Golden State chasing glory

– Golden State will begin the chase for a third NBA title in four seasons and a place among the league’s most legendary dynasties when the Warriors’ 2017/18 campaign opens today.

Kevin Durant (above), who joined the Warriors last season from Oklahoma City, realised his dream of an NBA crown last June, joining Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and a stellar cast for a record 16-1 play-off run, downing Cleveland in the finals.

“You can’t win anything, you can’t be successful unless you have a great team around you,” Durant said.

In the off-season the Warriors spent nearly $330 million on new contracts for Durant, Curry and starting big man Zaza Pachulia plus key reserves Andre Iguodala and Shaun Livingston.

Centre Pachulia says the Warriors have a chance to fine-tune an already formidable squad.

“I think we have a luxury and an opportunity to pay attention to the small details,” Pachulia said.

They also added free agents Nick Young and Omri Casspi to a formidable lineup.

“This year reminds me of two years ago, with the continuity, almost the exact roster coming back, having all of those guys comfortable with what we’re doing already,” Golden State coach Steve Kerr said.

The Warriors raise a second championship banner in three seasons and their fifth overall on Tuesday when they open the season at home against Houston.

Golden State seek a fourth consecutive berth in the NBA Finals and 10th trip overall. Only the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers have reached more finals and only they and Michael Jordan’s 1990s Chicago Bulls have captured more crowns.

The only teams to reach at least four consecutive finals were Boston in the 1960s, the 1980s Lakers and Celtics and LeBron James-led Miami from 2011 to 14. But the only team to have the best regular-season record those same four years were the Celtics more than half-a-century ago. –

Washington