Three years ago, the Warriors hosted the final game at Oracle Arena in Oakland. To label it dramatic would be an understatement.
It was a franchise-altering evening for Golden State, as the Cleveland Cavaliers claimed the 2019 NBA title and many thought it marked the end of the Dynasty Dubs era. Not only that, but Klay Thompson tore his ACL. The indelible image of that Game 6 for Dub Nation has to be Klay limping to the court to knock down two free throws, before he hobbled back toward the locker room. A lot has changed since then.
On Saturday night, when Golden State hosts the Denver Nuggets for Game 1 of the Western Conference first round (5:30 PT tip-off on 95.7 The Game), Thompson will trot out with the Warriors to what’s sure to be a frenzied crowd at Chase Center. A new chapter for the franchise. A new home. Three years later, the goal remains the same, though.
“I like the challenge,” Thompson said. “I still have the same expectations as I did before, and that’s to win a championship. It’s up to us. It’s right there for us. We know how hard it is. Yeah, it’s a different time, but nothing’s ever the same. You just gotta embrace the opportunity ahead and it’s a great one.”
Klay is peaking at the right time for the Warriors.
He dropped a season-high 41 points in the finale and is averaging more than 30 points over his last six games. It’s no coincidence that he warmed up at the same time the Warriors went on a five-game heater to wrap up the regular season.
Just as Klay has got his legs back following a 31-month hiatus, so does Draymond following his two-month rehab from a back injury. Steph Curry is going to return after missing the final 12 games of the regular season with a sprained left foot. Andre Iguodala is healthy and Kevon Looney just played 82 games for the first time in his career. You can’t help but get nostalgic and think about 2015-19.
Then there’s the whole new cast of characters who weren't around during the OG dynasty run – including Jordan Poole, Andrew Wiggins, Otto Porter Jr., Gary Payton II, Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody. The franchise’s dream of melding the two eras will be happening when the stakes are the highest.
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Poole represents a big piece of the franchise’s present and future. Buoyed by a streak of 17 straight games when he scored at least 20 points, the third-year guard averaged 25.4 points and 4.2 3-pointers made per game over his final 20 contests.
We can only imagine what it will be like when he builds his chemistry with Steph and Klay.
For Poole, this will be his first postseason experience. He was in high school and college while the Warriors made their five straight Finals trips and claimed three titles.
“I’ve always watched the playoffs since I was a youngin’,” Poole said. “Just the level of intensity. It’s a big stage and I love the big stage.”
It won’t be easy to get out of the West this postseason. The Warriors should be able to overcome Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets in the first round, but then the challenge grows exponentially. The No. 3-seeded Warriors are betting favorites to reach the second round, where they would likely lock horns with the No. 2 seed Memphis Grizzlies. If Golden State can survive that series, the No. 1 Phoenix Suns could serve as the final boss in the West. That’s a mean gauntlet for any team.
Likewise, the Warriors are something of an unknown and we don’t know their full potential. It all makes for an intriguing postseason and new challenge for the Dubs.
“Waking up and going to work is so easy this time of year,” Thompson said. “The playoffs are the pinnacle of our profession. Having to watch the last two years was no fun. I’m very eager to be out there again. So is our team. To open up at home in front of our incredible crowd is another feeling that gives me so much joy. It’s hard to put into words how excited I really am. It’s gonna be a lot of fun.”
