? It’ll be a lot of fun.”
“A new challenge. … This is one we haven’t seen yet. And we’ve conquered all the rest of them, so why not go conquer this one? It’ll be a lot of fun.”
-Draymond on Warriors being down 0-2 for first time in his career
(via @BenGolliver) https://t.co/hh66HTDje2
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 18, 2023
The Warriors have been in tough positions before. In 2016, they fell down 3-1 against the OKC Thunder before storming back and making the NBA Finals. But, in the NBA Finals, they lost against the Cleveland Cavaliers after a 3-1 lead which is the biggest upset in NBA playoffs history.
For the first time in Stephen Curry’s era, the Dubs are in real danger of being swept, and the series could be over before the Kings even have a chance to return to their home court. It seems, after years of greatness, the Warriors are finally vulnerable, and it’s looking more and more like the beginning of the end for their star-studded core.
Is This The End Of The Warriors Dynasty?
This series is not yet over, and the Warriors could easily turn the series around with some adjustments in Game 3. But if they do fall short in this series, and lose in the first round, it could be the ultimate sign that the championship window has closed for this rendition of the Warriors.
“This is my ninth year,” Kerr said. “If you look at the core — Steph, Klay, Draymond, Andre — those guys have been together for basically a decade. That doesn’t happen in sports. But when you have a backcourt like these two guys who are just so potent and explosive, but also just so naturally humble and respectful to everyone around them, that allows for an organization to get through the rough patches. But it can only last so long. We know this isn’t going forever. This could be the last year, maybe next year is the last year. We’re in the final stages. We know that. We want to make the most of it.”
These next few days will be a crucial moment for the Warriors, as it will not just determine their title odds this year but also potentially the makeup of their squad for years to come.
Needless to say, Game 3 is a must-win for the defending champs if they want to keep their season alive.
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