The Golden State Warriors got the matchup they wanted heading into the 2023 NBA playoffs, but they may come to realize that a fight against the Kings is far from a guaranteed victory.
In Game 1, Sacramento pulled through and defended their home floor thanks to heroics from De’Aaron Fox and Malik Monk. After the win, ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith expressed concern for the Warriors and their ability to contain the Kings’ star point guard.
“I’m very worried about the Golden State Warriors,” said Smith. “De’Aaron Fox is special, and I’m talking potentially Ja Morant kinda special, I’m talking about when Derrick Rose was at the height of his career. He’s unguardable. They cannot guard him… I looked at Sacramento last night and I was like this, ‘Oh my lord.’ I have been asleep on these brothers.”
"De'Aaron Fox is special, and I'm talking potentially Ja Morant kinda special, I'm talking about when Derrick Rose was at the height of his career"
–@stephenasmith pic.twitter.com/Oa2mqZHrvZ
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) April 16, 2023
Stephen A. is clearly worried about the defending champs, and he probably should be. While Steph, Klay, and Draymond deserved to be favored in the series, they aren’t the same team they were a year ago, and the Kings are not who they used to be either.
Is This The Final Chapter For The Warriors?
After four championships, nobody can deny the success of the Warriors dynasty. But considering the age of their core and the ridiculous cost of keeping them all together, there is reason to believe this could be their last run together.
Fortunately for Dubs fans, Steve Kerr himself denied that notion.
“This is not ‘The Last Dance,’” Kerr said, via The Athletic. “That was made clear in Chicago (back in 1997) that that was going to be it, Phil was done and everybody’s contracts were up. That was going to be it. That’s not the case here at all. I know that Joe (Lacob) would love to keep this thing going. He’s been incredible in his financial commitment to keep this team strong and relevant for a decade. He’s always committed to that. So I think there’s a really good possibility that we keep things going here.”
Whatever happens next for Dub Nation, this series could be the one that decides who stays and who goes… or it may turn into evidence that the Warriors still have another run left in them.
But unless they find a way to stop De’Aaron Fox, they won’t have any choice but to accept the L and anticipate defeat.
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