The Golden State Warriors waited patiently for this season after two campaigns being a bad team thanks to injuries and more issues. This season, they have their best players back and are ready to compete in a tough Western Conference that presents the Phoenix Suns as the biggest favorites to take it all.
Well, the Dubs are also looking to get back to the Finals after a 3-year absence, and their group of players looks as incredible as ever. Led by their Big 3 of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, they managed to finish as one of the top-3 teams in the West, and now are dominating the Nikola Jokic-led Denver Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs.
It wasn’t an easy journey, but they made the right moves and never panicked while Curry, Thompson and Green were out. The results? They are one of the strongest teams in the league right now. Talking about this, owner Joe Lacob explained that instead of going for the easy route and making win-now moves, they waited for this moment, unlike other teams. While talking to The Athletic, Lacob seemingly threw shade at the Los Angeles Lakers for these practices.
“There are a couple teams, I’m not going to say who, there’s some other teams that went all-in on older players. And older players do get injured. That’s the thing you have to remember. Suppose we had made a trade, traded away all our youth, for I don’t know, you name the guy, and they’re injured, out for the year. Anytime you’re over 30, 32, 35, these people get injured. It’s data.
“Having a Jordan Poole emerge at 22 and a Kuminga, who obviously is incredibly talented, isn’t playing so much so far yet in this series, but I think he will have his role … and (James) Wiseman coming back next year, (Moses) Moody … I just think we’re set up for the future. And yet we’re really good now.”
Then Lacob smiled again and headed into the owners’ lounge, where music played and his guests were in an extremely good mood. There will be tougher times ahead. Maybe immediately. But on this night, after the Warriors’ first playoff games at Chase Center, there was also a little bit of serenity.
The Warriors dominated the Nuggets again, getting a 126-106 win over Jokic and co. It looks like it’s a matter of time before they get to the second round, where the situation could get a little harder. The Memphis Grizzlies are considered favorites over the Minnesota Timberwolves, but whoever comes out of that series will be a tough challenge for the Dubs.
Still, Lacob remains confident in his team and all the things they can do. If anybody can ruin the Phoenix Suns’ chances to get to the Finals this year, that’s Stephen Curry’s team, which looks pretty good so far.
