OK -- blame me for being overly focused on my home team, the Golden State Warriors, throughout this year in this forum as well as on my blog. I admit I was. But if you watched them regularly (and everyone in the Bay Area now watches every game), how could I not talk about them all the time?
The Warriors will undoubtedly set the record Wednesday night for the most number of wins during the regular season of any team ever. Their opponent will be the Memphis Grizzlies, who have suffered a bevy of injuries and will inevitably feel like they are being fed to the gladiators when they come to Oracle Arena on Wednesday. Ticket prices are through the roof as everyone wants to see history in the making along with 20,000 other adoring fans.
The Dubs vanquished the best Spurs team ever assembled (at least by record) yesterday to beat the second best team in the league handily now three out of the four times they played. And San Antonio had a 39-0 record at home and was attempting to be the first team ever to win all their homes games during the regular season. Nope. The Warriors ended that streak. The Warriors also now possess the best road record (34-7) ever after winning in San Antonio.
Golden State is a deep, unselfish and talented team that, when committed to playing defense, is very tough to beat. But the key to the kingdom is the King of the Jungle, Steph Curry. The reigning MVP and the sure to be named MVP again, had one of the best seasons any player has ever had. His dominance reminds me of Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Michael Jordan in his prime and Larry Bird. Statistically Steph's season is reminiscent of Nate "Tiny" Archibald's 1972-73 season when the 6'0" 160 pound Archibald led the league in scoring (34 points/game) AND assists (11/game). Steph smashed his own record of three-pointers made and now has almost 400 on the season.
Curry was vintage Steph on Sunday as he dominated the game in the second half, especially when the game was on the line. After scoring only 11 points in the first half and not taking many shots at all, the league's leading scorer exploded to score 20 in the second half to finish with 37 and leave no doubt, once again, as to who is the best player in the league this year. He scored in a multitude of ways -- he used to be a spot up shooter and now he has enhanced his repertoire to include layups, bank shots and running one-handers. He is a SCORER now. His masterful dribbling ability allows him to create opportunities for himself and his teammates. He should receive the most improved player award as well. The best part of Steph is that he makes players around him better and he is the most modest superstar I have ever witnessed.
The Warriors are favored to defend their title based on Steph and Co.'s attributes as I stated earlier as well as a coach who has persevered injury and hardship himself. Steve Kerr missed the first half of the season with back surgery complications. Second year coach Kerr is a perfect fit for this group -- free wheeling with a good sense of humor, but also a brilliant basketball mind and a keen sense of people and history. Kerr played on the 1995-96 Bulls team that holds the 72 win record that the Warriors will eclipse Wednesday night. It remains to be seen whether Golden State can continue their magical run in the playoffs, but it sure has been an amazing season to be a Golden State fan. I am going to keep talking about it until I am blue (and gold) in the face. Go Dubs!
